MGB & GT Forum

Welcome! Sign In Register

Please Sign In or Register to Search

bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start?

Posted by beeryboats

Want to advertise your business in this space? Click here for more information!

Topic List Forum List Newer Older Start New Topic

bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #1
beeryboats Jay Beery Brownsburg, In, USA	Posted: April 12, 2012 06:51PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 223

I just bought two mgb's to build one car. A '71 and '74. The early model is from CA and looks worse than it really is. No rust, but not the best chrome or truck lid. That's what the other car is for. But I'm undecided where to start. I do not want a show car, but I want a good looking daily driver. I know, mgb and dependable should not be in the same sentence, but I'm gonna try! They've both been sitting indoors for years. I don't know if I want to jump right into an engine rebuild, cost?, or just overhaul the carbs and accessaries. Brake overhaul is a must, and I've already bought some parts. The whold car is just such an unknown. An overdrive transmission?!?!?! Even sounds expensive. I've always had old american iron, a '56 chevy step side and a '45 Ford GPW (WWII jeep).
Thanks,
Jay

1971 MGB: restoration car
1974 MGB: parts car
1945 Ford GPW "jeep"
1956 Chevy step side pick up
2009 BMW R1200GS "scooter"

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #2
1977mg-mgb Maxx M City, USA 1977 MG MGB "Little Green Sprout"	Posted: April 12, 2012 06:55PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 22

any spare parts you have give back to the community, list them in that trader form!

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #3
gooser Drake Myers Danville Va, USA	Posted: April 12, 2012 07:04PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 6,926

well let's hope you have an early 74 so more parts will interchange. you're on the right track with fixing the brakes first. do either or both engines run?

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #4
Wilkiewheels Jeff Wilkins Hornell, NY, USA 1970 MG MGB MkII "Tango" 1971 MG MGB MkII "Tiger" 1974 MG MGB "Gray Poupon" 1977 MG MGB MkIII "Green B" 1980 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) "Pepper"	Posted: April 12, 2012 07:37PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 494

Jay - welcome to the forum. This is a great forum for information when things get difficult. I bought a car completely in pieces and then bought a second car for parts. I have since owned three others to drive and enjoy while working on the original. So keep all the mechanical spares. You just don't know what you will need. For starters I would get the car so it is drivable and with safe breaks and handling. You need to get these cars out on the road and drive them. It's what motivates us to do the work they require. Enjoy.

"Without hops the world stops"

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #5
OldBloke Jim Legg Napa, California, USA 1971 MG MGB GT 1972 MG MGB V6 Conversion	Posted: April 12, 2012 07:38PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 8,235

Welcome aboard, folks here should be able to answer any question you may have. Two "B"s isn't a bad thing...! eye rolling smiley

"Not all who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #6
The old NZMGBs Paul WIERINGA Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand	Posted: April 12, 2012 07:46PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 455

In reply to # 2038526 by beeryboats I just bought two mgb's to build one car. A '71 and '74. The early model is from CA and looks worse than it really is. No rust, but not the best chrome or truck lid. That's what the other car is for. But I'm undecided where to start. I do not want a show car, but I want a good looking daily driver. I know, mgb and dependable should not be in the same sentence, but I'm gonna try! They've both been sitting indoors for years. I don't know if I want to jump right into an engine rebuild, cost?, or just overhaul the carbs and accessaries. Brake overhaul is a must, and I've already bought some parts. The whold car is just such an unknown. An overdrive transmission?!?!?! Even sounds expensive. I've always had old american iron, a '56 chevy step side and a '45 Ford GPW (WWII jeep).
Thanks,
Jay

You bought the ’74 JUST for the chrome and boot lid?! angry smiley

You’re going to part out / wreck a car just for those bits?!
SELL the ’74 and buy the bits as you need them.

Paul

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #7
saanich2006 Robert Browning Atlanta, Georgia, USA 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 1973 MG MGB	Posted: April 12, 2012 07:47PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 1,787

doesn't exist and isn't real without some images!! smiling bouncing smiley

"He had delusions of adequacy."

Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #8
NOHOME Peter Plouf London, Canada 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite Bugeye "Lil" 1967 MG MGB GT "Maggie (GT From Hell)"	Posted: April 12, 2012 08:01PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 11,882

I would start by doing a basic assesment of the major systems.

Is the body rust free enough that you dont need to weld?
Is the paint good enough to leave alone?

If these two are good enough, leave good enough alone

Move to the engine

How is the compression?
How is the oil pressure?

I would rebuild the carbs and distributor as amatter of course. See how the rad shakes out.

Seats OK?
Dash OK?

Everything else is trivial

Suspension...

Are the kingpins good to go?
Shocks?

I like to stop, and brakes are one area where I just toss the catalog at the car rather than just move the weak link

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #9
beeryboats Jay Beery Brownsburg, In, USA	Posted: April 13, 2012 05:24PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 223

Thanks for the welcome. The build car needs body work and paint. Carbs are off, former owner said they were rebuilt and left off the car. Looks like the truth. So it won't run, needs paint, and needs a carpet kit for sure. And a total brake job. I learned my lesson on my old jeep.

The '74 is my dream street legal race car. It will need lot's of work.

My heart says "tear it all down and rebuild and paint under the hood". My head and my pocket book says "see what you've got under the hood and ask your self if it really needs to come out". If it was an old Chevy 350 I would know the answer after an afternoon under the hood. I don't know squat about the engine in the MG's, so that's why I'm asking questions. The odometer says about 50K miles if that's any help.

Thanks,
Jay

1971 MGB: restoration car
1974 MGB: parts car
1945 Ford GPW "jeep"
1956 Chevy step side pick up
2009 BMW R1200GS "scooter"

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #10
MG Unlimited Lou Medeiros Londonderry, NH, USA 1980 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) "Black Betty"	Posted: April 13, 2012 05:40PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 856

Hey Jay, welcome. If you're used to American Iron, i would venture to say most parts for MGs are less expensive believe it or not. Take a cruise through the Moss or Victoria British or Brittek websites and check the prices for springs, interior/exterior parts. The prices might surprise you...i know i was surprised. You can basically rebuild a front or rear suspension at Brittek for around 250 each end.
Have fun. Working on these cars is more like therapy then a chore.

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #11
nlneilson Neil Neilson Mojave & Oxnard CA, USA 1962 Jaguar E-Type Convertible "Chevy SB" 1974 MG MGB "MG" 1979 Porsche 928 1995 Dodge Ram 3500 "Diesel Dually"	Posted: April 13, 2012 07:49PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 180

In reply to # 2038566 by Wilkiewheels For starters I would get the car so it is drivable and with safe breaks and handling. You need to get these cars out on the road and drive them. It's what motivates us to do the work they require. Enjoy.

Get the engine running first!

Then the brakes. Often times just adding fluid and bleeding will be good to check operation. Then replace the seals.

Tearing every thing apart will lead to loss of motivation.

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #12
beeryboats Jay Beery Brownsburg, In, USA	Posted: April 13, 2012 08:09PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 223

Ah, you have a 12 valve 5.9 as well. Very wise. I have a '97 dually as well. I work at a diesel shop here in Indy and we do lots of Cummins "stuff".

1971 MGB: restoration car
1974 MGB: parts car
1945 Ford GPW "jeep"
1956 Chevy step side pick up
2009 BMW R1200GS "scooter"

Reply Quote

Re: bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start? #13
nlneilson Neil Neilson Mojave & Oxnard CA, USA 1962 Jaguar E-Type Convertible "Chevy SB" 1974 MG MGB "MG" 1979 Porsche 928 1995 Dodge Ram 3500 "Diesel Dually"	Posted: April 13, 2012 08:34PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 180

I got the Ram Cummins Diesel about 6 months ago. I have had a big International Rig with the 855 c.i. Cummins for about 25 years, the sound and feel is about the same. Tough dependable engines.

Reply Quote

Topic List Forum List Newer Older Start New Topic

RSS

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!

Members Sign In if you've already registered, or
Register a New Account
Registration is free and takes less than a minute

MGB & GT · MG Midget · Buy, Sell & Trade · Vendor & Group Buy · MG Engine Swaps · Original MG · MGA · MGC · MG Magnette · 1100 & 1300 · T-Series & Prewar · Modern MGs · MG Motorsports · MG-2013 Event · Member Meetup · Other Vehicles · Off Topic · Clubs

Having trouble posting or changing forum settings?
Check the Forum Help File (FAQ) or contact the webmaster.
View the archived version of this thread.
Built using Phorum Open Source Software

The MG Experience

www.mgexp.com

MGB & GT Forum

bought 2 mgb's, first full on car project, where to start?

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!Members Sign In if you've already registered, orRegister a New AccountRegistration is free and takes less than a minute

Join Our Club

MGExp Menu

—

Adjust Text Size

More to Explore

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!

Members Sign In if you've already registered, or
Register a New Account
Registration is free and takes less than a minute