Any MGB Owners? I May Get One Just To Mess With

[dagriff]

Having done my apprenticeship at a B.M.C/British Leyland dealer '69-75, I have a lot of memories of MGB's.

No, they are not "fast"!
The US type rubber bumper/raised suspension look a bit odd.
The SU carbs are not hard to keep in tune (a piece of hose and your earhole will suffice for balancing). Mixture adjustment is easy as well.
Like all A & B series engines, valve adjustment is a regular thing (we used to all have "Tappet-Rash" from the wrench slipping and removing a layer of skin from your wrist as it slid over the adjusting screws).

The #1 problem we had was the ignition timing. On 80% of them it was impossible to set at the factory setting without it "pinkinking" (Pre-ignition) even with what was then called 5 star petrol (105 octane I think).
Several years later I read an article in a car mag explaining that most of the distributors were never built properly and that a company called Alldon Automotive made replacements. So we put one on a customer car and it was fan-bloody-tastic! Aldon are still going in the UK and still making them. I would think most have been converted to electronic by now. Aldon do that as well.

If you do have to get the rocker panels replaced 'cos of rust, make sure the rest of the car is supported well, or it will sag in the middle.
As old cars go, it must rate highly if only because ever single part is still available, including brand new body panels made on the original presses, & it is so simple to work on.
I would like an early GT with wire wheels please.....

[M.D. Holloway]

If I do bust on this one, I will have to figuer out how to get it from CT to Tejas. Road trip with my Son? How fun would that be???

[LWJ]

I had a 65 roadster. Great fun. Noisy. Reliable. Cheap.

As for a 79, I would either lower it or pass. The tall ride height is a serious deal killer for me. It destroyed any handling the car ever had.

Larry

[yetibone]

Wouldn't a '79 have a single carb? I had worked on a rubber bumper B a few years ago that Zenith Stromberg 175 CDSomething. Had an air pump and cat too. I had to leave the hose off coming from the air pump discharge or else it would backfire.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by fuelie600

If the price is right, buy it. Get a new top and a chrome bumper conversion kit from Moss. De-smog the engine and put a header on it.

Nothing like a slow, oil dripping, british car!

Yeah! Like backdating a short nose!

[tcar]

Originally Posted by yetibone

Wouldn't a '79 have a single carb? I had worked on a rubber bumper B a few years ago that Zenith Stromberg 175 CDSomething. Had an air pump and cat too. I had to leave the hose off coming from the air pump discharge or else it would backfire.

Yes... one carb. and the suspension is all jacked up to meet bumper/headlight regs. Not good for handling and you're down to negative horsepower with that motor.

Get a 74.5 or older.

The early 70's had a awful looking dash (pillow dash). The whole dash was 'tucked and rolled' and no glovebox.

Plus a CT car will rust just being parked in a garage.

Also,

Lube, you'd be better off with a car from TX, NM, AZ, CA, UT, CO... etc. Shorter road trip, less rust - it's a unibody car.

Plus one on Craig's post. Really easy to work on.. you can darn near climb into the engine compartment to work on it.

They really are fun.

[lendaddy]

Body rot is everything, if it has more than almost none then forget it. I put thousands of hours into my 78 when I was in highschool and into my early 20's.

They can be fun but don't expect too much. And for the love of all that is holy don't mod the motor, there is no point in it.

I knew every part on that car, I don't want another.

I would get an Austin or maybe a TR6, they are just better cars. The MGB is a poor handling slow car, but in it's own weird way it's fun.

[aigel]

Run!

The car is worthless and with every buck you put into the heap you will lose another.

I had a 67 and it was fun for a while. But what a heap. At least the 67 wasn't a completely worthless year and a lot better looking than a plastic bumper car.

G

[VincentVega]

I still have mine, but it's tucked in the corner of the garage waiting for floors, sills...

Neat cars but slow compared to just about everything on the road. Think Miata but not as reliable, comfy, no AC, 4 speed, solid rear.... cool car for you and the kid.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

Late MGBs make me sad... they went from a handsome car with ~90hp to an ugly duckling with under 70hp. Even the interiors are ugly in the later ones.

I think MG lost its way when the MGA twincam flopped. The MGB was a nice enough car, but they should gave just stopped making cars in '75.

+1
I like this. The end of technically interesting MGs was the Twin Cam. The B started out as a truck and went downhill. Still an OK car for fun, but not interesting in any way. The only British car that is worth the hassle and money is a 1275 Mini.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

If I do bust on this one, I will have to figuer out how to get it from CT to Tejas. Road trip with my Son? How fun would that be???

Brilliant. My oldest son I drove from Sydney to Adelaide in an 85 928's. He was able to share the drive as he had his learners permit. It was great fun and he still tells his friends about it. It is something that he will remember forever.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I had an early 74 several years ago. Fun enough car with rebuilt suspension, wider tires on minilites. Hot as hell in the cabin in the summer, constant maintenance to keep it going. Parts availability is great. I wouldn't touch a rubber bumper car that wasn't already converted back to chrome, lowered and with the smog stuff gone and then only really cheap. I wouldn't do british again after having my SC for several years be rock solid.

[Stephen 325TDS]

Maybe this one would suit!

MG Midget - e36 M3 evo running gear on eBay (end time 25-Jan-11 14:22:51 GMT)

[71T Targa]

Is the boy interested in something like this? It could be the perfect father/son bonding experience.

[M.D. Holloway]

Nah, He has the Targa. I was thinking of the MGB for myself and maybe our lil girl someday. Then again, I think when she is 16 I should have my Caymen for a few years and she can have that!

[stomachmonkey]

Well Mike if you end up getting it I guess you'll be over a lot.

I have a bunch of oddball tools for older iron.

[MFAFF]

Interesting...

The car next to my 911E is a '67 MGB Roadster....owned now for 10+ years and as reliable as my P-car...with regular (simple) maintenace and a good battery charger.

If it checks out as a decnt basic car then doing the back date/ desmog etc are all traight forward tasks that would enhance the experience....

On which...its a 'sports car'... open, basic and its only goal is to drive..practicallity very low on the agenda..

They are not precise... even the very best leave much to be desired compared to a 911....but they are fun and friendly...simple and enjoyable in a very different way.

When the sun is shining, the roads dampled with shade and the birds singing its perfect... when I want to drive then the 911 comes out...

[porsche4life]

Drive that from CT to tejas? You have gone off your rocker haven't you.....

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Drive that from CT to tejas? You have gone off your rocker haven't you.....

Flew to TX, got the truck and trailer, loaded the cars and drove straight back.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Drive that from CT to tejas? You have gone off your rocker haven't you.....

Seriously, I did that drive in the Wifes Tahoe which is like a living room on wheels and it sucked.

BTW Syd, got your PM. Have been slammed but let me know the plans as you get closer.