Inner arch / digital dash / General help?

[mcentre2001]

Hi all, I'm new on here and have been lucky enough to get hold of a Silver, 1985 2.0i MG Maestro with only 20,400 miles on the clock from new, totally original except I have upgraded the radio ( still got the original ) and i am putting a Janspeed exhaust on it ( remember them!! ), but I have got a couple of curious questions that I'm hoping that someone out there might be able to help me with???

1) This car has got Green Headlining, I've seen this before in a MG let alone a std version, it is fabric, not worn, no roof, and evenly coloured, but it's green?? it is the early dash model ( cig lighter on passenger side ) has anyone come across this before??

2) I'm thinking of retro fitting the digital dash in ( I've got a computer and LCD dash on the way just in case, you never know :) ) it is the early dash version ( ashtray up top under clock ), does anyone have any ideas or advice about the retro fit

3) Took the car for a Mot today ( the Mot tester hadn't seen one for years!! ) and the only thing that he could see on the car was some corrision on what's best described as the inner rear wheel arch near to the fuel filler pipe, and he couldn't remember if that was a structual panel or what he calls a " dress " panel, in otherwords he didn't know if it was a fail or not?

4) Does anyone have a centre cap for sale ( chesse grater wheels ) as one of mine is damaged

Many thanks to everyone looking and I would appreciate some advice, I'll post some pictures as soon as i can

:beer:

[ben rawlings]

welcome.....to the forums

sounds like a nice motor. search the forums for digital dash retro fitting also im sure someone will help you out later. im picking up my 1983 maestro vandenplas with 17,000 miles on next weekend and that has a digi dash.......very cool indeed for a 22 year old car.

good luck

[E_T_V]

Firstly Welcome!

1) The dash is as it should be but the green headlining? Perhaps someone re-covered it before due to it sagging. Some of the older cars have vinyl headlinings which I guess could turn green with mould.

2) Fitting the dash is fairly straightforward. The only bits that aren't common are the speedo sender unit. If you use the original one the speedo reads double the actual speed! I think the one form 2 litre rover 800's should fit. If you find a spare I'm after one as I'm fitting a digi-dash to my diesel campervan when I get time.

3) I've answered this elsewhere but it isn't really a structural fault but it does need fixing. It'll depend on your MOT tester whether he passes or fails it. I think it'll be upto his discresion really.

4) No spares in my loft I'm afraid and I'm always on the look out for some too as they are often damaged. Keep asking though as they turn up on e-bay quite often and in peoples lofts when they are having a clear out too :D

[ChrisM]

Mmmm very nice, MG 2.0i with Mk1 dash :cool:

Welcome to the forums, btw!

One of our members (the previous owner of my digi-dash VP, as it happens) has plans to retro fit a digi-dash to his current car - search for member F153 JUE (or await a reply from him on here!) and see what he has to say...

Any chance of some pictures?

Edit: Check eBay for MG centre caps - I'm sure there are some for sale at SMC...

[mcentre2001]

Thanks so far for the replys, just out of intrest on the headlining, it is fabric, the only thing that I can think of is that it was specially requested at some stage for some reason by the original owner, the car has NEVER been smoked in and the spare has never been on the car, so either it did the usual sag and was replaced or it was a special request?

I was actually looking for a MG 1600 ( had a few many years ago, and a nasty accident in one, btw the MG drove away whilist the Fiesta was destroyed ), but this one being the very early 2.0i took my eye, no toys just as it should be ( no roof, windows, pas, rear belts etc etc ) and proper red carpets, why did they change them in 1988??

I've located most of the bits for the dash already ( NOS ) Computer and dash,
:cool: