Just got a B [kinda]!!!

[BuddyJ]

On the way to church today, my best friend/ "adopted" brother Kerry and I were driving in seperate cars from my parents when I got a cell phone call from my mom. She said that there was a "1960s sports car that looked like a Fiat or something" for sale on a corner she just passed. Well, we changed our route and swung by to see a 1976 B for sale in a yard. So much for 60s italian...

After church, we went back to look at it. Then we called on it later in the afternoon. Went back for a drive and by dinner time, the deal was sealed. Since I'm a broke starving college student, Kerry bought it. $1950 for a decent car. It has a bit of rust but the floor pans are solid and the engine sounds good. It needs paint, but is a candidate for a running restoration project this summer.

He picks it up tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we'll have pics soon. When I go back home this summer, he and I will have a great project and base to learn with. Finally, I'll have an LBC in the driveway

 

[mts3]

Man that sounds exactly like what got me started. I just happened to take the back road out of the bank one day and saw a white car for sale in someone's front yard, $2000. I didn't know what kind or what year or anything, just that it was British and convertible.

Less than a week later I owned a white 76 MGB. That was almost 7 years ago and I haven't regretted it one moment.

 

[Kim de B]

Congratulations! We looking forward to seeing pictures and hearing how the restoration goes!

 

[Sherlock]

One more person got the Brit car they've been looking (kind of...)

Now who's next, look way back there... I'm there somewhere.

Well... maybe next year, but I keep saying that for the last 4 years!

And, before I forget, congrats BuddyJ!

 

[aeronca65t]

Congrats for "sort-of" getting a car...you and Kerry will have fun with it, I'm sure.

It's funny how we have these stories related to our cars; in my case, back in '95, I was calling up someone, because I was interested in their SAAB 900. Wife answered and said "sorry, it's sold"....later in the day, the husband calls me back (he had Caller ID) and says, "say?...would you be interested in my *other* car?". Turns out he had a Midget for sale too......which I still own.

 

[BuddyJ]

OK, this one has the nasty Zenith carb the engine has 80k miles on it. Its never been rebuilt but the mechanic said it still has good compression. It does, however, need a new radiator.

Questions are:

1. What should we do about the radiator? Buy a new one or get it recored at the radiator shop?

2. Does the engine need to be converted to unleaded? If so, whats the best way to do that while on a budget?

3. We'd like to replace the carb and remove the emissions junk on it. Legality aside, whats a good carb to replace it with? Weber DCOE, DGV, SU? Something that gives better performance and won't be a pain to tune.

I'm sure we'll have more questions as time goes on, but this is good to start off.

 

[Gary Lloyd]

First off. get it re-cored, Put SU's on it and wht was the other one??

 

[Gary Lloyd]

Just drive it!! Don't worry about converting to unleaded!! It will be fine!! When you have a problem, convert it then!! Good luck!!!

 

[BuddyJ]

Thanks for the advice. I passed it on. It seems the speedo doesn't work. The needle bounces around. Also, the rear brake lamps aren't working. We already have stuff to fix.

Kerry is gonna take it to British Auto Ltd in Oklahoma City and have it looked over, and then we'll know a bit more about other things we hadn't spotted yet.

On the plus side- he drove it home today. His first time with a stick. Didn't kill it

It came with a box of assorted extra stuff as well as a Chilton manual and a Haynes manual.

He's gonna send pics tomorrow and I'll see if I can post them. I think that everyone that could drive it got to take a turn with the top down this afternoon back at the house. The whole family is excited.

 

[mts3]

Having driven a rubber bumper B with a Weber DGV, DCOE, single Zenith, and dual 1.5 SUs, I say go with the SUs.

I had a single Zenith (stock for a 76) and later replaced it with dual SUs from a 72, along with a real exhaust manifold (stock from an early B). What a difference.

The DGV is really not a performance upgrade, just a reliability and driveability upgrade. Don't expect the car to be more powerful like this.

I also have driven a 77 with a mild cam and DCOE weber (45mm). It was a very quick little car. But a more must be done to use the DCOE.

You can pick up a set of SUs and early exhaust manifold used for a reasonable price. You'll need to bypass the water outlet elbow and re-do a few vacuum and emissions connections. But it will be worth it in the long run.

In the 4 years the Sus have been on my B, I've touched them twice.

 

[StevenA]

Good luck...Welcome to the pack...and have fun.

Four years back I went to a swap meet to find some seats for a VW I was rebuilding. I walked past a Midget and paused for just a second. The seller said..."How much ya gimme for it?". I said that i was not interested since I already had 2 Bs and an Austin, and two VWs in variu=ous stages of rebuild. But I didn't find the right year of seats and went back to him and asked what he was asking. He gave me the song and dance of his friend had it for 17 years stored and had to clean out the garage and that he had the carbs rebuilt 3 times when he got frustrated and stored it. OK, OK,... what is the price ?
"Well since nobody wants these British cars, will ya gimme 600.00 for it?"
Look at the pics in members rides under jaguar and you will see it parked in my driveway.
Oh how I love yard sales and swap meets...
Good luck and Cheers, Steve

 

[JordanB]

Hahaha... He took the bait. He's in for it now.

Just kidding, congrats on the car. You guys will have lots of fun with it.
I found mine expecting in to be in peices for the price that was being asked, what a deal.

[ 03-24-2003: Message edited by: JordanB ]</p>