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zeropointD

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I just recently came into posession of a 1979 MGB roadster which was given to me (for free mind you!). I have spent a lot of time reading this board from front to back over the past week and have already learned quite a bit about the car. I'm not a guy that was seeking out a LBC, but I feel in love with it when I saw it.

At this time it has a bad battery. I push started it to get it home and it appears to only be firing on two or three cylinders. Blue smoke from the tail pipe with excelleration. Rust became a big concern once I started reading the forum and I am happy to report that a once over of the car reveals that there is a rust through on the drivers side floor board but everything else seems to be solid.

Any advice for a 28 year old guy who feel into a car like this?

Here are some pics.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeropointdigital/sets/72057594060989993/
 
Welcome...you definitely can't beat a running MGB for free! Know of any others? Let me know if you do /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.

Start at the spark plugs and work your way back to diagnose the cause of the rough running. If it still has the original electronic (Opus) distributor, that could definitely be a cause of it. There's a '77 near my house that hasn't run in almost 5 years; I'd bet that's the cause of it.
 
Mine sat for 6+ years before I got it. Only needed a new fuel pump to get the engine running. Opus had been replaced with a 25D.

Needed alot more to go on the road though.
 
My '77 sat for a year before I bought it; the only thing it needed to get it going was a battery and a little shot of starter fluid into the HS4s. My dizzy had also been replaced with a 25D with points.
 
Nice car, not bad at all for free!....definatly needs a new top but you might be able to pull the rear bar up a bit to at least make it sit right?
Good luck I am sure you'll have alotta fun with your new car!
 
My favorite pics... The Geek stuff! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Nice Rack! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
As he won't say it, see Tonys site for Moss Motors orders. He has great prices and outstanding service.

Note: Talk to Tony.

This is not a paid advertisement.
 
What'd you get jlaird - admit it.



Just kidding. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif hehehehe

Yeah email or PM Tony. This isn't a paid ad either /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Ha Kenny, I got a quick price and availability check and instant payement through Paypal and releafe that the pistons were available. Wait till the wife sees that bill, hehe.
 
Welcome aboard, as you will allready have discovered this forum is a fantastic wealth of knowledge and guidence. Have fun doing the work on your B and most of all enjoy your LBC.
Cheers Ric
 
Thanks a million for the article link, Tony. I have already been to your site (as I said, I have been reading everything on this forum for the last week) but I missed that crucial article. Seems like it will be a HUGE help.

I love the Geek Stuff too, Kenny. I work as a systems admin to pay the bills (and now pay to fix up a MGB) so geek stuff is pretty much my life.

Any ideas out there about what would be causing the blue smoke? I am guessing piston ring, but am I guessing right?
 
You will have lots of blue smoke if it is not running on all four and a ring would not necessarly cause that.
 
go to harbor freight and pick up a cheap compression tester. test all four cylinders and then squirt a little oil in each spark plug hole and test again. Post the numbers and we'll give you a hand.

Looks like a great deal for free- where are all the free cars for me???
 
Boy, I never saw a free car. Even my very first parts car was $100. Wish I had it now, sigh.
 
I got one "free" car, a "gift" to SWMBO from her mom: A K-car. She won't admit it but I just KNOW she hates me.
That shoat-pig (the CAR!) and I had an agreement... mutual HATE. From the beginning EVERY time I would drive it something important would break. Three brake master cylinders (fair bit o' pedal stabbin' every time), timing belt (in traffic), steering pump puked it's guts in traffic, heater control valve disintegration.... HATEFUL vehicle. I "blessed" a charitable org. with it the day after I found Diesela. I'm a MUCH calmer person now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Free LBC's are a wonder... free K-cars are a curse. Welcome aboard, we'll help as much as we can.

Oh yeah, I second: NICE RACK! The hovel is wired, but no rack mounted server (YET!).
 
Nice car. I had the same problem and a set of plugs cured it. I also had smoke that went away with new sparkies. Great start for a B.

Bruce L /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
 
I've gotten 2 free cars before... Alot like Doc's. A late 80's Escort, and a 85 t-bird cruched at both ends. I gave 'em both away too.
 
I ~ALWAYS~ referred to that car in conversation as "The Dam*ed Dodge". SWMBO called it a Dodge Insipid... She wanted a "bolder tint" style windshield banner: "DODGE THIS!" in reverse.
 
no freebies here... but I did pick up my '76 B for $750. It sat in a garage for 2 years before it was offered to me. It needed a new clutch slave cylinder before I could drive it, but it DID start right up on the first try after recharging the battery. After that I've been piecing things to gether as I can. Slowly, a bit here, a bit there, and as weekends and weather will allow me to work on it. Next batch of parts to arrive (via Tony!) is mostly emissions parts, 'cause the crud in there is leaking kinda bad and only gets worse with warm weather. If the vacuum leaks were any worse I'd have my own low pressure weather system following me around everywhere.

I'll third the geek gear! Work in the gaming industry myself; technically speaking I'm a Technologist, but HR has things a bit twisted title wise. Then again they're all pretty so I let it slide a little... My current acquisition project is trying to get my IT lady to set me up with a Athlon 64 X2 3800+ system for "testing" my software before I send my work off to QA for approval...
 
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