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MGC Welcome home Abby -- my MGC

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MadRiver

MadRiver

Jedi Knight
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Greetings all:

I'm happy to announce that Abby -- my "new" 1968 MGC -- has arrived home today. She's equipped with the removable top, rather than the fixed option, and has overdrive, though I didn't get a chance to give it a try.

I took her for a nice drive, and I have to say, she is *really* fast. Faster than the TR-250 by a good bunch. Or at least it felt that way. Not as nimble in the corners as the IRS car, but still outrageous! I am, quite simply, in love.

Here she is meeting her stable mate, Greenie.

Abby1.JPG


Abby2.JPG


Now that she's joined the paddock, I've got a couple of questions.

First, she seems to sit a little high in the rear end. This is my first MG, so I have no practical experience, but I do know that she received new springs when she was rebuilt five years ago, and she just seems a bit, well, high in the tush.

Second, she's equipped with two six volt batteries like all of her ilk. Any way to easily vanquish this setup and install a single regular good old 12-volt battery?

I'm sure more questions will follow.

Thanks!
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Georgeous..yep, easy to get rid of the 2 bsatteries...& an MGC should sit just like an MGB.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

1. Yes, it does look a bit high in the rear. This is most likely due to improper leaf spring weight. You can use lowering blocks, but the proper way to do the reapir would be to buy the correct springs. Try Engle Imports, or better yet a local spring shop. You're better off running soft in the rear than stiff in order to maintain a solid grip on rough roads.

2. You will find that the MGC Roadster is not a particularly nimble car. It's quite front heavy and will not outmaneuver its MGB cousin. Your TR-250 will most likely beat it through a twisty canyon despite the power of the MGC engine. There are tweaks you can make to bring the handling of the MGC up to where it should be, but it will require a few parts.

I'm sure you will find the MGC a fantastic touring car with that big, torquey engine. Enjoy it! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

3. I would suggest moving the front license plate down to allow better air flow through the radiator. MGCs are not known to run cool so you want all the air flow you can get.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Steve_S said:
1.3. I would suggest moving the front license plate down to allow better air flow through the radiator. MGCs are not known to run cool so you want all the air flow you can get.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing...including the positioning of the driving lights.

My front plate is now located on the front valance below the bumper; I relocated one of the horns to where the carb cooling fan was at one time located.

BTW..your new addition looks fantastic...enjoy it!
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Thanks everyone! I've never been a big fan of front plates -- I've left the front plate off the front of the Elise. I'm also thinking of removing the lights -- I doubt I'll use them very much, esp. since just running with the headlights and heater can suck all the power out of the system!!

I'm really excited about the car. The only downside is that she arrived leaking coolant -- I think out of the bottom of the radiator, but I haven't been able to give her a thorough inspection. I am, however, in love! She'll need some TLC here and there, but just like when I bought the 250 and the Tiger, this is the fulfillment of a *long* time dream. And jeez she's fast off the line!

Another observation. Perhaps the replacement seat are too poofy, but I feel like I sit *on* the C, while I feel like I sit *in* my Triumph and Tiger, with their totally compressed and aged seat cushions.

It's also very funny how many controls there are, compared with the Triumph!

I'm going to look into the spring issue. Right now, she looks like a low rider! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Don't play games with the cooling system of those big engines. I the radiator is leaking, I would pull it out and have it thoroughly gone through by a radiator shop. While it's out, flush the cooling system both directions. Be sure to disconnect the heater circuit and flushing it seperately to avoid back flushing crud from the heater core into the main cooling system.

It isn't uncommon to find MGB seats in MGCs. The problem is that MGB seats are 1.5" higher in the front! The MGC floorpan is raised in the front which accounts for the lower front section of the proper seat frame. It is also possible the seat rebuild kit used came with foam that was too thick, or a rubber diaphragm that was too stiff. The lower you sit in that car, the better off you will be.

My MGC came with MGB seats and I am currently working on fixing that issue. Here is a photo of the MGB seats in my car for reference. Notice how high they sit from the floorboards.

IMG_4276.jpg
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]My MGC came with MGB seats [/QUOTE]

?
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

I'm sitting here trying to think of the difference between an MGB & an MGC seat - other than mounting.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

See my previous post. MGC seat franes are 1.5" lower in the front.

I just realized the watermark in my photo is covering the part you would want to see, but I'm sure you get the idea by looking at it.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

So, & again I'm not near my MGC's, can you swap out the mounting hardware that bolts to the bottom of the seat frame - or is the seat frame itself actually different?
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

The lower frame is different. Mounting hardware is identical to MGB. You can modify MGB frames since MGC frames are harder to come by. I plan to seek out correct MGC frames anyway since this car is set up as UK-spec and I want headrests.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Headrests are easy to come by....wasn't sure without looking which part was different...don't think I have any MGC frames.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Most people don't. Especially correct NA MGC headrest seats. I know where to get a set, but I don't want to take them from the guy unless I'm really sure about it.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

tony barnhill said:
Headrests are easy to come by....wasn't sure without looking which part was different...don't think I have any MGC frames.
Click to expand...

These headrests would be of the 1969 variety....one year only...
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Headrests are easy to come by....wasn't sure without looking which part was different...don't think I have any MGC frames.


These headrests would be of the 1969 variety....one year only... [/QUOTE]

I've got 4 sets, I think, with seat backs....that's what I meant.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I found a friend who had a rebuilt C radiator that he let me have for a song. Installed it on Saturday -- it was about 100 degrees here in DC. Too hot to even work in the garage, so I worked outside under a nice shady tree. I always love the first chance to work on a newly acquired toy. Let's me get to know the car, and to let it draw a little blood (as opposed to just money). In any event, I got the radiator in without any problems, and also put in a single battery. I took the car for a spin after getting all the air out of the cooling system, and I'm happy to report that she's absolutely cool as a cucumber. I drove her to work yesterday -- high 80s, fairly humid, some traffic, and she remained nicely on the cool side of the temperature gauge's center line.

I say again -- the C is a total beast. Now all I have to do is get some softer springs. I took a co-worker for a ride, and we hit a pretty big bump, and she darn-near bounced right out of the car! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

And if anyone doubts it, I can confirm that a C is significantly faster than a BJ8.
 
Re: Welcome home Abby!

Congrats on your new car. It is a bueatty! I've always thought if another lbc could find a way into my life, that would be the car. Question, how do you decide what to drive, your stable looks to be quite a lot of fun.
 
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