The new news 24 thread

[SiC]

It's literally an 8 minute walk from my house. I have zero excuses. I'm leaving work early tomorrow as I have a doctor's appointment and on the way back I'll have to pay them a visit!

 

Oh and I need to take a picture of outside their garage. Superb rotten chod they use for parts.

[MarvinsMom]

the sherpa coop. even for a rubber lipped one that doesn't seem like alot of money that its up for,

 

if you did buy it, and either it was a bit shit or you tired of it, i reccon you could easily sell it back on and get your money back.

 

as for what needs to go, well i'd get shot of the laguna, if that is you can find someone to buy it.....

[SiC]

Never ever thought I'd read a post where someone is upset at the prospect of getting rid of a Laguna!!

Yes I'm a wierd person.

[SiC]

as for what needs to go, well i'd get shot of the laguna, if that is you can find someone to buy it.....

That could be difficult, as it's not a car that sells quickly! The Smart Roadster market appears crowded at the moment, so prices are on the low side. I should however just about be able to break even if I sold it.

 

Other option is to talk/beg to my parents to borrow some of their driveway for temporary storage...

[Guest Hooli]

I do like MGB GTs. Nice simple motors that are much fun at lowish speeds.

 

Has it got overdrive?

[SiC]

Here is a taste of the paintjob/bodywork on it...

 

They have immaculate chrome bumper ones in their show room for 10k. However I like the slightly shonky, used look, as it's how I remember them back in 80s/90s when I was growing up. The rust failures and advisories are what scare me a bit. They seem to have put quite a lot of black paint and waxoyl on the bottom too. However I could at least compare the underside of this one against the other 3 MGB's they have in stock.

 

The garage has been there since the late 50s and the current owners since the early 2000s. Going by the stuff I've seen, they seem pretty legit.

 

I was chatting to a old guy on his walks when I was looking at it yesterday and him peering inside. Interesting bloke, but I think he was more amazed by my little Smart.

 

There was a MGB GT with an awful body kit and looking sorry for itself outside their garage a couple of months ago. Remember seeing it when I had a wander around with the FiL. Possibly could have been that one they've done a quick, light restro. Especially as they have a couple of very rotted MGB GTs in storage that they can scavenge parts from.

 

I need to go in with my head, not my heart. Especially as, even though this one is cheap for a dealer, there are others for similar amounts going on car and classic at the moment. Local ones too.

[SiC]

I do like MGB GTs. Nice simple motors that are much fun at lowish speeds.

 

Has it got overdrive?

Yes!

 

Shame the lack of MOT on it atm means I can't test drive it.

[Guest Hooli]

Get the carpets up & look inside the sills if you're serious with it. They have three part sills & the centre section is structural & the first to rot.

[SiC]

The carpet on the drivers side hadn't been put back down, so should be easy enough.

 

Just checked the MOT history, it's updated and it says it's passed today.

 

This is the fail and first recorded MOT:

Reason(s) for failure

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Direction indicators not working all (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded floor (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded arch (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately supported to servo (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Emissions not tested due to exhaust blow (7.3.A.1)

 

Advisory notice item(s)

indicator switch worn

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Brake pipe slightly corroded across bulkhead (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside and offside front castle section poor repair

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis leg (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis leg (2.4.A.3)

fuel pipe corroded

Offside Front Inner wing corroded

Nearside Front Inner wing corroded

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

 

[SiC]

They do their own MOTs, but I'd hope the testers stay impartial.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I fear that any BGT in that price range will be hiding a multitude of sins underneath fresh paint and thick underseal... And they're neither easy nor cheap to sort out body-wise.

 

Also, make sure you take it for an extended test drive before you buy it. They are a fairly uninspiring, agricultural drive in chrome bumper form and the rubber bumper versions are meant to be even worse.

 

As you can guess, I'm not a fan of MGBs - I stopped liking them shortly after I bought one !

[BavarianRetro]

Sills, inner sills, castle sections jacking points.

 

There should be s vertical splashguard behind the front wheels the full height of the wing - check it's there and its condition - a ropey one lets road grime and water into the sill area

 

There should be a visible vertical seam on the sill. Check it's there and not filled over or covered. Rear spring hangers and the very rear most section of the chassis rails rot too.

 

Remember that a rubber bumper GT is the lowest form of MGB life and will take an age to sell if you don't like it.

[MarvinsMom]

hmmmm, there seems to be alot of corrosion in that MOT check.

 

perhaps its not the one after all?

 

and a dumb question, but what is the castle section referred to above?

[Sigmund Fraud]

and a dumb question, but what is the castle section referred to above?

 

Simple* and easy* to repair.

[Guest Hooli]

The carpet on the drivers side hadn't been put back down, so should be easy enough.

 

Just checked the MOT history, it's updated and it says it's passed today.

 

This is the fail and first recorded MOT:

 

It's fucked our kid!

 

Rear suspension mounts tend to go about the same time as the B-posts & axle box. It's a lot of work to get sorted properly. Apart from anything else, if the floor is that rotten around there you can bet the bushes in the leaf springs are too, which make them vague to drive & ruin the modest amount of comfort they were built with.

[SiC]

If it's passed now, does that mean it's been hidden or fixed (possibly quickly/badly)?

[Guest Hooli]

Liking some of those little pickups POD

[Guest Hooli]

If it's passed now, does that mean it's been hidden or fixed (possibly quickly/badly)?

 

Normal bodge is to weld a plate in & weld it to the spring hangers rather than do it properly.

[cobblers]

Anything with an overspray on the rubbers paint job needs a good hard looking at really.

[SiC]

Current MOT for reference:

Test date: 27 June 2017

Expiry date: 26 June 2018

Test Result: Pass

Odometer reading: 56,058 miles

 

Advisory notice item(s)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Outer sill corroded

 

It's been 3 months since today's MOT and its first MOT. Thinking about it, when I saw the MGB outside, it probably was around March time. Possibly it's previous owner putting it in for an MOT and seeing if it'll pass?

 

I find it unlikely the garage themselves would have put it in for an MOT to begin with mind. As they have MOT testers themselves, they don't need to put it in for a test to find out what it will and won't pass on.

[Guest Hooli]

If the outer sill has gone, then the middle section & that castle bit will have. Price up a new heritage shell & just* swap it all over...

[Sigmund Fraud]

If it's passed now, does that mean it's been hidden or fixed (possibly quickly/badly)?

 

The problem with popular classics like the MGB (also the Mini, Beetle, 2CV) is that there's plenty of demand for them out there, often by the midlife crisis types who know little about cars but fancy a "first classic".

 

Such a market invites unscrupulous characters who "recommission" or "restore" crappy examples to a very presentable (but usually structurally poor) state and sell them for profit.

 

I fear that the example above belongs to that category.

[SiC]

Underside picture from yesterday:

 

Too dark out there atm to go and take any more. As its so local, I'll still have a wander over tomorrow afternoon, have a chat and a better look over it. Just go in with a much more open mind and certainly not rush.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. Could have really saved me potentially from buying a dud.

[Tayne]

Here is a taste of the paintjob/bodywork on it...

20170626_202011.jpg

They have immaculate chrome bumper ones in their show room for 10k. However I like the slightly shonky, used look, as it's how I remember them back in 80s/90s when I was growing up. The rust failures o.

Nobody seems to be talking about this photo.

 

Is that level of shonkiness normally in the wing / scuttle joint?

[Sigmund Fraud]

Nobody seems to be talking about this photo.

 

Is that level of shonkiness normally in the wing / scuttle joint?

 

That area looks pretty good by 'B standards, actually ! In most unrestored Bs, applying pressure to this area with your thumb results in a somewhat alerting "CRUNCH" sound.

[Sigmund Fraud]

After 3-4 years of crawling my way up the pay scale,I've finally had a rise that will enable me to become an autoshiter again still need something economical and pre 88, budget up to a bag.. I'm thinking 205 diseasel?

 

This one is not a diesel, but looks bargainous.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Stuck a new fan belt on the focus a week ago. Its a stretch belt so there is no way to adjust tension.

 

The bloody thing screeches like mad when you start the car, and occasionally when driving. Obviously the wrong belt?

 

I would just ignore it but the water pump runs off this belt. Fucksticks.

[twosmoke300]

Water pump seizing up ?

[anonymous user]

Stuck a new fan belt on the focus a week ago. Its a stretch belt so there is no way to adjust tension.

 

The bloody thing screeches like mad when you start the car, and occasionally when driving. Obviously the wrong belt?

 

I would just ignore it but the water pump runs off this belt. Fucksticks.

Chuck some talcum powder on it

[Brodders]

A friend from work was getting married yesterday and asked if I could help out.

 

 

A nice day was had by everyone (despite the rain) and the 75 got a final run out before the insurance ran out. So for the next few days I shall be cycling everywhere.