Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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| Do you like or dislike the new dashboard ? |
| Yes I do like the new dashboard |
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[ 7 ] |
| No I do not like the new dashboard |
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[ 0 ] |
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| Total Votes : 7 |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4298
Location: South Cheshire
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 Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2026 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Can the fan motor be removed on its own? |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| ukdave2002 wrote: | | Can the fan motor be removed on its own? |
Until I get it off the car, I can't see what needs to be done. I am hoping just a simple repair will
be possible. A friend is coming over tomorrow to help. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2026 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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My helper didn't materialise... but I have started on the strip down just the same; trying to imagine it is just another customer's car and not my own!
I have had the pleasure (if you can call it that) of benefiting from the alterations I made to the wiring that would make removal of the lights easier; little realising that I would be making use of them so soon!!! |
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JC T ONE
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
Posts: 1170
Location: Denmark
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2026 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| Ray White wrote: |
I would have bought a Kenlowe fan (reliable) but for many years they have only suppled car manufacturers. When I once enquired at their premises in Maidenhead I was told to "F.... off".  |
Cant the fan be taken apart/serviced ?
Yes Kenlowe is good, fitted a used one in my Mini Special more than 30 years , still works.
Shame they act like that now 
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2026 10:41 am Post subject: |
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I managed to remove the fan without having to lift the bonnet. All I did was to unscrew the hinge clamp from the scuttle and with plenty of protection for the paint, lifted slightly and pulled it back enough to expose the rad shell.
The headlamps had to come off but thankfully the supports remained in place (which saved taking the side lights and wiring out) as I was able to free the brackets from behind the shell and wiggle them out.
With the 6 retaining bolts removed (and the filler cap off) the shell lifted up and away from the apron valance with no trouble.
With the fan off, the problem was immediately obvious. One of the blades had been fouling on the shroud and had been forced back. The plastic blade has broken so I have no option but to buy a new fan. As it happens the feed wire came off in my hand so that would have happened sooner or later.
The quality of all these cheap parts flooding Ebay etc. is as you would expect; rubbish.
I have found a Kenlowe fan (N.O.S.) being sold privately ...but the label says "blow only" which would rule it out.
SPAL seem to be better quality; if more expensive...but you only ever get what you pay for!
I should have one early next week.
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1486
Location: Netherlands
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4298
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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There has been a big decline in price of anything mid 60's and earlier, I suppose there will always be a peak in prices when 50-60 year olds with a bit of cash start to purchase nostalgia! |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know what to do about the collapse in prices. If it comes down to brass tacks, my car has far more value in it's component parts
than it would sell for as a restored example on the open market.
Perhaps I should enjoy it for a while then return it to the condition in which I found it.
I could then offer it as an original matching numbers car and an unfinished rust free restoration project.
All the nice expensive parts could fetch good money on Ebay.
Financially, I made a big mistake with this car.
Fortunately, it doesn't bother me that much as I have little respect for money; you either have it or you don't. 
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JC T ONE
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
Posts: 1170
Location: Denmark
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2026 4:59 pm Post subject: MG in London |
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Thats a nice MG 
Is it the same as my Fathers in this movie = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Uoqr6fdG8
Jens Christian
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2026 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: MG in London |
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Actually your Father's MG was a TD. The one in badhuis' post is a largely original spec. TC. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 12:29 am Post subject: |
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My neighbour took one look at the way the electric fan was attached to the radiator core with thin plastic strips (like cable ties)
and opined that he didn't like it.
His argument is that vibration could eventually cause the ties to cause the rad to leak.
I don't know if this could happen or not... but it has got me thinking (a dangerous thing in itself!)
The new SPAL fan us basically the same design as the one it will be replacing, so I could mount it in the same way... or, if I am to avoid
dismantling so much of the car should I ever need to remove the fan again, then I need to find a different way of mounting it
in the engine compartment.
I am toying with the idea of mounting the fan on brackets attached at the shell mounting points. The main difficulty is ensuring that
the assembly is rigid, as I don't want the fan to vibrate against the core but on the other hand, not too heavy or intrusive.
All I can say is "watch this space".
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JC T ONE
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
Posts: 1170
Location: Denmark
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:59 am Post subject: Re: MG in London |
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| Ray White wrote: |
Actually your Father's MG was a TD. The one in badhuis' post is a largely original spec. TC. |
Thanks Ray  I am not so strong on the older model,s my Father had, as they are from before "me"
I do remember a Green MGB - I got car sick in that, my Father was not amused 
Jens Christian
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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The first car I ever went in was my late Father's MG M Type. It was the MG Company's first "Midget" sports car ...
and was not much bigger than the Austin Seven Chummy.! It was however a much more sporting car, having a very willing
overhead camshaft engine.
My Dad's M Type UW 5990 was restored back to standard by a later owner and participated in the MG Golden anniversary at Abingdon
in 1980. I have a photo of it in the parade.
The day after the celebrations, closure of the works was announced by the pugnacious boss of BL, Michael Edwardes.
He later admitted it "may have been a mistake".
Here is UW 5990 competing in the 1950s.
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1486
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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What a fine old picture. Hillclimb event I presume?
Amusing to see the steering wheel diameter is close to half of the width of the car!
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7376
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2026 12:21 am Post subject: |
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| badhuis wrote: | What a fine old picture. Hillclimb event I presume?
Amusing to see the steering wheel diameter is close to half of the width of the car! |
Here is a report that I did for the forum some time ago when I eventually managed to track down my Dad's MG.
There is no question that this small car is what drew me into the world of old cars.
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"
For some time now I have been collecting information on my late Father's first car; the MG M Type shown here competing in 1950
at the Bisley VSCC rally. He owned the MG until the late 1950's and it was the first car I ever went in.
The last record the MMM Register had of UW 5990 dated from 1980 when the car was owned by a Mr. John Butt -
however there has been no trace of it since.
Today, however, I managed to make contact with Mr Butt's wife. Remarkably, the car has remained in the ownership of Mr Butt since 1980
and apparently goes by the name of "Belinda".
The MG M Type was first registered UW 5990 to a Mr R. Andrews. It has a build date of 17th September 1929 as a red two seater.
My father, Ted White, would often recall interesting stories of this MG midget. It was his first car and required his considerable engineering
skills to make it roadworthy. Shortly after Dad had bought the car he discovered it had a seriously frost damaged block and he repaired it
by cold stitching with brass rod. Apparently, the finished repair looked so good he was reluctant to paint it over!
Another fault was something that many M type owners are familiar with; oil leaking from the overhead camshaft into the vertical dynamo.!
Fortunately, Dad worked as a toolmaker at James Walker engineering in Woking and was able to make good use of a Dean Smith & Grace
lathe (amongst other fine machines) to rectify the problem. He also made some spur gears and much else besides.
The original engine number was MG 493A ...however, I have learned that this may have subsequently been replaced with MG779A.
My Grandfather (William White) was also involved in the project. He was a cabinet maker by trade and gave the car a new floor
and in what would be frowned on today created a new "bob" tail with slab tank. This, together with a fold flat windscreen
gave the MG a more contemporary appearance.
From what can be seen from an entry in the February 1980 issue of Thoroughbred and Sportscar, the body has subsequently been
restored back to standard. It was in this guise that UW 5990 represented the model in a parade of historic MGs as part of their
Golden Jubilee celebrations at Abingdon. The MG Car Club have helped in finding a photo of UW 5990 actually taking part in the parade.
In what I will always regard as a cynical act of cultural vandalism by the (late) pugnacious Sir Michael Edwardes, BL announced closure
of the plant THE VERY NEXT DAY! (He later admitted it was probably a mistake)
UW 5990 was the first car that I ever went in; however, I was too young to appreciate it at the time but Dad had owned the MG from the
early to mid 1950s. One memory I do have is of him towing home an abandoned Morris Minor OHC for spares. It was also red and I recall
seeing it on it's side which apparently upset me! As a toddler there was just enough room for me on the ledge behind the seat.
I remember when we took a holiday, the car broke down on the notorious Porlock Hill. Apparently, the flywheel had worked loose.
Fortunately, the then owner of Doverhay garage in the village had taken an interest in the little MG and in an act of exceptional kindness
allowed Dad to work in the garage on a Sunday...and use his tools!
Dad soon fixed the car and we were able to get home in time for him to get to work on the following Monday.
Incidentally, the little garage in Porlock still survives - and takes a keen interest in classic cars.!
Returning to the photo of UW 5990 in competition. For many years it hung on a wall in my Parents home and was always a topic of
conversation. My Dad thought it might have been taken at "Stony Castle" near Bisley but after so many years couldn't be sure.
Following my Father's death I took the photo down to examine it closer. The MG must have only just started it's ascent because if one looks
carefully, the furthest man on the left - possibly a Marshall in white - has his gloved hand raised detaining a car which is also hidden from
view by the people on the right.
On the back was printed a date of 1950 and details of the photographer but nothing more. What was more interesting, however, was the
discovery that the photo had been folded over on both sides. Opening it up revealed a hidden secret and one which led to the discovery
of the venue. Again, If one looks carefully, there is a Marshall on the right with a white arm band on which, significantly, has VSCC printed.
Fortunately, Ian Fergusson (the VSCC librarian) has confirmed a date of 26th February 1950 at the Bisley rally. (Apparently, trials were
also called rallies back then). Unfortunately, they have no record of UW 5990 despite other vehicles being snapped at exactly the same
spot that day. By that date, I assume, it would not have been competitive. More a case of hope over experience I expect.!
Special thanks must go the Dick Morby of the MMM Register for some invaluable information and thanks again to ALL who have assisted me
in my search. If and when I am able to get some up to date photos of the M Type I will of course post them."
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Despite assurances that Mr Butt (the current owner) would get back to me, no further contact has been made... and I am in no hurry to
press the matter. Besides, the car is not now as I remember it and sometimes it is better to let bygones be bygones.
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