Project 1974 MGB GT - The Mustard (Mit) Mobility Scooter - 6yrs ownership & the end is potentially nigh!

[Mr Pastry]

5 minutes ago, chadders said:

But you can always put a thermostat in line if you so wish. I did, although obviously there are now more joints to leak from.

It will be closed most of the time. 

[SiC]

16 minutes ago, Mr Pastry said:

The MGB does not need an oil cooler for normal road use.

 It was fitted as a belt-and-braces precaution when the 5 bearing engine was introduced, as a result of bottom end problems with the early 3 bearing engine.  And it has continued ever since, because sportscar.   In reality, the oil will take longer to get up to working temperature, if it ever does.  You would need an oil temperature gauge to observe this of course.

Thousands of identical 1.8 B series engines went into Marinas without oil coolers, and there were no problems as a result.

You are better off without it. 

But no MGB enthusiast will believe that.  Cue: "Yes I hear what you are saying, but...."  so I'm wasting my breath.   Btw. I am an ex owner.

 

I completely hear you and something I looked into before. I remember reading that a MGA hose fits perfectly to loop back around without leaving an excess of hose. One more less thing to leak.

However as pointed out at the time, my cars oil pressure isn't exactly fabulous when the oil is up to temperature. So hotter oil can just make my pressure drop even more. I'm getting about 48psi hot and 55psi cold. Sometimes a bit lower on extended high speed runs. While acceptable, it's at the bottom end of acceptable. Removing the cooler could push that further lower and something I'd rather not do. 

Also if I ever come to sell it on, I'd get the inevitable questioning on where it's disappeared off to and why. 

[SiC]

Tldr, I hear you but... 🤣

[Noel Tidybeard]

...or would the shorter run make the oil preasure betterer?

[PhilA]

4 minutes ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

...or would the shorter run make the oil preasure betterer?

No, but old hoses act as a neat overpressure relief.

 

[SiC]

Went to a local car meet tonight. Very busy and all sorts of different tin on show. I was actually the only MGB there!















I had an ice cream


While looking out at the view.


I definitely have an oil leak. This was the state when I arrived.


Which is pretty bad considering I only did about 30 miles. Coming home left quite a mess. Can't actually see where it's leaking from on the oil cooler.


Also the right side indicator stopped flashing.


With the hazards on, it was clear it was the right side front. Fiddle of the connection got it going again.


It's trying and testing my patience again. Also protesting that I haven't used it enough this year too.

[SiC]

My MGB has been sitting getting a fresh rain wash on my drive while it thought about itself breaking. In truth at least it did it now rather than on the way to the MGB60 event next month.


Put it in its usual configuration


Checked the new roughly matched the old.


Bolts go into captive nuts, so a simple job of whizzing them off with my Milwaukee stubby.


Engine side is clean.


Front is filthy. This looks like the side that potentially has failed but then it also will get all the grime stuck to it.


I elected to remove the hoses and cooler in one. They connect to the block and the oil filter housing here:


And here:


I chose to remove the rear hose first as it'd give me better access to the front oil filter hose. I removed the oil pressure gauge hose as gave much better access. Wish I bought a replacement hose for this gauge though.


On the oil filter housing, the coupler came undone before the hose.


This used a crush washer to seal the gap. Same one as used on the sump.


New hoses checked. The right angle side attaches to the cooler. Much more flexible than the old and I'm glad that I did replace them. Not least the fittings on the old oil cooler were seized on.


Refit it all. Hoses are a bit of a pain to get through the radiator shroud. Used the original rubber grommets as in good condition and modern rubber can be shite.


The hoses have a rubber strap to hold them together. Original fabric coated one unfortunately perished. It broke a few months ago.


There was two straps so I put one each side.


Ran the engine and checked for leaks.

 

Oil was low, so topped up. Took pretty much a full two pints. Handily what was remaining from the last oil change.


I used this oil. Don't think it's got much or any ZDDP in but it doesn't thin as badly as some oils with heat. The engine seems to quite like it .

 

[Crackers]

2 hours ago, SiC said:

I used this oil. Don't think it's got much or any ZDDP in but it doesn't thin as badly as some oils with heat. The engine seems to quite like it .

From my research it's one of the highest zinc-content oils out there, and comes highly recommended for ZDDP-thirsty Rover V8s. 

Just because they don't shout about the ZDDP content, doesn't mean it isn't there. Some "classic" oils barely have any of it at all. 

[SiC]

3 minutes ago, Crackers said:

From my research it's one of the highest zinc-content oils out there, and comes highly recommended for ZDDP-thirsty Rover V8s. 

Just because they don't shout about the ZDDP content, doesn't mean it isn't there. Some "classic" oils barely have any of it at all. 

Does for the UK/EU? The datasheet for the USA is different to the UK/EU versions. Also no warning about catalytic converters on the UK/EU bottles unlike the USA. ZDDP being poison to the catalyst.

[Crackers]

Pass. I've only seen one datasheet for it. 

[Zelandeth]

Can see that being far more of an issue in the US given how much earlier they brought in catalytic converters.  Can't imagine there being many cars over here specced for 20W50 fitted with them.

[Crackers]

Here's a snip from the EU datasheet for VR1 20W/50:

Compared to the US version:

Both are 1300ppm Phosphorus, and 1400(US)/1500(EU)ppm Zinc. If we assume the majority of that content is ZDDP, then that's about the highest figures I've seen for any oil.

Source: https://pisheets.valvoline.com/#/

[Zelandeth]

1 minute ago, Crackers said:

Here's a snip from the EU datasheet for VR1 20W/50:

Compared to the US version:

Both are 1300ppm Phosphorus, and 1400(US)/1500(EU)ppm Zinc. If we assume the majority of that content is ZDDP, then that's about the highest figures I've seen for any oil.

Thanks for that, know what I'll be picking up for my next oil changes then!

[Crackers]

1 minute ago, Zelandeth said:

Thanks for that, know what I'll be picking up for my next oil changes then!

No trouble, I went to great lengths (probably far too much) researching anti-wear compounds in motor oil when I bought the P6 and that product ended up being the top of the table.

Best place to get it is https://www.pipercrossperformanceoils.com/product-page/valvoline-vr1-racing-20w-50. Currently shows out of stock but they usually have it in stock cheaper than anywhere else, plus free express delivery.

[SiC]

I got it from Amazon but it appears to be out of stock at the moment

Valvoline VR1 20w/50 Racing Oil 5 Litres https://amzn.eu/5O5hMXf

[SiC]

Decided I didn't want to risk that oil pressure gauge pipe after disturbing it. Tenner later and I got a new one.


Went in okay but quite a bit of offset on the block side. Probably ok and it doesn't leak.



Went for a test drive.


Just kiddin'.
I only popped the bonnet to check for leaks. There was none.


Not sure if it's placebo but it does seem less smelly in the cabin. I wonder if it's been spraying oil for a while and having it mushed all over the engine - including the manifold. Thus fumes and stinky in the cabin.

The true test will be when Mrs SiC goes in it as she always moans it smells and gives her a headache...

As usual, the little drive in it rekindled my interest again. Not quite as much as before but it's an alright thing to potter about with. When it is working.

Need to put a few miles on it really as it needs to get to MGB60 up in Gaydon next month. It has done Gaydon before so no reason it shouldn't be able to do it again. Hopefully it won't embarrass itself.

[PhilA]

Go for a decent blat in it, up out to Claverham, out across the moors to Nailsea Wall, round the back to Clevedon and up out through Kingston Seymour.

 

Nice loop, quiet from most traffic, pretty scenery and generally MGB type roads (you can break down safely)

[SiC]

15 minutes ago, PhilA said:

Go for a decent blat in it, up out to Claverham, out across the moors to Nailsea Wall, round the back to Clevedon and up out through Kingston Seymour.

 

Nice loop, quiet from most traffic, pretty scenery and generally MGB type roads (you can break down safely)

That pretty much was the route I take for a shake down. First blast is up Wrington Hill. Enough load on the engine to gives a good indication if it's going to play up and if the engine is going to knock. Then through Wrington back onto the A370. Back over and through lower Claverham onto the Moors (where that photo was took). Follow until back into Yatton and then onwards home. 

The Nailsea side of the Moors can get quite busy when the A370 is busy at Backwell. People trying to miss the Backwell traffic lights. Not done Kingston Seymour in a while but probably should explore more around there. We did try buying a house there, but that's a story for another day.

Off into Weston in a bit. Mrs SiC asked the usual fateful question of "It's not going to breakdown is it?"

Such faith!

Given the amount of breakdowns it's had in 5yrs, probably not a completely unguided opinion...

[PhilA]

If my wife is anything to gauge by, no matter what you do to the car, short of tearing the entire interior out, it's gonna "smell".

 

[SiC]

So Mrs SiC and myself went for a jaunt today in this, instead of the usual cars.

First off shopping.


Then a stroll along the beach


To look at the oil derrick they're putting into Weston Super Mare. As if they needed to try making the town grimmer...
That said, it's night and day nicer than Rhyl. The one seafront that I've ever turned up and thought "Nah, don't want to even park". And I like a good shitty British tourist seaside hot spot - even Blackpool I'd visit again finding it fascinating.



Anyway it was pretty busy and I don't like people. So we didn't stop too long.

Then we went to a pub and had some jolly nice grub.



All in all I did just under 40 miles. Not a huge amount considering we often do that at the weekend just running around to shops and the like, but all good confidence building.

One thing I noticed is that there definitely is less "old car" smell wafting into the cabin. Even Mrs SiC noticed this. Also she usually gets a headache when in the car and truth be told, it can make me a bit sleepy.

I think the oil cooler might have been leaking for a while, mashed up in the fan and spraying oil to be burnt onto the hot engine/manifolds. This in turn gets into the cabin through the "fresh air" vents.

Basically I strongly suspect the car has been giving me mild carbon monoxide poisoning since I've owned it...!

Side note, as I know you all love me talking about it, oil pressure actually is a fair bit higher now. Regularly gets 58-60psi cold and warm it rarely drops below 50psi at speed. Hot idle is 40psi. Previously you could knock at least 10psi off all those numbers. Again, I suspect it was losing pressure through that oil cooler. Especially as it got hotter and thinned out.

I'm interested to see if oil levels stay more consistent including at speed. Previously if driven hard, I could lose 1 pint (max to min) in just 100 to 200miles. Its big test will be the run to Gaydon next month.

[SiC]

On 7/27/2017 at 10:02 PM, SiC said:

So to recap. After a painfully long time (well a month) I finally bought a MGB GT.

Just realised that I've owned this for 6 years today!

As per News24, I'm thinking of having a serious cull of the fleet. They simply don't get enough use to justify being owned. The Boxster hardly used this year and this not even moved a wheel.

So both are on the potential chopping block...

[SiC]

Took my B out for a spin earlier. I was supposed to be cleaning it to take fresh photos, but thought I'd give it a run first. Possibly a bit too long as it was getting dark by the time I got back! I enjoyed the drive and was absolutely faultless run. However it has cemented in my mind that its time to move on.

I want to replace it with a BMW Z4 Coupe. A very different car but something that will excite me. Plus I still have the Spitfire as my usable classic and hopefully my Midget and Dolomite will be done one day.

Naturally when I got home, I noticed some how a bird managed to score a direct hit despite me driving the whole time!

 

I took a few photos but before then I dug out the original gearshift to put it back to stock as it currently has a short shifter stick on it. I much prefer the short shifter as it fits perfectly into my palm when my elbow is on the arm rest. However as I'm selling, people always prefer stock.

Short shifter

Easy enough to replace

Difference

Original now back on

 

I'm also going to change the steering wheel back too. This is the one currently on there and I much prefer it to the original. However original is king. I spent an extraordinary amount of time cleaning up the original wheel, so didn't get around to putting it back on yet. But only one nut under the horn press. Hopefully it won't be a nightmare to remove. The original was.

 

While taking photos, I found this carpet that went in the corners of the boot. I removed it way back when it had to live outside for the first year of ownership. As water ends up getting in around these corners, it ends up getting soaked and making it a rust trap. Actually took some figuring to put it back the right way and which was which side. I eventually realised I had it 180 degrees out.

A plastic peg fits into the L-bracket above the light and holds it in place.

Probably will help with noise reduction in the cabin too. I've also got the foam that lives up in the C-pillars that I removed for the same reason. Condensation build up soaks into the foam and rots out the pillars. So makes sense to leave it out, even if it looses a bit of noise reduction. But hardly makes too much difference though as its not exactly the quietest car out there.

 

With all that done, I took a few fresh photos for the ad. Now need to write up an appropriate concise advert text. Not particularly looking forward to putting this up on the open market - will be my first time in a long time I've had to do so! 

[SiC]

The pictures I intend to use for the advert. While not perfect by any means, shes a pretty honest solid old girl. Definitely I managed to buy a very good example in the end given it was my first proper classic I bought. A fair bit better than some of the cars I bought since!

 

[purplebargeken]

Nice old thing, should sell without too much arseing around hopefully.

[SiC]

9 minutes ago, purplebargeken said:

Nice old thing, should sell without too much arseing around hopefully.

I hope so. I really ought to get on with putting it up for sale on C&C/eBay before spring hits. 

Need a bit of a big sell off and reduce the fleet down. Then maybe get something more exotic and fancy. 

[Six-cylinder]

I had got to the point where I was thinking I was ready to sell my MGB GT last year. Then I drove mine a couple of times and deceided I enjoyed it even if I didn't use it much. I have had mine 12 years now and while I need to sell some cars because I was 4 up at the end of last year, the MGB GT stays. 

[SiC]

Refitted the original steering wheel at the weekend. I spent a lot of time cleaning it up, feeding the leather rim (at least I think it's leather!) and cleaning the rust off the wheel arms.

I personally think my aftermarket Moss wheel is much nicer but not only do I want to keep it, most buyers prefer a classic as stock.

Didn't want to come off with pulling, so reverted to a puller which did the job. 

I torqued up the nut to spec (40lbft iirc))

 

Back to original.

 

Now I need to make a proper concerted effort in selling it. I will miss it but I really can't keep them all. Even if I had room, it'd just be sat around and that doesn't do a car any good whatsoever. 

[Minimad5]

Cor that is lovely.

Good luck with the sale 🙏

[SiC]

On 18/01/2024 at 23:04, Six-cylinder said:

I had got to the point where I was thinking I was ready to sell my MGB GT last year. Then I drove mine a couple of times and deceided I enjoyed it even if I didn't use it much. I have had mine 12 years now and while I need to sell some cars because I was 4 up at the end of last year, the MGB GT stays. 

I fully understand that and will miss mine. But I don't actually do that much driving anymore. Commute is a short drive to the train station and leaving something like this in an open car park is just too risky in getting stolen or damaged. Weekends I go out often but Mrs SiC doesn't really enjoy the classics that much. Odd occasion it's okay but she's not a huge fan - maybe I should get more comfortable cars as she liked the P4 a lot. 

So basically it's the summer evenings for me to go for a jolly jaunt or to the odd local car meet. Which realistically, once I find time to, is only a handful of evenings in the summer. Given a choice right now, I'd take the Spitty pretty much everytime. Gathers much more interest over my B too. 

[SiC]

Just now, Minimad5 said:

Cor that is lovely.

Good luck with the sale 🙏

It's sitting in the garage next to my Midget that's under heavy restoration at the moment. Just to remind me that I did once buy nice cars that didn't need a whole load of body and work. 🤣

The problem is that right now the market is slowed down a lot. So I may have to take a bit of a bath from what it was worth last year to get it sold.