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MGB 63 / 66 MGB questions

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bighly

bighly

Jedi Knight
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Hello,

I wandered in from the Healey forum. My younger brother just bought a pair of MGBs and he called in a great amount of excitement last night. I immedieatly pointed him the the BCF.

Can someone provide a link(s) to info for the 1963 and 1966 MGB roadster preferrably including specifications. I am interested in the differences between these years.

Tracy
1960 AH BT7
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Gary,

Nope. Both have been in dry storage for 20 years or more. Both were put away running. Hopefully both should be a case of new rubber, batteries, brake, fuel system check out etc..

Tracy 1960 AH BT7

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Yep, best reference for spec differences (with great photos) is "Original MGB" by Anders Ditlev Clausager. And he should get the latest Moss MGB catalog . . . as good a reference as any. And I'm sure he'll be needing a part or two (!) anyway...
 
Hi,

I am bighly's brother; I have some pics of the cars I bought:
https://www.users.qwest.net/~calscott/new_page_6.htm

I picked them up off an old friend’s dad he had them stored in the yard under some protection for about 20+ years. It took 4 of us 2 and a half hour to get them up on the flatbed. They were tucked in next to a fence with a nasty thorn bush next to one of them. We got 7 of 8 tires to take air (this was a complete surprise).

Over the next 2 years we will all become very good friends I am sure. Any tips or tricks of the trade for full restoration would be helpful.

Scott
Alias 63&66MGB
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The 63 is a "pull handle" car, I don't see many of these at any show, even in St Louis there were only a few, so its a rare car. A buddy of mine has a 64 and it really feels and drives like a different car than my 74. More "vintage" I guess. Congrats! and have fun with the restos!
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Did anyone notice the '63 MGB has OVERDRIVE!!!!!!!

That is a VERY RARE find!!!!!!

My vote is for restoring the '63 first.

Good luck with the restoration!!!
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Good luck with them! You've got a couple of projects on your hands, no question, but as long as you've got the resources (time and money and patience) it will be fun.

I agree that all other things being equal, tackle the '63 with OD first.

Let us know how it goes!
 
From the photos, I've devised the following:
1966 appears easier of the 2 to get running - do it first to learn what you're gonna need for the '63; drive it while you complete the '63 & then sell it to offset the cost of the '63's restoration.
1963 most desirable of 2 because of early car with overdrive & wires; gonna require a total disassembly & rebuild; will be costly; if you're only gonna only keep 1, this is it...
..as I continue to peruse the photos, I'll try to offer more insight! congrats! Great find!

[ 08-13-2003: Message edited by: tony barnhill ]</p>
 
I agree with Tony, do what you need to do to get the 66 on the road and have fun driving it while you restore the 63. I'm about 3/4 through my first ground up restoration of a 73'B, so I know... the first time through you are going to make mistakes (nothing money can't fix but setbacks none the less).
And absolutelly keep the 63!
 
Thanks everyone for the tips so far. My first thought would have been to get the 66 up and running so I can have some fun right away. After looking at the 6 inch hole in floor panel beneath the drivers section and the condition of the interior (Totaled) I changed my mind. This will need a full restore before I can drive it
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Surpringly enough the 63 has less rust. Both engines have sat there so long I will try to turn them by hand this weekend. Fortunately they were drained of all water prior to storage. The interiors were used by the local wildlife for nests I am almost afraid to touch all the carpet. I wouldnt want to get a disease from the animal droppings
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I guess my first task is to get all the old carpet and interior stuff removed and clean out all the animal droppings and suface dirt. Then I will start by stripping each car down to the bare body and store all the parts on shelves and move the cars into the garage.

Any tips on the best way to get all the paint off? Acid dip? Bead Blast? Sand Blast? Paint Remover? has anyone had experience taking one of these down to the bare metal?

Scott
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Scott...TRUST ME ON THIS ONE: DO NOT - I SAY AGAIN - DO NOT DISASSEMBLE BOTH CARS! Pick one as your project & work on it till its finished - I know from which I speak currently having multiple projects ongoing!

Absolutely, take all the carpet, etc out so you can see your bodyshells, turn both engines over, make a checklist of what's missing on each/what has to be doen to each..put them both side-by-side & evaluate both before determinimg which to restore..but, only tackle 1 at a time!

Tony "theAutoist" Barnhill
1953 MG TD (on way to body shop for paint - everything else finished)
1956 MG ZA Magnette
1959 MGA
1960 MkIII Farina Magnette
1963 MG 1100
1963 MGB (painted, engine/tranny machine work finished, new leather fitted)
1963 MkI Midget
1967 MGBGT
1968 MGC (painted, engine rebuilt, new leather fitted)
1970 MGBGT (undergoing ground-up restoration for several years!)
1974 MG Midget
1974-½ MGBGT (everything finished except de-DPOing wiring & installing rebuilt carbs)
1977 MG Midget
2-1979 MGB's (1 undergoing a V8 conversion)
 
Tony,

I think I will take your advice and start with one. I originally had the thought of using one as a model to look at when something difficult came up while reassembling. One of the things I thought would be a good idea was to keep the parts separate. I went out and looked at your site I will definitely be hitting you for some used parts. I am certain you will get tired of my constant questions. Do you have any tips for striping the body parts of paint?

Fortunately I have plenty of space and access to many unusual tools like a sand/bead blaster and welding equipment. I worked as a mechanic while in college and have been trained in welding but have been a desk jockey for 20 years. From my initial inspection the 66 needs a new L/ Dogleg, R/ Front fender, and a driver’s side floor panel replacement. I am certain to find more rust once I get it all apart. To my surprise the rust isn’t as much as I would have thought.

The 63 has about the same amount of rust. One of the fenders is rotten; there is a rotten rocker panel, and a rear fender arch that has some rust. I tapped around from underneath and that looks pretty good on both cars. I will know more about the condition of the floor panels when I get the carpet out. The boots on both are like new same with the engine compartment its pretty much what the weather got to on the outside.

The interiors were covered but the critters used the nice dry interiors as a nesting ground so all that was not metal there is trash. First order of business from here I guess is to strip one down to the body and remove all the paint and rust. Then replace all the rusted pieces and have the whole thing painted. I still need to figure out the best way to get the paint off. There is some filler compound too that will have to go as well.


Scott
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Looks like the red one is 63 with pull handles and minimal smog apparatus. Green one the 66 with od. Do the one with the least amount of work required first, enjoy, and then tackle the second. Good luck and welcome.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>I know from which I speak currently having multiple projects ongoing!<hr></blockquote>

In the 4+ years I have known my freind Tony B. he hasn't finished one of his projects. I don't know how he does that. It would drive me buggy. My problem is, once I start something I am inslaved by it till I finish. My son on the other hand is like Tony. He worked on a V8 conversion on a Miata for 4 years. The thing about my son once he finishes something he sells it to start on something else. I could never do that.
Looks like you have two good cars for restoration. Take your time and do it right. At best it will take you at least 1 1/2 years.
 
chuck....an artist works when the mood is right...that's why i have multiple projects...so I can work on something when it feels right
 
what did I say????????????? I believe that might have been Tom. I subscribe to your theory, that's why I love the MGs, I never HAVE to work on them I do it when the muse strikes
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