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time for o/d

jackq

Jedi Knight
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Last week I pulled my B into the shop and positioned it under my overhead elec. hoist...far as it got. I'm finishing two complete body off restos on a couple of bugs, a 71 super vert. and a 70 hardtop. I figured I needed a break so the plan yesterday was to start on the B..pop the hood and unhook the drivetrain. Well, it hit about 104 degrees and I decided to do what my dog did...go look for a cool corner to curl up in. Going to be cool toady, only 98 so hopefully by 2pm or so I should have it hoisted and tomorrow drop in the finished product. My wife and I like to go out after dark and cruise around...we've been using the CGT for the past week and when we last drove the B she said it sure was louder like it was screaming to get anywheres. Even she noticed. I'm leary to drive the C much since the accident last year and a few days ago an old man in a BIG pick-up almost creamed me. He blew a lite and never did see me. Took me an hour to calm down. If I don't sell all my MGs by the end of the year, I'll take them off the road, store them in my shop and drive the XJ-6. Whack that and they'll just bounce off.
 
I agree it sounds like it's working too hard. I know from experience that they'll go all day at 4500 rpm, but I'm looking to go to od this winter when it's getting the body redone. My old B didn't have it either and it used to tee me off when I'd be cruising with another B and he'd slip into OD.
There's also a new 5 speed at Quantum Mech. But I think I'd prefer the od.
 
Most of my past Bs have had o/d but the ones that didn't never souded like this one. It sounds like its in pain. The CGT just lopes down the highway in fourth over at 90 and above, the B at 65 sounds like its coming unglued.
 
I just installed an O/D in my 78B and it makes all the difference at highway speeds requiring higher RPMs. I find it much more relaxing cruising down the road @ 70mph and only turning about 3200 RPMs than it is 3600 RPMs at 65mph.
 
Steve_S said:
I wonder if you're just becoming accustomed to the C. It's a very relaxed-feeling engine!

I concur! The MGB 4 cylinder when attached to a non O/D transmission can pull some pretty high revs...BUT....the engines were built to handle those revs!

We have become accustomed to the lower revving engines in Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, etc....so it DOES sound like the engine in the MGB is about to fly apart. Rest assured...it's not going to do so under reasonable operation!

And yep....after driving an MGC, it's hard to leave the lower revs and high torque behind to get back into the saddle of the MGB.
 
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