My MGB

[Instigator]

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!

[Instigator]

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?

[CDave]

Congratulation on the new car.
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.

[sonicss33]

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.

[V pads]

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!

[Instigator]

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.

[FMP]

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

[Dave S]

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

[z1rider]

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.

[tux974]

I love the balance in stereo Paul!...

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

[Instigator]

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.

40 IDA Webers...

[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

[rock]

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

[Instigator]

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.

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

[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