1974 MGB GT - Tartan! - 17.04

[filly]

Hi,


New here, but have been a very long time lurker and really inspired by some of the cars.


After a change of heart I’ve decided not to sell this and run it as my own small RR project. So here comes the build thread for my B.

To get us up to speed, here’ s the story so far...


After moving house and finally getting some space I was really after a 924 project, but saw a red MGB GT advertised in Essex as a poor runner but otherwise solid. I’ve got previous with BGT’s after restoring one with my Dad a few years back, and when I sold it my wife was gutted and I promised that we’d buy another one day when we had chance. My old man was a genuine magician with cars – and as a result I’ve always had his help fixing things – but I wanted a project for my own, even if I make a hash of it.

The old GT:





Anyway. Essex is too far from East Yorkshire and I thought i’d bite the bullet and buy blind. Pics from the ad below:





Car arrived and looked okay. Didnt start too well and had some ‘interesting’ additions from previous owners. The LE style front splitter was off about a second after it rolled off the low loader – free to a good home if anyone wants it!





Looking better after a polish. I was disappointed that the PO had done a wheel arch repair and not quite got the colour match right (not mentioned on the ad), but I guess buying classics blind then this kind of thing is to be expected. There was a nice surprise though – 41k from new with MOTs dating back to the early 80’s to back it up. Result!






In the mean time I had done a deal with the Estate Office (we live on a rural estate) and sorted a garage and a workshop:






Workshop project is ongoing, but already getting there:

[filly]

T’was lucky I got all my tools sorted because it was still running like a pig. I was asking how best to fix on pistonheads (I’m trying not to rely on my Dad and learn for myself with this one) and a nice bloke called Steve offered to come over and help. Que some work on the timing, a new set of plugs and she was running like a dream...(thanks Steve!)


The facet pump was also causing some serious noise, so I re-mounted it using Mini exhaust bobbins to keep away from the body – I can actually hear myself think now.


Anyway, at this point I was already thinking about the direction I want to go with this. First the wheels – as I just can’t get on with Rostyles.

When I had the last B I went Steel Wheels with hubcaps towards the end (just because it was my daily and they were cheap to maintain) and they looked superb. Also love the Frontline LE50 MGB – so did a couple of mock-ups(sorry for my awful photoshop!).


Frontline:



Steels with hubcaps




Steels without




After asking the boss – the MGA twincam style without hub caps was decided. Something ideally like this (but without the spinners).




After scouring everyone’s favourite auction site I found these from a Rover 600 – correct PCD but offset completely off.




I cracked on a rubbed down and got them in primer, even bought the spacers and extended studs from Steve at Speedshack (great guy – worth speaking to), but it was going to be a nightmare running wide wheels with spacers, and just as I was loosing interest, these came up for sale about 200 yards from here I work.

MGA steel wheels:




As you can see, they’re not quite a matching pair, but solid and look pretty cool.

While all this was been done I took the bullet mirrors off and replaced with come original tex style ones.
Anyway, my mate Olly does sandblasting and powder coating and is based near by at Fangfoss so I dropped the wheels off with him to work his magic.




At this point there wasn’t much else t do except enjoy the half term break, pack the car up, and head to Scotland for a little break:




ARGH!!!!!!!

Loosing power about an hour from home and then finally broke down at the bottom of Sutton Bank near Thirsk. Checked the petrol as I thought it was a pump issue but all good. Point seemed to be opening and closing okay. In a last ditch effort I thought I’d change the points – lucky I did as as i began to move the old ones out they came apart – the nut holding each side together had obviously come off whilst driving and caused the break down. Quickly fixed and re-gapped at the road side and we were on our way!

Made it to the boarders all okay (even found room for a small chest of drawers).



Nothing to report from the holiday, apart from I need to do some work to the fuel pickup pipe as anything less than ½ tank going up a long hill results in the car cutting out – seems its not getting any petrol.


Once home I thought i’d sell her and buy the 924 I wanted. However she had other plans and refused to start when I wanted her out for some piccys. ARGH! Turned out to be some muck in the carb – so spend last Sunday morning taking the carbs off (easier than I thought it was going to be) and then giving them a good clean out).




All back together in time for a christening on Sunday and then home from work early today and change to enjoy the beautiful sunshine:




So thats about where we are. Just had a call from Olly saying the wheels are ready – so hopefully an update pretty soon. Also, thinking about a retro American fuel cap and aiming for a 60’s race feel.


Comments welcome.....


Phil

[luckygti]

Top looking car, I had a rubber bumper years ago, I loved it. Really like the plans you have, especially the wheels. I'd love another one day, that LE50 looks lush!

[filly]

Thanks!

Had a good day yesterday - finally got the horn working and then fitted a in line fuel filter to stop the carbs getting filthy again (no pics sorry).

Main news was collecting the new wheels from Olly. Absolutely amazing job on these (my curse word camera phone doesn't do them justice) - really really happy. I have no affiliation, apart from been an old friend, but would recommend him to anyone for sandblasting and powder coating if you're near York (07588615047).
Anyway, as collected:




And on!




I'm really pleased with the effect. Still seriously thinking about how I can add some spinners onto them for an MGA twin cam look. Frontline do a threaded shaft with a plate behind which sandwiches between the hub and wheel, then the spinner goes ontop, but they are £295!!! Sure I can get a local engineering company to make some up for much less.

While I was on I thought i'd have a look at interior options. The back seat is pretty much useless, so that came out first. 




Next I need to either sand down the current board, or make a new one out of some nice wood. I can make a similar board to go in the space where the rear seats were which would give me a flat load area. Have my eyes on a set of Lambretta running board strips to finish the look off. Something like this, but more 'wood and chrome':



Then out for a quick drive. Wheels need balancing and it's still cutting out when going up hill, even though it has half a tank in it - I can only think that the fuel pickup pipe in the tank is all the way forward and too shallow, however I cant really think of how to fix??






Phil

[Anglia68]

Loving the wheels and the way it sits. You've got a nice MG there.

[jpsmit]

looks great! love the wheels. Might not be the pickup in the tank but crud in the tank that is covering the intake when the car goes up hills. Could also be that you are running it a bit lean and it is only really appearing under load.

[louisw]

Looks great! I'm near York myself, you weren't driving near rufforth today at about 11:30sh were you? Saw a red mgbgt but didn't catch the plate.
How much for four wheels to be sandblasted and coated? Have some for my spitfire I need doing.

[Midas]

It's always worth checking the tank breather if you start running out of available fuel when the engine is working harder.

[Arcnewal]

Tidy little B you have there. There's something very appealing about an MGB GT and those wheels it's rolling on look the nuts!! 

[filly]

Thanks for all the comments - I'm really happy with the wheels too.

Wasn't me at Rufforth this weekend, although I do head out that way sometimes. Cost was £130 for 4 wheels blasted, coated and lacquered. The silver was special and cost £75 for just enough to do the job apparently, with that in mind it seemed a great price!

[filly]

Thanks for all the comments - I'm really happy with the wheels too.



Wasn't me at Rufforth this weekend, although I do head out that way sometimes. Cost was £130 for 4 wheels blasted, coated and lacquered. The silver was special and cost £75 for just enough to do the job apparently, with that in mind it seemed a great price!

[filly]

Not the most exciting of updates, but posting on here keeps things moving for me!

I've been thinking for a while now that the rear seats are useless, and that I should be moving towards a seat delete and some kind of 'shooting brake' interior conversion.

I knew I would want a flat load area, but wasn't entirely sure about how to finish it to get a decent effect. Black carpet is pretty stock, and wouldn't look much different to having the seat folded down. Safe is good, but I want to lift the cabin a little. I was in the local the other night admiring their tartan carpet - and that's still an option (along with tweed), however my plan is to use some decent board, sand it and then either oil or wax to give a decent finish.

Money is tight, and my skills are even more limited, so this could be a learning curve!

First was to find some decent wood. Luckily, in one of the outbuildings for the estate were a pile of old trestle table tops. There was a cabinet with some 1984 dated paperwork on top, so I guessed nobody would miss one......

Template first - this is the front section where the seat base was ( cardboard came from the Anglo-Saxon house at school):



Not much to see, but here it is after I'd chopped it in half:



Looks like I've not done anything, but as the individual boards were only held with the cross boarding (no glue), I had to sand the tongue and groove on each - which was full of dirt - and then match and glue together:



While the main board was still  being glued I had change to jigsaw the rough shape from the smaller front board and trial fit. Very happy with the load area:



I'm left with a bit of a dilemma as the front board is also hinged to leave access to the battery - at the moment it wont clear due to huge 80's style speaker covers in the rear 1/4 cards. Either I trim this front board slightly so they pass, or remove and relocate the speakers now. This would mean getting some new 1/4's too which I don't want to bother with quite yet.

After this I want some classic low back bucket seats, and get some old style lucas toggle switches for the dash to replace the awful 70's BL tat which is currently in. Maybe even a start button.
The other thing I'd like to change is the fuel filler - it's the detail which I like. something race retro is perfect, or I'd modify something from another classic. Any ideas for good classic fuel caps?!

P

[flyingphil]

Nice work on your BGT - how about a Monza style filler cap?

[grifterkid]

Lovely stuff. I love those wheels on it, they just look so darn 'right'...!!! This MG looks the business.

[adam73bgt]

Nice looking B you have there, I really like the wheels and I had considered going with those MGA/early MGB style steels for mine but just couldn't find a set near/cheap enough for my liking


I'm very intruiged by your load space plans too, I've ditched the rear seat out of mine for more space but I'll be interested to see how yours looks once you finish the boards, should look good!

Keep up the good work

[filly]

Had a bit of time this afternoon to continue with the load area conversion.

I  finished the rear board, but because it was so much thicker than the previous bit of ply I then had to chisel recessed sections out underneath to allow the old hinge to sit and work. Then I set to work with the sander...



To be honest I wasn't really happy with the wood look. I thought it looked like I was carrying an old pine table in the back! Was scouring eBay this afternoon with a plan to cover it all in a nice piece of Tartan cloth. However, my good lady likes the wood and has convinced me that the problem is the wood colour - she said it needs to be like this:




I know it will help once at the furniture gets fitted too - as it's quite an expanse of wood. I've got my hands on half a tin of Ronseal Dark Oak varnish/stain - so this is my job for the week ahead I guess!

Phil

[tineca]

Go for the truck bed look. Nice deep shine in mahogany varnish with chrome and rubber strips. Btw the riva boat above is on my lotter win list. Cheers

[filly]

Holla,

First day of Easter Holidays has allowed me to crack on. Had a bit of an issue with the varnish, which isn't quite the gloss I wanted, but the wood has come up well with 3 coats of Ronseal Teak Satin Varnish, followed by 2 coats of Ronseal Clear Gloss on top.

First job was to build up the area where the seat was - the front piece of wood needed something to rest on, and it would help create another area under the wood. Didn't take lone using some old carpet, glue and a left over pine board:



The carpet inside is a bit of a mess, but left over from what I took out. I think the whole interior will be re-carpeted at some point so not to worry.

Looked good with the lid on:



Next I needed a handle for the rear section. Still not convinced about this, but it was lying around! Also, as a previous project I had made a toolbox from an old WWII RR Merlin Engline thermostat box I found in an outhouse. This was fixed into place.


So, still to do here is:
Metal supports along the wood
Leather bonnet style straps for the front lid
New fasteners for the rear (the originals are to short to fit)
Steel and rubber treads as a floor liner.

However, all will have to wait until next pay day before I can afford it.

Here it is, almost finished!!



Phil

[adam73bgt]

Looks cool, though I can't help but think that maybe some form of recessed handle might work better in terms of looks and being able to slide luggage in?

Either way, great work

[filly]

Yep, I was thinking either recessed or maybe a leather strap of some kind... thanks for the comments!