The MGA With An Attitude
MGA Guru Is GOING MOBILE - (August 16 - August 31, 2026)
Sunday, August 16, 2026 :
Moved 80 miles farther east over night, sitting in Gretna, Nebraska today. Added new Part Numbers tech pages for the clip to secure the MGA thermometer signal pipe to the lower bolt holding the heater valve (or blanking plate) on the MGA engine cylinder head. Originally a two-piece clip with part numbers AHH5802 andBHA4081, there is now an aftermarket part number BHA4081K for a clip assembly, and alternate part number 281-920 (from Moss Motors).
 This clip was introduced in February 1958, two months before introduction of the MGA Twin Cam. Makes me wonder if they found a vibration fracture problem with the thermometer pipe during Twin Cam engine development (food for thought).
Revised the Care and Feeding tech page CF-125 for Production Changes For MGA by Date, Chassis and Engine Numbers, to show the introduction point of this clip. -- Moving along in the evening, landing in Shelby, Iowa by sun down, no fuel needed yet.
Monday, August 17, 2026 :
Moving 3-1/2 hours more east today with fuel stop in Des Moines, IA, then stopping in Davenport, IA for late lunch.
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 :
Early morning heading east on I-80 to to cross the Mississippi River at Le Claire, Iowa, planning for fuel stop and breakfast at Atkinson, Illinois. Traveling well, getting good fuel economy, we decided to continue on to Utica, IL before fuel and late breakfast. Then the road changed with a sign declaring "Accident Ahead". As motion slowed to a crawl, we were forced off next exit at Annawan, IL, re-routing onto the parallel highway US-6. Okay, I-80 was closed, so we would likely get back onto the interstate at the next entrance ramp. Uh, nope. The I-80 bypass detour signs just kept going on US-6, passing three more entrance ramps. We were finally directed back onto I-80 east at Spring Valley, IL, 40 miles after the exit point. Never could figure out what kind of accident would close 40 miles of interstate highway including three interchanges.
We must have had a good tail wind for the past two days, because the next fuel stop at Utica, IL gave us 264 miles with only 10 gallons of fuel, and 26.4 mpg is pretty good when towing the trailer at expressway speeds. Having gone 50 miles farther than originally planned, we could stop here, with not too far to go tomorrow.
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