MGB & GT Forum

I have just tried to install my third ignition switch for my 67 GT from VB in a year.
In fairness they replaced the last one after it failed in less than 3 months.

But the switch they sent me this time is amazingly bad. I am not exaggerating when I say it is the worst part I have ever received.

The nut that holds it on the inside of the dash was slightly too large and would pop inward when pressure was put on it..no prob, I just put the old nut on as well and both together held.

But the flat spot that is supposed to be on the threaded shaft that keeps the switch from turning in the dash wasn't there either.

But wait, there's more

I put the outer ring on it and it snapped in half when hand tightening it.

So I get the outer ring off the old switch (two of the three switches had the same threading, one was a finer thread) because I am determined to make this hunk of chit work.

I thread it on tight as I can with my fingers, put the special tool on it to tighten it further and after less than a quarter turn, the threads on the switch strip out!

I understand that bad parts happen. I can live with that. But three in a row in less than a year with the quality getting worse every time I order is ridiculous.

Add to that the starter solenoid I installed in the spring of this year has also failed.

They offered to refund my money after I sent it back but after my uproarious laughter at that suggestion the customer service guy (who did not know an MG from a GM) said they'd just go ahead and refund the purchase price.

Time I start heeding my own advice and stop getting anything from VB.
Rant finished

So now I need a switch for my 67 GT and if I'm not mistake , Moss doesn't cary the whole switch at this time.

Any suggestions?

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"...They say that a man with two restoration projects is a poor man...I now have three...WTF was I thinking!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

1967 MGB-GT,1979 MGB roadster, 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 1974 MGB Roadster (retired, giving its life to be a parts car)

My 1974 MGB restoration at: http://mgbproject.blogspot.com/
My 1979 Spitfire restoration at: http://spitfire1500project.blogspot.com/
My 1967 MGB-GT restoration at: http://mgbgtproject.blogspot.com/



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-01 04:30 PM by Starbuck.

...I have some switches...but I need a photo...

Never ordered from VB but feel the same way about Moss. Overpriced and poor quality. Anything made in this century is going to be utter crap. I try to source OEM or used whenever possible but sometimes that's not possible. Anyway, best of luck to you, I'm sure most of us know the pain well.

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Jay D
"Bee Sting"
'77 MGB Mk. IV 1800CC
Weber 32/36 DGV Carb
Ported Intake
Pertronix Distributor
Early 70's exhaust manifold
Magnaflow muffler
Driven daily and loved daily
by a poor college student

And yes, the clock works.

I would try the B hive

http://www.thebhive.com

Ive had good luck with them
Failling that try MGOC spares in the UK

Good luck

I feel your pain, Bro.

BS&T, Ebay, or Amazon. Sorry.

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Jim K is a grease-stained wretch



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-01 04:42 PM by Jim K.

Ron Francis Wiring sells very high quality ignition switches, See if they have one that will work with your GT. They are a hot rod place but sell good stuff.

Ron Francis Wiring

I bought a brake pressure switch from them that lasts ten times longer than the one that Moss sells for my 65B, When my ignition goes, I am going to buy one from them.

.... let me add, I have some original switches....

Moss has the switch but you have to order the switch and then the barrel. 544 077 163 500

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There is a special place in hell for those who molest factory wiring
1975 Mineral Blue MGB Supercharged
1967 Tartanish Red MGB GT Supercharged
Restoration of the 75 MGB Click here
Restoration of the 67 MGB GT Click here


You Can't Prove It Won't Happen

VB, Moss and every other company selling to this market has a significant business challenge. They're selling to a dying market. Every day the number of MG, Triumph, Healy, etc. restorations that are getting started is declining. Trying to remain profitable is increasingly difficult for them. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not justifying them selling crap. That's not in anyone's best interest. The problem is, we're all looking for the best prices and we're going to have to accept paying higher prices for decent quality if we want to have companies like Moss and VB to be around in the future.

Clearly, they have to clean up their act regarding quality. But, if they had confidence the market would pay for higher quality they would source parts from better suppliers. The ball is in their court - but it's in ours too.

Uh, did anyone notice that Wyatt said - twice - that he had some OE switches that he would part with if the OP would just post a picture of his switch?

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“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

Bob, Susush...the longer he takes the longer I get to look at his avatar and figure out what kind of tree that is...

Buy a used switch from Wyatt. I've had exactly one OE early B ignition switch go bad, ever, and I borrowed one off a derelict Sea Ray boat to replace it on a temporary basis.

I am amused at this sort of posting. It never ceases to amaze me that anyone would receive an obviously **** piece from a vendor and not raise holy hell to the rafters with said vendors (fill in the blanks as to who they are) I am going to get **** from the cheap seats for this comment and I really don't care, if a piece is not up to snuff, get on the phone a ***** like crazy……. escalate the problem to the next level, pure and simple. I realize here are good members here that represent these vendors and I absolutely do appreciate that, however……. the bottom line is that most vendors do not have a clue as to some of the crap pieces that they are being provided from parts of the world that has no concept other than wanting to make a few yen for their slave labor. I have been at the parts counter for a replacement part for my 2010 car and looked at the knucklehead behind the counter and said " are you ****ting me?" in the fact that the replacement part is made of bubble gum and scotch tape at best. And I don't want to hear the bull **** about our cars being +40 years old, that should not matter. certainly the market does not have a high demand for the pieces that we require but on the other side of that coin, we pay a PREMIUM price for those parts and we are often times supplied with crap. Supply and demand is NOT an issue and falls squarely on the shoulders of the vendor and lack of quality control. Sorry for the rant but am just calling a spade a spade.

AFAIK VB's quality control dept iinvolves the order taker at a call centre offering a refund....their business model seems to work for them. Diversify and volume sales....you can hear the same rant on the Chevy pickup forums.

....OK thats it....offers off the table, I'll be damned if I'm gonna circle the wagons just cuz the chief got aholt of a bad case of fire water that was cut with sterno and now hes blind in one eye......next he'll want bullets to go with the gun powder....uh-uh.....not on my watch..........