Best shop manuals and restorations Guides.

[Norton47]

What are the better shop manuals and restoration guides for the MGB. I see a restoration guide by L. Porter and a review of that book states the the Haynes for 1962- 1980 is the foundation book. I also see one by R. Williams called Your Expert Guide to MGB Problems. Are these the better books? Are there others?
Thanks

 

[Steve_S]

The one manual you must have is the Bentley book. It contains reprints of the factory repair and owner's manuals. It isn't as "dumbed down" as Haynes and some others, but it does cover just about anything you would ever need to do on a MGB.

 

[DrEntropy]

Haynes contains some erroneous info and too many: "Take the unit to an experienced shop" references.

 

[ronzi]

I have the Lindsey Porter resto book, the Jim Tyler resto book, and the Bentley manual. The one I always use is the Bentley manual. Seems like the other two spend a lot of print and (bad) pics showing you how to remove a screw on the interior trim, and then gloss over other things that could perhaps use more detail.
If you are going to get ONE, make it the Bentley manual.

 

[Norton47]

I ordered the Bentley and the Porter and a Williams.
I know the Bentley for the TR6 is excellent.

 

[twigworker]

I wholeheartedly agree with all of the above but would add...

In general the best "tools" that you can buy are good references. Certainly until you are very familiar with these cars they will save tremendous amounts of time and frustration.

In the end, even if you end up spending a hundred or even two hundred bucks on them they will be the least expensive investment that you can make on your MG experience, no pun intended.

Get the Bentley manual first and then start accumulating other books, some of which will be more sub-system specific. Any of the Porter or Burgess books will be of value. The Des Hammill books published by Veloce Press will save your fanny some day too. Everything is available at some time or another on eBay or Amazon and can often be purchased as "used", which will save even more dollars.

Also, be sure to stick with at least one if not a couple of good boards like this one. The information exchange is great and everyone is always willing to jump in with their two cents.

Jack

 

[racetearoffs]

I found a Practical Classics on MGB Restoration book , not to thick but real informative . Brooklands Books is the publisher // mga ,mgc and v8 , gt , midget .. all models have their own book

brookland books ltd
po box 146 cobham
surrey , Kt11 1 lg england


Dont know if they are still around got the MGb book off fleabay

 

[19_again]

For electrical info, nothing compares to Rick Astley's The Essential Manual MGB Electrical Systems. Great pix, explanations. Amazon has it, mine paid for itself the first time I opened it. I agree on the Bentley as well, but you can't have too many. Bentley lacks an index, but when used often enough you get the hang of it.
Mike

 

[Madoc]

I found a UK version of the Haynes manual in a local used book shop. It's a dated 1968 and seems to go into a lot more detail than the later versions. Light blue cover with a plastic jacket. It's pretty useful.

 

[WA1KWA]

I refer to them all at one time or another. Must have 6 at least. I used the previously mentioned Lindsay Porter 'MGB Guide to DIY Restoration' as my bible when I rebuilt the car years ago. I still refer to it when doing some major repairs, like the kingpins. The previously mentioned Practial Classics book mentioned is similar, though between the two I'll go for the Lindsay Porter book.

Colin