[Statler]

So, after 18 years under cover in my garage, we’ve decided to resurrect the MGB GT.

It was restored by my Father in Law about 22 years ago but never driven on the road due to him developing a bad hip and not being able to use the clutch.

Here are a couple of pics. The paintwork looks ok in these but close up it’s in very poor condition. The painter clearly didn’t etch coat it and the tin worm his crept under the paint on wings, doors and rear quarter panels.

Mechanically it was ok when stored so we have made some progress which I’ll detail later.

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[OBC John]

Fantastic! I've had a soft spot for the B-GT ever since my brother had a Roadster version back in the early seventies.
Yours looks a peach!! Very envious.

Sent from my Nexus 10 and an XJ Portfolio. . . ☺

 

[R17]

Excellent - I look forward to the updates......although you are cheating as that looks to be in fine fettle on the surface

 

[Popeye]

MGBs had a reputation for going rusty; and I'm talking about back in the 70's.

 

[mentepazza]

Nice, I like it and I love resurrection projects.

 

[Loki]

That's brilliant, I'd love to do something like this one day!

I love how much room there is in the engine bay compared with modern cars (and how simple it looks!). An ex girlfriend's father had an MGB that he took me out in a couple of times; I don't think it was in that good a condition though, it struggled to hit 40pmh!

 

[GeoffW]

I bought a 1968 MGB roadster in the late 70's for £250. It had been parked at the bottom of a garden under a tree for a number of years with a conrod through the side of the block. It did have the extra cost overdrive and wire wheels though. It was stripped down and rebuilt to perfection over a number of years, sat in the workshop and worked on when there was nothing better to do. New sills, front wings, rear lower quarters, bare metal repaint, new wire wheels, a 'B' series BMC engine I already had was reconditioned and rebuilt with all the correct 'MGB' bits.

When it was all finished it was like new, lovely, went for a first drive and was a bit underwhelmed really but it had taken so long I said I'd never sell it! A couple of months later a mate in the motor trade came round with a Tesco carrier bag containing £12,000 and drove off in it!

 

[Statler]

I like that Geoff, lol

Thanks guys,
It had new outer and inner sills when rebuild and they've never seen water so should be grand. The doors and wings came off a US spec car so the doors have side impact bars in them.

So the engine moved when I put a socket on the crank, which was a positive sign. We pulled the plugs and poured a little diesel into the bores and left it for 24 hours. Hand cranking, the engine freed up beautifully.
We checked the oil colour and it was fairly clean on the end of the dipstick. Connected the battery, disconnected the electric fuel pump and with no plugs in, it cranked on the starter motor, giving positive oil pressure after a few turns.

Carb pistons had stuck so I gently removed and the needles cleaned.
The float chamber on these HIF carbs is underneath so it's an inlet manifold removal job to check them. Will need to get a new gasket before I do that.
Want to keep them joined so as not to upset the balance (assuming they are) ...

Next job is to change the oil before trying to start it on a temporary fuel supply. If it goes then I'll start on the rest of the systems.

All the hydraulic bits will need overhauled, I've caliper seals, wheel cylinders and braided hoses waiting. Have to order master cylinder seal kits yet.
Water system needs a complete set of hoses
Fuel lines and tank will need checked and cleaned

Electrics were a little iffy, no lights, which I traced to the headlamp switch. Took a chance on opening this 40 year old plastic bodied switch. I reckoned the plastic would just break apart, but it opened up without issue.
The inside was caked up with oily gunge, so I cleaned it out and buffed up the pins/slider and it actually went back together again. That's the lights working now, but I've a replacement on the way. £8 from MOSS.

It wouldn't spark the plugs and I eventually traced it to dirty points. Quick file and spark is happening now. Will swap to electronic ignition if all goes well.

Amazing how cheap some parts for these cars are and how expensive some simpler parts can be!

So the reason why we're doing this now is because Father in Law never actually put the car on the road. My eldest, who will be 21 this year, suggested we get it going so he could look into classic car insurance with a view to getting his Granda out in the car at long last. They're very very close and after all that his Granda has done for him over the years, he wants to do this.

 

[OBC John]

Nice story!
(Want to swap it for a S-Type Jag? )

 

[Jagcruiser]

Not sure whether they improved the suspension set up on the later 78 models, but I owned a 68 original Roadster, chrome grill, wires and leather, back in the early 70's and I can honestly say it was without doubt the worst handling car in wet weather I have ever driven.

The rear cart springs 'tramped' like crazy trying to pull away on a wet road, and the front lever suspension was a waste of time when it came to road holding.

The car was a spin in waiting when cornering in the wet, something I found on too many occasions.

After too many scares I traded it for a Lotus Elan 2+2 S130.

Now there was a car that did handle well.

 

[Statler]

Suspension setup is the same Bill, I haven't looked at the bushes too hard, but I reckon they may all need replacing eventually.

If I get close enough to getting on the road, I'll put it through MOT for their opinion of what needs done to make it roadworthy and upgrade the rest over time.

@John : Thanks, but not at the minute, lol.

 

[Jagcruiser]

Suspension setup is the same Bill, I haven't looked at the bushes too hard, but I reckon they may all need replacing eventually.

If I get close enough to getting on the road, I'll put it through MOT for their opinion of what needs done to make it roadworthy and upgrade the rest over time.

@John : Thanks, but not at the minute, lol.

I'm surprised they never upgraded the suspension 10 years on. After all, the original set up was years out of date IMO.

I do recall replacing the sills due to corrosion when the car was only about three or four years old, something that was a known problem.

 

[DAVENN]

Very nice...very nice indeed.
High praise from a former Spitfire owner.

 

[Statler]

I'm surprised they never upgraded the suspension 10 years on. After all, the original set up was years out of date IMO.

I do recall replacing the sills due to corrosion when the car was only about three or four years old, something that was a known problem.

A company called Frontline Developments do a full independent setup for the car, but it costs a fortune. One of those mods you do for racing or where you’ve Mr Ancill’s budget....!


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[Rigger]

Nice Steve.

Give us a shout when you need a hand. No call from the office yesterday, so I doubt I'm going away Monday. I'll also check with the good lady.

Then I'll be able to give you a hand with whatever you need doing.

 

[Popeye]

They were well liked at the time. More a gentleman's roadster then out and out sports car.
The Midget was more of a sports car.

 

[wilf]

You could always respray it bright yellow.

Very popular, so I hear.

 

[Statler]

The Midget was more of a sports car.

You could always respray it bright yellow.

Very popular, so I hear.

So I believe. How about BL Citron....?

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[Statler]

Got some old fashioned 20w50 oil and a filter, new plugs and new coolant yesterday.

Although the paint isn’t great. It’s responding to some manual TLC from Farecla G3 to get rid of the worst marring and a quick go over with Megs no. 83 on the polisher.
Roof was the worst bit as it had a vinyl cover over it which went hard and disintegrated over time. It looks like air movement with the Garage doors open had shifted the cover back and forth scarring the paint.

This is after the first G3 pass. Looks a lot better

This is the top edge of the tailgate which is slightly better than how the roof started.


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[wilf]

BL Citron would work nicely.

And anyway - she's an old stager, some patina is expected.

BTW, use a "classic" 20 50W, with lots of ZDDP for the sliding tappet contact. Like this one, other makes are available: https://www.classic-oils.net/Classic-Oils-Heritage-20W50