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MGB experiences
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Comments
Re your post #98...just a point of information. I sold my '64 MGB and purchased my '66 (both new at the time) for two reasons. First, they improved the transmission by adding a synchro into first gear, and second, they changed from a four to a five main bearing engine.
I picked up my non-synchro in London in March 1964 and I shipped it home to NYC from LeHavre after several weeks. My full-synchro was delivered to my dealer in Queens, NY in late 1966. Both were US specification vehicles.
But personal evidence is not to be denied, so I will pencil in "1966" in my books, thank you!
You could always vastly improve the reliability of an MG by a) replacing all the fuses and cleaning the fuse box, and b) replacing the battery cables. Do those two things and BINGO your Lucas problems are cut 90%. Installing an alternator would correct just about everything.
I agree with just about everything on it (you've obviously done some homework) EXCEPT for getting rid of the SU carbs. The Weber is a great unit, but really if you examine the data it hardly does didley for the MGB engine...a few meagre HP...MAYBE....way up on the power band...and for this piddling improvement you have a fairly large expense installing the Weber and manifold, you'll definitely eat more gas, and you have a very complex carb to deal with. The SUs are incredibly simple and reliable, and do a great job overall. I don't think a Weber is worth it at all.
Also, I'm not so sure about any kind of electronic ignition....you know, with an MGB, you don't want to be in the middle of nowhere and have that type of ignition conk out on you. One of the beatiful things abuot an MGB is that you can fix it with junk you find lying on the side of the road. Ignition points are very easy to deal with. I used to have an extra distributor, rebuilt and ready to go with wires, cap, everything....I could bolt it in, throw in four plugs and static time the engine in about 1/2 hour, and the car was on the road again.
http://www.team.net/sol/humour/
The main problems with SU's are worn jets and worn throttle shaft bushings. if the bushings are tight (no air leaks) and the jet is not egg shaped and is properly centered they are not nearly as finicky as Webers.
They are not rocket science, there's only 3 moving parts. Synching them is no harder than any other multi carb setup. and the mixture adjustment is a breeze.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com
Harry
Doesn't have the same cache`?
Will such an upgraded MGB have any cache`?
How about a Miazda engine swap into an MGB?
Or if you want both a modern engine AND an authentic old car, how about an Alfa?
For one thing, the B engine in stock form is a great blend of good torque and revability. Yeah, it only revs to 5000 (or 5500?, I forget) but it does it smoothly and with little fuss. If you can get a few more hp but keep that broad torque curve, the car is more enjoyable than a peaky twin-cam 4-valve screamer.
The other great thing is that you get to keep that mellow exhaust note. To me that's pure sports car. That's subjective of course, and undoubtedly based on my memories of '50s and '60s sports cars. To me, the Miata's exhaust note is more of a blat, but obviously it's music to an owner's ears.
Here's the run down:
Comfort--Mazda
Interior room---MGB
Reliability --you have to ask?
Exhaust note/groovy noises--MGB
Heater/Defroster --Miata of course
Gearbox--well, a matter of preference, both are fun
Handling--MGB is primitive, but forgiving, Miata sticks to the road but is choppy
Fit and finish--Miata
Ease of putting top up--Miata all day long
Looks--matter of preference...mostly a tie except if you include the ugly 1975 on up MGBs
Resale---MGB going up, Miata going down.
Parts and Aftermarket---both are excellent
Most fun--either car will do it for you
Ease of repair---MGB because of Fred Flinstone technology
Gender Specific? MGB a man's car, Miata either but kind of a girl's car.
The Miata's shifter gets lots of praise but I think the B's is the best I've ever used.
I wonder if the Miata's demographics have changed over the years. I didn't notice any marked preference by women when it first came out, but lately almost all the Miata drivers I see are women. There are women enthusiasts of course, but it makes me think the Miata is being bought at least partly as a sportier VW Cabriolet.
That should add fuel to the fire ;-).
It was nice, but for some reason I just felt out of place driving it...can't explain.
The two MG'S I've owned were different. Persnickty, but more "real" sports cars.
Does this make sense?
And I totally agree with Shifty's run down as well as his opinion of SU carbs. I've never been able to understand why people convert these.
best,
Mr. Shiftright
Host
You can avoid the spellcheck problem and loss of documents by composing your longer posts in your wordprocessor. Then copy and paste it to this page. That way you still have it on your hard disk.
http://www.hi-flow.com/super.html
Thanks ahead,
Flyercvg in Cincinnati, OH
You could also try a BMW 325 convertible, but the early ones have very bad top mechanisms (early 90s cars) so try the top 20 times before you buy one.
http://community.webshots.com/album/14869927clHFPWbynX
Enjoy!
Hal
I just took a peek at your webpage. (very nice)
Must be tough to have to choose between the Sebring,Jensen Healey,or the Fiat Spider.
Harry
No, the MGC is not quick, no faster than a well-tuned B, really, from 0-60. The car was built for high end cruising, not for acceleration, and the weight of the 6 cylinder engine works against it, as well as the factor of the high end gearing.
I actually like the looks of all three of those cars. The Jensen Healey is one of my favorites though I have never driven one.
I know that the OD trans we built for my friend's '69 model had 3 & 4 OD, but I just can't recall if we purposely did that....I think we did. I'm still diggin'
Just put a 1979 speedo in the '82 Fiat--it now registers 140. Stretched it out on the way to work this morning when the air was cool--100 came up pretty quick!
Of the 3, naturally the Sebring is the most comfortable, but it's the Fiat I'm finding I prefer. It "feels" like the hottest performer (custom engine work done by The Sports Car Authority, Matthews, NC), the top goes up and down easily (takes 2 people 10 minutes with a water break to get the JH top up OR down), and it's a classy color combination. The JH with it's typical British drag-your-butt seating doesn't seem to be as easy to get in and out of as my HIGH PERFORMANCE and CLASSY MGC did 15 years ago (I wonder why)!
BTW, my CLASSY and HIGH PERFORMANCE MGC had over drive in 3rd and 4th--I thought they were all that way!
You know how you can tell where a "cultured" red neck lives? They have MGs on block in the front yard! Keep your tacky comments to yourselves or I'll come visit and leak oil all over your driveway!
Enjoy the weekend!
Hal
Anytime you want to go mano y mano in the desert heat with my Alfa and your MGC, you're on!
Hmmm, Alfa vs. MGC, desert heat.........don't call me, I'll call you!
Later,
Hal
But on the other hand, you dont' have a rubber spoiler, so that's one point for you!
BTW, on the way home from Gatlinburg last weekend, I spotted two, count 'em, TWO, Alfa Spiders sitting on the side of the road! Nary a Fiat, JH or MGC in sight! When we saw the first one, both my sons said, "Wow, who'd leave one of those unattended on the side of the road?" A hundred miles later, they said, "What is this deja vu all over again?" Weird, 2 of the same kind on the same interstate. Of course, there was a Volvo too, a couple of older trucks and various rice burners scattered along the way too. I suspect the oppressive heat got to most of them!
Have a great weekend!
Hal
Actually Alfas and most budget British sportscars have the same problem....due to their low cost as used cars, they fall into the hands of owners who don't spend a penny on them---so by the time they are 10-20 years old, they are pretty much ruined.
Later,
Hal
I'd say that with diligence a person can keep just about any car running reliably...well, maybe not a Maserati Bi-turbo or SM, but MOST any car---lol! There's even a townhaller on this board who claims to keep a TR7 as a daily driver, which to me anyway, is a miracle so staggering that the sick should be brought to the car to be healed! Just goes to show you what human ingenuity can do.
Maybe there are some resident MG experts lurking that'll chime in on this one....
Good Luck!
Hal
The roadsters are faster and seem to handle better, but they are, of course, noisier and draftier.
A nice modification on a GT is to install a sunroof. Since the car won't be collectible for another gazillion years anyway, I don't see the harm in doing this.
Last good thing about GTs is that many of them came with overdrive. An overdrive is pretty much mandatory in any MGB in my opinion, as it allows for bearable noise levels at highway cruising speeds.