1971 MGB GT - Been shopping, budget smashed - see page 13

6,247 · October 10

On 06/10/2024 at 18:32, chadders said:

Citron.

The best colour ever for a Marina 1800TC Jubilee

36,955 · October 10

Watching this with interest as my in laws want to buy a roadster. They’re completely mechanically inept though so I imagine when it’s got some sort of fluid running out of it or its sounding like the opening bars of Smoke on the Water I’ll get ‘the call’.

Theres a lot to be said sometimes for these old sports cars, they might have been hopelessly outgunned by the early 80’s by things like the Golf GTI etc but there’s something quite warming about tinkering about in the garage with them. Earlier in the year I was working on an 82 TR7, getting it running again after a 6 year hiatus and it was great. The joy being you can close the door when it starts to piss you off and just enjoy the good times like when it starts for the first time.

11,955 · October 10

On 07/10/2024 at 17:12, Peter C said:

No way Jose, my steering wheel appears to be welded to the column. No matter how hard I smack it with the large hammer, it ain't budging.

In spite of the video, never smack a steel hammer head with another steel hammer.

I know someone who shattered a hammer head (since they are both hardened) and a splinter went in his eye.

I find that pulling hard on the rim and working round does the trick eventually. Also never fully remove the nut.

36,955 · October 10

1 hour ago, Mally said:

In spite of the video, never smack a steel hammer head with another steel hammer.

I know someone who shattered a hammer head (since they are both hardened) and a splinter went in his eye.

I find that pulling hard on the rim and working round does the trick eventually. Also never fully remove the nut.

Leave the nut on a few turns. Ask me how I know…

9,566 · October 10

@SiC Looks like a mission to get the steering wheel off. Do you still have the puller kit? Any chance you could post it to me if I pay for p&p? I would send it right back once I've (hopefully) got the wheel off.

I removed the rear bumper today. It was secured with two big nuts located on long bolts. I used a long spanner with a length of Ford Sierra Sapphire 1.8L exhaust pipe for an extension to remove them. The bastard things were fuck off tight all the way to the end. Took me an hour and my hands are sore.

The valance is cosmetically challenged but generally solid.

The bumper just needs a spit and polish.

In other news, I've bought a pair of old Huntmaster bucket seats for a grand total of £22.

They are a bit rough but my wife has volunteered to reupholster the squabs with black car seat fabric in exchange for sex.

I will have to see if I can modify the existing seat runners to get them to fit.

I am collecting the seats on Saturday morning.

Once cleaned up, they will match the musty ambience of the MGB's interior and for £22 I can't go wrong.

More soon.

1,823 · October 10

I am liking the seats, that's very much my cup of tea.

2,105 · October 10

The steering wheel will come off without a puller.

Undo the nut and leave it on a few threads. Grab the wheel at 12 and 6 o clock. Rock it in and out with all your might while pulling towards you. Now hold it at 3 and 9 o clock. Do the same, rocking it in and out, as if you're trying to bend the wheel (it will flex).

Repeat until it loosens. Never had that technique fail in 30yrs of messing with this stuff.

Sometimes you have to put lots of weight on them/ be quite aggressive. But you won't damage anything and it's better than hitting stuff with a hammer!

36,369 · October 10

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

Looks like a mission to get the steering wheel off. Do you still have the puller kit? Any chance you could post it to me if I pay for p&p? I would send it right back once I've (hopefully) got the wheel off.

Looking on eBay the puller kits go for like a tenner or so. By the time postage is paid for it there and back, you'd be able to buy one outright.

36,369 · October 10

29 minutes ago, Rusty_Rocket said:

The steering wheel will come off without a puller.

Undo the nut and leave it on a few threads. Grab the wheel at 12 and 6 o clock. Rock it in and out with all your might while pulling towards you. Now hold it at 3 and 9 o clock. Do the same, rocking it in and out, as if you're trying to bend the wheel (it will flex).

Repeat until it loosens. Never had that technique fail in 30yrs of messing with this stuff.

Sometimes you have to put lots of weight on them/ be quite aggressive. But you won't damage anything and it's better than hitting stuff with a hammer!

You must have better luck or skill than me. I tried all that at the time and I was getting close to breaking/bending the metal parts of the wheel by using such force!

October 10

slightly older but similar condition,

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/227796/1966-mgb-gt-hertfordshire-500

9,566 · October 10

45 minutes ago, SiC said:

Looking on eBay the puller kits go for like a tenner or so. By the time postage is paid for it there and back, you'd be able to buy one outright.

Makes sense but could you point me in the direction of the same puller kit that you used?

I can’t find it.

12,998 · October 10

10 hours ago, Peter C said:

Prices of MGB project cars all seem to be about the same but the definitions of projects vary a great deal.

Check this out, only for the brave: https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/mg/mgb/mgb-gt/1972/400107

When I bought my B, someone at Beaulieu advised that it is fitted with the wrong tailgate. The badging apparently gives it away.

This is mine:

This is another, very similar, J reg car:

This is the early, 1960s style tailgate and badging:

And the rubber bumper version:

Looks like my tailgate and badging are all correct. Phew, I was losing sleep.

Not sure the tailgates changed, would involve re-working of shell too. Badges, smadges l😀

9,566 · October 11

13 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Not sure the tailgates changed, would involve re-working of shell too. Badges, smadges l😀

The badges are fixed on pins that extend through the outer skin of the tailgate, so whilst the shape of the tailgates hasn’t changed, the holes for the badges are different.

1,666 · October 11

The one that has always worked for me was loosening the wheel nut, hitting it with palms repeatedly on 3 and 9, and going a bit up and down if needed. Impacts loosen it up, and it pops off. It looks very violent but works very well.

9,566 · October 11

@SiC I found this, not quite a tenner but not too expensive either.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285538772111?_skw=puller+set&itmmeta=01J9Y33GX5YX5TH5S58YSGE9XW&hash=item427b6fe48f:g:KhoAAOSwUBZlQJ39&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKl%2BqklRpGAKEZzmil1blCpiPwaN59kUbRs1uyRQli8WkEnBKk7n1N5diXTmvZffRVx%2FezHH6YTffxwfS6lXC3sevdf%2BdO3hIxeMDiq314DjfCbQqBdpOw3ERKQYda8aYVowlqtEK0qJTsCOIuXUYNkxdbIeH2dz3ChKofCrmP1tqZm%2F%2BJpBLTk9zfcpLBl8PMcq5qIKSgutQcUoVJgC5fvPOxF8R724jzZXlYHEGTAvJENoYhcN%2Boxeoiwl3HQr0SM%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9SOjsPPZA

The fabric insulation on the underside of the B's bonnet has deteriorated somewhat and bits of fluff kept falling ono the engine. Not good.

Five minutes with a scraper and the fabric and a fair chunk of the adhesive were gone.

Soapy water wouldn't even touch the sides so I got the neat paraffin out, which removed the oily stains.

Apart from painting over the rusty bits, I am not planning on doing much more with the underside of the bonnet. That said, new insulation linings are fairly cheap.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134483583211?_skw=mgb+bonnet+insulation&itmmeta=01J9Y35PF3T7AFCHNSRQ3NDJ6V&hash=item1f4fd8a0eb:g:BO0AAOSwpNBmhQL9&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkJ%2B23y2y3jD1YHChgXJ0G6nN2Z43zIvOOBi3HDqc9pTIuuP3Phq%2FBKjdyVk%2Fb0AmRcmc7uepdNYH9gXPwdcMq686RFvZz8Oh9hu%2ByI1cPtaXM7mNoqz5ozqOkAiQtAYDnQgLv4A7S1XhXP2N5nzf4tUkvDeKW9uPWgSIuOKYfV8sMCEpdIZueo1bAZRZ4lFuku9jYsAHXurgiwDUKkIw4sJ3mUQZ%2BPIe6ybb883YDIDi%2B%2FiaaT5FAOU4vKmpXIx%2FUMSgIgvLeN%2FG8uIqHu07LZPtk7jwuv6saIIYWtSIlUaA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9LnlsPPZA

I have to get up early tomorrow to pick up the bucket seats. Woo hoo!

October 11

On 10/10/2024 at 17:33, Peter C said:

@SiC Looks like a mission to get the steering wheel off. Do you still have the puller kit? Any chance you could post it to me if I pay for p&p? I would send it right back once I've (hopefully) got the wheel off.

I removed the rear bumper today. It was secured with two big nuts located on long bolts. I used a long spanner with a length of Ford Sierra Sapphire 1.8L exhaust pipe for an extension to remove them. The bastard things were fuck off tight all the way to the end. Took me an hour and my hands are sore.

The valance is cosmetically challenged but generally solid.

The bumper just needs a spit and polish.

In other news, I've bought a pair of old Huntmaster bucket seats for a grand total of £22.

They are a bit rough but my wife has volunteered to reupholster the squabs with black car seat fabric in exchange for sex.

I will have to see if I can modify the existing seat runners to get them to fit.

I am collecting the seats on Saturday morning.

Once cleaned up, they will match the musty ambience of the MGB's interior and for £22 I can't go wrong.

More soon.

Excellent, who did she want sex with though? 😁

October 11

If you want to get all of the adhesive off I thoroughly recommend this stuff:

https://www.mycarcleaning.co.uk/products/gyeon-q2m-tar

It's shifted glue from all sorts of challenges I've thrown at it including baked-on number plate adhesive etc.

9,566 · October 11

2 hours ago, 24vdiamond said:

Excellent, who did she want sex with though? 😁

Most probably Barry from No 3.

12,998 · October 11

4 hours ago, Peter C said:

@SiC I found this, not quite a tenner but not too expensive either.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285538772111?_skw=puller+set&itmmeta=01J9Y33GX5YX5TH5S58YSGE9XW&hash=item427b6fe48f:g:KhoAAOSwUBZlQJ39&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKl%2BqklRpGAKEZzmil1blCpiPwaN59kUbRs1uyRQli8WkEnBKk7n1N5diXTmvZffRVx%2FezHH6YTffxwfS6lXC3sevdf%2BdO3hIxeMDiq314DjfCbQqBdpOw3ERKQYda8aYVowlqtEK0qJTsCOIuXUYNkxdbIeH2dz3ChKofCrmP1tqZm%2F%2BJpBLTk9zfcpLBl8PMcq5qIKSgutQcUoVJgC5fvPOxF8R724jzZXlYHEGTAvJENoYhcN%2Boxeoiwl3HQr0SM%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9SOjsPPZA

The fabric insulation on the underside of the B's bonnet has deteriorated somewhat and bits of fluff kept falling ono the engine. Not good.

Five minutes with a scraper and the fabric and a fair chunk of the adhesive were gone.

Soapy water wouldn't even touch the sides so I got the neat paraffin out, which removed the oily stains.

Y tho?

9,566 · October 11

1 minute ago, High Jetter said:

Y tho?

Ehh???

11,281 · October 11

41 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Ehh???

Running *gag..... Seems an image that evokes a thought of 'melancholia' in it >> found in any setting is to be considered 🤔

There's a fred.... 😉

🚙💨

12,998 · October 11

2 hours ago, Peter C said:

Ehh???

3rd pic. Bear in the bonnet

36,955 · October 11

On 10/10/2024 at 17:33, Peter C said:

@SiC Looks like a mission to get the steering wheel off. Do you still have the puller kit? Any chance you could post it to me if I pay for p&p? I would send it right back once I've (hopefully) got the wheel off.

I removed the rear bumper today. It was secured with two big nuts located on long bolts. I used a long spanner with a length of Ford Sierra Sapphire 1.8L exhaust pipe for an extension to remove them. The bastard things were fuck off tight all the way to the end. Took me an hour and my hands are sore.

The valance is cosmetically challenged but generally solid.

The bumper just needs a spit and polish.

In other news, I've bought a pair of old Huntmaster bucket seats for a grand total of £22.

They are a bit rough but my wife has volunteered to reupholster the squabs with black car seat fabric in exchange for sex.

I will have to see if I can modify the existing seat runners to get them to fit.

I am collecting the seats on Saturday morning.

Once cleaned up, they will match the musty ambience of the MGB's interior and for £22 I can't go wrong.

More soon.

I wish my prowess in the bedroom was tantamount to free upholstery work!

7,039 · October 11

On 07/10/2024 at 17:12, Peter C said:

No way Jose, my steering wheel appears to be welded to the column. No matter how hard I smack it with the large hammer, it ain't budging.

what i am seeing is a claw hammer resting on the wheel NOT the nut

10,178 · October 12

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

I wish my prowess in the bedroom was tantamount to free upholstery work!

It gets you a free pass to make the bed after. What more do you want!

9,566 · October 12

I picked up the bucket seats this morning, got them home and gave them a good clean. Not bad for £22. I’ve checked the frames, all good and square with no cracks and all the fixing points are ok.

I wanted a pair of seats that look like they’ve been fitted 30 years ago, not 30 minutes ago. With a bit of TLC they will look just right.

I removed the passenger seat. I found a broken Abba Gold cassette tape, a paint brush and a 20p coin.

I was aware that anything other than a narrow seat will not fit and I’m pleased to say that these will fit just fine. The seatbelt reaches ok too.

I have an idea how to mount them directly to the floorpan if I can’t make use of the original runners.

One issue is that I will never get my arse in the seat with the large standard steering wheel in place. No worries, I had always planned to fit a smaller diameter steering wheel and I think I’m one step closer to getting the old one off.

23,980 · October 12

They look 100% better than those awful old ones! Nice job👍

1,823 · October 12

It might be worth keeping your eye out for so called universal runner kits, I managed to use a set of no name universal runners under some cobra bucket seats in my old 944 and they worked just fine......

This sort of thing.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284437034666?_skw=universal+seat+runners&itmmeta=01JA0PB820DDRJ9CN6FC38XFK4&hash=item4239c4b6aa:g:JE8AAOSw26NkY1m8&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlT8Hdb5GlQymusVw2wTcch8KxR279REbE4hdtWvYl3U2FOhq6j5c%2F21Znp4PoMtCx9POvQfJGV5Hdj6uLpDQxomLke4IfdrXq0Tc%2F5QOdV208vTkvMCSxleteL9GxVEcNFxhIChpV6ZR9iisP9OX8lfQSZz0W%2Bx0ZLJ3ArkqeVIHG8oXBiT5ttuPTuroQ5lsltyfMipeBixLiz0JqDox2m7VBVzREN5Pado8oMPMcP%2F9ucYg%2BOJvIAm3LphwBrV%2FKDWF8X2fANd%2FH888PVTS7IoJfqBUzLhQzGj3I5aGbzJg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4iBrZbQZA

9,566 · October 12

@Marina door handles

Makes sense but a set (for one seat) costs more than I paid for both seats!

1,823 · October 12

59 minutes ago, Peter C said:

@Marina door handles

Makes sense but a set (for one seat) costs more than I paid for both seats!

That will teach you to buy such cheap seats!

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