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MGB-GT New member with a [soon to arrive] MGB GT '73

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jjbunn

jjbunn

Jedi Knight
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Hello. I have just joined because I am expecting to need some help with a rough '73 MGB GT I bought on Ebay, from all you knowledgeable folks. The car is being delivered to me tomorrow.

The car apparently has little rust (it's a California car, with the original blue plates), but some other issues. I didn't pay much for it, and bought it mainly to tinker with and eventually bring it up to a condition where I'll be able to register it and drive it. I'm in no hurry :smile:

The seller describes one problem thus "The engine runs good , but the hydraulic clutch needs attention. It has no pressure." and that sounds the most serious issue.

Here are a couple of photos:
Front: https://static.flickr.com/82/258227673_4daa865666_o.jpg
Engine Bay: https://static.flickr.com/98/258228215_d7c3e05216_o.jpg
Dash: https://static.flickr.com/86/258227893_2a28173cc4_o.jpg
(is that rust in the footwell?! Yikes. And where's the gearstick knob?)
Rear: https://static.flickr.com/121/258228251_28cafa17a4_o.jpg
Rust: https://static.flickr.com/88/258227511_0544614909_o.jpg

Any comments, postive or negative, welcomed with interest



/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
If the clutch not haveing pressure is the only major problem you should have it driveable in a couple of hours.

Not bad for a cheepo that runs.

Go get a quart of dot 3 brake fluid, any brand will do in this one.
 
Welcome...hydraulics aren't the big problem with your new car - rust is....hydraulics are just a few hours....rust is another issue & you've got issues

....she needs dogleg on passenger side for sure & might need floors or rockers because MG's rust from the inside out...so if there's rust showing on the outer body, the inner body is also rusty.

She's been painted a couple of times & the engine compartment needs to go back to the original body color (best way to find that out is to look up behind the radio console)

I'm afraid you're going to find she's got a lot more issues than you were led to believe....but, its nothing for a guy who's willing to tinker & only paid a few bucks for it!
 
Welcome aboard.
I agree with Tony's comments,but if you have the time and the inclination all these issues can be resolved. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

Stuart. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Welcome...hydraulics aren't the big problem with your new car - rust is....hydraulics are just a few hours....rust is another issue & you've got issues

....she needs dogleg on passenger side for sure & might need floors or rockers because MG's rust from the inside out...so if there's rust showing on the outer body, the inner body is also rusty.

She's been painted a couple of times & the engine compartment needs to go back to the original body color (best way to find that out is to look up behind the radio console)

I'm afraid you're going to find she's got a lot more issues than you were led to believe....but, its nothing for a guy who's willing to tinker & only paid a few bucks for it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Tony and Jack for the observations, none of which shock me :smile:

Tony, how can you tell it has been repainted a couple of times? The seller says that the original colour was mustard - so you are very observant! Also, what do you mean by "needs dogleg"?

Once I get the car I'll do a thorough investigation and post an update.
 
This photo is of the "dogleg" - a term for the body panel designed to repair the rust....but, you'll probably find there's rust in the rocker panel behind it....

The engine bay should be the same color as the body...the areas under the taillights look to have been hastily painted at least once...& the area on the tunnel near the acelerator pedal is a 3rd color
258227511_0544614909_o.jpg
 
OK I'm impressed :smile: Will the dogleg be easy to take off? You don't think the 3rd colour in the footwell is simply rust?

Thanks Tony.

Julian
 
Julian: I've some "progress pix" I'll post with regard to the "dogleg" operation. Soon's I can dig 'em up! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Yo! Tony! That looks like Herself's car before the panel repairs! You been slopin' around my hovel with those black ops robo-cameras again?!? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
There's rust on the floors - but the color on the side fo the transmission tunnel is probably the original color.

If you've not got one yet, contact Moss & get theri catalog...then buy a Bentley manual for mechanical repairs...then find somebody near you who has one disassembled so you can see how the uni-body is assembled...

....my bet, if this is a keeper, is a complete teardown in the near future! (But, I'd get her running & enjoy her for a few months before starting to disassemble - won't hurt the rust that's already there to stay a few months longer.)
 
Wow, Stewart, I just read the whole of your MGB restoration story. Very impressive indeed!
 
He's a wild man.

... and since he's posted the relevant photos, I'll "stand down." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
no kidding. for record time of a resto, I dunno who was faster, Stewart or "Team Jbird".
 
That was nuts on my part but it worked out so well. Roughly 85 days start to finish with a 4 month break in the final faze. Don't think I will ever be able to do that again. Wont stop me from trying though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Welcome...Does need some attention, but what old brit car doesn't? What kinda wheels are those? Looks kinda like Trans AM GTA rims, but I doubt those would fit an MG.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What kinda wheels are those?

[/ QUOTE ]

Look like old basketweave Enkei's
 
The wheels are in fact RIKENs. Tyres are 195/70SR14 BF Goodrich. The car was delivered today and I've spent some time looking it over.

1) The guy had to jump it to start it, but after he'd left I took a look at the battery, and found that it was pretty new and well charged, but the battery earth (-) lead was the wrong sort of clamp and was just resting on the terminal! So I replaced it and the engine started right up.

It idles a bit erratically, with a burble and the occasional pop from the exhaust. But the oil pressure seemed good: about 75psi on the gauge. And it revs very freely. The choke cable is hanging out of the dash!
https://static.flickr.com/105/263436604_11cce2c45b_o.jpg

2) There are no brakes, and I'm not even going to try to engage a gear with no brakes! The level of the brake fluid in the reservoir was right down at the bottom. I topped it up with Dot 3, and pumped the pedal a few times, but I guess I'll need to bleed the system.

3) Tony was right: the original colour was not white, but what looks like mustard. The engine number is "8G-U-H 25079",
the VIN is GHD5UD319063, date of manufacture on the label is 4/73, and there is a plaque marked "GBD 004794P" just under the hood.
https://static.flickr.com/115/263436450_d804b2e07a_o.jpg

3) I took a look at the spark plugs. The front two looked clean, but the two at the rear were pretty black. I wanted to replace the air filters, and took a circular holder off, but couldn't easily pry it apart.
https://static.flickr.com/89/263436998_91e6abfc7b_o.jpg

4) It's missing various bits and pieces:
a) gear knob
b) bonnet/hood strut
c) windscreen washer reservoir bottle
d) various bulbs, light covers etc.
e) lots of other stuff I haven't noticed yet

5) It has what is labelled as a Maserati horn from Henry Moss in London - it's the red thing here:
https://static.flickr.com/89/263436234_ffd533c1af_o.jpg

6) The interior carpet and trim is in a sorry state, although oddly enough the seats are very good, and will clean up nicely.

7) The windscreen wiper motor works. Hurrah.

8) Here's a closer view of the Enkai hubs. The tyres are BF Goodrich and need replacing, and are too big for the car, I think.
https://static.flickr.com/99/263436786_952dd737dd_o.jpg
 
Well, seems you're getting all the problems sorted out...let us know as you need things & we can probably halp you...
 
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