After a project
Discussion
Got the itch for a project for the summer and I've been offered a MGB GT white with rubber bumpers in need of bodywork tlc, fuel system overhaul ect.
No tax or mot. The sills are fine but rust in the usual places for £650
Going to shoot over and take a look when I get a chance.
What should I be looking for on the car? I am a mechanic and am very handy at doing work myself but also know enough people who can do the jobs for me and help me out.
Or what other cars should I look at?
No tax or mot. The sills are fine but rust in the usual places for £650
Going to shoot over and take a look when I get a chance.
What should I be looking for on the car? I am a mechanic and am very handy at doing work myself but also know enough people who can do the jobs for me and help me out.
Or what other cars should I look at?
XG332 said:
Open to anything cheap, easy to get parts, similar size or bigger to the mg as I'm a powerfully built rugby player and would be low cost on insurance as I'm 20.
I shall cogitate on what else may suit you. Like you I too am powerfully built but unlike you I am built the Frank Cannon way - mind if you're only 20 I'll bet that doesn't mean much to you without Googling 1970's American PI series!!!! vvt said:
MGB GT.....is still a Marina in a party frock.
No. The BGT is older than the Marina by several years, not the other way round. Sure, some models share the B-series lump but there are plenty of other cars out there which you could throw that accusation at!Edited by C8PPO on Thursday 5th April 11:31
mgeee said:
If you had said a Midgit I might have greed but come on tell me a couple of major parts that are shared with a Marina and a 'B'?
BTW I'm not a MGB fan.
Well, I would have said Marina 1800TC - as for sharing major parts ow about the entire drivetrain? Having spent hours honing my welding skills by helping a pal Costello-ize his Tartan Red terror I am not a fan of the MGB GT at all. Hours of welding and the result - he still has the Rover V8 engine beautifully rebuilt whilst the shell was dissected and went in a skip.BTW I'm not a MGB fan.
vvt said:
Well, I would have said Marina 1800TC - as for sharing major parts ow about the entire drivetrain? Having spent hours honing my welding skills by helping a pal Costello-ize his Tartan Red terror I am not a fan of the MGB GT at all. Hours of welding and the result - he still has the Rover V8 engine beautifully rebuilt whilst the shell was dissected and went in a skip.
A marinas drivetrain has much more in common with the Morris Minor. However, a MGB's running gear is derived from the MG Y type. Anyway for a classic to run everyday I can't think of anything better served with parts than MGB's and maybe some Triumphs. But seens as they are all BMC you could argue they are the same cars too.
mgeee said:
A marinas drivetrain has much more in common with the Morris Minor. However, a MGB's running gear is derived from the MG Y type.
Anyway for a classic to run everyday I can't think of anything better served with parts than MGB's and maybe some Triumphs. But seens as they are all BMC you could argue they are the same cars too.
How interesting, I have never heard of an 1800TC Morris Minor but hell, I'm no expert - not even an armchair one. For other everyday (modern) classics, if we follow the logic of Practical Classics and see what else Moss stock everything for - how about a Mazda MX5??Anyway for a classic to run everyday I can't think of anything better served with parts than MGB's and maybe some Triumphs. But seens as they are all BMC you could argue they are the same cars too.
The Morris Marina is effectively on a Morris Minor floorpan, ran Minor suspension and brakes, and used a Triumph single rail gearbox (Late spitfire/TR7/dolomite 4 speed) and IIRC a Triumph back axle. Engines were either 1300 A series or 1800 B series.
Back to the MGB. Running gear is sturdy and basic. Pretty much everything can be had new, so the only thing to worry about is rust, rust, rust, rust, and rust.
Windscreen scuttle, sills, wheelarches and the inner front wings (especially the bit at the very top) are the places I remember seeing the most grievous rot on one. But they'll rust anywhere.
Back to the MGB. Running gear is sturdy and basic. Pretty much everything can be had new, so the only thing to worry about is rust, rust, rust, rust, and rust.
Windscreen scuttle, sills, wheelarches and the inner front wings (especially the bit at the very top) are the places I remember seeing the most grievous rot on one. But they'll rust anywhere.
vvt said:
How interesting, I have never heard of an 1800TC Morris Minor but hell, I'm no expert - not even an armchair one. For other everyday (modern) classics, if we follow the logic of Practical Classics and see what else Moss stock everything for - how about a Mazda MX5??
You are picking one variant in a full range, and making yourself look stupid.I've only been restoring cars for the last 30 years so I know nothing.
Marina shares engine (debatable as there were plenty of changes) and interior door handles.
Not a lot else.
The sherpa shared more!
The small engined marinas shared more with a Midget than a B, as they shared engine and box (albeit different era Midgets, but the combination was a useful way to have the far superior albeit heavier triumph box as fitted to a 1500 in your 1275.) Back axle was similarish to a Midget but also totally different.
So no a B wasn't a Marina in a pretty frock. You would have been better off using the usual analogy of an Austin Cambridge in a pretty frock, I suggest better trolling in the future.
Back on to the initial Q, I like RB BGTs, they are cheap and good fun for what they are, but don't buy a rotten one it just isn't worth the money to restore it, you can buy a nice one for 2k, why spend the same restoring it as you will pay for a resto chrome bumper and restoration which will be worth 5-6k finished.
Not a lot else.
The sherpa shared more!
The small engined marinas shared more with a Midget than a B, as they shared engine and box (albeit different era Midgets, but the combination was a useful way to have the far superior albeit heavier triumph box as fitted to a 1500 in your 1275.) Back axle was similarish to a Midget but also totally different.
So no a B wasn't a Marina in a pretty frock. You would have been better off using the usual analogy of an Austin Cambridge in a pretty frock, I suggest better trolling in the future.
Back on to the initial Q, I like RB BGTs, they are cheap and good fun for what they are, but don't buy a rotten one it just isn't worth the money to restore it, you can buy a nice one for 2k, why spend the same restoring it as you will pay for a resto chrome bumper and restoration which will be worth 5-6k finished.
mgeee said:
You are picking one variant in a full range, and making yourself look stupid.
I've only been restoring cars for the last 30 years so I know nothing.
Which variant of an MGB GT would you like me to pick? I remember when you could buy an Austin 7 for two quid, filler didn't exist, girls wore French knickers and you could get fish chips on every street corner for a tanner. Nneeeeah, who's that young un restoring cars for 30 years trip trapping over my bridge.I've only been restoring cars for the last 30 years so I know nothing.
vvt said:
Which variant of an MGB GT would you like me to pick? I remember when you could buy an Austin 7 for two quid, filler didn't exist, girls wore French knickers and you could get fish chips on every street corner for a tanner. Nneeeeah, who's that young un restoring cars for 30 years trip trapping over my bridge.
Family have been working on cars since the 40's. Well done, keep digging. 
mgeee said:
Family have been working on cars since the 40's. Well done, keep digging.
Wow! It's suddenly gone up to 70 years of car experience and you know how to put silly animated yellow things into your postings too Digging away for victory here Toodle Pip - SAGA rules and old cars rock!!!!!!!!vvt said:
Which variant of an MGB GT would you like me to pick? I remember when you could buy an Austin 7 for two quid, filler didn't exist, girls wore French knickers and you could get fish chips on every street corner for a tanner. Nneeeeah, who's that young un restoring cars for 30 years trip trapping over my bridge.
Break out the lead loading kit, then. filler? Pah! Remeber when that was powder and resin? It'll never catch on. Points and condenser? Pah! Gimme a good magneto any day.....Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff