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new LE project

I have a cooler on Herself's B. It came equipped that way for a reason, methinks. The other four MGB's I've owned personally (all CB, pre-'68) were so equipped. In Florida at noon, in traffic in July, it makes a difference. I'd fit one on a car without one here.

...but I keep a by-pass hose in the trunk just in case of failure of one of those lines. I've also had "spontaneous" failure of aftermarket O/P gauge lines. A good hydraulics shop can reduce the angst.
 
Bill, I would love to run a cooler on it. But after 4 new cooler lines had ends come off I am a bit concerned. The car will be equipped with a O/D which will help with highway speed burned bearings. Its not going to fly apart because there is no oil cooler. Thanks for the thoughts. Maybe I should sigh this one "Mr full of crap" instead of bob? Now we can move on.
 
bob67bgt said:
Bill, I would love to run a cooler on it. But after 4 new cooler lines had ends come off I am a bit concerned.

So would I be - with whoever sold you the crap lines! Where did you get these? Seriously - I have never seen any problem with OEM except that they should be replaced every 40 years. Were these some Chinese bits or....

Go to a hydraulic specialist for heavy duty equipment and have them made up, or just buy some braided line and some nice Aeroquip ends (you can buy them all over the place on line - Pegasus has a nice catalogue) and do it yourself - it isn't hard.
 
I'm amazed at the comments on oil lines failing. I've owned my current BGT with the original factory oil cooler lines for 37 years without failure. I've known a lot of B owners over the years and have owned a number of other Bs, but I've never heard of an oil line failure before.
 
What fails, Dave, are the newer aftermarket lines. Poor QC (or none at all) is the issue. A good hydraulics shop can make proper ones for about the same money as the "white box" ones. And THEY get pressure tested to a standard.
 
The ones I have been getting are made in England. They are dated and not that old. My buddy has one hanging from his BGT and a jumper line installed. I will see if I can get a pic of the line and the brand or other markings. Bob
 
I hadn't realized there was a bunch of faulty lines floating around. If you want original appearance, you are probably stuck with that sort of thing. If you don't mind after market, the nice braided hose and coloured (red or blue) Aeroquip ends are quite attractive.

Either way, if the engine isn't a single carb version, there is no way I'd use it without a cooler.
 
What a way to pollute a thread! Bill, Are you my ex wife or what. We both agree that in a perfect world a oil cooler would be on my car. She would not back off even if we agreed on something in the end either. Now since you are trying to continue this thing that should have been ended long ago The original MG book states that all north american MGBs up to 1975 had oil coolers.Non NA cars were optional till 64 or 65. Maybe early MGBs had bearing issues that were not related to coolers not being on them. If you have Factory documentation showing THE BOOK is wrong then please post it! I post here because I am hoping to share ideas of how I do things and when I answer a question I try to give a reason behind my answer. Maybe its time you post up some of your projects so we can see what you do and how you do it. There is lots we can all learn but I already know that if you beat a dead horse it will still be a dead horse. And for the record I do not think red or Blue Aeroquip ends are attractive. They may be OK looking on a race car but I am building a street car. As I requested several posts ago LETS MOVE ON. Aw...With all due respect...Bob (maybe I should delete that last statement since this this is not the Experience) I really hope this post does not go over the line but why would anyone want to post or share what they are doing when they have to deal with this kind of stuff.
 
Bob, any picture updates? Always amazing and inspiring to watch your progress!!
 
Been real busy. The LE has been on the back burner. I did get color on it. Here is a first look. More pics soon as I start back on this little project. Bob
 

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Still slugging away at this one. It drives at least as far as the front garage! Bob
 

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Lookin' good, Bob! :thumbsup:
 
I'll say!

The "retro" fascia in that thing is grand!!!

Waay much work there.

And nicely done! :thumbsup:
 
I just hope it settles down a bit. Considering it has a chrome bumper cross member and used early chrome bumper springs up front it still sits up a bit! I converted the tach over to negative ground yesterday and got the speedo in. I went with the 67 dash and complete wiring harness from a 67. If ever needed the 67 wiring diagram can be used for everything except the alternator conversion and I will include those instructions with the car. I am not a fan of mystery wiring! Bob
 
Hmmmmmm, I like the way those later vents look in the early steel dash, that could work for me if I ever decide to AC my GT, very interesting. What did you do to flush out the front valance with the body, spacers?
 
Hap, In early pics you can see square tubing purchased from Lowes. There are 2 sizes, One for the center section and smaller diameter ones for the sides. Then they needed to be pinched at the ends so it fit sorta flush. Next time we meet I can fill you in on all the things that are required to do this project. I spent several days on just the fitting and welding. Then making it fit with no fasteners showing was another trick. Grilles normally sit in from the fender edges. I brought mine even with the fenders. Then the grille plinth stuck out way past the hood. That had to be modified. It looks good now but lots of thinking went into it. Bob
 
Here are some finished pics. Early next week I will buy a tag for it and start the shakedown runs. I am thinking about adding a roll bar to keep the theme of a street racer. I guess the Midget is next in line unless I find someone that wants to build it more than I do. Bob
 

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Beauty, Bob.

Again: You're a WILD man! :wink:
 
Holy potatoes, Bob!! Man, do you do AMAZING work! What an inspiration!

Have you ever thought of publishing a How-To book about MGBs? What you know and have done would benefit a great number of MGB enthusiasts.
 
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