WANTED Anybody know anything about MGB's?

Discussion in 'Non Late Bay Classifieds' started by Lardy, Mar 20, 2016.

  1. Sills are crucial. Have a really good look. They are in 3 parts so the inner will be well gone if there's any rot visible on the outer.
    Feel inside front wheel arches. There is an inner piece above the wheel which forms a sort of shelf and can collect moisture. If it's solid there's a good chance the rest of the car is ok.
    There are some splash panels behind the front wheels inside the wings. They are removable and give you a view of the front of the sills, bulkhead and A posts. Depends if he owner will let you take them off...
    Check rear wheel arches for holes - if you can get the carpet up that can really help.
    Check door hinges and A posts for rot.
    If it's a GT (sounds like it is) check the rear corner of the rear side windows. Water collects here, rots through and then dips down onto wheel arch inners.
    If you can get at the floor, have a good look. They are often patched up as any leaks soak into the carpets.
    Have a good look at the bulkhead with the bonnet up.
    Check that the doors and rear tailgate seal properly and have reasonably consistent gaps. My tailgate doesn't seal properly because it's misshapen.
    Bodywork is the crucial thing but mechanically it's good to know that the diff isn't noisy and the overdrive works (switch can be to blame if it isn't though it could be more serious). Engines are pretty bullet proof (and sound bloody lovely).
    I'm sure there might be other things I haven't thought of.
     
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  2. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    Check out the sections under the front wings, there's a flat section at the top of the mud shield behind the front wheels, inner sills under the carpet in the footwells, front of rear spring hangers under the seats, the join in the rear wins behind the rear Windows, they need lowering a couple of inches as well as chrome bumper conversion to handle better because they were raised for the US market.
     
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  3. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    A rubber bumper GT is the least desirable and consequently the cheapest MGB and if it’s a US spec car it will have about as much power as a Bay. The wings overlap the full length sills and can and do rot out where you can’t see. Incidentally, the outer, middle and inner sills are stressed, even in the GT. The castle rails under the sills also rot so if the owner says don’t use the jacking points or they’re missing, and they often are, be a bit suspicious. The trumpet sections that brace the bulkhead to the inner wings are a mud trap and are often rusted – reach into the inner wing above the wheel and feel the top of the trumpet for rot. Or you can reach into the trumpets from under the bonnet through the holes in the inner wings. While looking under the front wings check the closing panel at the back of the wing; the wheel sprays these with stones and water and if they’re holed it all ends up in the double skinned area above the front of the sill. Lift the footwell carpets and check for water ingress, if the heater air inlet plenum (in front of the windscreen) drain is blocked water leaks into the car. The rear spring hangers are another common rust area but apart from that there’re usually rust free (no charge for the rust whatsoever).
     
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  4. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    They're also small compared to a bus and a peice of ******* to restore with a superb parts availability.
     
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  5. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    And you can drop a rover v8 in a 77 GT with no body modification, it's lighter and more economical than the cast iron lump BL put in!
     
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  6. you should buy three :D
     
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  7. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    I'm no MG expert but read a lot of classic car press....id say the tide is turning a bit on the rubber bumper models...really clean original ones are more desirable than the less well done chrome bumper conversions as at least they sit at the right height.

    I've driven a fair few and find even the best sorted aren't as good as a tidy TR7 to drive....which is weird given how looked down upon those are by the gazillions MG owners!!
     
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  8. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    I thought that was MGC's...I thought the Costello BGT's had to have their firewalls altered, and the bonnet?
     
  9. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    Rubber bumper MGBs were modified in the tunnel and engine mounts to accept the V8, the BV8 had inlet manifolds that didn't require bonnet bulge that Costello needed.
     
  10. i have a ds complete heritage sill for one
     
  11. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    If you compare a bodged conversion with an original condition car you’re right but if they’re equal in condition a chrome roadster will be worth more than a chrome GT that will be worth more than a rubber roadster that will be worth more than a rubber GT.
     
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  12. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    Fair one! I just checked, he never did rubber bumper ones but only modded the bonnet...every day is s school day!!
     
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  13. Google buying an mgbgt and you will get loads of info. As said, the rubber bumper cars are not as sought after and so are much cheaper to buy than the chrome bumper cars.

    The chrome bumper roadster is a much preferred car and an early 70's car has the stronger gearbox and overdrive.

    The GT's seem to have a ceiling price of about £9000 for a mint chrome one, a mint chrome roadster could fetch £16,000 to £20,000 I saw two recent restored ones go on ebay for around £22,000 and one in a local showroom went for £21,000

    As with our vans, RUST is the main issue, the engines and mechanical stuff is very strong and lasting. Parts, panels and even new bodies are readily available.
     
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  14. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    This is mine, it’s well sorted and a lot better to drive than a TR7 (orTR8). http://www.v8register.net/subpages/V8NOTE319.htm
     
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  15. Moons

    Moons Supporter

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  16.  
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  17. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    Good point.:)
     
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  18. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    Then along came the Golf MK1 Gti and killed them all off
     
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  19. Golf MK1 Gti niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
     
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  20. Dubs

    Dubs Sponsor supporter extraordinaire

    Not a huge expert by any means, but a few have passed through my hands... I recal rot in the floor being a common theme, by the pedals mainly, and under the seats. And sills...
     
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