1971 MGB GT - Test drive achieved!!!! - see page 14

[Matty]

What a fucking score! Can't believe you got all that for less than 2 grand.

[Marina door handles]

BTW in case you hadn't figured it out the B should have two 6 volt batteries in series (making 12volts) but it seems bodging in a single 12v battery was pretty common. 

The  car looks to be in pretty solid condition, well bought. I am mulling over starting my project BGT thread soon, by contrast my car's body is a veritable colander in comparison to yours! 

[Peter C]

9 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

BTW in case you hadn't figured it out the B should have two 6 volt batteries in series (making 12volts) but it seems bodging in a single 12v battery was pretty common. 

Yep, I thought that’s what’s been done.

[jonathan_dyane]

Looks great, you've done really well

[Wibble]

Mine had a single tray for 12 volt but was a ‘78

 

[Marina door handles]

8 minutes ago, Wibble said:

Mine had a single tray for 12 volt but was a ‘78

 

I think they changed to single battery in 75 when the rubber bumpers and other changes were made (My 76 also has the single battery hole too). 

[Mr Pastry]

While looking for MGB literature I found a couple of pics of mine, which was a 1967.  It had had a hard life and wasn't really a very nice car, as it had the early gearbox with a completely buggered non-synchro first, and no overdrive, and a low compression ex Sherpa engine, so it wasn't much use to anyone.  And it had a naff padded vinyl roof, I suppose somebody did that in the 70s.   With hindsight I would have bought a different one! 

OPs car looks a good proposition though.  The MGB  bodyshell is massively over engineered, so few bits of rust won't bother it, and the overdrive is well worth having.  It looks like it has Koni shox on the rear too.  The oil cooler is original, they all had one because sportscar, but it was unnecessary and even more  so with modern oils.

I would agree re steering wheel - steering is quite heavy, so see how you get on before fitting a smaller one.  I quite like the aftermarket woodwork inside - someone went to some trouble  over it - also the centre console, which I think is from a later car?  Nothing wrong with tasteful modifications, and there is no reason why it all has to be original.  Ditto grille and number plates.  Your car, you can do what you like with it.

 

 

 

 

[chadders]

My 74 had twins but I converted it to a single one.

If you box in the old battery trays they make good concealed storage places.

[Peter C]

@Mr Pastry

I think that my dashboard is a bit of a mongrel.

The ignition switch is above the steering column - should be in the middle of the dashboard?

The heater switch is on the lower console, which looks wrong for 1971.

The radio is where the vents should be.

The door cappings don’t look original.

The seats have been retrimmed in the wrong material.

But all this doesn’t matter, I absolutely love it.

Noted about the steering wheel.

[Mr Pastry]

37 minutes ago, Peter C said:

@Mr Pastry

I think that my dashboard is a bit of a mongrel.

The ignition switch is above the steering column - should be in the middle of the dashboard?

The heater switch is on the lower console, which looks wrong for 1971.

The radio is where the vents should be.

The door cappings don’t look original.

The seats have been retrimmed in the wrong material.

But all this doesn’t matter, I absolutely love it.

Noted about the steering wheel.

I can't remember all this stuff in detail now, you would need to check it all against chassis number, but it's got a good feeling to it, and yes, all that matters is that you like it.

[grogee]

Surely the most important period accessory for one of these is a beard

[Westbay]

10 minutes ago, grogee said:

Surely the most important period accessory for one of these is a beard

,,,and sandals ... 😂

[wuvvum]

That does look like a right result for the money.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

The ignition switch is above the steering column - should be in the middle of the dashboard?

It's a 1971 car and steering locks became compulsory in that year. I don't know how MG complied with it, but the last few hundred Triumph Heralds/Vitesses also have the ignition switch relocated leaving a blank area on the dashboard.

[Christine]

Someone gave me a Terry  leaf spring greaser yesterday .. cool innit ?  Screw is hollow  , nipple on the end to squirt in the grease 

I didn't know what it was ..google chucked up an  MG forum ! 

 

[Matty]

2 hours ago, Christine said:

Someone gave me a Terry  leaf spring greaser yesterday .. cool innit ?  Screw is hollow  , nipple on the end to squirt in the grease 

I didn't know what it was ..google chucked up an  MG forum ! 

 

Looks just like a hand cranked nut splitter. I had to look twice if I'm honest 🤣

[SiC]

Twin batteries is two 6v batteries. Nowadays they are much more expensive and lower capacity than most 12v batteries. 

People buy the two 6v batteries for originality. But you can't see them so I never bothered and stuffed a single 12v in mine. Also don't need to have the interlinking cable and one less thing to fail. 

[SiC]

I wonder if the door cappings are simply the standard vinyl covered jobs but with the vinyl and foam removed?

I went for a smaller steering wheel. Yes it's heavier but far nicer in my hands. But then I'm not a big fan of thin rimmed steering wheels. This is sacrilegious to many given thin rimmed wheels is often a "classic car" trait.

[Peter C]

I had a bit of time to tinker with the B today.

I replaced the missing nut and bolt that secures the bonnet stay to the bonnet. Much better, I don't need a broom anymore to keep the bonnet up.

I did some basic under-bonnet checks.

The radiator is full of coolant, which is surprisingly clean.

And the engine oil is also fairly clean and to the correct level.

The coil is missing a fixing bracket.

Anyone got a spare?

The engine oil cooler is a MOCAL. Not original, I guess?

Ahead of tomorrow's cutting and polishing, I touched up dozens of chips, scratches and plebs. I used my wife's Hyundai Tucson's touch up pen and it's a reasonable match. The B's panels are finished in multiple shades of red and I would have to buy a gaggle of touch up pens if I was to get a perfect match on each panel.

I hoovered and cleaned up the interior.

The door cards are ok, shame about the speakers.

Previous owner's mods?

I am in love with the interior (not the seats). It's the best part of the car for me.

The dashboard is wearing 53 years of patina and is definitely not getting re-sprayed. I will polish it with WD40 and enjoy the rust.

When I recommissioned my Sierra, I left the paint restoration until last. However, I want the B to look as best as possible as quickly as possible, so that when I'm stuck underneath it, cursing at whatever, at least I will be able to look up and enjoy how pretty it is.

More tomorrow. I can't wait.

 

[SiC]

2 hours ago, Peter C said:

The radiator is full of coolant, which is surprisingly clean

I'd wager that cap won't be holding pressure looking at the age of it. Might be worth thinking of a new cap and new hoses while you're there.

2 hours ago, Peter C said:

The coil is missing a fixing bracket.

Anyone got a spare?

Coils come with a bracket usually. Worth picking up a spare coil to have in the boot.

That lumination sticker suggests it may have a decent quality electronic ignition unit (i.e. lumination) in the dizzy too.

 

[SiC]

Those seats, are they actually just homemade/80s period seat covers? Apart from the wrong fabric, the seat frames themselves look about the right size and shape. 

[Christine]

A friend restored an old MGB GT years ago , about the time brazing  repairs was  deemed an mot fail , mid 80's?  Anyway it came with  lip  flared arches , minilites , 45 weber carb , and aluminium skinned bonnet and doors .. We wondered if it was a works car or something ..it did go well 

[Peter C]

26 minutes ago, SiC said:

Those seats, are they actually just homemade/80s period seat covers? Apart from the wrong fabric, the seat frames themselves look about the right size and shape. 

I was hoping the original leather / vinyl seats were covered up with horrible grey covers but no such luck. A previous owner had paid £££ to re-trim the seats, maybe because he/she stopped enjoying getting a sweaty back?

 

[Marina door handles]

I have to admit I quite like the "wrong" looking wooden door cappings, they look like a genuine period mod. Also the radio position is correct for a late Sixties car, not sure when that got moved down to the center console.... Who needs ventilation in a small coupe anyway?!

[Marina door handles]

I may have some vinyl seats available (for a proper sweaty arse efffect!) but I need to get some MX5 seats to replace them with first, they are grey so may not really suit and they are not in great nick...

I tell you what I don't like, the God awful stick on wood dash covers some people seem to like.....

J

Just doesn't suit the car IMO...

[Sheefag]

18 hours ago, Peter C said:

The door cards are ok, shame about the speakers.

 

 

 

[Sheefag]

The stereo and the speakers were very decent, premium products back when they were new. Clarion was standard fit in Jaguars in the 1980's.

https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/114693/page/45

 

[SiC]

4 hours ago, Marina door handles said:

tell you what I don't like, the God awful stick on wood dash covers some people seem to like.....

Even worse is that it ruins the lovely original crackle finish. 

[Peter C]

It was spit and polish time today.

I started by removing bits of trim that obstructed access for the mop head.

The morning was muggy but dry. Rain came at around midday and whilst working conditions under the car pork remained comfortable, lack of light became an issue. Easily solved.

The majority of the paint is all one shade, except for an ugly off-colour patch on the bonnet and scuttle panel.

Cutting the paint made the difference in colours worse.

I removed as much of the paint as possible using 1200 wet and dry paper.

I didn't remove all the over sprayed paint as it was hiding a white patch in the top corner of the bonnet. 

The result is better but far from perfect. Not an issue as the paint is generally in poor condition and there is not one panel that doesn't some sort of significant defect.

The Rostyles were missing three centre caps. I bought a set on eBay on Thursday and, amazingly, they arrived today. The wheels definitely need paint.

I'm happy with the paint. I used T-Cut to cut the paint, then Autoglym High Resin Polish and the high gloss stuff to get it shiny. I will have to attend to the rusty bits around the tops of the rear wings and the front and rear valances need painting but the B looks a lot more presentable now.

Whilst manoeuvring the B up and down my street, the engine settled to a steady idle, at just over 3,000 rev/min. I think the carbs need a tweak.

As I'm off to the south of France on Monday, the B is now tucked away in the garage. It fits in the small bay with room to spare. Win.

These two have plenty to talk about.

I really enjoyed today's paint restoration session. The B looks a lot more presentable and I've probably added about £500 to its value. 

Who doesn't like a shiny red MG sports car? Not me.

More in a couple of weeks.

 

 

[HMC]

Thats epic! Im really looking forward to following what i want to call sierra 2.0