Technical Data for the MG Y Series

In this suite of pages we will bring you General Data sheets for the MG YA, YT and YB, and wiring diagrams for original "standard" wiring layouts.  Please note that these are based on original factory manual information only: they may not necessarily reflect your car as, over the years, your car may have been heavily modified by previous owners.  Furthermore, your attention is drawn to our DISCLAIMER.

For those of you who are not fully conversant with the differences between the MG YA and YB saloon, Neil Cairns has authored a page to highlight the differences too. All files are in PDF Format for which you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.  If you have not got this installed on your PC you can download it free here  .

Size Matters

by Dave DuBois, Don Harmer and Tony Slattery

Fasteners, Threads, Torque and Wrench were all originally written for the T Register, they are reproduced here because of the commonality of parts shared between the Y series and the T series.  Nuts and Bolts is specifically written for Y Types.

General Data Summaries

Wiring Diagrams

SU Carburettors - Exploded parts diagrams

Differences between the MG YA and the MG YB

MG YA / YB - that is the question ... by Neil Cairns

SU Fuel Pump

The Collected Writings of Dave DuBois

Dave DuBois was a gifted technician who started driving MG sport cars early on, and never ceased driving them as his family's "Daily Drivers". Over the years he used his experiences in the Navy Yards of Bremerton, WA, to bring simple fixes to some of the perplexing problems of our cars, mostly related to electrical contacts, fuel pumps and safety. He became world famous as the go-to guy for SU fuel pump restoration.

For years Dave's writings have been available on his homepage, homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/. With Dave's passing from cancer in January 2019, his writings were no longer available. For almost 50 years he graced those of us in the hobby with solid advice, good humor and perfectly working fuel pumps. He is and will be sorely missed. His son, also Dave DuBois, has granted permission to publish his writings here.

Problem Solving Diagnostics

Maintenance Instructions for Lucas Altette horns as fitted to MG Y and Y/Ts

Problem Solvers originally printed in MG Abingdon Classics magazine, November 1981

Maintenance Instructions for Lucas Electrical Equipment

Running Instructions for the Lucas Coil Ignition Equipment

Instructions for Lucas "Stop" Tail Lamps including ST 50 and ST 52

Spark Plug Diagnosis

Click here to open a page on engine problems that can be diagnosed by inspecting the spark plugs.

Generators and Control Boxes

A reprint of the book produced by Lucas called "Generator and Control Box Tests"

Rebuilding Starter motors

A reprint from Practical Classics magazine, April 2009 on rebuilding your starter motor.

Lucas Overseas Technical Correspondence Course

Salesman's Reference Book

The section from the Nuffield Export Market Publication's Salesman's Reference. Published in 1948, the section applying to the MG Y and YT is reproduced here.

The section from the Nuffield Home Market Publication's Salesman's Reference. Published in 1952, the section applying to the MG YB is reproduced here.

The section from the Nuffield Export Publication's Salesman's Reference. Published in February 1953, the section applying to the MG YB is reproduced here.

Special Tuning for MG Midget

This is a section from the Nuffield Export Publication's for Special Tuning of the XPAG Engine. Published in March 1950 and is reproduced here.

Fitting a 5 speed gearbox

Tony Vernall's notes on fitting a 5 speed gearbox to his YB are reproduced here.