Moss Motors, Ltd

There's a mystery bracket on the engine of my 1980 MGB. It's on the left side of the engine, mounted on the top side of the bottom flange of the block,  forward of the oil-pressure relief valve.  It's held in place by one of the oil pan bolts, the first one forward of the rear plate. It's a right-angle bracket, with the horizontal leg against the block flange. There's a hole in the vertical leg.

What is this bracket for? There's nothing in the shop manual or Moss catalog that depicts this bracket. Its location would imply that it could have some function for restraining the exhaust downtube. The bolt on the bracket is not original (too clean!), so I suspect this is something a PO added.

Photos of the bracket are in my gallery, http://www.mossmotors.com/forum/photos/drc/default.aspx

 

As you suspect, it is there to stabalize the exhaust pipe coming from the manifold. You will need a round strap bracket with a hole in it to attch to the bracket.The bracket on my 77B is L shaped which bolts to the pipe clamp.

Would you be able to post a picture of your bracket and clamp as installed?

 I'm a little suspicious that this is non-orignial part, as I don't see it depicted in the shop manual drawings of the exhaust system or engine exterior.