• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

How to Identify

Share this page

L

LLAngus

Jedi Knight
Offline
My daughter, son and myself finally got the MGB RB into my stock trailer and got it home. Pictures will be coming later today. I see by the VB catalog the car is a 77-80 vintage. It has a overflow tank on the side of the fender like the one in the catalog. We still have to get the RB Midget but that is another story for another day. Two things--How do I tell the year without a pink (it is coming)? and the wife liked the car. Her comment was I guess people don't really know how to fix and drive these cute little cars. Yes, I had to get up from the ground. The B has dual electric fans if that will help. Oh, the emergency brake was left on for two years and I am going to have to get them unstuck--any suggestions? Tony will be PMing you for a list of parts just to see how much for now. Helps discussions with the wife. I know I will need a radiator for sure.
 
Is there a VIN up on the dash?
 
Or a plate on the driver's door pillar beneath the striker plate....should give month and year of build.
 
I will look and get both number and date when the frost gets melted and the car is out of the trailer. The guys at the yard (5 of them) helped lift the back and put it into the trailer (brakes locked up). We gave them a great show trying to get the car into the trailer as my kids and myself were giggling ourshelves silly. We really looked like the keystone cops doing this manuver. Had a great time though. Love having the kids help.
 
Tony GHN5UH435264G --- The door post says 5/77. I assume it is a 77 RB.???? Now to get the brakes unfrozen. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
Yes...it was "finished" in May of 1977.

The second "H" in GHN5UH435264G also indicates a 1977 model year. (1978 is "J")
 
Tony

The transmission looks like it is an OD. Funny round thing on the end of it. The gear shift knob does not have a switch in the top of it. There is a wire coming out of the rear of the trans. Did the 77s have the OD switch somewhere else? Good news the top has one small tear and the "wing" window in the back on the pass side is cracked. The tontoe (sp) and the cover that goes behind the seat when the top is down is there and in good shape. Will post pictures when the son gets them in the computer. Brake freeze up was the cable from the lever to the back brakes. Tookm out the pins behind the backing plate and was able to get the drums off. The temp name is going to be Red Bull. It came in the stock trailer and is red!!!! Now to get the old tires and wheels back on it (they are garbage but I need my tires for my GT) and will do the brakes on the Misses car so she stays happy. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angel.gif
 
Unless an O/D transmission has been added by a previous owner and the switch placed elsewhere in the car, you probably do not have overdrive, as the switch would have been built into the shifter knob. I *believe* this was the case 1977-1978-1979-and 1980. If this indeed is a factory installed O/D, the switch would be located on the stalk on the ride side of the steering wheel cowel...since it is obviously NOT on the shifter knob.

The "funny round thing"...is it on the tail of the transmission and look like the one in the photo that I've attached? That is the O/D unit. A non-O/D transmission would continue the taper all the way down to the drive shaft.

There are two switches on the top of the transmission ... the one on the driver (left) side is the O/D switch, the one on the passenger (right) side is the reversing light switch.

HTH
 

Attachments

  • 298471-NewEngine_resize.jpg
    298471-NewEngine_resize.jpg
    72.2 KB · Views: 79
OD switch should be in the shift lever knob...however, if PO installed it, it could be anywhere - after you ascertain it does have the OD unti, look at the number on your tach - what is it? 1080 or something like that?
 
The end of the trans looked like that. I could not get all the way under the car as it was not supported by jack stands. Tony--the number is RVC 2432/OOF.
 
I'm sorry - I'm a dummy! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif I meant to say "speedo" - what's the number on your speedo?
 
Those guts were used from Oct 67 - Dec 76...its 1000 revs though so it could've been used with or without an OD - time to jack the car up & look underneath.
 
I crawled under the B and looked at the Trans. It is definitely an OD unit. Says right on it Raylock Overdrive. I am happy, happy. Now to figure out the wiring (after Tony's list of course. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Raylock Overdrive

[/ QUOTE ]

???
 
You know guys, it is so awsum to follow the discussion when you are sorting out someones find. Sounds like some kind of serious professional stuff. Heh, we all do it to our favorate wheels. But in any case it is really cool watching it happen.
 
I think it says "Laycock" Overdrive... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif ...good thing they dropped the DeNormanville bit!
 
Back
Top