My MGB

And now for something completely ((non political) different!

Always wanted one of these and when this surfaced last summer, 2 hrs from my place, I couldn’t pass it up.

Many of you know I also have a 550+ hp LS-6 powered ‘02 Trans Am.
This is the polar opposite!

After having/driving the TA, I was nervous about this acquisition.
Maybe 85 hp at the crank (new)……

After the summer w/it……, what a hoot!

An absolute blast to drive.
Think….., large go cart.

The bonus is how easy it is to work on!
No computers, no EFI, no electronics etc…..

First time Ive used my timing light in 30 yrs!

The Brits are big on the driving experience and not rip your head off acceleration like we are.
Part of the secret is 50/50 front/rear weight bias.

The manual lists that breakdown and from the factory it’s within 2 lbs!

As bought, 95% of owners would have left it alone.
Was fine for every other Sunday drive.

Me, not so much ��

Ive basically already done 90% of what I intended but instead of the yr or two I had planned, I did it all in a month.

That snow ball started rolling when it slid off the (oil soaked, angled cross member) floor Jack before I could get Jack stands under it and put the Jack through the bottom of the factory radiator!

So that brought the new aluminum radiator (-15 lbs) and electric fan.
Ditching the belt driven fan probably added a hp ��

The muffler had a bad leak so……, while it was already on jack stands, I installed a complete, polished stainless exhaust and header!

Had to add the MG alum valve cover and velocity stacks!

Add all the basic maintenance to that.

Many owners ditch the twin SU carbs for a 2 barrel Webber, the hot rod books say the SUs are fine.
After learning to tune them, they’re basically two bike carbs.

A huge surprise was how plentiful and cheap parts are for it!
I think my exhaust, including the header, was cheaper than for my ‘08 4 banger Fusion.

Anyhow, thought y’all might enjoy reading about a different project in the midst of the chaos our country is in.

Hope you enjoy and anyone thinking similar….., a cheap, hugely gratifying toy!

It’s fun too, in that it’s not a Porsche or classic Corvette that your carving up.

Make it what you want.

Who cares?

Congratulation on the new car.:thumbsup:
An old friend had a Spitfire when we were in HS. I loved driving that car. My sister use to have a Fiat Spider. I had a blast driving that one too.

Have fun with it. In the early 70’s my sister had a MG Midget. I had so much fun driving that little go cart. :cheers:

Every time I hear MGB, I think back to high school. A friend had shoehorned a 302 into one. The only give away was a small hood scoop. Another guy had a Sunbeam Tiger with the 260. It was cool when they were together….

Cool project!

On one of the islands in Lake Erie they are recreating a British sports car road race that I’m going to do next season if I don’t have to bolt in a roll bar.

A fun part to me is, this like my kneel down racing days.
If you only have X# HP’s, all you can do is shed weight.

Ill weigh the car this spring but I’d guess I’ve already pulled out 50 lbs from a 2300 lb car.

I want to go through the motor too.
I think I can add 30 hp to it.

Some sticky tires, good camber if you can even adjust it on that. Sway bars tight, nice shocks, fun for sure.

My Dad had a SP 250 Damiler 150 cid hemi...... non syncro first gear. Learned to drive on that one....... rode like a buckboard...... :cheers: I have a Fiat 124 spyder.....that I hope to get running.......before I age out.:p

Good looking MGB. They have nice torque, for just tooling around. I had a 1964 AH sprite. Fun car. The SU carbs. aren't hard to tune. I had better luck listening to the hiss in the bores with a piece of 3/8 hose, to balance the idle speed screws, than using a Uni-syn. Then adjust the jet nut. Have fun.

I love the balance in stereo Paul!...:thumbsup:

Nice ride Gary, have fun for sure with that rag top......:thumbsup:

Your Weber (!) carburetors are worth more than my car!

Very cool to those that have owned similar.

Had a buddy in school that had a Tiger w/a 302 in it and was a beast!

Dave, I like the Spiders.

Ive been reading and learned that MG built a MGC that had an in-line 6 and a GT that had an 8.
This was at the end and when British Leyland owned them and were more concerned w/protecting their Triumph TR-6.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy

40 IDA Webers...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9OdpW667Ac

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The MGC with the Austin Healey 3L 6 wasn't much fun. Too nose heavy, not really fast. I drove one in the mid 80s and was unimpressed. Generally the small British cars prove that its more fun to drive a slow car fast (and not lose your license) than a fast car slow.

When the MGs were new I thought they were rolling obsolescence with leaf sprung beam axles, heavy pushrod 4 cylinders. I aspired to something more modern. Now of course an MGB is just a fun vintage car. As for carbs, my British car has twin 40 mm DCOEs

Attachment 500528

I once had an MGB GT. Before that a Triumph TR4. Love those British cars. As stated before it's all about the ride. The MGB would have eaten the TR4 in competition although the TR4 had a larger motor.

Rock

Yep.

They we’re crucified in the press.

And yeah, it’s antiquated.
Re-read the part about the simplicity.

I thought they were cool when new, and I was a teenager but thought they needed another 100 hp to be worth anything.

If I want to go for a rip, I pull the cover off the TA and blow the tires off from a 40 roll, in 3rd gear.

If I want to smile (and my wife) as soon as I close the cars door?
I pull the cover off the antique.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by David

The MGC with the Austin Healey 3L 6 wasn't much fun. Too nose heavy, not really fast. I drove one in the mid 80s and was unimpressed. Generally the small British cars prove that its more fun to drive a slow car fast (and not lose your license) than a fast car slow.

When the MGs were new I thought they were rolling obsolescence with leaf sprung beam axles, heavy pushrod 4 cylinders. I aspired to something more modern. Now of course an MGB is just a fun vintage car. As for carbs, my British car has twin 40 mm DCOEs

Attachment 500528

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My Lotus was much more modern then an MG when new but is an anvil compared to a modern car. A Lotus was big block Corvette money with a 1600 (not quite) cc engine. No wonder not many were sold

Yep.
The MGs are basically tractor motors and really made me look hard before buying one because I want to build the motor.

Amazingly though, after reading the book I listed, it’s way better than I thought.

The writer is s famous MG racer and more famous as a race engine builder.
He says, block, head, crank, rods are all good for modding.

Almost all is reported to be better even than aftermarket options.

Basically porting and maybe bigger valves, are good for 140 - 150 at the crank.

I like the Lotuses, especially w/the twin cam although that really doesn’t do as much as we think.
Always liked the Europe’s.

Top Fuel/Funny car make 10k HPs w/two valves.

Id guess parts/prices are way higher and harder to find.

Complete, polished, stainless exhaust and header, $690 delivered!
Aluminum radiator, $180.

Valve cover $40.

Etc, etc.

Rock, my first cars was a TR-4A.

An old dock neighbor had a gorgeous TR-6 that he wouldn’t sell to me cuz he liked me too much!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by David

My Lotus was much more modern then an MG when new but is an anvil compared to a modern car. A Lotus was big block Corvette money with a 1600 (not quite) cc engine. No wonder not many were sold

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The 4A was a transition to the TR6. Basically the same car as the TR4 but with a 6 cylinder engine. Tried to find a TR6 for years but what was available had been well used. Do you remember the Stag?

Rock

I think it went from a single carb to duals on the 4A.

Mine was a 4 (as was every other 4A I saw) banger w/dual carbs.

Yes on the Stag.

My wife had a TR-7 when it was only a few yrs old.
She hated it, as did everyone else!

One of the British collector books I read said that was one of the things that took down British Leyland was them and Triumph putting all their money into that new model specifically to go after the American market and motor trend rated it as the worst car of the yr!

They also made a few TR-8’s, w/a v-8 that was just as bad!

Paul, the Tiger w/the 4 is actually an Alpine, both made by Sunbeam.

When my older brother was in college in the late 60’s, early 70’s my dad bought him a tank of a Buick Lesabre to drive to school.
He fk’d up and put the title in my bro’s name.

Soon as he got back to school, he sold it and took that money and bought a ‘1960 Sunbeam Alpine!
An absolute turd!
Never ran.

I remember using a piece of my dad’s anchor line to tow it behind his Buick through the universities parking lot to try and bump start it :-)

Soon after, it caught on fire at a stop sign and burned to the ground!!!

Was a while after that before my brother came home to visit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rock

The 4A was a transition to the TR6. Basically the same car as the TR4 but with a 6 cylinder engine. Tried to find a TR6 for years but what was available had been well used. Do you remember the Stag?

Rock

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Yep

I bought one for the MG.

Although, it ain’t too different than tuning six one barrels on a V-6 looper and I always do them by ear.

I experimented w/the MG after getting the flow meter.

I can get to within a 1/4 of a turn by ear, and that’s close enough you can’t tell the difference.
It is a cool toy though.
Can use it on my bikes too.

I had read an article years ago about the TR4. At one point Triumph considered a couple engine upgrades for the 4A, one of which was a 6 cylinder, but instead changed the head and something else giving the 4 cyl a few more horsepower. Getting harder and harder to remember what I remember.

Rock

Old Lotus parts are cheap and easy to find. Lotus used mostly parts from other British cars of the time. My old crock is cheaper to maintain then my brother’s Boxster. I admit he puts a lot more miles on

Hey Gary, make it unique. Small block chevy 302, 327, LT1 gets my vote......:eek:;):thumbsup:

Towing with a Boat ankkor.......I remember Skitchin' on a hood of a car.... in the snow:p For thoszzz that don't nooow......Deadly.....Oncomming.....I gust was Lucky.........I was Skitchin on a towed hood........Damm stupid...

Gary..... 215 BOP.... with a 1964 300 crank...... pinto pistons......:cheers: It all works......

What the heck is everyone thinking..... stick a ETEC G2 300 in it

I really like the lil motor.

First boat race I was ever at was an inboard race and their was an 850 hydro there.
A tiny Crosley car motor.

It was an amazingly well engineered boat and ran well.
Maybe 12’??

I remember it had a tiny glass oil container that dripped oil on the prop shaft/stuffing box.
Made great noise while coming on plane!

Always been a fan of the lil motors.

And, I like an MG motor in my MG.

All great stuff, love it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy

I need to make a video of it at full song. Red line is 7300 and it loves to go there!!! Even with over 100K on the clock!
Awesome engine with great longevity and basically easy to rebuild pull 4 jugs

At least they put the tach were it needs to be... in the center! The only gauge that counts.....LOL

Note the very rare year correct wheel which took a while for me to source, the original was replaced by a cheapie... And the floor mats are kinda cool.. Gary, you need some mats like these for yours! Yes, the coco mats, remember them well. They even made them for the Mercedes.

Yea I know the interior is trash. A dash is 2500+ bucks and the place I was going to buy one from went bust.... Same with the knee guard... I FINALLY found an original mount and an ashtray for it .... Not even going to tell how much I paid for that.... Oh the special tools... I have a door hinge pin puller??? One clip and two pins (it is a slide hammer) and off the door comes....I believe I have a steering wheel under my desk in a box, need to check now....LOL

Maybe I should have bought an MG?......LOL

Gauges that you cannot see, fuel level, oil tank (it is a dry sump 8 quarts) Oil temp, Oil pressure. And the clock...? The speedo goes to 150. Last time out it ran 135 and had more. All looks great!

The shifter now has a balsa knob... AH! Getting lighter! :o......LOL. I'm a diehard Porsche guy, love them!

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachm...1&d=1643771833
Attachment 500571

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Paul, you need to start your own thread for your 911.

Everyone loves them and will trample my MG story, as already evidenced here.

My brother owned two and have a couple good stories for your thread.

Make sure to post a link to the Yellow Bird video!

Gary, I will continue to follow your thread. Love seeing projects like this come to live and hoe the newer/better changes that can make them ever better.

Tony

Such a cool car, and the mechanical simplicity left us a long time ago.

As a little kid I wasn't around any hot rods, my older brother drove a beetle. His buddy shows up one day with a MG. I took one look at the dash and thought I was looking at a race car! The dash layout with all the gauges was so cool. It was probably the first time a saw a tach with a redline.

Does the MGB have a positive ground electrical system like a lot of the older British cars? I hear those systems can be quite ‘sporty’ to figure out.

No.
It’s a ‘74 and has negative ground.

And yeah, have heard same.
They say that’s why the Brits drink warm beer.
They all have Lucas refrigerators!

It did used to have two 6 v batteries wired in series to keep the weight balance.
One under each side of back seat/shelf.

Its been converted to electronic ign too.

So far, the only issue we’ve had is a sticking carb float which shuts it off until the float drops.
I have the rebuild kits.

I’ve put several hundred mls on it so far.
Including the 100 to get it home.

Weve discovered a back roads trip (45 mins) from our house to Bucyrus for pizza and beer!

When I bought it the ignition switch wouldn’t release the key so we parked it in front w/the key in it.
Cheryl thought I was nuts.
I told her as long as it cools off before they try, we’re golden.
It has a manual choke ��

It does have an electric fuel pump which blew me away.
For carbs!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCT

Does the MGB have a positive ground electrical system like a lot of the older British cars? I hear those systems can be quite ‘sporty’ to figure out.

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Use to see one around here with a high trim package, touring, full chrome trunk luggage rack, wheel opening trim , a few other details.
Good country road cruiser top down. Had some nice wheels with it.

There was a ‘1980 in full Limited Edition trim, w/luggage rack and everything else and gorgeous for sale same time as mine.

In I think ‘76, they went to plastic bumpers for our stupid crash rules which added weight and totally screwed up the lines of the car.
That was problem one.

Problem two was it was $4k more than mine.

Was a very, very nice car and tough to walk away from but had my heart set on a steel bumper car.
Mine was the first decent one I had seen in yrs.

Most are totally cancered out or have a 100 lbs of bondo on them.

And with weight equaling performance……

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FMP

Use to see one around here with a high trim package, touring, full chrome trunk luggage rack, wheel opening trim , a few other details.
Good country road cruiser top down. Had some nice wheels with it.

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Lucas,prince of darkness, inventor of intermittent wipers, inventor of the roadside stop, the original anti thedpft device.

Lucas = loose unsoldered connections and splices

why are there no skyscrapers in London? Lucas makes elevators

Back in the day, I had a ‘1978 Triumph 750cc Bonneville.

It was absolutely stunning/as new w/it’s 3 tone paint on the tank.
Had enough torque to be a blast to ride but vibrated like a tractor!

That thing would run just long enough to get to far away from home to walk back.
Id get a ride back for the truck to pick it up and the damn thing would start/run!
Every time.

Clearly it was demonically possessed!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by David

Lucas,prince of darkness, inventor of intermittent wipers, inventor of the roadside stop, the original anti thedpft device.

Lucas = loose unsoldered connections and splices

why are there no skyscrapers in London? Lucas makes elevators

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Attachment 500625

I swear the English think that a cars electric system works by a brain damaged wizard waving a busted wand over the engine bay. Or bonnet, whatever.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Turtleherder

I swear the English think that a cars electric system works by a brain damaged wizard waving a busted wand over the engine bay. Or bonnet, whatever.

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My theory is it rains so much in England that they must have thought it was the rain causing the electrical problems, so they never tried to make it better. They figured it would be a waste of time.

Boy, Gary, I caught up with this thread late. Always wanted a Midget or Sprite when I turned 16 (or, if the planets aligned, a Healey 3000) but they were "sports cars" and our family's insurance just plain would no insure then--though I had friends in nice "family" cars that ran the 1/4 in just over 10 seconds. Life is never fair.

I was going to comment that it may be simple but it has a Lucas electrical system--I see others got there first. I did see an add once for a mason jar of Genuine Lucas Electrical System Smoke.

Light weight and good handling--the Miata is the genetic successor to these cars, and look how successful it has been. My son Matt and I autocrossed and did HPDE's in his '99 for years, great fun.

I don't know about your Weber/Solex issue, but when I was in college I was driving an Opel Manta. When its carb went south, everything I read at that wise old age said you just can't rebuild a Solex. So I bought a two barrel Weber that bolted right in, easy to Rube Goldberg the linkage, and boy did it wake up that Opel. In fact, when I sold the Opel I moved the Weber to my wife's Opel wagon and put her Solex on the car I was selling.