Newbie - MGB Roadster on the way!

[Paul Heffernan]

Hi all,

I mentioned in my first post that I was an owner in waiting. Well the waiting is over and the deal has been struck! The car is due to be MOT'd early in January, and then it'll be living in my garage! Getting a little bit excited now, so here's a preview of the beast.

Happy days (hopefully)

[Peter Cresswell]

Looks like a nice Christmas present!
Pete

[Paul Heffernan]

Peter Cresswell wrote:
> Looks like a nice Christmas present!
> Pete

Thanks, not too shabby isn't it? Hope to have it pretty soon.

[djgreen]

Nice 👍

[Paul Hollingworth]

Really nice car. I do prefer to see a car with its chrome bumpers though (I like a bit of bling). Peter's car is for competing in motorsport so not having bumpers is understandable. A fairly easy and inexpensive job to put them back on. Might be worth asking a specialist breakers such as Welsh MG if they can help. You will need the irons (cast brackets). Perhaps the previous owner has them.
I'm sure you know that your car doesn't need an MOT but I would advise you to get one for peace of mind and to preserve the cars on-line history. The problem comes if it fails because you must fix the faults before you can carry on driving it otherwise you are driving a car which you know to be unroadworthy which is against the law. Most minor faults like suspension, brakes & lights are easily fixed but be careful you have no body corrosion. You don't want your car to be of the road whilst you wait to get fixed. You will have to judge if its structurally sound or dangerous if you want to drive it without an MOT. Because it has a current MOT then it cant have deteriorated too much in a year. You can check the MOT history here :-

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

[Paul Heffernan]

Thanks Paul.

The current owner competes in Rallies using other cars (a '74 Porsche 911 SC and a Cayman) He had this car built with the intention of his Daughter joining him. It's partly modified (engine wise) ie fast road cam, long pipe manifold, SS performance exhuast and better carbs etc. He likes the Sebring look and hence it was built in this way. The valances are in fact fibre glass and although they could be removed and the original bumpers etc replaced, I'm not likely to change it as I quite like the look to be honest. To be fair, I also like the original look too, and although the car would be worth more in the original format, I'll leave it as is for the time being.

In terms of the structural integrity, I have over 90 pictures showing the restoration, and pretty much every part has been repaired, improved or replaced. Knowing the owner obviously goes a long way, he's a particularly fastidious person, which is evident in the car. It's not perfect, but has been done well.

Ref the MOT, it was MOT'd shortly after the restoration was completed just over a year ago. Of course I am aware that is does not need one, but have insisted it goes through the test before purchase. The owner was perfectly happy to do this, in fact that's why I'm not already in possesion of the car as the MOT can't be carried out until 2nd January. I'll continue having the car MOT tested, mostly for the reasons you've mentioned and of course it just makes sense.

I see from your details, you're not far from me. If you'd like to see it, once the weather turns I'd be happy to meet up, might even buy you a pint (or a coffee) as I'd welcome any pointers.

[Paul Hollingworth]

Hello again Paul,
From what you say you are not going to have any trouble with the dreaded tin worm or the MOT for that matter. I cant see any reason why you cant re-fit the chrome bumpers with the fibre glass valences should you wish to, just need to cut some holes with a hole saw for the irons to poke through. I had to do something similar on my Midget many years ago.
Your car seems to be quite highly tuned and no doubt produces lots of power but what is the drivability like ? Webers and long period cams are generally not good for drivability especially for a road car. Its a bit late now but larger HS6 SU carbs might have been a better option. I have a friend who has those on his B salvaged from an Austin 1800S Landcrab. He's really pleased with how it drives.
My B normally flies through the test because I try to keep on top of any problems. I wish I could say that for my TF, I'm less enthusiastic about repairing that. The B did fail once on imbalance in braking effort across the back axle caused by a seized piston in the brake cylinder. I was completely unaware of anything being wrong. You are only going to find some thing like that on a brake dyno. Problems like this are one of the reasons why most classic car enthusiasts objected to the MOT exemption being extended to cover vehicles over 40 years old. The government ignored the consultation and did it anyhow.
Yes, you are not too far away, just through Wythall and Becketts farm. Perhaps we can meet up at a suitable hostelry in the spring. I'll try to get a few other MG drivers out too.
You can see from the attached piccies that my car isn't as smart as yours. Bottom one is from 2018 Welsh Rallye.

[Peter Cresswell]

Zooming in on Paul's photos I don't think the Sebring valances fitted to Paul's car will be simple to reverse. The bumpers fit into a recess under the panel work above them, both at the front and rear (unlike on a Midget/Sprite) and I can see the fibreglass valances have been feathered into the wings and then sprayed over the joints. At the rear the bumper also fits into a triangular depression which is now covered by the sides of the rear valance. I would also suspect the front and rear valances have been glued on using an automotive glue and although this is a recommended way of fitting the valances it also makes the conversion almost impossible to reverse without at least some localised spray work to the bodywork.

I wanted to make my car able to be returned to chrome bumpers if necessary in the future so on my car the front valance is a standard one spaced out so it becomes flush and then uses the original bolt mountings so it is removeable. It took me a long time to figure out how make the rear valance reversible, but in the end I glued captive bolts into the fibreglass at the top and fitted it by drilling through the boot floor to secure it with washers and nuts. along the bottom I used button headed set sccrews and nuts to pull it in tight to the bottom of the original valance (which is still in place). It also fitted well into the recess on one side of the car but not the other and I eventually resorted to putting a button sccrew to fully hold it in place.
My suggestion to Paul is to not bother to try and reverse the conversion, but to enjoy the car as it is. Then in the future if he gets smitten by the charms of the MGB and he wants the bling, buy a chrome bumpered car!

[Paul Heffernan]

Thanks both (Peter and Paul)

Paul - I suspect Peter is right about the valances, in any event I'd pretty much decided to leave it "as is" Being 100% honest, I'd prefer the Chrome bumpers but it is what it is. It'd be useful and interesting to meet as I'd value your opnion on the driveability issues you mentioned. I've driven the car and it seemed fine to me but of course I have no datum point to work off. If you're just the other side of Becketts, I'm guessing somewhere in the general direction of Rowney Green? I live in Tidbury Green so we are (most likely) practically neighbours, I'd welcome a meet as soon as you're able - perhaps at The Coach and Horses if we get a nice dry spell? The Spring group meet would certainly be most agreeable too.

Peter, ref your suggestion, agreed. My plan is to leave it alone. I suspect to swap back would cost £1500 or perhaps more. So, although ultimately I prefer the Chrome bumpers, I think the smooth look is quite smart (easier to keep clean too!) Thanks so much for you helpful comments.