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Omnibus
Edition is now available!
The whole V8 Workshop Notes series is now available on CD.
It includes all the volumes below and a very useful detailed
Index to the whole series. The front cover photo for each
volume is below together with a summary which will give you
a feel for the content of the series. The document is in both
Word and PDF formats and comes with a free copy of Adobe Acrobat
Reader to read PDF files.
Cover photo: Teal Blue 2101, the first rubber bumper V8, as
it appeared on the 1976 BL calendar. Owned by the late Geoff
Allen, V8 Historian & Archivist.
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Volume
1 - "First Fifty"
The series started in 1978 with
the notes published in the monthly V8 Column in the MG Car
Club's magazine, Safety Fast!. The series grew rapidly and
the first volume was completed at Note 50b) and was then issued
as a printed, spiral bound A5 sized book.
Volume 1 includes Note 24 by John Dupont on removing and refitting
the engine and gearbox unit. In the updated copy released
on the Omnibus Edition CD, there are copies of the Issue 2
pages on the engine and gearbox from the V8 Supplement.
Cover photo: Bracken 1218 on a dry and bright Autumn morning
near Marlow by the Thames in Buckinghamshire.
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Volume
2
The series grew very rapidly and another twenty notes, taking
the series to Note 71, were released as Volume 2 in January
1982.
The topics covered in Volume 2 included several notes on exhaust
manifolds and how to avoid cracking, a sequel to the engine
and removal note in Volume 1, a clutch slave cylinder note
and a note on cooling fan motors - a topic which started Volume
8 over twenty years later!
Cover
photo: Damask 0109 in the hands of Tom Studer from Switzerland
who owns one of the few Abingdon built LHD MGBGTV8s. Tom was
a founding member of the V8 Register in 1978.
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Volume
3
Another volume of the Notes was published only a matter of
a few months later in May 1982, taking the series to Note
100 - an astonishing sign of the involvement of members in
the V8 Register at the time.
The topics covered in Volume 3 included the "back axle
clonk" and a controversial modification, several on faults
with the alternator, more on exhaust manifolds, and a couple
of notes on the fuel tank.
Cover photo: BRG 1022 in the hands of John Targett from Sussex
and Ohio USA as he powers by the apex at Madgwick during a
GRCC Track Day at Goodwood Circuit.
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Volume
4
Two years later in May 1984 a further volume of 75 Notes was
published, again in the printed and spiral bound A5 format
which took the series to 175 Notes. This has proved to be
the largest volume so far.
Volume 4 started with an amusing Note from V8 Historian Geoff
Allen with the title "take care - your balls may drop!".
The range of topics covered corrosion, more on exhaust manifold
bolts, insurance claims, some tips on changing clutch and
brake master cylinders, more on the controversial back axle
modification, and a host of other topics.
Cover photo: Midnight Blue 0342 owned by Ulf Lindquist in
Sweden - a good looking MGBGTV8.
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Volume
5
The flow of Notes slowed as many of the topics had been covered
and Volume 5 appeared some seven years later in May 1991 with
a further 36 Notes taking the series to Note 210. Volume 5
includes more on V8 alternators, a note on the heater valve,
how to revive sagging seats, renovating V8 wheels, protection
against damp in garages over Winter, a useful tip on the need
to prime a replacement oil pump, and a note on unleaded petrol.
Also included was a useful "V8 production change points"
table.
Cover photo: BRG 5018, a good looking Costello V8 owned by
Paul Denton (BRG 5018) from Cornwall.
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Volume
6
In 2000 another volume was compiled taking the series to Note
245 but this time it was initially distributed by email as
an attachment, but later on CD in both Word and PDF formats.
Volume 6 covers a note on battery management devices, more
on unleaded fuel and the limited availability of four star,
tips on going the annual le Mans endurance race, replacement
gearboxes, an important note on brake servo failure cases,
replacing six volt batteries, and classic car insurance.
Cover photo: John Targett (BRG 1022) & Paul Busby (Glacier
White 0278), two longstanding members, enjoying a sunny Silverstone
V8 Gathering in 2001.
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Volume
7
The enormous success of the RV8 Workshop Notes series edited
by Bryan Ditchman produced a significant rise in contributions
for the V8 Workshop Notes series. In addition, technical queries
and tips posted on the bulletin board on the new V8 Website
were a major source of Notes.
Volume 7 was completed in January 2003 and covers rear shock
absorber performance, a note on replacing the plastic coolant
filler plug, replacement tyres by age rather than wear, and
yet more on cooling fan motors.
Cover photo: Harvest Gold 1089 owned by Victor Smith, the
Editor of the series, at the Hook Norton Brewery in Oxfordshire.
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Volume
8
This volume was started and completed within the V8 25th Anniversary
Year 2003. It started with a note
from Bryan on maintaining V8 cooling fan motors - some things
do not change in 25 years! The
volume ended with a note on radar detectors by Victor Smith.
Cover photo: Engine bay of an MGBGTV8 - always
an impressive sight.
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Volume
9
The
new volume was launched with a note from Geoff Allen querying
the V8 production total of 2,591 usually quoted by most authors
of publications covering the MGBGTV8 - but is it correct?
Well as information has gradually come to light, the longstanding
V8 Register Historian & Archivist, Geoff Allen, believes
there were more than 2,591 V8s! Geoff explains the true total
production story!
Cover photo: MGBGTV8 has a generous load space for a sports
car.
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Volume
10
This new volume was launched in June 2005 with V8NOTE331 on
a low brake fluid detector, a warning that several cracked
steering rack mounts had been detected, a note of spacesaver
wheels from David Waterton, a note on upgrading headlamps
from the origina; sealed beam candles to more modern lighting
with a Cibie conversion kit and as summer arrived a note from
Peter Steyn on making sure the heater valve does in fact turn
off!
Cover photo: V8 Roadsters are very popular
with V8 enthusiasts.
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Volume
11
A clutch of notes launched Volume 11 in July 2006 starting
with two on heat in a V8 - a tip to keep the cockpit cooler
from John Hornabrook and another with a radiator upgrade from
Jamie Trapp. Ian Ailes contributed two notes on the V8 starter
motor and Kai Knickmann produced probably the best 12 volt
battery conversion using two small Bosch batteries which are
virtually the same size as the original 6volt units.
Cover photo: Harvest Gold 0157 sold by Kevin Horsey through
the MGV8s for Sale webpage in July 2006.
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Volume
12
The series continued from V8NOTE401 with a note of V8BB postings
on a query "should the throttle cable be clipped to the
pedal box?" and ended with V8NOTE450 with a note highlighting
another relay burn out.
Cover photo: Bob Grieves (Black UM Jubilee 2788) on his way
to the European Event of the Year at Zug in Switzerland
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Volume
13
From V8NOTE451, this is the current volume.
Cover photo: Franck Morand's MGBGTV8, Mirage
0158, at the Le Mans Classic 2012.
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You
can review the Contents of the whole
V8 Workshop Notes series and a detailed Index
How
can I obtain a copy of the
V8 Workshop Notes CD?
Copyright reserved by
the V8 Register of the
MG Car Club, PO Box 888, London SW14 7YT
The
series continues as Volume 13 and all contributions of spares and
maintenance tips are very welcome. They can be sent to the Editor
of the V8 Workshop Notes series Victor Smith. Email
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