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MG MGA - Oil pan bolts

Hey folks,

Great to read about those who have completed their projects and are enjoying their MGA's. I'm still plugging away on my 1600 coupe, even in the recent heat wave. Dang! You know it's bad when you can't even thread a bolt before the sweat starts dripping off the end of your nose.

Anyway, I'm having a difficult time getting the oil pan bolts in at the front of the engine. The cross member makes it impossible to get a good angle on them especially the two at either corner. Is there a trick to getting these things in?

robert maupin

There have been some mention of this problem so you may find something in the archives. You will probably have to modify an existing wrench to make it work. Have a good day!

John
54 mgtf
60 MGA Coupe
62 MGA Roadster
John Progess

I did it once and it was about the biggest pain in the *** in an entire restoration. I managed to slip my fingers in from opposite sides of the crossmember. I could hold the screw head between the fingertips of each hand, and turn it that way. Very frustrating. One of those Sears gearwrenches or a ratchetting box-end might have helped once the screw was started.
So, it's doable depending on how the length and thickness of your fingers, but it's not fun. It might have been easier to just loosen the motor mounts and wedge the engine up an inch or so.
John V.
John Vallely

You could loosen the motor mounts and jack the engine up just enough to get those bolts in that rest above the cross member. I have done it that way before and also have laid there and turned them a 1/4 turn at a time until tight. Both ways in a real pain.
Mike
Mike Razor

If the engine mounts are in good condition, and you have the right tools, it's not too bad. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/of106.htm

Barney
Barney Gaylord

I have found that starting the thread when getting the bolts back in can be difficult, but possible.
An idea for those people with the engine out. What about drilling the five holes in the front crossmember, as on the mga twin cam?
I guess somebody with access to a Twin Cam chassis would need do do drawings. Or maybe Carl at Eclectic Motorworks could sell cardboard templates. What about it Carl?

Mick
Mick Anderson

"...would need to do drawings"

Mick
Mick Anderson

Suggestions:
(1.) Buy a RATCHETING SOCKET WRENCH that has LOTS OF "CLICKS" PER 360-DEGREE ROTATION, even if it does cost a mint! TEST IT & COUNT THE "CLICKS" YOURSELF BEFORE YOU BUY! The "AVERAGE" ratchet just doesn't have that "WHOLE BUNCH OF CLICKS" you really need for working on MGs! You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much FASTER you can work with a better ratchet.
(2.) If you can FIND it, buy an AIRCRAFT STEEL WRENCH which looks a lot like the ORIGINAL MGA WRENCH SET: VERY THIN & FLAT. Guys who work on AIRPLANES have lots of working in tight spaces.
wattswh1

Use a 1/4-in. drive 7/16-in swivel socket on an extension with ratchet. It worked for me.

Tyler
Tyler

This thread was discussed between 26/07/2005 and 30/07/2005

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.