1974 MGB GT auction purchase - buying blind ..

[Somerset Suffolk]

10 hours ago, Mally said:

My dad bought a Gold seal engine for a Minor 1000, in the 60's.

Cost £50 from a main dealers, owned by Harry Ratciffe's dad iirc. (Google him if unaware).

I fitted it.

Mally - funnily enough I've a 4 door Minor with a gold seal engine in it - waiting to be restored along with a 2 door - both should be 1098cc but the gold seal in the 4 door is a 950cc - there a lovely smooth engine but not sure how it will cope with moving a 1098 diff up hill 🤔

[Somerset Suffolk]

On 20/10/2025 at 19:35, stuboy said:

looks good, what getting in and out like?

Stuboy - its not too bad to get in and out of - doors don't open that wide but not as bad as my MGA - that feels like I need to roll out onto the floor if I'm a bit knackered 😄

[Somerset Suffolk]

23 hours ago, Dj_efk said:

Oh wow, you've basically stolen it at that price - its a really high spec for one of those and was obviously cherished - also is that a stainless exhaust?

cheers Dj_efk - its been a bit of a chod bastard up until now - but making progress at last - exhaust is mild steel but looks in good condition 👍

[Somerset Suffolk]

soooo back to August -remove spark plugs, turn engine over by hand, clean points in distributor,  disconnect fuel pipe to purge old fuel, turn ignition key (its a bit tired and doesn't seem to spring back from start to run - decided to ignore this for moment - big bastard mistake ... no ticking from fuel pump

look at fuel pump - bodgery its cabled tied on and  missing the large rubber doughnut - remove fuel pump clean points and refit with rubber mounting ring - old fuel very stale but no bits or crap in it (there is a fuel filter fitted) - use a auxiliary fuel tank and try and start engine  - starter motor doesn't seem to be engaging and front carb leaking badly from base gasket, so remove carbs and starter motor 

carbs seem OK  other than fair bit of crud in float bowls - fit new gaskets and refit carbs 

Lucas starter motor also looks new (turns out to be reconditioned ) but solenoid isn't throwing out pinion - order new Rollco starter motor and start faffing with new seat covers, fitting new brake pipes and flexis and suspension stuff 

 

[Somerset Suffolk]

seat stuff - order these from ebay  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334781314450  dirt cheap but actually quite well made - very happy with them - will post a few pics later - seat frames in good nick as is the foam and webbing etc - seat covers with the car were the original style but drives had a few rips in it - shame as the passengers and rear were in good nick  

[Somerset Suffolk]

Brake stuff - brake shields have dissolved, replace all flexis and make up new pipes as most of the originals are crusty and wont undo without snapping - the long metal pipe that runs from front to back was particularly bad - snaps in half when I remove it (bastard oily job working on my back )  wonder what MOT tester was looking at when GT was last tested ?  Got a lovely Pickavant flaring tool given to me by a lovely friend and neighbour who was in the motor trade all his life - he died recently at age 90 - will be much missed - its the dogs bollocks and I really enjoy using it - proper old school tools  - fit new wheel bearings whilst the hubs are off  - new rear wheel cylinders - hand brake cables look ok - calipers good and pistons were pushed right back in as pads look new and meaty - hoping to bleed the brakes tomorrow ......

[comfortablynumb]

@Somerset Suffolk, I've had two of those brake flares tools, hopefully I'm preaching to the converted, but make sure you have the pipe seated and the tapers in fully before you tighten the large wingnut, both of mine have (eventually) stripped the thread from the inside of the nut😕

Admittedly that's after many uses, and they weren't new when I got hold of them, but just something to be aware of. The instructions do say don't use the wingnut to pull the tapers home, which does seem a bit strange, how else are you supposed to get clamping force?

Anyway, like I said, I bet you already know that 👍

[Somerset Suffolk]

48 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

@Somerset Suffolk, I've had two of those brake flares tools, hopefully I'm preaching to the converted, but make sure you have the pipe seated and the tapers in fully before you tighten the large wingnut, both of mine have (eventually) stripped the thread from the inside of the nut😕

Admittedly that's after many uses, and they weren't new when I got hold of them, but just something to be aware of. The instructions do say don't use the wingnut to pull the tapers home, which does seem a bit strange, how else are you supposed to get clamping force?

Anyway, like I said, I bet you already know that 👍

@comfortablynumb thanks - the flaring tool can be a bit fiddly to use and I would agree about seating the tapers - hoping it will out last me ! 

[Somerset Suffolk]

Bit of suspension stuff - bushes etc were pretty tired and perished (mentioned in MOT ) took a bit of work to get it all apart but no too bad - used a "Autobush"  kit from MG owners club - comes with pouches of grease so no arguments about what grease to use.... Cleaned the wish pans in a little parts cleaner and gave them a coat of paint - fitted new ball joint covers as ball joints themselves were in good condition - new bushes in anti roll bar - again a bit of heat and hammering got them in and a vice helped and careful bashing get the new ones back in 

[Somerset Suffolk]

back together ... and then apart again on offside because I fitted the top trunnion back to front ... 🤔 - looks a bit cleaner but no idea what it will feel like handling and ride wise as I've not driven the GT prior to the suspension rebuild - hopefully will feel OK 

[MVX11V]

Good job. You've done it all in the right place too, not in your mother in laws kitchen like i did... Certainly tested the integrity of laminate flooring.

[Andyrew]

Great work, I've found the B quite a nice thing to work on, parts availability is great and plenty of info.

Most problems I've had have been previously bodged or butchered bits

[Somerset Suffolk]

Rear suspension - decided to go for telescopic shock conversion DIY kit - fitted a similar thing to my sons Morris Minor when he was 17 and just passed his test - Minor was cheap to insure for him (apprentice brick layer) this was 14 years ago, and rear teles  did help handling and ride so I'm happy giving this a go - it can be reversed and put back to Armstrong type shocks (which were fecked on my GT)  "how to" details from here -https://www.mgexp.com/article/mgb-rear-shock-conversion.26

shocks were bought from Amazon and came all the way from the US of A - fasteners etc from ebay 

[Somerset Suffolk]

Off topic - my sons first car aged 16 and 18 when we sold it (he bought a T4 as he's a keen surfer)  with "just passed my test crash damage" 2 weeks after passing his test  and the shock rear conversion  - he did about 14000 miles in a year - only let him down once (fuel pump!)  Minor was one of the last 2 door salons and is still on the road -  where did that time go !