new member with 1967 roadster

[Neil Wyman]

Hi All, I am collecting my 1967 next week, its just been imported by a friend of mine from a dry state in America were its been sat in a garage since 1985, its not pretty, but 99% rust free so my plans are to sort the mechanical issues re- trim the seats fit a new hood and perhaps have it on the road for the summer, it does have a 4 speed o/d box and propshaft included but am uncertain if I can use this with the existing tunnel ?.
I will get the pictures up and see what you all think.
Thanks Neil

[Adrian Oliver]

Hi Neil.
It depends on whether your car has a 3 syncro or 4 syncro floor pan and you have a 3 syncro or 4 syncro gearbox!
The gearboxes, floors and gearbox tunnels are completely different and to make things more interesting, I think 1967 was the changeover year.

[Neil Wyman]

Thank you Adrian,
once I've picked the car up I will post some pictures to assist me knowing what I actually have ! I presumed that the overdrive box would be useable as it came with the car but realise that things aren't always that simple. would there any other visual differences with the cars interior apart from transmission tunnel

[George Wilder]

Neil
Vehicle year for change points in production is imprecise.
The actual change point for roadsters is at car number 138401 which from then on had 4 syncro boxes which happened some time during October 1967.
So when you get your car check the car number.
It will be found on a plate on the inner front wing in front of the radiator diaphragm which should read GHN (3 or 4) U or L and a series of numbers and maybe a suffix G. The 3 or 4 will tell you if it is a Mk1 (3 syncro) or Mk2 (4 syncro). The U or L are USA types and the series of numbers the car or chassis number and the G will denote Abingdon.
All info from Clausager Original MGB a must for MGB owners.

I believe that a 4 syncrobox can be fitted to a 3 syncro body - there will be engine differences too back plate etc. I have not done this job.
George

[Neil Wyman]

Thanks George, I should hopefully be collecting the car this week so should be easily identified from the information you have given me.
Thanks Neil.

[Adrian Oliver]

Hi Neil.

Here is a picture of a 3 synchromesh tunnel with overdrive.

The 3 sync gaiter and escutcheon are oval in shape.

If this car was non overdrive, the gaiter would be reversed and the gearstick would be cranked towards the rear.

[Adrian Oliver]

This picture shows the 4 synchromesh gearbox tunnel.

Note the shape of the gaiter and escutcheon. They are now round and not oval.

You can compare the different tunnel shape particularly on the bottom of the speaker facia.

[Neil Wyman]

Thanks Adrian, I have now collected the car and can tell from the pictures its definitely a 3 synchro tunnel , I haven't really had a chance to give the car a really good check over yet except for trying to turn the engine over after filling the cylinders with duck oil a few days before and was pleasantly surprised when it turned with very little effort using a socket on the crank pulley I'm hoping to get a battery connected and some fresh fuel and hopefully fire her up. fingers crossed as its been stood some thirty years. I will get some pictures posted for your comments.
Neil.

[Adrian Oliver]

Good luck!

(Oh, and keep a fire extinguisher handy...)

[Neil Wyman]

Well, I was amazed to find thirty year old fuel still in the tank so drained the tank cleaned the carbs swapped the worn distributor and checked the fuel pump operation so hopefully get some fresh fuel in the tank over the weekend and fingers crossed I will have a running engine.