Spares news from Brown & Gammons
Malcolm Gammons has sent details of some useful RV8 spares available at Brown & Gammons at Baldock. For contacts, see the B&G entry in the V8LIFELINE.

• R380 gearbox
  We have one new R380 gearbox. All parts are new and it comes with a V8 bellhousing and gear stick assembly. Exceptional value at £1,110.00 plus VAT.
  
  
• Battery management units
  These units can be left plugged into your RV8 and keep the battery in good condition and fully charged. They have cunning circuitry which cuts out when the battery is fully charged and avoids boiling the elctrolyte - ideal for periods when the RV8 is in the garage in cold weather. We have been selling them for 3 years and have sold 1,500 units. They now come with a new plug-in wire kit for easy fitting. Good value @ £39.95 plus VAT.
  See RV8NOTE56.
  
  
• RV8 body for repair sold with all panels @ £2,250.00 plus VAT.
  
  
• RV8 front and rear brake hose
  Front hose GBH90278 @ £30.00 each plus VAT.
  Rear hose GBH90279 @ £16.00 each plus VAT.
  
  
• RV8 distributor
  Only a few new RV8 distributors available @ £160.00 each plus VAT.
  
  
• RV8 air-con parts
  Full range of air-con parts are carried at Baldock.
  

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Spares news from Ames MG Rover
Some good news for RV8 enthusiasts, Keith Baylis at Ames MG Rover in Bury St Edmunds has a supply of the RV8 technical information CD containing six useful RV8 manuals - the RV8 Owner's Handbook, RV8 Technical Reveal, RV8 Repair Manual, V8 Engine Overhaul Manual, R380 Gearbox Overhaul Manual and the LT77S Gearbox Overhaul Manual. For further details see the RV8 technical information CD webpage which has a copy of the front cover and an outline of each manual together with information on how to order your CD whilst stocks last! Ames MG Rover is a recommended V8 parts supplier. For their contacts, see their entry in the V8LIFELINE.

Spares news from Clive Wheatley
Clive Wheatley is offering the parts listed below at attractive prices based on his knowledge and experience of sourcing from the original manufacturers. He can also supply a full range of RV8 parts including RV8 tools rolls with a set of Britool tools. For Clive Wheatley's contacts, see his entry in the V8 LIFELINE.

• RV8 Repair Manual AKM7153
  Copies of this essential document for RV8 enthusiasts can be obtained from Clive Wheatley. The manual is in a convenient loose leaf format in a good quality D-ring folder with colour covers with MG RV8 logos. The manual covers the air-conditioning system fitted to Japanese specification RV8s. Clive supplies copies of the manual at £45.00 plus packaging and delivery. He uses the courier service Citylink to deliver the manuals to members in the UK - as a guide, the cost is around £5.50 as the manual is quite heavy.
  
  
• RV8 road wheels
  As the RV8 road wheels (ZKC5700 and ZKC6749) are no longer available and we have been told it will not be made again, Clive Wheatley has found a source of supply for the prototype three piece spilt rim wheel. It is available as the original 15 inch diameter wheel or as 17 inch wheel suitable for a low profile 205x50x17 tyre. The cost of the 15 inch split rim wheel is £215.00 and the 17 inch, £290.00 each plus VAT. The 17 inch wheel and tyre was shown in the April/May 2002 issue of MG World magazine and the August 2002 issue of Safety Fast! The 15 inch prototype split rim wheel can be seen in the MGV8 Twenty One Years On book by David Knowles on page 74. It is shown fitted to the third development car (White ADDDEV03) registration JGT 808 N owned by our member Alan Torbett in Worcestershire. Contact Clive Wheatley at V8 Genuine & Conversion Parts on 01902 330489 for further information on these wheels and their availability.
  
  
• RV8 half tonneau
  Clive Wheatley has limited stocks of the RV8 tonneau available at £135.00 plus VAT compared with the MG Rover price of £170.00 plus VAT.
  
  
• RV8 back axle reconditioning service
  Clive Wheatley has launched an RV8 back axle reconditioning service at a time when several RV8s have been experiencing noisy back axles and showing signs of wear. The service is based on complete reconditioning of members' own back axles, including both the crown wheel and pinion and limited slip differential. An exchange service is not available. The RV8 back axle was a one-off unit for the RV8 whereas the LSD was not so. The availability of crown wheel and pinion parts have been a concern whereas the LSD components less so.

  Recently Clive found the original supplier for both the crown wheel and pinion and the LSD for the RV8. A new batch of crown wheel and pinions is being produced and should be available by the end of July 2002. So Clive has solved a potential difficulty which might have become an increasing concern for RV8 enthusiasts with back axles needing repair. Clive says "there are twelve gears in the RV8 LSD so it has always been a little noisy rather than the other type of LSD with a clutch. Recently I have had two RV8s needing treatment on the back axles - the most recent was a 70,000 mile RV8 with a noisy back axle so I thought it was time to do something as many cars are approaching or beyond that mileage". In terms of cost, Clive indicates "it will depend on the amount of reconditioning work and parts that are found to be necessary, but as a guide reconditioning is likely to be in the range £500 to £1,000 including labour and materials plus VAT for the reconditioned back axle". On top of this you will need to add the costs of removing the back axle, freight both ways and reinstallation. As a guide, the price for a new RV8 back axle from MG Rover's spare parts supplier is reported to be around £2,000 including VAT so a complete reconditioning service is a worthwhile option for an RV8 enthusiast!
  
  For Clive Wheatley's contacts, see his entry in the V8 LIFELINE, a listing of V8 specialists.
  

• RV8 alternator (Magneti Marelli) part number GNU 2398.
  MG Rover dealer price: £211.17 + VAT
  Clive Wheatley's price:
  Outright purchase £119.50 + VAT
  Exchange unit £92.50 + VAT
  
  
• RV8 starter motor (Bosch) part number GNU 4665
  MG Rover dealer price: £214.32 + VAT
  Clive Wheatley's price:
  Outright purchase £122.50 + VAT
  Exchange unit £92.50 + VAT
  
  
• RV8 front wheel bearing kit with hub part number GHK 1594
  MG Rover dealer price: £281.19 + VAT
  Clive Wheatley's price £198.50 + VAT
  
  
• RV8 early front wheel bearing kit without the hub
  Clive Wheatley's price £59.50 + VAT
  Note, the RV8 early bearing kit without the hub is not now supplied by MG Rover but Clive Wheatley can supply the kit. The early bearing kit is for RV8s prior to axle front cross member number PE2316. This number is stamped on the nearside rear fixing leg of the front suspension cross member and can be viewed by looking behind the rear of the front road wheel. See RV8 Workshop Note 38 by Bryan Ditchman in Volume 1 of the RV8 Workshop Notes series. Clive feels this news "could cause interesting comments from members in Japan because he has heard from an RV8 member there that the front wheel bearing kit is over £600.00 per side!".
  

All goods to overseas purchasers from Clive Wheatley are dispatched by Fedex or UPS parcels service and within the UK, by a reliable parcels service. Chargecard orders welcome.