More Moss stuff arrived today. Another mixed bag of right and wrong.
The ashtray is shown as being the original style, which fastened with 4
screws visible at the outside corners of the ashtray. This was correct on all
MGAs with the exception of early 1500s which used a similar ashtray but without
the flange flared to the outside at the bottom. This early style, rarely seen,
fastens with 2 screws under the ashtray.
The Moss even adds the words "as original" to their description of the
ashtray, but unfortunately it is the oddball early style unsuitable for late
MGAs.
To call it original and leave it at that is the same as supplying that
strange early oil pump strainer and just calling it "as original" without
noting
that it isn't right for later cars.
Perhaps I can punch the hinge pin and use the top on my old one, but if I do
that I may as well just toss the top in with the stuff I am rechroming, so I
guess this one goes back. Decent chrome, but the lid is a bit crude compared
to the original, and the fit on the base is definitely poorer.
To offset that, my Twincam knock-off spinners came with this batch and the
chrome looks great, there are 2 rights and 2 lefts (one can take nothing for
granted....) and they appear to be the proper Dunlop style with the different
angle in the cap. These have a 'Made in England' label on them, and I have
to wonder if that doesn't have something to do with the much higher quality
than I've been seeing on the stuff sourced in the Orient.
Speaking of which, the outlet happily replaced the unacceptable radio
blanking chrome surround and the speed nuts which were the wrong size for parts
that will work. Oriental (non)-quality control strikes again.
Now the parts outlet will have to send them back across the border (assuming
Moss doesn't just replace them on faith without seeing the 'bad' parts), and
they might have potentially pissed off a customer (were I not such an
understanding soul) - you have to wonder if the extra cost to examine the
stuff
from the Orient and weed out the crap BEFORE it goes out wouldn't be worth it,
don't you?
Bill
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