1971 MGB GT - Steering rack replaced - see page 31

[Peter C]

For years I've been suffering with a sore right shoulder. I did something silly a couple of weeks ago and the main is now more intense. The sore shoulder made driving the MGB, which obviously has no power steering, quite a challenge. 

I therefore decided to replace the smaller and chunkier steering wheel for the much larger but thinner original steering wheel.

I think it looks great. A quick test drive revealed that the steering is now significantly lighter, however the large diameter steering wheel will take some time to get used to.

When I go to Beaulieu in three weeks, I will look out for a steering wheel that is larger than the one I had on before but slightly smaller and chunkier than the original. 

More soon.

 

[tooSavvy]

^ ^ ^ ... I put the Metro wheel on SuziQ [bigger/thinner rim] as NO PAS!

Good on you 👍

🚙💨

[chadders]

11 minutes ago, Peter C said:

For years I've been suffering with a sore right shoulder. I did something silly a couple of weeks ago and the main is now more intense. The sore shoulder made driving the MGB, which obviously has no power steering, quite a challenge. 

I therefore decided to replace the smaller and chunkier steering wheel for the much larger but thinner original steering wheel.

I think it looks great. A quick test drive revealed that the steering is now significantly lighter, however the large diameter steering wheel will take some time to get used to.

When I go to Beaulieu in three weeks, I will look out for a steering wheel that is larger than the one I had on before but slightly smaller and chunkier than the original. 

More soon.

 

These sort of things work well in my experience:

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/en-gb/castor-correction-kit-cobalt-264--858

 

 

[Peter C]

1 minute ago, chadders said:

These sort of things work well in my experience:

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/en-gb/castor-correction-kit-cobalt-264--858

 

 

That looks like a worthy upgrade!

 

[chadders]

I've had them on mine since I had it recommissioned about 3 or 4 years ago.

I haven't noticed any drawbacks such as tramlining, lack of directional stability or whatever.

[Peter C]

3 minutes ago, chadders said:

I've had them on mine since I had it recommissioned about 3 or 4 years ago.

I haven't noticed any drawbacks such as tramlining, lack of directional stability or whatever.

Is the steering significantly lighter?

[Bmwdumptruck]

Wish I had room here to get mine out of it’s slumber in the council lock up over the other side of town , so I could maybe get it recommissioned.  Although it’s been sleeping a hell of a long time , I’ve no idea what state it’s ended up in.  It’s not been out of it’s lockup since 2007😱🤦‍♂️🙄

[chadders]

31 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Is the steering significantly lighter?

Yes. I can't quantify exactly how much as it was off the road for about 4 years whilst I tried to get someone to fit new sills and these were fitted as part of the work package. It's certainly a lot easier to turn around on the drive though, about par with my power steering equipped VW T2.

[Sunny Jim]

Hope you manage to get your shoulder sorted - I ended up needing surgery on mine and although recovering to full strength is likely to take six months, three months post op and I'm largely pain free.

[Matty]

2 hours ago, Peter C said:

For years I've been suffering with a sore right shoulder. I did something silly a couple of weeks ago and the main is now more intense. The sore shoulder made driving the MGB, which obviously has no power steering, quite a challenge. 

I therefore decided to replace the smaller and chunkier steering wheel for the much larger but thinner original steering wheel.

I think it looks great. A quick test drive revealed that the steering is now significantly lighter, however the large diameter steering wheel will take some time to get used to.

When I go to Beaulieu in three weeks, I will look out for a steering wheel that is larger than the one I had on before but slightly smaller and chunkier than the original. 

More soon.

 

Massive hypocrite here as I've a Moto Lita on my Austin, but if the original had looked half as good as that MG wheel Id've left it well alone 😍 

[Peter C]

17 minutes ago, Sunny Jim said:

Hope you manage to get your shoulder sorted - I ended up needing surgery on mine and although recovering to full strength is likely to take six months, three months post op and I'm largely pain free.

Over the past 8 years or so, I’ve had:

Advice from 5 different consultants.

6 MRI scans.

2 steroid injections.

10 sessions with a physiotherapist.

1 operation.

Thank you BUPA for funding my treatment but my shoulder still fucking hurts.

[Peter C]

On Sunday, I met up with @Wibble at the Basingstoke Festival of Transport.

I was on a mission to find replacement tail lights for the MGB. The offside rear lens is broken and the bottom screw has snapped inside the nearside chrome surround. I was aware that there is more than one type of tail light fitted to MGBs and I took a photograph of mine before leaving for the show.

The autojumble was a disappointment and I didn't buy anything.

The good news is that there were plenty of MGB/C GTs at the show and @Wibble and I can now consider ourselves as experts in MGB tail light designs. I'm off to Beaulieu this Saturday, where I should be more lucky.

Some lovely GTs at the show.

More soon.

 

[Snipes]

On 26/04/2025 at 16:07, chadders said:

I've had them on mine since I had it recommissioned about 3 or 4 years ago.

I haven't noticed any drawbacks such as tramlining, lack of directional stability or whatever.

I've been out of the game for years now but I never thought about the relationship of castor and radial tyres. 

Three degrees is a big change, though I've no idea how much an MGB runs from the factory. I'd be surprised if it were more than about +3 to 3.5.

Did you ever get the geometry measurd?

[chadders]

7 minutes ago, Sir Snipes said:

I've been out of the game for years now but I never thought about the relationship of castor and radial tyres. 

Three degrees is a big change, though I've no idea how much an MGB runs from the factory. I'd be surprised if it were more than about +3 to 3.5.

Did you ever get the geometry measurd?

Afraid not.

[DSdriver]

Lots of rear light clusters on the bay of evil 😉

[Mally]

One of mine had 185 tyres, the other 165.

185 were considerably harder to steer. Blowing the tyres up a bit more helped.

[Peter C]

1 hour ago, DSdriver said:

Lots of rear light clusters on the bay of evil 😉

True but a set will cost a lot less at an autojumble and I will be able to assess condition before parting with my pennies.

[Peter C]

Went to the Beaulieu autojumble yesterday. The weather was perfect, I went with a mate, it was a great day out.

As my right shoulder is absolutely knackered, I borrowed my mum's shopping trolley. Looking good. 

So what did I get? A few decent bargains, that's what.

For the MGB:

In the cardboard box on the right is a complete new boot carpet set.

Pair of very good complete tail lights and a spare unit.

Gearstick knob.

Haynes manual (for a quid!)

MG Legends magazine.

Chrome ashtray.

Various switches and a wooden panel for my dashboard project.

Dinky model.

For the Sierra:

What looks like a reproduction front grille. Not bad for £2.

I can't resist an old radio and this time I bought two.

A lovely 80s (?) Goodmans.

And an even lovelier Pye, which came with matching speakers.

Hopefully they work, I will find out later today.

I didn't get a steering wheel, which I wanted because the original is too big and located too close to the column whilst the old three spoke that I fitted is too small for me to able to steer comfortably with my bad shoulder. Weather permitting, I'll be off to the Enfield Pageant next weekend and if I get lucky, I'll find a nice steering wheel there.

More soon.

[loserone]

I keep being surprised that you look nothing like your avatar

[Peter C]

9 minutes ago, loserone said:

I keep being surprised that you look nothing like your avatar

This guy is better looking than me.

[loserone]

Not anymore!

[DSdriver]

That asymetrical Pye radio is ace, any idea what it was designed for?

[hairnet]

27 minutes ago, Peter C said:

This guy is better looking than me.

without googling = vincent schiavelli?

[Peter C]

10 minutes ago, DSdriver said:

That asymetrical Pye radio is ace, any idea what it was designed for?

 

[Peter C]

I wanted to fill the space between the gearstick and the dashboard centre speaker.

I bought this yesterday for £2. It's made in France, no idea what car it originates from.

I cleaned it up and secured with two self-tapping screws, which are fixed to a piece of hardboard that I tucked underneath the carpet.

I like it. I don't smoke but I like the idea of an ashtray in an old car.

My plan for the PYE radio is to put it between the speaker and the underside of the dashboard.

At the moment, the radio doesn't extend far enough because of two bolts under dashboard that get in the way. 

I believe that the purpose of these bolts is to secure the centre console, which I removed a long time ago. Hopefully they can be removed and the radio will fit nicely.

If not, this might be plan B. Or something similar. I would replace the broken ammeter with another gauge or a +12V socket. 

I really disliked the original wooden gear knob.

I found a suitable replacement, with all associated fixings, new in box, for £5.

I like it. Most of you probably won't.

The gearstick feels nice and chunky now, just how I like it.

Could have been worse, I could have fitted a GTi or 16V badge atop the gear knob.

I would have fitted the GT badge, if the text was red.

I replaced the temporary plastic overdrive switch.

Much better. Cost £2.

I removed the broken offside tail light and cleaned up the panel around it.

And fitted a replacement light unit. I got a pair, in perfect condition, all complete, for £16.

More soon.

 

[High Jetter]

28 minutes ago, Peter C said:

I like it. I don't smoke but I like the idea of an ashtray in an old car.

Look like the sort of ashtray you'd find mounted in a door, or at the rear of a centre console for rear passengers to use. It would be awkward to use as an ashtray, but then I doubt it ever will, I'm sure any passenger who dared to light up would be rapidly evicted - quite rightly.

Why the 2nd radio, have you intentions for the space the Clarion is taking up?

[Noel Tidybeard]

the yellow gt knob sticker looks ok- would prolly look less so in red

[Peter C]

28 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Why the 2nd radio, have you intentions for the space the Clarion is taking up?

It the PYE works, I will connect the existing external aerial and the centre speaker to it and connect a second aerial, located behind the dashboard and a Bluetooth to FM transmitter to the Clarion so that I can play music from my phone.

If the PYE is knackered, it will fit it anyway because it looks so pretty and leave the Clarion as it is.

[Wibble]

A decent haul there Peter, glad it was a successful day mate.

[N19]

11 hours ago, Peter C said:

I didn't get a steering wheel, which I wanted because the original is too big and located too close to the column whilst the old three spoke that I fitted is too small for me to able to steer comfortably with my bad shoulder. Weather permitting, I'll be off to the Enfield Pageant next weekend and if I get lucky, I'll find a nice steering wheel there.

More soon.

I'll be at Enfield on Saturday, will keep my eye open.