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jaybird

jaybird

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A friend of mine from our STL MG club is now the editor of "MG Driver." I was reading an article on 'what to carry in your trunk.'
https://www.british-cars.org.uk/kimber/namgbr/article2.htm
Here's a snippet from the article:

MAJOR SPARES
Alternator
Distributor
Fuel pump
Water pump
Ignition/starter relay (‘77-on MGBs)
Oil by pass hose

PARTS
Radiator Hoses
5’ of 1/2” heater hose
Assorted hose clamps
5’ of 5/16” Fuel Hose
Points & Condenser
Spare set of spark plugs (pre-set to correct gap)
Longest plug wire
Ignition Coil
Coil wire
Ignition Relay
Spare Fuses
6’ of 14 Gauge Wire
Electrical Tape
Battery Clamps
Bulbs
Fan belt
Oil
Selection of 5/16”, 3/8”, 1/4” Nuts, Bolts & Washers
Fix-A-Flat (Non-flammable)
Throttle Cable and/or Bicycle Brake Cable (for use as emergency throttle or hood cable)
Clutch Slave Kit
Clutch Master Cylinder Kit
Fan Belt
Variety of Wire Connectors
Brake Fluid
Gallon of Anti-freeze
Heater Control Valve (BHA 5298 – for MGB and MGA)
Wiper Blades
Bulbs

TOOLS
Lead hammer
3/8 and 1/2 drive socket sets with ratchets and extensions
#1, #2, and #3 Phillips screwdrivers
1/4” flat screwdriver
3/8” screwdriver
Big screwdriver/pry bar
Needle nose pliers
Slip joint pliers
10” Channel locks
Vise grips
Side cutters
12-volt test light
Feeler gauges—especially .015 inch
Spark plug socket (13/16”)
Spark plug gap tool
Brake hose clamp
Brake adjuster tool
Two 7/16” combination wrenches
Two 1/2” combination wrenches
Two 9/16” combination wrenches
3/8”, 5/8”, 11/16”, and 3/4” combination wrenches
1/4” pin punch
Cold chisel
Brass brush
Two jumper leads
Utility knife
Putty knife/gasket scraper
Mechanic’s scribes
Stubby screwdrivers
Wheel cylinder wrench, many different sizes are used
Points file
SU jet wrench or Stromberg mixture adjustment tool
Putty knife
Hammer
Needle nose pliers
Channel lock pliers
Regular slip joint pliers
10 inch Vise grips
Internal circlip pliers to fit master cylinder circlip
10” adjustable wrench
Stubby flat and Phillips head screwdrivers
Medium flat head screwdriver
Long flat head screwdriver
Utility knife
1/4” wrench to adjust rear brakes
Wire cutters
Scissors jack (two if rear springs are soft)
Lug wrench or knockoff wrench and lead hammer
Battery lifting strap
Jumper cables and safety glasses

EXTRAS THAT CAN BE HANDY TO HAVE
Multimeter
1/2” breaker bar
1/2”” drive 1 1/8 socket, for front wheel hubs
1/2” drive 1 5/16” sockets, for rear wheel hubs
Torque wrench
Battery brush
Battery lift strap
Jack stand(s)
MAPP gas torch
Butane soldering iron
Gloves
Handcleaner
Shop rags
RTV
Krazy Glue
Nylon wire ties
Electrical tape
Brake fluid
50 feet 1/2” poly rope
Duct Tape
Jumper Cables
Road Flares
Fire Extinguisher
Cellular Phone
Haynes or Bentley MG shop manual for your model
MG Parts Catalogs
NAMGBR Service Recommendation List!
...and it goes on.

I don't know about you guys, but I have a SMALL trunk. And roadside service. In my trunk right now::

VERY SMALL TOOL BOX with a wrench, screwdriver, hammer, WD40 & duct tape (if it's stuck use the WD40, if it rattles or comes loose use the duct tape), spare radio fuses, superglue

SPARE TIRE

CANNED AIR (fixaflat)

JUMPERS

A BLANKET

UMBRELLA

GLASS CLEANER WIPES/ARMOR ALL WIPES

This list seems a bit over the edge to me, even for cross country trips. I wouldn't carry half this stuff on an endurance run. Am I nuts? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
 
They forgot to list snacks and bottled water...and a good book to read while waiting for a tow from AAA.
TN
 
Good lord, what is that list for... a Sahara crossing??? I'm sure you could handle any situation with that load in the trunk. That is, if all that would FIT in the trunk! LOL!
 
i certianly hope the article was meant to be 'tongue in cheek'....
 
Just noticed that a repair manual is in the "extras that can be handy" section. That should be third in the list, right under screwdriver and feeler gauge!
 
I think I have a couple of those things in my trunk...yea, there is a spare there and a few parts...but my cell phone has AAA first on the Directory LOL

Bruce
 
LOL! That is quite the list! I carry a small tool box too, but nothing like that!
 
Hmmm,..might be more efficient to just keep a spare car in tow behind ya! LOL

I have trouble remembering to shave in the morning, never mind remembering if I'd put that spare engine in the trunk, heeheehee
 
Yes, I carry most of that plus...

Complete dizzy with wires
U-joint
Inline spark tester
Stromberg diaphram
Starting crank
JB Weld
Hylomar
Lots of oil
2 hose clamping pliers
Several pairs of rubber gloves
Mechanix gloves
Electric fuel pump (as well as mechanical)
Spoke wrench
Emergency fan belt (in addition to the stock as you have to loosen a motor mount and raise the engine to change a TR4 belt)
Selected Allen wrenches
Nylon rope
Bungee cords
First aid kit (w/ lots of BandAids)

[ QUOTE ]
Stromberg mixture adjustment tool

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a 1 shilling coin and yes, I carry one.

I omit the antifreeze since water will get you home. The rest fits in 3 small cloth bags (Harbor Freight) for short drives plus an aluminum suitcase (HF also) with the long-drive stuff.

If you carry a scissors jack make sure it will fit under the car when the tire is flat.

Some think I carry too much until they have a problem... then they are looking for me. I end up using this stuff much more on others' cars than my own.
 
That list contains more pieces and parts than I had have to replace in returning my 1974.5 B-GT to the road after 20 years in storage.

Not only that, the list probably weighs about twice the maximum load capacity /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Then again, that could be one way to lower the ride height. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
That’s a neat list. I don't have that much stuff in my garage. I carry some basic tools (typical wrenches, screwdrivers, couple of sockets, pliers, and vise grip) , duck tape, some wire, one quart oil, scissors jack, spare fuses, empty bottle for water or what ever, and a flash light. For out of town trips I add a spare tube (I have wire wheels), Moss catalog and a list of repair places that can fix my car. I always have a cell phone. If you know the condition of your car you can cut down the stuff to the minium and not have a problem. The small basic tools, duck tape and wire I carry in the spare battery box behind the drives seat. Only the jack, oil, empty bottle, and flashlight is in the trunk. The spare fuses and a small copy of the owners manual are in the glove box. Besides, my wife needs the whole trunk and more for all of her stuff.
 
"...spare radio fuses..."

Heaven forbid you get stranded somewhere without a functional radio! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 
Hmmm. Are you saying the car will RUN without the radio???
jaw.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm. Are you saying the car will RUN without the radio???
jaw.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
ermmm... are you saying that you radio WORKS?!?! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif


P.S. I'm still getting use to my 'B's engine running as good as it does. Once I get over that hurdle, I'll be transplanting the stereo I removed from my old car into the 'B. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I've got two in my TR4A. the original A.M. unit in the center brace, and a modern tape deck hidden behind the glove box door.
Neither one works. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
P.S. car runs fine.
Quote from history: Carroll Shelby, when asked what was the most rediculous request he ever received for an option in a Cobra, responded simply. "A radio."
 
I find it easier to have a flatbed truck follow everywhere. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Bruce
 
Took that radio right out of my B. I own four cars now and none have radios. The music of the exhaust note, the chorus of the valves and the song of the breeze is all the entertainment I need. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I'm with you Steve, no radio in the MGB. All I need is the sound of the PECO and the SU's whistling through the K&N's, that's music to my ears.

And I work for a Record Company!
 
[ QUOTE ]
...and a modern tape deck hidden...

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya know... you're showing your age with that statement. Over half of today's youth has no idea what a "tape deck" is, and even fewer knows what a record is, and even fewer than that knows what an 8-track is...
 
Dang. Then I'm showing my age for sure because I still have my 8-tracks. And my LP's. I even have a stack of 78's...but they were my mother's.

My B, however, has a new cd player. Fully visible, since the PO had already removed the original factory radio. Otherwise I'd have the factory radio in there instead.

I do only play classic rock in the B though. Nothing else sounds quite right when I'm out riding.
 
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