Restorers Corner

Online preservation group that members working on projects can get assistance by email or in a forum. Add a short note and get a reply to solve issues or thinkg you just don't know. This can also be a good way of getting those parts you may need to restore.

5 posts found.

Posted by Guest Sat, 30 May 2026 at 9.07am Report this post	MGB Heaters Do you struggle to move your heater control from Off to Interior to Screen? Have you ever removed your heater and found it nigh on impossible to get it back in? I have a way of dealing with both issues. The standard heater airflow direction control uses a solid wire in a flexible tube that takes a tortuous route from the knob to the heater. They are invariably stiff because the solid wire grabs on the tube due to the kinks in the tube caused by the path it has to take. The solution I put in place, designed by Chris Baraciolli, uses a 12 volt servo, like those used in model aircraft, to operate the flap in the heater box that controls the airflow direction. I nice, flexible bit of electrical cable then takes the same path as the original solid wire back to the control knob. The control knob now turns a small electrical component that sends the appropriate signal to the servo. The control knob is now as smooth as butter to turn! Regarding reinstalling the heater box, it is a horrible job due to the constraints of its location and design. The heater box has a section below the firewall shelf, into which tubes are pushed to provide the air to the cabin. It is this bottom section that causes the problem. The solution I have in place, also designed by Chris, involved cutting off that bottom section, welding flanges onto it so it could be put in place first (along with the tubes), then installing the top part of the heater box, sandwiching the flanges of the bottom section between the top part and the firewall shelf. It is now easy to remove the top section, and much easier to get the tubes into the bottom section from the engine bay rather than having to dismantle the radio speaker housing to try and push them in from the cabin. If you want more specific details of how to do either job, let me know! Cheers, Nick (0404800613).
Posted by Barry Simons Sun, 2 Aug 2026 at 8.08pm Report this post	Hi Nick could you Identify (part number etc) the 12 volt servos you have. There are also small electric solenoids that may also work if you can get the correct travel. Jaycar and AliExpress have some it may also be possible to use solenoids for a modern car Falcon, Toyota, Nissan etc heater switches. Removing the cable mechanism is a great idea.
Posted by Peter Baker Mon, 3 Aug 2026 at 1.06pm Report this post	For Information about my current project: 1967 MGB Mk 1 roadster YGHN3 Eng # 18GBUH79152 Body #4768 (assembled in Sydney 1967) Original registration:     JVL-728     date:13/10/1967 Current registration:     MG-728 Gearbox:   3 speed Colour:     British Racing Green Current status:      Windscreen frame and car interior removed. Car at panel shop - rust and panel repair, repaint (expecting return by Christmas 2026) then windscreen and interior re-fit, engine overhaul. Expect to be back on the road mid to late 2027 Regards Peter 0458147222
Posted by Nick Wood Wed, 5 Aug 2026 at 8.16am Report this post	Barry, the servo was a HITEC and while I'm not sure of the model (it's buried inside the heater so not easy to check) it would be similar to this one: https://servodatabase.com/servo/hitec/hs-422. I bought it from Tates Toys and Hobbies in Shannon Ave, Geelong West. You can buy from them online at https://rcworld.com.au/?s=servo+hitec&post_type=product
Posted by Nick Wood Fri, 7 Aug 2026 at 7.21am Report this post	You would also need a a 5-24V Small Servo Motor Regulator Tester PWM Controller (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007597363438.html) to control the position of the servo (needs to be attached to the back of the dashboard heater control knob) and a DD4012SA 1A DC 5-40V to 12V Regulator DC-DC Step-Down Buck Converter Module Board (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005546083276.html) to give you the power supply.
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