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Apr 15, 2008 13:09:17 GMT
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Bit of a vague question but I've had a few discussions with someone I work with who's got an MGB GT. It was a nice example and he a paid a good few quid for it 3 or so years back, since then it's been to the MOT station every year and not much else and he may be persuaded to sell at a good price. I've always fancied these and figure something that would sit 2 and a baby (they do have a back seat yes?) would be a handy weekend retro, but know little about them? Any views from owners out there? The oldest thing I've driven is a 26 year old 924 with injection, electric windows etc - will it be a bit of a leap going to something so old? It's a chrome model, with the black plates, I think an L suffix so a 71/72 in that weird orange/red colour? I've seen it but only in the corner of a workshop buried under dust. The owner is a welder so will be solid. Photo to keep interesting:
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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MGB GT - Any good?Nathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Apr 15, 2008 13:18:20 GMT
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They are good motors. Yes the back seat would sit a baby however you would need to fab up some sort of anchor point for the baby seat/booster (in fact MGOC may already have these). They are not power houses, but will cruise happily at motorway speeds, any performance increases do cost £'s. The motor is a B series so parts are plentyful, chrome bumper models are a pain in the to fit V8's so if thats a idea start with a Rubber bumper model. The only down side is rot, the tend to go on the rear arches, lower sections behind the front seats, and the lower front wings, all of which there is repair panels for so no hardship. In fact the whole shells are you can get. I have a build progress report from last year, which shows most of the rot you can get in the readers rides section. They are the Very popular J PCD so loads of uber cool wheels out there, even though most don't take advantage of this I have had mine for 8 years now and love it, its only let me down once, if kept in good tune they will last forever. I am sure I have missed some info.
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2008 13:23:54 GMT by Nathan
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Apr 15, 2008 13:30:50 GMT
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The one bit of rot to look for is anything at the base of the screen/top of the scuttle. If its going/gone/bodged there then the rest of the shell probably isn't very good. If you've only ever experienced electric/injection cars before then it will pay you to learn some of the basic maintenance tasks quite quickly. Things like points setting and carb tuning. A little knowledge might well get you out of a sticky situation should something simple fail (not that it is necessarily likely too) As BGT said they're not that fast but will keep up with the traffic nicely. Parts are plentiful and cheap but you do need to watch out for cheap repro tat. A friends daily driver....
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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topcat
Part of things
Posts: 289
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Apr 15, 2008 13:56:23 GMT
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Am I right in stating the PCD is 4x4" on some and 4x3.75" on v8s? I'm not sure so thought I'd ask!
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kevfromwales
Posted a lot
the conrod's REALLY out the block now!
Posts: 3,909
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Apr 15, 2008 14:16:29 GMT
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nope it's 4 x 114.3, just like the slots I'm selling....
- kev
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Almost on the road: b11 sunny breadvan, e36 tds, 325i skidcar,
nearly there: ford f250 tathauler, suzuki alto, u11 bluey
not for a while: ford pop, 32 rails,
not in this lifetime: ruby, '29 hillman
''unfortanatly I'm quite old and scruffy and in need of some loving. my drive shaft needs a new boot....''
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Apr 15, 2008 15:38:12 GMT
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Thanks for advice, very tempted now, just have to sell the idea to the wife (and finish my frigging drive extension!).
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Nathan
Part of things
Posts: 291
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Apr 15, 2008 16:40:57 GMT
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The garage I work at specialise in MG's, mainly B's. All I can say is...great cars, if you get the right one! Cracking workhorses - we swear by them! Word of warning! There are rotten ones out there! And be aware - just because the owner is a welder doesn't mean it will be solid knowing my garage's selection of classics... If you do go for it, you will be blessed with years of happy motoring!
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Apr 15, 2008 20:19:59 GMT
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This was my old BGT... Definitely not the best example of the breed but it opened my eyes to how good and bad a car could be all at the same time! The good. The driving position is excellent, bum on the floor (well very nearly) legs out straight, spot on for a sports car. The gear change is superb very direct. Nice and narrow very easy to place on the road great for taking liberty's! The steering is heavy but not too bad and certainly quick enough to catch slides easily. When set up right the B will do nice control-able over steer. The odd For a car launched in 1961 it does have very very old skool suspension. The front end has lever arm dampers and king pins instead of ball joints. The king pins need grease pumped into them on a regular interval or the steering really stiffens up badly. The lever arm dampers sort of work! The bad The 1.8 twin carb B series engine provides adequate performance but likes to drink like a high performance engine. These cars rust and rust pretty much everywhere.
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Mike
East Midlands
Posts: 3,387
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Apr 15, 2008 20:46:36 GMT
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There is a kit available to make the back suspension into independent suspension I think, and upgrades for the front suspension too. There was always at least one MGB at ours when i was growing up, I think they are brill.
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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MGB GT - Any good?Nathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Apr 15, 2008 21:02:06 GMT
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Yeah frontline do the bolt on kit about 4k I think.
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Apr 15, 2008 22:56:30 GMT
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As a friend says... the MGB is a classic car for a man with no imagination! XD
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gn3dr
Part of things
Posts: 391
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Apr 15, 2008 23:22:34 GMT
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Not my cup of tea, I refer to the description in the curse word Cars book, but I wouldn't knock anyone what wants or has one.
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205 GTi Mi16
205 XS - Now in filmidget's signature
Clio dci 80
I've found in life if someone is an idiot, they generally stay and idiot.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,416
Club RR Member Number: 52
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MGB GT - Any good?qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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How hard is it to improve the suspension set up on a budget? Spending £4k on a suspension kit is a bit extreme for me haha.
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DutyFreeSaviour
Europe
Back For More heartbreak and disappointment.....
Posts: 2,944
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Was my first 'classic' and I learnt the hard way - inspect it EVERYWHERE! as they can and will rot all over. bottom front of rear arches and front sills/wing bottoms are best. Scuttle bodgery leads to floorpan shennanigans and the rear seats are really only for kids up to 4or5yrs old as the legroom is non-existant. Nice relaxed cruising is the order of the day in these. If it's been standing a long while be careful of the rear oil seal on the b-series as these can dry through lack of use and then leak oil all over the clutch, leaving you revving the nuts off the motor to get home ( ask me how I know THAT one! ) Anyone who's been in one will identify the MG smell, it really is addictive to be honest....... ;D Reliable strong motors overall if looked after - but u really do have to put in the pennies if you want a street bruiser or similar...... de-cambered rear springs, coil over conversions, anti-tramp bars if you really go for power ...... brake conversions, all available art a price. I still like 'em though
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Back from the dead..... kind of
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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MGB GT - Any good?Nathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Apr 16, 2008 10:52:25 GMT
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The suspension is actually quite good for what it is, on a Budget If it were me I would Polybush the whole system, fit the lowering kit. For a bit more you can fit the conversion kit for telescopic dampers (I have not bothered with this).
Power out of the unit is the only real downside, I spent 600 notes on a stage 2 big bore head so things aint cheap. But its still fun to go barry baiting in em. As for no imagination that person needs to look past the Falt Cappers in red MGB roadsters on wires (with the name steve).
I bought mine as a field find, been sitting there quite a while, and yes it was totally shagged but it was fun rebuilding it.
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Apr 16, 2008 14:53:44 GMT
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I had an old H reg (whatever year that was 71?) chrome bumper, and i really enjoyed it!
keep the kin pins greased that makes a big difference!
Mine handled well, but the previous owner had lowered the suspension on koni shocks and front springs, and a de-cambered rear, a full set of poly bushes from a V8 model, it had a fully rebuilt engine by Oselli running fast road (dynos for 125bhp with stock exhaust system) i fitted a big bore s/s race exhaust which helped a lot (full system)
sounded great, went pritty fast (fast enough for the tyres they wear!) would slide nice and controlably and was real fun to drive!
back seats are a bit of a joke tbh! (have a look and you will see what i mean!) but all round a good car! just watch out for the metal mice!!!!!
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MartinC
Part of things
Don't like stretched tyres, very low profile tyres & I think a car CAN be too low. Perhaps I'm odd.
Posts: 935
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Apr 16, 2008 16:41:33 GMT
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The PCD is 4 1/2 inches not b****y 114.3mm. Jeez!
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1937 Standard Flying Twelve
1943 Bedford OYD
1947 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty-Special
1954 Hillman Minx MkVIII
1956 Austin A30
1957 Vauxhall Victor Super
2001 Chrysler 300M
2002 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE Tourer
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Apr 16, 2008 18:14:48 GMT
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As for no imagination that person needs to look past the Falt Cappers in red MGB roadsters on wires (with the name steve). Okay I agree with most of that but but but what's wrong with being called Steve?? Just jealous because I was named after Steve McQueen and you weren't?!
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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MGB GT - Any good?Nathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Apr 16, 2008 18:28:17 GMT
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LOL yeah probably. It its true though all the owners I have met are called steve, I am sure Penski said the same thing once too
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