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best repair manual ??

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bluecoat

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Wife has offered to buy me a repair manual so I can "hurry up and fix that thing up so she can drive it," thinking about Bentley $40, what do you all think? (Something tells me next year I will be looking for a second B.)
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by bluecoat:
Wife has offered to buy me a repair manual so I can "hurry up and fix that thing up so she can drive it," thinking about Bentley $40, what do you all think? (Something tells me next year I will be looking for a second B.)<hr></blockquote>


I can't speak specificall;y to MGs, but I have several for my XKE (Bentley, Haynes, etc.) and the Bentley is by far the best IMHO.

Basil
 
For my Spitfire the Bentley manual is by far the best. It may cost a little extra but its worth it.
 
Bentley, by far. They are essentially reprints of the original factory manuals. If you look at the cost of a good book these days, $40 for a good manual beats $30 for a novel that usually loses it's luster after the first read.
Jeff
 
I go back & fourth between them both. Sometimes it helps to approach a task from a different viewpoint. But if I had to pick just one it’d have to be the Bentley, as it is far more comprehensive.

Good luck on that second B.
 
Another vote here for the Bentley books. I have both Haynes and Bentley and if I could only have one it would be the Bentley I think.

I also have both the older and newer versions of the Bentley book (the one covering pre-RB cars and the RB cars one). I've found that while a lot of things changed between the two cars a lot remained the same - while the older book has some diagrams that are better and clearer than the new.
 
Honestly, I'd get both if you can. The Bentley manual is more comprehensive, but Haynes manuals usually have photographs instead of line drawings (and our MGB manual has precious few of those), which I find very useful.
-William
 
iagree.gif
Plus you can go down to your local Autozone and buy a Haynes today, they usually have them in stock.
 
Bentley or Bentley or Bentley...s there anything else?
 
I like the Haynes, keep the Bentley as reading material in the bathroom, or as another source when the Haynes doesn't exactly say it right. I think you need both...
 
Hello,

Like everyone else, I have numerous repair manuals for the MGB. I personally think the "Complete Official MGB" manual by Robert Bentley is the best. The diagrams and explanations are not matched by any other manual currently available. That said, I often find bits and pieces in the Haynes Owners manual, Autobooks Workshop manual and Chilton's Repair and Tune Up manual. They are all good but Bentley's is the best.

Safety Fast!!
Jim Wofford (1973 MGB)
 
In addition to Bentley and Haynes I suggest you get a copy of "Original MGB" by Clausager. You won't want to get this one greasy though. It has excellent photographs of a lot of the details that are very helpful in rebulding. There's a lot of information related to what changes were phased in on what serial numbers. Invaluable book IMHO!
 
I have a Haynes and Chilton's, which are pretty good for routine projects, and a Clausager for seeing picture for the "just right looks" and a nice coffee table conversation piece. But as I get into more complex projects, I decided to get a Bentley...bought it on Ebay for $25
grin.gif


Bruce
 
Bentley and Haynes, though I haven't seen a Chilton's. Bentley has great detail including a section with referenced (from narrative instructions)pictures of the "Special Tools" which occasionally turn out to be something you can find if you just knew what they were talking about. Last time it was an impact puller...once I saw it down to Autozone or Checker Auto and borrow theirs.

I kind of get lost in their language some times but the longer you work on these, the better Bentley seems. JTB
 
There are two copies of the Bentley manual currently on ebay. One is a new unused copy and the other a very well used copy. Check it out!

Jim Wofford, 1973 Mallard Green MGB
 
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