dimmer switch

rficalora · January 05, 2010, 06:47:11 PM

I'm getting ready to order my wiring harness & have to decide about the dimmer switch. I prefer a floor mounted one but can't recall whether there's room one or not. Seems like my '67 had one but that was 25yrs ago so what do I know? Any suggestions?

mowog1 · January 05, 2010, 08:12:59 PM

There should be room...MGA's and early B's had a floor mounted dimmer. (So did my '57 Chevy!)

Citron · January 06, 2010, 01:01:50 PM

I just worked on a 67 BGT. It had a floor mounted switch.

Steve

Bill Young · January 06, 2010, 01:48:05 PM

Rob, if you're considering a dead pedal then perhaps making the switch mount part of that would make access better. Best thing I ever did for the driving comfort in my car was a dead pedal, really took the strain off my leg and ankle as well as making it easier to get to the clutch when necessary.

MGBV8 · January 06, 2010, 05:08:55 PM

My dad's '63 B has the floor mounted dimmer. My long legs & big feet would sometimes cause the dimmer to get unplugged.

I have wanted a dead pedal forever, then at a V8 meet many years ago, I discovered Mike Moor's new dead pedal. That was it. I went home & added one. Don't know how I did without it.

After 21 years, I've long since gotten used to the column mounted push dimmer.

rficalora · January 06, 2010, 06:45:02 PM

Good input, thanks. I ordered the floor mount dimmer -- turned out it was only $6. I'm still looking for a car with a column mount headlight, turn, dimmer that would fit & look right, but not likely i'm going to find one.

danmas · January 06, 2010, 08:44:32 PM

Rob,

Have you considered a column from a TR6? It wouldn't be hard to adapt, and it would have the "period" look that you seek. IIRC, the steering wheel from an early MGB fits the steering shaft.

Early TR^s had the headlight switch on the column with a floor mounted dimmer; later models had the headlight switch on the dash with a column mounted dimmer. The columns were identical for all models.

Dave · January 12, 2010, 05:52:38 PM

You can take a Volvo headlight latching relay and install it it in an early B to make the headlight flasher into a dimmer switch. I did that to my '66 over 15 years ago and it still works fine. When the lights are on it acts as a dimmer switch (and flashes) and when they are off it just flashes the lights. It's been so long ago I don't remember the details except that I ended up running the ground through the flasher switch. My '66 is wired negative ground, by the way. Oh yeah, my car is right hand drive and there is less room for the switch in the stock left-of-the clutch pedal position.