My buddy has a 79' MGB.. rubber bumpers... nice car. It came from California…. no rust. Last spring we pull'd the engine.. replaced the clutch... removed 85 pounds of A/C bits an smog bits.. toss'd the stock manifolds, add'd headers and 2 barrel carb. This add'd some zippy … Then.. we add'd a new top... interior.. carpets... windshield ( a night mare ! )….
I had a Midget… fun fun fun little car.... it ripped ! Happy at 50-55 mph.... Handled well.... made the " proper " tone as you cruised the back roads of Wisconsin. Not a good choice for the freeways… big rigs can't see you and I sat at " lug nut " height... scary really. Being " British "... it required " attention ".... often. So.. I let it go..... we got a Pontiac Solstice.. fun car... comfy.... cruised at 70 …. difference between it and the Midget.... all those dials.. switches and radio on the dash.. actually ..work. !
Back to the MGB... my buddy, read that in England they came with a 5 speed... electric overdrive... I ask'd him with the four speed at 70 mph how much needle left before it hits the red on the tachometer... " plenty " was his reply. But... he was .. committed…. or should be. He found a shop that had imported several English 5 speeds.... Next thing I know..... we'r drive'n across Wisconsin to get a large crate... one of the draw backs of own'n a pick up.
So yesterday…. it was pull the engine-tranny day. Six hours.... the drive line and tranny cross member was a pain in the butt. As of now... the engine is on the stand... now's the time to attend to gaskets and seals.... the pan gasket leaks enough to make Exxon profitable.
Tuesday is... stuff it back in day...…. Updates pending...
I had a Midget… fun fun fun little car.... it ripped ! Happy at 50-55 mph.... Handled well.... made the " proper " tone as you cruised the back roads of Wisconsin. Not a good choice for the freeways… big rigs can't see you and I sat at " lug nut " height... scary really. Being " British "... it required " attention ".... often. So.. I let it go..... we got a Pontiac Solstice.. fun car... comfy.... cruised at 70 …. difference between it and the Midget.... all those dials.. switches and radio on the dash.. actually ..work. !
Back to the MGB... my buddy, read that in England they came with a 5 speed... electric overdrive... I ask'd him with the four speed at 70 mph how much needle left before it hits the red on the tachometer... " plenty " was his reply. But... he was .. committed…. or should be. He found a shop that had imported several English 5 speeds.... Next thing I know..... we'r drive'n across Wisconsin to get a large crate... one of the draw backs of own'n a pick up.
So yesterday…. it was pull the engine-tranny day. Six hours.... the drive line and tranny cross member was a pain in the butt. As of now... the engine is on the stand... now's the time to attend to gaskets and seals.... the pan gasket leaks enough to make Exxon profitable.
Tuesday is... stuff it back in day...…. Updates pending...