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RV8 Workshop Notes series
Where can I buy a
RV8 Workshop Notes CD? Just order your CD with our easy to use V8 Online Sales system or by V8 Mail Order. For full information on the price, availability and how to order a CD. More Volume 1 Buying an MG RV8 or just acquired one? - some guidance notes on the checks you will need to make. Part of this note concerning the RV8 alarm transmitter has an important warning about ensuring the batteries in the transmitter are renewed regularly. You can view this note on this website as RV8 alarm transmitter. 1. Headlight units Bryan Ditchman Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) provides a workshop note which highlights you can get headlamp glasses rather than the entire headlamp unit. This note has a tip which will save you money when replacing a cracked headlamp glass. (Sep 99) 2. Door mirrors Bryan Ditchman A cautionary note on removing and replacing the RV8 door mirrors. 3. Water pump Bryan Ditchman Bryan Ditchman's (Caribbean Blue 0265) researches have identified a supplier who will service water pumps avoiding the cost of a new unit. A useful tip on where you can get a water pump overhauled to avoid the cost of a new one. (Sep 99) 4. Hose and pipe clips Bryan Ditchman In this workshop note, Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) sets out the fruits of his research into the clamps and clips used on the MG RV8. It is a comprehensive checklist of the various hose clips on an RV8. (Sep 99) 5. Water hoses and breather pipes Bryan Ditchman Another checklist, this time of the various RV8 hoses and pipes. 6. Hydraulic hoses, cylinders and repair kits Bryan Ditchman Another checklist of hydraulic hoses, cylinders and repair kits with the Rover part number cross referenced to the Lockheed part. 7. Petrol tank, fittings and hoses Bryan Ditchman A useful workshop note from Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) which highlights the need for ensuring your RV8 fuel tank is protected from rust. (Sep 99) 8. Windscreen washer jets Bryan Ditchman With replacement washer jets NLA, this useful note suggests a substitute part and how to get at it for replacement. 9. MG RV8 toolkit Bryan Ditchman A checklist of the contents of the toolkit with their Britool codes, is set out below. Replacement tool rolls are available, see also Notes 63, 72, 73 & 78. (Sep 99). To view this note, RV8NOTE9. 10. MG RV8 road wheels Bryan Ditchman Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) provides this note highlighting important differences between the road wheels and centres of early and later cars. (Sep 99) 11. Aerial replacement Bryan Ditchman Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) has lost two aerials, broken off by overhanging twigs from overgrown hedges in the narrow lanes he uses in Hampshire. He feels the aerial would be better placed on the offside wing but prepared this workshop note for normal replacement. (Sep 99) 12. Dashboard fascia removal Bryan Ditchman This useful note is based on Bryan Ditchman's (Caribbean Blue 0265) experiences with getting behind the dashboard and sets out the stage by stage procedure, with some cautions for the unwary. (Sep 99) 13. Wiper blade adjustment Bryan Ditchman A brief note on a check all RV8s enthusiasts should make. 14. Clutch master cylinder cap Bryan Ditchman A suggestion for an essential addition to the RV8 toolkit - a Zyliss Strongboy jar and bottle opener. 15. MG RV8 wheel corrosion Bryan Ditchman Another useful tip from Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) which will help MG RV8 enthusiasts keep their wheels in good shape. (Sep 99) 16. MG RV8 exhaust system Bryan Ditchman A short tip from Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) on the importance of keeping a drain hole in the exhaust system clear. (Sep 99) 17. Leathercare for the MG RV8 Bryan Ditchman A brief note with tips on leather care treatments. 18. Dirty gearknob Bryan Ditchman A brief note with a tip on cleaning up a grubby gear knob. 19. Throttle pedal resistance Bryan Ditchman With the smooth power available from the RV8 engine, it can be irritating to have a lethargic pickup response from low speeds. This note from Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) explains how to check and cure that situation. (Sep 99) 20. Hood rattle Bryan Ditchman A short note with a tip to remove an irritating rattle. 21. MG RV8 performance upgrade Bryan Ditchman For those RV8 enthusiasts who wish for a smoother response, improved torque and economy, Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) suggests you contact RPI International Limited in Norwich. Their kit is available without the need for a single spanner inside the engine compartment. (Oct 99). See RV8NOTE21. 22. Windscreen Bryan Ditchman Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) had to remove his windscreen to cure water leaks and has produced a comprehensive note on the exercise which will be of interest to MG RV8 enthusiasts. (Oct 99) RV8NOTE22 23. The boot Bryan Ditchman For the enthusiast, Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) suggests removing the spare wheel, carpets and back board just to find out what is under and behind. (Oct 99) 24. Change points in the design and technical specification Bryan Ditchman Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) has produced a detailed table of key production change points for the MG RV8 which will be an invaluable reference for all RV8 enthusiasts. (Oct 99) 25. Areas of rust and corrosion Bryan Ditchman Rust and corrosion are concerns for any classic car enthusiast. Here Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) sets out a checklist of RV8 parts which he finds rust easily. (Oct 99) 26. Inlet manifold gasket Bryan Ditchman A short note with a tip on sourcing parts. 27. Sill tread plates Bryan Ditchman A cautionary note on sill tread plate removal and a tip. 28. Starter motor Bryan Ditchman This note from Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue 0265) resulted from a repair to his starter motor. With about every fifth start there was no cranking, so under the car he went to investigate! Bryan provides a tip on where to get a starter motor serviced. (Nov 99) 29. Fuel pump, filters and fittings Bryan Ditchman This short note from Bryan Ditchman (Caribbean Blue) highlights the need for care when removing the fuel pump as the mounting unit is no longer available. (Nov 99) 30. Seats and trim panel removal Bryan Ditchman A note which suggests you do your homework before working on the RV8 seats and trim panels, as some items are awkward and the fixings very tight. 31. Brakes Bryan Ditchman & Roger Parker A useful note on the front and rear brakes on an RV8. You can view this note as RV8NOTE31. 32. Shock absorbers Bryan Ditchman A note with a tip on how to get your shock absorbers serviced for 25% of the cost of a new set. 33. Hang on to your old parts! Bryan Ditchman A note with a plea to hang on to all old parts which have been replaced through maintenance or following failure. 34. Air intake mesh Bryan Ditchman A note with a tip which will be of interest to MGBV8 enthusiasts too. 35. Headroom Bryan Ditchman A note with a tip of interest to six foot enthusiasts! 36. Exhaust rattle Bryan Ditchman & Roger Parker A note on a possible remedy for fixing loose heat shields. 37. Filler plug spanner Bryan Ditchman A brief note with a suggestion for an additional spanner for the RV8 toolkit. 38. Front wheel bearings Bryan Ditchman A note highlighting the two front hub bearing assemblies used on the RV8 production. 39. Reimporting an MG RV8 from Japan Ron Armstrong A note on what needs to be checked and changed. 40. Rear wheel bearings Bryan Ditchman A note on rear wheel bearing replacement. 41. K&N filter maintenance John Barnes A note reminding RV8 enthusiasts this filter can be serviced and should not be replaced during routine services - this could save you a tidy sum! 42. General corrosion related issues Roger Parker A further note on some areas to watch for rust problems. 43. Noisy fuel pump Roger Parker A note on possible causes for fuel pump noise and how to cure them. 44. Air conditioning Roger Parker A brief note for members with Japan spec RV8s who are thinking of retaining the AC systems. 45. Electronic fuel injection systems Roger Parker This note sets out some useful information on the RV8 fuel injection system. 46. Stiff hood operation Roger Parker A brief note on the need for lubrication of the 32 joints on the RV8 hood. 47. Sheared hood pivot repair Roger Parker A note on dealing with a seized hood frame pivot point. 48. Alternator replacement Roger Parker A note describing a fault experienced with an RV8 which was traced to the alternator and how it was diagnosed and solved. 49. Tips for attending the annual 24 heures du Mans event Victor Smith A note providing tips for planning your visit to this annual endurance motor race together with some map extracts. You can view this note, which is also V8 Workshop Note 214, as RV8NOTE49. 50. Clutch slave cylinder Ian Lloyd Following a clutch slave cylinder failure, Ian was duly informed by his local Rover garage that the part was NLA! This note is probably one of the most useful - the part is still available but under another part number which you will need to quote as the RV8 parts list may show it as NLA. Volume 2 51. Torque settings Bryan Ditchman A note listing the torque wrench settings for the RV8. 52. Gearbox mountings and cross member Bryan Ditchman A useful note which highlights the differences between the LT77 gearbox on the early cars and the R380 fitted from VIN0644. 53. Hood backlight replacement Bryan Ditchman A step by step guide to replacing the backlight. 54. Steering rack removal and maintenance Bryan Ditchman A note relating an investigation of play in the steering and how it was cured. 55. Tonneau covers Bryan Ditchman A note with useful tips on using the full tonneau. 56. Battery management Bryan Ditchman This note is essential for enthusiasts who leave their RV8 garaged for periods. Fitting an automatic battery management conditioner ensures your battery is kept topped up. You can see this note on this website as RV8NOTE56. 57. Fascia instruments Bryan Ditchman A note with several tips on RV8 door cappings and instruments. RV8NOTE57 58. MG Car Club badge mounting Bryan Ditchman A note explaining how to fit an MG Car Club badge to an RV8. 59. MG RV8 front coil springs Bryan Ditchman A note comparing the RV8 and MGBGTV8 front coil springs. 60. Advance and retard pipe Bryan Ditchman & Roger Parker A note which has proved to be very useful for members with Japan spec cars. See also RV8NOTE258. 61. Insurance for classic MGs Victor Smith Insurance is an important consideration for the V8 enthusiast and it is vital to ensure the policy provides sufficient cover in the event of a claim. (Apr 96) RV8NOTE61 62. Water leaks saga - an inherent fault? Robert Lewis A useful note on how to cure a water leak which the local MG Rover dealer was unable to remedy. The note explains how Robert solved the problem himself and on notifying the MG Dealer got the reply "oh yes we have started doing that on the MGF". Not so much an inherent fault as poor communication within MG and its local MG Dealer. 63. Replacement tool rolls are available again! Malcolm Gammons The answer to the regular question from new members with Japan spec RV8s - "where can I get an RV8 tool roll as the original has gone missing". To view this note see RV8NOTE63. 64. RV8 maintenance schedule John Barnes A detailed maintenance and service schedule prepared by John is set out at the back of Volume 2. 65. Replacement headlamps Bryan Ditchman A cautionary note and a sequel to the first RV8 Workshop Note. 66. A starting problem solved Bryan Ditchman A tale of an investigation into a starting problem and how it was cured. 67. Fuel cut off switch Bryan Snedker A useful note to store away in case the non starting gremlins strike your RV8. 68. Removal of door drop glass Bryan Ditchman A detailed step by step guide to removing and replacing the glass and a tabulation of the part numbers. 69. Radiator cooling fan switch - a useful modification? Graham Bartholomew A note on a non standard but nevertheless useful modification. 70. Wheel arch flares Bryan Ditchman A note which saves you puzzling over how the wheel arch flares or blisters are fitted. See also the research by Jim Dolbel into when the front wheel arch flares were discontinued on Japan spec cars. Volume 3 71. Replacement of crankshaft rear oil seal John Barnes This note sets out how to tackle a major maintenance item 72. More on RV8 toolkits Anon Another note on tool for the RV8 toolkit. To view this note see RV8NOTE72. 73. Battery lifter or carrier Anon A note on an alternative battery lifter to the Brevette lifter. 74. Door mirror Bill Wood A brief note on smartening up the RV8 door mirror. 75. Rear brakes and adjustment Bryan Ditchman This note highlights between the rear brake set up on the RV8 and the earlier equipment on the MGBGTV8. 76. FM radio frequency converter Bryan Ditchman This note is very useful for enthusiasts with Japan spec cars and avoids the need for a new radio. See RV8NOTE76. 77. More on RV8 gear knob renovation Ian Cranston An inexpensive way of renovating a grubby gearknob. 78. Battery lifters or carriers, another source Brian Jackson Information on another battery lifter. 79. Radio fascia panel removal Bill Ratcliffe A note with amendments to RV8 Workshop Note 12. 80. Bonnet hinge alignment Bryan Ditchman A brief note with a useful tip for aligning the bonnet. 81. Wear on wheel lock nuts Bryan Ditchman A brief tip on how to avoid wear on the wheel locking nuts. 82. RV8 parts supply update Bryan Ditchman A brief note on the growing NLA problem with RV8 parts. 83. Dreams come true! Peter Garton A note relating how Peter reimported his RV8 himself. 84. Background note on the RV8 LSD Roger Parker A useful note with background information on the LSD fitted to the RV8. 85. Instrument & fascia switch bulbs Colin Humphrey A note with part numbers for fascia bulbs. 86. Trim colours Bryan Ditchman A note with colour changes on RV8 trim colours. 87. Waxoyling reimported RV8s Roger Parker A suggestion for treating reimported RV8s to help offset the effects of a double journey by sea. 88. Oil pump cover & washers Bryan Ditchman A note on finding an NLA part. 89. Windscreen glass & VIN number Bryan Ditchman A very brief note on how the get the VIN etched on the windscreen glass. 90. Water pump & air-con drive belts Bryan Ditchman A note with a changed part number RV8 enthusiasts will need to note. 91. K&N air filters & news of a water pump exchange or repair service Clive Wheatley A note with a spares update from the V8 spares guru, Clive Wheatley. 92. Alternative source for the petrol pump & filter Bryan Ditchman A note with an alternative source of key parts which will help reduce maintenance costs. 93. More of leaks & wheel corrosion Bill Ratcliffe A note with tips on silicone treatment! 94. More on front shock absorbers Bryan Ditchman A note on overhauling the RV8 front suspension at a reasonable cost. 95. Fitting the new, smaller V8 Register badge to an RV8 Bryan Ditchman A brief note which will help you fit the new, smaller badge 96. Brake callipers - inspection for corrosion when carrying out maintenance work Bryan Ditchman A note on inspecting and removing the brake callipers. 97. Exhaust clamps - down pipes to cat pipes Bryan Ditchman A brief note with a useful tip. 98. Front coil springs Bryan Ditchman This note sets out a procedure which is not set out in the RV8 workshop manual. 99. Hang on to your old parts - a plea from the Editor! Bryan Ditchman Another plea from the Editor. 100. Catalyser - overheat sensors, overheat ECU & warning light Anon The first of a series of notes on sensors and RV8 diagnostics. RV8NOTE100 Volume 4 101. Differences between UK & Japanese specification RV8s - cat overheat sensors Roger Parker A useful explanation of some of the key differences. The cat overheat sensors, linked to the ECU, were an addition to the RV8s exported to Japan. A number of members with reimported RV8s have reported difficulties with them (see RV8 Workshop Note 100 in Volume 3). This useful note from Roger Parker (Green V8 4092) provides some background on the subject. 102. Brake servo failure Victor Smith Fortunately brake failure because of servo problems is rare but unlike difficulties with slave cylinders early warning signs of potential servo failure are few and the consequences spine chilling! Although this note is from the sixth volume of the original V8 Workshop Notes series, we feel it has important information of concern to MG RV8 enthusiasts. The note is from Victor Smith (Harvest Gold V8 1089), with contributions from Roger Parker, Geoff Allen and Jim Gibson, examines a couple of cases of servo failure and considers the options 103. Radiator blanking panel John Bolt A practical tip. John Bolt (Nightfire Red RV8 1228) from Buckinghamshire sent in a useful modification to the radiator blanking panel as a solution to the fracturing by the fixing lugs where they are bolted to the slam panel. 104. More on brake servos for the RV8 Bryan Ditchman Bryan has further thoughts on servos for the RV8as a brief follow up to RV8 Note 102. 105. RV8 spares - looking to the future Bryan Ditchman A topic that need some thought. Despite the fact that Clive Wheatley and Brown & Gammons are each putting in a great deal of time and effort to complement the availability of some of the RV8 spares which are no longer available or NLA, they are unable to cover the whole situation which undoubtedly will become more difficult as time goes on. Here Bryan Ditchman sets out his list of twenty items which he considers RV8 enthusiasts are well advised to acquire as soon as possible. The list is in order of priority and in the main indicates the items specific to the RV8. 106. RV8 toolrolls & handbooks - an update Clive Wheatley An update which will be of interest to members of Japan spec cars missing their toolkits. This note from Clive Wheatley (Flame Red RV8 0294) reproduces information provided to an Australian member seeking a tool roll and handbook for his Japan spec RV8. 107. Cleaning a coffee stain from an RV8 hood David Lawler A note which will be useful if you need to clean the RV8 hood. Whilst David Lawler (Woodcote Green RV8 1920) was having an alarm fitted, unfortunately a fitter at the installation company managed to spill coffee on the soft top. This brief note sets out how he cleaned up the mess. 108. Avoiding the rear window crease Peter Garton An imaginative idea from Peter Garton (Woodcote Green RV8 1238) in Germany who has devised a way of avoiding a crease in the rear window of an RV8 soft top. 109. Problems with the zip for the rear screen in the RV8 soft top Victor Rodgrigues A note with some useful tips on RV8 rear screen zips. Victor Rodregues (Oxford Blue RV8 1621) from Switzerland reported a difficulty with the zip around his rear screen. This note explains how he resolved it together with some comments from John Barnes (Woodcote Green RV8 0636) in Wellington New Zealand. 110. Using fire extinguishers in V8s Andrew Brown Fire prevention in the car is something we should at least think about and hopefully fit an extinguisher. Like life assurance and writing a will, you will probably feel an article on fire extinguishers in cars is not an exciting topic. Few of us think about the possibility of fire in our cars and what we would need to bring it under control. In this useful note Andrew Brown (Flamenco Red V8 2501), from the West Midlands, provides the necessary background information and guidance for selecting a suitable extinguisher so early action with an interior or engine fire is possible. 111. Preventative maintenance on RV8 rubber water hoses Peter James A note with a useful check. Peter James (Woodcote Green RV8 1022) from Warwickshire has a brief but useful reminder on checking your rubber water hoses and replacing any which look suspect as preventative maintenance. 112. Reassurance on RV8 reimports following a BBC1 Watchdog programme in July 2001 Chris Watkins Members buying a reimported RV8 will find this note reassuring. We contacted Chris Watkins who runs the leading RV8 reimporters, HS Imports, following a BBC1 Watchdog programme on the Great Car Fraud with Quentin Wilson concerning a substantial flow of stolen 4x4s, stolen in Japan, which are turning up in the UK. Most of these reimports are high value vehicles like Toyota Land Cruisers, some involving some imaginative reinventions of vehicle identity at a staging post in Dubai on the way! Chris knows Japan very well and has considerable experience with reimporting RV8s to the UK. In this note explains how the system works in Japan and how the HS Imports team take care with the cars they reimport from Japan. You can view this note on this website as RV8NOTE112. 113. Renovo soft top care products Victor Smith Following RV8 Workshop Note 107 from David Lawler, Victor Smith (Harvest Gold V8 1089) called Renovo who provided a brochure with details and prices of their useful range of soft top care products. This note is based on the text of Renovo's brochure and provides a summary of that information. 114. Gas struts - an additional danger in vehicle fires Andrew Brown A cautionary tale. Andrew Brown (Flamenco Red V8 2501) provides a brief further note following an experience with a gas strut bursting whilst attending a recent vehicle fire 115. Diagnostic plug on an RV8 Anon A fascinating note on RV8 diagnostics from a member who has the full range of hand-held equipment and databooks needed for electrical component testing and fault diagnosis on the MG RV8. He warns that although the RV8 may look like a cosmetically-reworked variant of the MGB with a V8 engine, it is in fact full of modern electronic systems which need training and sophisticated equipment to carry out relatively routine servicing tasks. You can view this note on this website as RV8NOTE115. 116. Reprogramming alarm transmitters on Japan spec RV8s Anon A note which should be read by all RV8 enthusiasts, especially those in Australia and New Zealand with Japanese-specification RV8s who need either to acquire new immobiliser handset transmitters or have their existing one(s) reprogrammed for some reason. 117. RV8 immobiliser requirements demanded by some insurers Anon An alarming trend of insurers seeking to escalate their requirements for the retrospective fitting of Thatcham 1 immobilisers on open top sports cars has been noted by our anonymous contributor. Here the contributor provides a briefing on the present situation. This note can be viewed on this website as RV8NOTE117. 118. Meeting the diagnostic challenge with the RV8 Anon On a casual acquaintance, the RV8 can be seen as a car which appears simply a cosmetically-reworked, luxury MGBV8 but on closer inspection it is clearly a product of the modern era. Gone are carburettors, contact breaker points, choke cables and a simple wiring harness - a package the enthusiast can maintain and tune with ease - and instead you find, beneath that classic car body, the RV8 has a sophisticated engine management system. Ordinary test and dwell meters are not enough - you need sophisticated equipment and data to tune the RV8 and check out systems faults. Our anonymous contributor has been beavering away to gain a better understanding of what systems are in the RV8 and what equipment is needed to run the diagnostic checks your MG Rover dealer is required to do when your RV8 goes in for periodic servicing. This note will fascinate you and leave you better able to deal with any "flannel" from the service staff - the moral is find service people who know what they are doing and can handle the very sophisticated diagnostic equipment so your RV8 is serviced correctly! 119. K&N filter check Godfrey Dance Another useful tip. 120. Modifications on reimported RV8s Godfrey Dance An important note on a key modifications that has to be carried out on RV8s reimported from Japan. You can view this note as RV8NOTE120. 121. Locking wheel nut tip Godfrey Dance Godfrey Dance (Woodcote Green RV8 1210) from Surrey provides a useful tip on undoing your locking wheel nuts should you be unable to find the socket. 122. Where can I get the RV8 diagnostic leads? Anon A key question for members wanting to do diagnostic checks. John Hornabrook (Woodcote Green RV8 1781) from Australia contacted the V8 Register seeking help in finding the "computer leads to connect the RV8 to a Land Rover Discovery test monitor" as he had found there were no garages set up to service the RV8 out on the Gold Coast. The local Land Rover agent had offered to help "if they had the right plug and lead". Well our anonymous contributor has done a great deal of research in this area and provided a reply which is reproduced as this note. 123. More on RV8 electronics and diagnostics Roger Parker Roger Parker (Green 4092) from Staffordshire, a well know MGBV8 expert, has provided some useful observations and comments for the reply to John Hornabrook (Woodcote Green 1781) from Australia who contacted the V8 Register in February 2002 seeking help with RV8 diagnostics. 124. More legroom for the air-conditioned! John Barnes A modification that can provide real legroom benefits in an RV8 by removing the air-conditioning surround and using a modified cover box. This brief note explains the modification. 125. RV8 paint codes Graham Burcher Graham Burcher (Oxford Blue 1729) from Yorkshire had tried to confirm whether the colour of his car was Oxford Blue or Caribbean Blue and found the colour codes difficult to decipher. A call to Bryan Ditchman soon found he had a book with the colour codes listed. Graham has prepared this note as an aid for other RV8 enthusiasts, together with contributions from Bryan Ditchman and Roger Parker. Volume 5 126. Hot RV8 cockpit Graeme Renshaw An Australian V8 enthusiast, Graeme Renshaw (Nightfire Red 0477) from New South Wales, reported hot footwells in his RV8. This note is based on some thoughts from Roger Parker. A copy of this note can be seen as RV8NOTE126. 127.
Fitting a windstop to an RV8 128.
Solving a problem with the RV8 heater control cable 129.
PAS options for the RV8 130.
Hunting down a misfire on an RV8 131.
Play in the RV8 steering rack 132.
Tired tyres with warehoused RV8s 133.
Caution with space saver spare wheels 134.
Check your exhaust hangers, engine mountings & battery Bruce Webster A note for members downunder. Bruce Webster was one of the first overseas members to receive his RV8 Workshop Notes on CD and after a rapid read promptly produced a brief note. 136. A leak down ones right leg! Bruce Webster Another water leak note. 137. RV8 hardtop for an
RV8 138.
Strange noises on the left hand side 139.
Stretching your legs in an RV8 140.
Erratic idle on an RV8 141.
Take care of your clips! 143.
Another windstop installation 144.
ECU location, removal & refitting 145.
RV8 skirt removal 146.
What a sweaty business in an RV8 in Tokyo! 147.
Why was the VIN stamped in the RV8 rain channel? 148. Blown
a fuse? 149.
Boot release 150.
Plastic plug rot 151.
Three replacements on checking over a reimported RV8 152.
RV8 brake hydraulic system and master cylinder 153.
Have you got a screw loose? 154.
Replacement door cappings 155.
Dealing with a noisy back axle 156.
RV8 back axle reconditioning service 157.
RV8 front indicator lamp connector terminal corrosion 158.
RV8 coolant filler plug - worth changing to the brass plug 159.
Got a blown plastic coolant filler plug? - a tip to get you home Editor Peter Wallis (Nightfire Red 2178) from Hampshire bought a reimported RV8 and shortly after he contacted the V8 Register for information on replacement tyres. As most RV8s seem to be low mileage vehicles, the topic of replacement tyres had not been covered in the RV8 Workshop Notes series, so a request for members' views on tyres was sent out by email and a message posted on the V8 website Bulletin Board. This note is a summary of the feedback received from our RV8 members. You can view this note as RV8NOTE160. Volume 6 161. Fitting a new glove box locker plunger switch Peter Garton Peter Garton (Woodcote Green 1238) in Germany posted a note on the V8 website bulletin board describing his marathon job to replace his glove box switch. Clearly his copies of the earlier volumes of the RV8 Workshop Notes were essential! 162. Check your replacement
brake shoes 163.
R380 gearbox lubrication 164.
Exchange Lucas Alternator 165.
Ghostly lights in the footwells 166.
RV8 spares checklist 167.
Removing the RV8 headlamp cowl 168.
Thatcham immobilisers 169.
Replacement RV8 rear brakes 170.
Solving RV8 overheating problems 171.
Why does the red "No Charge" warning light stay on? 172. Choose
where you have your RV8 serviced with care! 173.
Sorting out an air conditioning fan that has rusted up 174.
Are your shock absorbers working for you? 175.
Insulated air cleaner on an RV8 176.
Changing indicator lenses from amber to clear on an RV8 177.
RV8 bottom hose problem 178. RV8 radiator
blanking panel radiator check 179.
More on replacement tyres and savings 180.
Steering wheel locks 181.
Replacement RV8 shroud stickers 182.
Recommended tyre supplier 183.
Replacing the MG badges - care 184.
Should I keep the air-con system on a reimported RV8? 185. RV8 water
hoses 186.
Spasmodic idle failure with an RV8 187.
Off-side underbody knock on an RV8 188.
RV8 starting and running problems 189.
Where does the air conditioned air enter the RV8 cockpit? 190.
Warning - an unusual RV8 fire risk 191.
RV8 alarm ECU - suspected vulnerability 192.
Reimporting an RV8 - what are the options? 193.
New mobile phone law in the UK Gavin Brown Gavin Brown at the MG Car Centre at Launceston in Tasmania has obtained a supply of replacement up-rated front springs. (Oct 03) RV8NOTE194 195. Factors causing Japanese RV8 owners to send their cars to auctions Colin Shea Colin Shea explains some of the economic and social factors which influence Japanese owners of classic cars like the RV8 to send their "ageing" car to auction from which they are generally exported to the UK or Australia. The flow of RV8s to auction in Japan is a key factor in the supply and demand balance in the RV8 markets in the UK and Australia so is inevitably of interest to RV8 enthusiasts there. (Nov 03) RV8NOTE195 196. Lowering the RV8 back end John Barnes Lawrie Steere (Oxford Blue 0933) who runs the MG Service Centre in Christchurch New Zealand races his RV8 and has been trying to get better handling. Here John Barnes (Woodcote Green 0636) from Wellington reports on progress so far. (Nov 03) 197. RV8 clutch slave cylinder repair kit Clive Wheatley Although repair kits are not available for the RV8 clutch slave cylinder, it is possible to use the kit available for the MGBGTV8. Here Clive Wheatley explains how. (DEC 03) 198. RV8 tyres - Michelin Pilots are available Bryan Ditchman Brian provides a workshop note update on the availability of suitable "V" rated replacement tyres for the RV8. (DEC 03) 199. RV8 front foglights - an alternative source of replacement units Bryan Ditchman Bryan provides a note on alternative source of replacement front foglights to help owners of UK specification cars (and owners of Japan specification RV8s wishing to convert them to UK spec) who are unfortunate enough to suffer stone damage. (DEC 03) Volume 7 200. Timing adjustment on reimported RV8s Chris Hunt Cooke Chris Hunt Cooke (Woodcote Green 2038) posted a note on the V8 Bulletin Board with a useful reminder to have the timing checked on reimported RV8s, even after the modification to the vacuum advance mentioned in RV8 Workshop Note 60 has been done. (Aug 03) 201. Unichip connector problems John Hornabrook John Hornabrook (Woodcote Green 1781) has prepared this note on the improved performance achieved by fitting of Unichip to his RV8. (Jan 04) 202. Velcro pads on RV8 trim panels Colin Shaw Colin Shaw (Woodcote Green 1397) from Lancashire, provides an account of how he solved a problem by sourcing an elusive spare part from another Register member. (Jan 04) 203. Removing an RV8 nose cone Gavin Bailey Peter Kilmister (BRG 0320) from Hampshire posted a query on the V8 Bulletin Board for help in removing the RV8 nose cone and Gavin Bailey promptly responded! (Feb 04) RV8NOTE203 204. Hot feet! Nick Grant Nick Grant (Woodcote Green 0388) from Tyne & Wear was concerned that the legwell air vents were permanently blowing hot air onto his feet. - fine in winter but with the approach of Summer he was wondering how to cure it! Fellow members provided help. (May 04) RV8NOTE204 205.
Folding windstop for an RV8 211.
Uprated RV8 Koni shock absorbers 212.
Replacing the reversing light switch 213.
Checking the gearbox oil level and/or replacing oil 214. RV8
suspension damper adjustment 234. RV8 alarm
resynchronization - not alarm ECU damage 235.
Power assisted steering for an RV8 Bob Owen Bob Owen has produced an excellent article which sets out the facts with a dispassionate assessment of the issues so fellow members can understand the DOT categories, the DOT fluid performance tests and the benefits and disadvantages of each fluid. He has also highlighted some concerns - key variables where there is uncertainty. In essence they are the lack of information on the composition of the replacement rubber seals and the effect of various formulations of glycol fluid available in the market on those different types of rubber seal - and the effect of silicone fluid on them too. They are being examined and a further report will follow. (Jan 09) RV8NOTE294 295. Cooling hoses layout V8 Bulletin Board thread Mike Howlett posted a query on the V8BB seeking help with the cooling pipes on his conversion. (Feb 09) 296. Where can I get replacement ignition keys V8 Bulletin Board thread Mike Giblenn posted a V8BB message asking fellow members where he could get a replacement RV8 key with the pivoting fob? (Feb 09) 297. Space saver tyre for the RV8 Gavin Bailey Gavin Bailey (BRG 0766) from Surrey obtained an RV8 spacesaver tyre and as they are not readily available, he has provided some photos. (Feb 09) 298. Tyre sealants V8BB posting Roger Parker mentioned tyre sealants in V8NOTE247 as a way of coping with the removal of a spare tyre to make more room for luggage in an MGV8. (Feb 02) 299. Check the steel connecting pipe between the lower cooling hoses John Holmes John Holmes has a brief note but it is nonetheless a useful reminder of a check you should make when you change the rubber cooling hoses on your RV8. (APR 09) 300. Where can I get a touch up! Angus Munro Angus Munro posed this question on the V8BB and the response was most helpful. Surprisingly Miss Whiplash from Milton Keynes did not respond! (Jun 09) RV8NOTE300 Volume 9 301. Replacement boot bulkhead clips Hugh Boddington Hugh Boddington was looking for spare clips for his RV8 but had been unable to get them and then saw them in a magazine. (Jun 09) RV8NOTE301 302. RV8 windstop for the taller driver Angus Munro Angus Munro wanted a windstop but as he is quite tall had to think of ways of adapting the standard windstop. Here he describes the project and in a copy of this note, illustrated with photos, available on the V8 Website he provides a detailed guide to fitting a windstop plus provides a drawing of the new rail too. (Jul 09) RV8NOTE302 303. Renovo's plastic window polish works! Angus Munro Angus Munro posted a note on the V8BB of his experience with Renovo's product. (Jul 09) RV8NOTE303 304. Spacesaver wheel and tyre for an RV8 John Bolt Following a V8BB posting by Alan Spence, John Bolt provides details of the spacesaver wheel and tyre he has used on his RV8. (Jul 09) RV8NOTE304 305. Take care with adverts for RV8 brake discs on eBay! Julian Holmes Julian Holmes spotted an advert on eBay for RV8 replacement front brake discs at bargain prices but discovered they were not RV8 discs. Later he spotted an advert on eBay from MG Services Heathrow offering genuine RV8 discs which included a warning for RV8 enthusiasts to avoid discs offered on eBay by some traders. They are not RV8 discs but quite probably Rover 800 discs. (Jul 09) RV8NOTE305 306. Curing RV8 speedometer faults Peter Garton Peter Garton, an RV8 enthusiast in Germany, posted a VBB note reporting he had a faulty kph speedo. The responses were very interesting and highlighted some concerns for UK enthusiasts who still have a kph speedo on their reimported RV8. (Aug 09) RV8NOTE306 307. Critical views on spacesaver wheels Ian Quarrington & Bob Owen Some of the feedback on the spacesaver thread on the V8BB was critical of the idea of a spacesaver following the release of RV8NOTE304 on Tuesday 4th August . (Aug 09) 308. Converting RV8 headlamps to LHD Peter Garton Normally the RV8 reimports from Japan, apart from being originally equipped with the speedometer in kilometres, also have the headlamps fitted which are suitable for the UK - the Japanese also drive on the left! so will need changing if you keep your RV8 in Mainland Europe or other countries where they drive on the righthand side of the road. (Aug 09) 309. Finding replacement RV8 cats Barry Martin Barry Martin started to hear the dreaded death rattle from the underside of his RV8 and he knew he had to find some replacement cats. Here he tells us where he found a good supplier. (Aug 09) 310. What is a Hoyle rear suspension upgrade like? Robert Crowson This is a question owners consider when they consider whether the handling and ride of the standard suspension package on their RV8. Nigel Hylands-White posted a message on the V8BB seeking fellow RV8 members' views. Here Robert Crowson relates his experiences of a Hoyle set up. (Nov 09) 311. Fitting a Hoyle independent rear suspension upgrade on an RV8 Steve Newton Steve Newton at Clive Wheatley mgv8parts has fitted a number of Hoyle rear suspension upgrade kits and provides an outline of what is involved. (Nov 09) 312. Not all suspension mods on an RV8 are a good idea Angus Munro Angus Munro bought an RV8 that was advertised with various suspension modifications supplied by a reputable company. He found the handling of the car was alarming. Here he describes what he found and how he cured the problems. (Nov 09) 313. LHD headlamp conversion on an RV8 Frank Labruier Most RV8s were produced in right hand drive (RHD) form as the major markets were Japan and the UK, both of whom drive on the left However, many of the Japanese RV8s have been put up for sale in recent years due to the cost of passing the very stringent tests their regulations impose on older cars. Moreover, the recession in the UK has increased the number of RV8s for sale in the UK and the strong state of the Euro and has made them attractive to continental buyers. So as more continental buyers want to register their RHD RV8s in mainland Europe a key requirement for compliance is that the headlights should dip to the right and meet the various cut-off and light scatter regulations. Frank Labruier of Luxembourg has an RV8 he bought in the UK and has come up with an economical and elegant solution. Frank apologises for his 35 year old school English but in fact it is very good, so the following is Frank's explanation, with a few very minor amendments from Bob Owen. (Nov 09) RV8NOTE313 314. Refurbishing RV8 wheels V8BB postings Hugh Boddington set a V8BB thread running with the question "has anybody had any experience of stripping the lacquer from an RV8 wheel using Nitro Mors water based paint and varnish remover?" It soon became an active thread and finally David Sutcliffe from Australia posted details of how he had refurbished his RV8 wheels. (DEC 09) RV8NOTE314 315. Water pump overhaul V8BB postings Ross Boyd posted a query on the V8BB seeking help with his water pump overhaul. (DEC 09) RV8NOTE315 316. Space saver wheel David Sutcliffe David sent in a set of photos of his modified SAAB 900 spacesaver spare wheel he uses with his RV8 when he needs boot space. He had a local engineering shop to make a spacer ring which is permanently fitted to the inside wheel centre. His photos show the improved boot space. (Photos: David Sutcliffe) RV8NOTE316 317. RV8 wheel refurbishment sequel Hugh Boddington Following the contributions to a V8BB thread on refurbishing RV8 wheels launched as a query by Hugh Boddington, he set about cleaning his wheels and replacing the removable studs. In this sequel he provides a photo record of how he refurbished his wheels. (Jan 10) RV8NOTE317 318. RV8 tacho removal and wiring Gavin Bown, John Brown and Hugh Boddington Ross Boyd posted a query on the V8BB saying could someone please tell me how to remove the tacho without removing the whole dash? (Jan 10) 319. Fitting a tow bar to an RV8 Tim Hipwell Nigel Ricardo posted a query on the V8BB seeking advice on fitting a tow bar to an RV8. Tim Hipwell responded with some photos of the tow bar he had fitted to the RV8 he used to own. (Jan 10) 320. What are the differences between the two types of drive - Phillips and Posidriv®? George Wilder The front of George Wilder's RV8 was hit by a pigeon as he was driving along a single carriageway. Fortunately on inspection he found no damage to the paintwork, but needed to remove and adjust the position of a headlight cowl on his RV8. He discovered the fixing screws were not Phillips but Posidriv®. This may not be a distinction which someone without an engineering background may be aware so this note explains the differences between the two types of drive so you will be able to make sure you have the correct screwdriver for the job. (Jan 10) 321. Wipers failed? - test the relay as well as the fuse Simon Austin Simon Austin recently imported RV8 (Woodcote Green 0590) to Canada from Japan and during the process of having the car MOT'd for licensing had run into a small snag. His wiper/washer system was not working. He thought he had isolated it to the relay/control unit on the back-side of the fuse-box. Unfortunately he found that this relay was not available in Canada so he ordered a new one from Rimmer Bros. Simon posted a message on the V8BB to see if any other RV8 owners had had their wipers fail and found the relay at fault. If not the relay, were there any other areas to check out? (Jan 10) 322. Concerns with modern antifreeze formulations for classic MG enthusiasts Victor Smith Concerns over the suitability of current antifreeze formulations for use in classic cars were raised in a recent newsletter from the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC). When you refer back to the handbook for the RV8 published it recommends using an ethylene glycol based antifreeze, but on visiting the Bluecol website a small footnote states their Bluecol 5 Year product is "not suitable for classic cars". So what does an RV8 enthusiast use for antifreeze today, what are the issues behind the changes to an iconic motoring product like Bluecol and what are the concerns for a classic car enthusiast? (9.3.10) 323. RV8 boot lid struts Peter Wallis Peter Wallis from Hampshire posted a note on the V8BB with a useful, moneysaving tip on sourcing replacement struts at a competitive price. (Mar 10) 324. RV8 Engine mounts orientation? [note is being drafted] Replacing his engine mounts, Darren Jones wanted clarification on which way round to fit them, so he posted a request for help on the V8BB. (APR 10) RV8NOTE324 & Extract 325. RV8 rear bumper alignment Peter Garton Peter Garton in Germany posted a note on the V8 Bulletin Board and later sent in a set of photos which help explain how he got his nearside rear bumper correctly aligned. (APR 10) RV8NOTE325 326. Blocked fuel filters - an essential check for RV8 enthusiasts Brian Kitching and Peter Garton Useful threads appear on the V8BB regularly and recently two threads clearly have a link producing a useful reminder for fellow RV8 enthusiasts on the need to check the fuel filter and a possible cause for the rust particles that can accumulate there! (Jun 10) 327. RV8 oil pressure switch John Bolt Geoff Day, a new member from Suffolk, contacted Club Office with a query - "my car is an early one, number 13 made. I need a new Oil Pressure Switch, but have been supplied with part number GPS 181 twice, which does not fit. Can you help?" (APR 10) 328. Fitting a Classic Additions' windstop Richard Wood posted a note on the V8BB seeking help as he has just purchased the classic additions windstop, but had found the instructions consist of some very grainy photos. Could someone tell me how to connect the windstop to the brackets and which way up the side brackets go. Also the bolts that connect the actual windstop to its side brackets seem far too long. Classic Additions sent us a useful photo.(Jun 10) 329. Unlocking a seat belt inertia reel Erik Persson When removing the seat the belt on his RV8, Erik Persson in Sweden found the belt completely rewound back onto the reel. Extending the belt proved impossible as the inertial lock appeared to have engaged and the belt could not be rewound further to get the lock to release. How did Erik solve the problem? (Jun 10) 330. Understanding and maintaining RV8 brakes Editor Christopher Allan posted a note on the V8 Bulletin Board seeking help understanding how the Rv8 brakes work and can be adjusted. This note provides links to copies of the sections on the brakes in the RV8 Technical Reveal and the RV8 Repair Manual. (Aug 10) RV8NOTE330 331. How safe is the jack in your RV8? Chris Allan Shortly after Chris Allan purchased his 1994 RV8 (Flame Red 1192) he decided to check the contents of the tool tray located within the spare wheel centre. What he found was not reassuring. (Aug 10) 332. Make sure your hood toggle catches are fixed correctly Michael Bernhard Michael Bernhard (Woodcote Green 1169) in Switzerland posted a useful caution on the V8 Bulletin Board. (Aug 10) 333. RV8 gear lever rubber gaiter replacement Richard Wood Richard Wood (Caribbean Blue 0370) from Lancashire found help from a fellow member via the V8 Bulletin Board on this occasional service item. (Sep 10) RV8NOTE333 334. Should the ashtray have an insert, metal or plastic? Richard Wood Richard Wood posted a note on the V8 Bulletin Board noting "as the RV8 is still new to me, but should the ashtray have an insert, metal or plastic?" (Nov 10) 335. Windstop installation from Holland Leo Schetters Leo Schetters has provided a set of photos and drawings of his neat windstop. (Nov 10) RV8NOTE335 336. Heater blower not working? Richard Wood Richard Wood posted a note on the V8 Bulletin Board seeking help with a heater blower that would not work. An RV8 enthusiast in Germany, Peter Garton, spotted a possible solution which solved the problem. (DEC 10) RV8NOTE336 337. What pressures do you use for modern tyres on an RV8? Ron Gammons Julian Holmes posted a message on the V8BB saying although much has been written about tyres on the V8BB, I haven't seen anything about tyre pressures used by other MGV8 members and wonder what they use?" (DEC 10) RV8NOTE337 338. Identifying the RV8 replacement cooling hoses Steve Newton Simon Austin in Canada posted a V8BB query seeking help in identifying a couple of hoses in the set of eleven in the replacement hose kit. So we have prepared a note identifying each one. (Jan 11) RV8NOTE338 339. Take care with excessive use of sump sealant Steve Newton On checking an RV8 for a sump oil leak, Steve Newton at Clive Wheatley mgv8parts was surprised by what he found! It could easily have lead to an expensive engine rebuild. (Jan 11) 340. Fitting central locking to an MGV8 Martin Ashby Martin Ashby (Bracken 1346) from Coventry says after owning many modern cars all fitted with remote central locking, he decided to retro fit remote central locking to his MGBGTV8. He had fitted the same style of kit to other classic cars he had owned including a previous MGB with great success. Here he describes the kit you will need to get and how to carry out the conversion. (Feb 11) 341. Fitting cruise control to an MGV8 Ralph Coulson Ralph Coulson acquired his V8 Roadster in 2007 and has enjoyed it a great deal including a memorable MGOT track day at Castle Coombe in 2009. Here he describes how he installed a cruise control system to his V8. (Feb 11) 342. RV8 "badge" Chris Allan Michael Gledstone posted a query on the V8BB saying "I note with some surprise that the RV8 does not display a badge, which says 'RV8'. I realise this is a matter of opinion or personal taste, however I feel a car of this class should have a visible identity. My car only displays ROVER - has any member fitted an RV8 badge? If so please could you say from where it was obtained?" (Mar 11) RV8NOTE342 343. RV8 rear window zip Peter Wallis Peter Wallis sought help on the V8BB with sticking zip and some useful tips followed. (Mar 11) 344. RV8 instrument bezels Dominic Scott Dominic Scott from New Zealand posted a query over instrument bezels. (Mar 11) Intro. (Mar 11) 345. Folding windstopper design for an RV8 Leo Schetters Dutch RV8 enthusiast, Leo Schetters, has generously provided a useful set of drawings for making folding brackets for an RV8 windstopper. (Mar 11) 346. Luggage rack options for an RV8 Chris Yates Richard Woods posted a note on the V8 Bulletin Board seeking help with a replacement luggage rack. Chris Yates responded with photos of both a fixed and a removable rack. Peter Beadle provides several footnotes. (Mar 11) 347. Where does the coolant go? Graham Cornford Simon Austin in Canada posted a query on a cooling difficulty. Graham Cornford in the USA suggested a possible cause and a way of avoiding coolant loss. (APR 11) 348. Useful tool for fitting a hood press stud Richard Wood Richard Wood posted a useful tip on the V8BB on hood studs. (APR 11) 349. Heater rail modification to avoid a heavy indentation on a rubber heater hose Steve Newton Steve Newton has come across a number of RV8s with an indentation on an elbow shaped rubber heater hose on the end of the heater rail near the alternator. He suggests a cure. (APR 11) 350. RV8 driver's footwell water leak Dominic Scott Dominic Scott, an RV8 enthusiast in New Zealand, highlights how he solved a water leak around the pedals. (Jul 11) 351. Fitted luggage for an RV8 Peter Wallis and Ken Clayton Peter Wallis and Ken Clayton have found some fitted luggage from a specialist supplier, Hillsalive, is an efficient way of packing for a weekend or a longer tour in an MGV8. (Aug 11) 352. Refurbishing a seat frame on an RV8 Olav Jansen Olav Jansen found the seats on the ex Japanese spec RV8 he bought were rather dirty and the iron frame was somewhat rusty, so he took out the seats to carry out a refurbishment. (Sep 11) RV8NOTE352 353. Cautionary tale with a socket ratchet set Nic Houslip Nic Houslip provides a word of warning to those of you who use socket set ratchet handles that you need to push the spindle through and turn over to reverse the direction of operation. (Jan 12) 354. Power steering options Victor Smith Fitting power steering to a classic MG is a topic often raised, particularly in relation to the RV8 which many people find heavy to steer. Hydraulic power assisted steering (PAS) systems have been available for a while, and some RV8s reimported from Japan have been retrofitted there with the MGF EPAS (electric power assisted steering) system. With a new EPAS conversion available in the UK, how do these systems compare? Victor Smith reviews the available options. (DEC 11) RV8NOTE354 355. Official type approval for the EZ EPAS system in Switzerland Michael Bernhard A Swiss RV8 enthusiast, Michael A. R. Bernhard, has been working hard with his local classic car specialist and EZ Power Steering in Holland to get official type approval for the retrofitted EZ EPAS system in Switzerland. Here he describes how they have successfully obtained official approval for the retrofit. (Jan 12) RV8NOTE355 Volume 10 - working draft 356. First impressions of an EZ EPAS system Mike Lane Fitting power steering to an older MG is a topic often raised, particularly in relation to the RV8 which many people find heavy to steer. Mike Lane gives his first impressions of the pleasure of driving his RV8 fitted with an EZ EPAS retrofit from Clive Wheatley mgv8parts. (APR 12) 357. Draining and refilling the RV8 coolant system Peter Garton Following a query raised on the V8 Bulletin Board, Peter Garton sets out the procedure he uses to drain and refill the coolant system on his RV8.. (APR 12) RV8NOTE357 358 Replacement RV8 radiator cover Peter Garton The plastic radiator cover often breaks at the offside mounting point. Here Peter Garton describes his experience with the problem and how he fitted an upgraded replacement. (APR 12) 359. Refurbishing an RV8 brake master cylinder Paul Ireland As the hydraulic fluid in the brake master cylinder looked like old engine oil, Paul Ireland felt it looked as if the fluid had not been changed since his RV8 was built. So he decided to rebuild the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders. The master cylinder proved to be challenging because, not helped by an error in the RV8 repair manual - hence the reason for this note. (May 12) RV8NOTE359 360. Rechipping an RV8 Victor Smith It's a topic often raised by RV8 enthusiasts and in a V8BB thread in May 2012 Peter Garton sought a clarification of the difference between the the Optimax and Tornado chips supplied by the rechipping specialist Mark Adams. (May 12) RV8NOTE360 361. Replacing clutch and brake return springs Peter Garton A useful note from a V8 Bulletin Board thread launched by Peter Garton. (June 12) RV8NOTE361 362. RV8 wheel refurbishment Angus Munro From time to time a discussion opens on the V8 Bulletin Board regarding refurbishment of the wheels fitted as original equipment to the RV8. Angus Munro has followed these threads for some time and with the information gained had planned to do the work himself, but then found a first class specialist providing a good wheel refurbishment service. Angus relates his experiences. (July 12) RV8NOTE362 363. Setting up a Hoyle IRS upgrade on an RV8 Angus Munro When Angus Munro was considering the idea of putting the Hoyle Engineering IRS upgrade onto his RV8 he did as much research as possible before deciding to go ahead. He found the excellent article on fitting the upgrade by Steve Newton of Clive Wheatley mgv8parts published in Safety Fast! December 2009 was helpful but felt there was a distinct lack of information regarding the set-up of the system and moreover, what to expect of it. Here Angus describes his experience with setting up his Hoyle IRS. (Jul 12) 364. Spax shock absorber settings on an RV8 Angus Munro Shortly after bespoke Spax Krypton replacement shock absorbers were made available by Clive Wheatley in late 2007, Rob Collier reported his experience with fitting them and the pleasure driving an RV8 with much better handling and ride. In a V8BB thread in July 2012, Angus Munro reported his experience with softer settings on his replacement Spax shockers. It proved an interesting topic as Angus relates. (Jul 12) RV8NOTE364 365. Bonnet gas struts upgrade Simon Austin In an effort to improve on the RV8 design, Simon Austin wanted to install gas struts to the bonnet on his RV8. He'd always wondered why MG Rover didn't use struts but it may have just come down to cost. As Simon has had previous experience installing the struts on two other MGBs he has owned, he felt this task could easily be accomplished. Here he describes how he fitted a pair of gas struts. (Aug 12) 366. RV8 boot lid lock and boot light switch During a recent thread on the V8 Bulletin Board, Godfrey Dennis was able to solve two problems: first solving a problem with the switch forming part of the boot lock and second solving a missing tell-tale lamp on the dashboard switch for the boot lock. (Aug 12) RV8NOTE366 367. Radiator pressure caps Tony Lake The V8 cooling system just about copes with modern motoring so here Tony Lake provides this useful note on cooling, what is so "hot" it could be regarded as overheating and the importance of a correctly pressurised cooling system. (Aug 12) RV8NOTE367 368. Changing the small bulb in the RV8 dashboard boot release switch Godfrey Dennis During the discussion of how to solve a faulty luggage compartment lamp switch in the boot lock, Godfrey Dennis also checked the tell-tale light in the dashboard switch which opensthe boot. Here he describes how he tracked down a source of the small replacement bulbs and fitted one to his switch. (Aug 12) 369. Remote ignition module installation Simon Austin Simon Austin offers this modification saying you're not likely to find any reference to the remote ignition module kit in any RV8 manuals as the kit is actually intended for use on Land Rover vehicles. Since the RV8 uses the same ignition system as the mid-90s Land Rovers, this remote kit can be added to an RV8. The main reason for the kit is to extend the life of the ignition module by getting it away from heat. (Aug 12) 370. RV8 cooling fan modification Peter Garton Peter decided that a modification which allowed the cooling fan to run after the ignition was turned off would be a useful improvement. This note describes this modification. (Aug 12) 371. How to deactivate or disable the RV8 volumetric alarm Peter Garton Peter Garton explains how this adjustment to the burglar or anti-theft system can be made. (Aug 12) 372. Dealing with tyre punctures - a personal view Peter Varley Peter Varely responded to a V8 Bulletin Board thread discussing spacesaver wheels for the RV8 as a way of making more room for luggage when touring, with this personal view on his approach to the issue. (Sep 12) RV8NOTE372 373. RV8 cooling fan override switch John Anthistle Peter Ferguson posted a V8BB note seeking help making this useful modification saying looking at the wiring diagram it looks to me that a switched, earthed wire to "85" on the cooling fan relay would bypass the cooling fan switch when required. However I am no auto electrician and would appreciate guidance from someone who has done it with success. Helpful replies provided the answer. (Feb 12) RV8NOTE373 374. Tracing an engine misfire on an RV8 Oliver Libuda and Peter Garton After a lengthy and expensive series of tests and replacement parts by a local distributor, the problem was traced to a failure of the RV8 mass airflow sensor resulting in negative exhaust emission values when the engine was at normal operating temperature and causing misfiring when accelerating. Here Oliver and Peter explain how the problem was solved. (Oct 12) 375. Fitting electric wing mirrors to an RV8 John Taylor & John Cumming John Taylor made this reversible modification to his RV8 so he now has electrically adjustable wing mirrors with a heated element to remove condensation or frost from the face of the mirror. (Oct 12) 376. Preventative maintenance with the RV8 aircon condenser fan and motor John Cumming John Cumming found that when he took off the air conditioning condenser brackets and fans to repaint the metal work, the fan blades are mounted upside down and trap water in the closed part of the fan. This trapped water then rusts the fan motor case. He outlines a useful modification. (Jan 13) 377. More on electric wing mirrors Tim Smith Following RV8NOTE375 contributed by John Taylor and John Cumming, which described how the RV8 can have electrically controlled and heated mirrors, Tim Smith owner of Nightfire Red 1218 has added notes from his experience of fitting the mirrors. (Apr 13) 378. Next note Contributor Introduction. (May 13) Updated
on 29th May 2013 © V8 Register. No reproduction, copying, transmission or sale of the whole or any part of the RV8 Workshop Notes series is permitted without the express agreement in writing of the V8 Registrar of the V8 Register. The series continues and all contributions will be very welcome. Please send them to the to the V8 Registrar, Victor Smith at email or by mail to the V8 Register - MG Car Club, PO Box 888, London SW14 7YT Asbestos cautions for classic car enthusiasts. More | ||||