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September 29th, 2008

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Q & A: Ballast Resistor Wiring / Head Work Estimate

Monday December 22nd, 2008
Q & A, MGA, MGB, MGC, MG T-Type, Midget
I was out today to pick my B after it had an ignition failure this past weekend. I had a spare coil, which I felt was not the problem but I changed it anyway. I also thought it could have been the ignition switch, the relay, or even the ballast resistor. I wish I had replaced the relay I gave away a couple of summers ago to someone in trouble! Now that I am back on the road I have a few questions. Is the ballast resistor connection just to the right of the ignition coil? I see a green wire to the right and a white and white with brown coming out the other side. I know the green is the ignition circuit. The other question involves some engine work that I am contemplating in the future. The bottom of the engine seems to be solid with good oil pressure and really no problems with burning oil. But after 76,000 I am wondering about the condition of the cam shaft and the overall condition of the cylinder head. I do notice a little slop between the valves and rockers the last time I was checking the valve gap. From the outside the head looks good, but as far as the underside who knows. I have also heard that the later cams tended to be a softer alloy and that sometime after 60,000 miles they began to show significant wear. If my head was still in good shape, what would it cost in time and labor to change out the valve assembly, seats, guides, polish it up to increase the flow of gasses in and out, and to replace the cam and associated lifters and push rods? I know this is an estimate, and I am basing it on your experience. If my head had problems, what does a replacement run?
There is a ballast resistor within the wiring loom itself. This pinkish wire connects to the WHITE or the WHITE/BROWN circuit on the outside of the wiring loom, just below the fusebox . This resistance wire then travels to the left front of the ... read more