Learn me MGBs...

Hey gang! I've missed the last few GRM Challenges, but I did a masters degree and have been traveling Europe the last six months, sooooo I've been having a grand time, even without y'all. ;) Since I've been out of pocket a few years, I gave up on putting the rotary in the Miata and farmed that out to a pro (Mike Haag in Sacramento). It should be done in the spring.

Anyway, I've been hanging with some folks in the south of France the last few months. I was telling my hosts about my GTXes and the Challenge and they said they have an MGB in storage at his brother's place in North Carolina and asked if I'd be interested in it. I won't have time to do it for $2017 (out of the country most of the year next year), but it's not going anywhere and thinking about it for $2018.

The question is - what do I offer? He knows it's going to someone who'll love it, so he's open. I'll be back in NC on November 9th and will probably see it in person that weekend. Any suggestions of what to keep an eye out for would also be welcome!

As with my $2010 GTX, I'm not looking to do anything radical, I'm mostly looking to learn. This seems like a reasonable basketcase, and gives me something else to bring to a Challenge that isn't a Mazda.

Here's his description: Here are a couple of recent photos of the car. It is need of a lot work but most of the spares needed come with the car. It has been dinged both front and rear and thus needs a fair amount of bodywork. The drivers side floorpan probably needs replacing as the exhaust runs a bit too close and rotted it from underneath (burnt all the protection away!) The engine is sound and runs but was starting to get a bit tired when I parked it up. The rear brake cylinders will need replacing as these always fail when a British car is stored. Other running issues, the ring gear has a bad spot and thus needs replacing. This will require pulling the engine and transmission (they come out as a unit). Also the ignition relay has died.

Let me know what your think is a reasonable price for the car. As you are a friend, I am willing to be quite flexible. Let me know if you would like to see the car in person and I will arrange it with my brother.

(Edit: I can't seem to get the pictures to embed, making links instead.)

Pic 1 Pic 2

Thoughts?

No comments other than welcome back!

Welcome back.

I'm a little puzzled. Has the engine been rebuilt or not. If it hasn't, or was and is still tired, I wouldn't offer much.

Most B's aren't going to be very fast with the original engine.

The photos didn't post so it's hard to tell, but it sounds like maybe a $500 car assuming it isn't too rusted. Offer $250.

In reply to David S. Wallens:

Yeah, can't seem to get the pix to embed from either Google Photos or Flickr. Pix aren't great anyway, but I made links to them instead.

In reply to spitfirebill:

It was rebuilt...but not in the last 10 years, so I wouldn't say that counts.

Okay, it's an early GT. Cool car. Sounds like it needs rust work, interior work, driveline work and more work. What are they thinking it's worth?

Welcome back!

A good question for you- is this B a good candidate for an engine swap? Since you've done Mazdas before, perhaps a 1.8 Miata motor?

If you are still getting the magazine, the current set of issues about putting a BP into what looks to be a MGB is pretty interesting.

If you want to go with the MGB engine, I have a block that is bored out to 1950cc (up from 1800) with pistons to match. Plus a bunch of other 'performance' stuff. double roller cam chains, hopped up cam, head with uprated valves and springs, mallory dual point dizzy, etc. I'll let it go cheap.

(p.s. I am removing it all for a miata 1.6 swap - that's why 'performance' is in air quotes).

In reply to David S. Wallens:

He felt like only a sucker would pay $2k, but $500 was too little unless he kept the rims. We're trying to figure out a fair price that gives me some room to play for the Challenge, but he doesn't feel like he let the car go too low. $750 maybe?

I would find a nice way to say to him that he is welcome to try to find someone else to come take a non-driving, rusty, body damaged, bad interior, mgb out of his garage for him for $750.

And in one year when you move back to the states you will be able to buy it from him for $250.

Is it an overdrive trans? That unit alone if good is worth 500-1000, but if not no way is that more than a $250 car.

I would say that I am quite familiar with the breed.

That is one tired looking MGB GT. Still one of the nicest looking cars around in my mind.I have had one for for 40 some years and counting. I have nothing good to say about the engine. I don't care what you do with it; pretty much the main reason I don't drive mine anymore.

The best "driver" condition MGB in North America is not going to go for much over $12k. So work it backwards from there. If you need it to be painted and pretty, that will eat the entire budget so buy a finished car. Good DIY restorations are 20-30k depending on what you start with.

You tell me the engine has been modified, a rebuild will require that you know what is not stock? Will greatly affect cost to restore. 2.4 to 3.5k should get you a reasonable engine rebuild.

I tell people 100 hours labor to do floors and sills and that does not include parts. I would not touch the job unless Heritage panels are used. Hard to end-up with a re-furbished painted shell for under 10k if you want a shop to smooth and paint it. Save about 3k if you do your own paint and a further 100 hours of labour if you do your own tin, so it IS possible to have a painted shell for 5-6k if you do it all yourself.

Figure 2k to go over the entire rolling stock: brakes shocks kingpins springs wheel bearings and brakes...you known the stuff that makes it stop, turn, roll and bounce.

New interior about another 2k.

If it has the 3 sync gearbox, chances are that first gear is gone and the box needs a rebuild. Put in a later 4 sync box. 4 sync boxes are like free for the asking.

A GM 3.4 with a T5 out of a Camaro is an easy swap if you can believe that ANY engine swap is easy. Kit or DIY are both options.

Challenge car option:

Buy car for $500 or less and strip everything out of it. Sell alloy hood for $500 if in perfect condition and get a free steel one cause you can. Bung on the widest sticky tires you can find; flare fenders as needed; Mustang 4 bolt wheels fit if I recall. DIY GM 3.4 swap If you can fab and weld, it can be done for 1k. Don't touch the body, they are strong as tanks and even with rusty sills are pretty stiff chassis since made for convertible.

I bought one that looked about like that only with the number one piston in little pieces in the oil pan. Paid $100 for it. If it's a 67 or earlier it will have a narrow trans tunnel that kinda sucks for swaps. Nothing a cutoff wheel can't fix though. $500 or less. Although if he's patient he could probably find someone to pay a little more

Side-markers tell me that it is not a narrow tunnel car. Sitting in the weeds so wonder what has been done there?

You like to travel, come to Canada, bring $9500 local dollars and drive home in this one

That is less than the cost to put the new panels on this one: (Rear looks worse)

NOHOME wrote: Side-markers tell me that it is not a narrow tunnel car. Sitting in the weeds so wonder what has been done there?

It's been sitting because he and the family moved to the UK 10 years ago and then to France 3 years ago. Ran when parked. If his brother's been starting it now and then, it should, in theory, still crank.

You like to travel, come to Canada, bring $9500 local dollars and drive home in this one

Why on earth would I want a perfectly running car when I could have a project car to fill me with despair and regret?? ;)

Gorgeous car, though!

In reply to Robbie:

Technically, I still live in the States. I'm...just not there that much. I still work for a US company and collect my pay in US dollars. My boss just made the mistake of saying, "Realistically, with your job, you can work anywhere with an Internet connection." I don't think he was expecting me to take him so literally. This summer I was all over Ireland for three months, then Edinburgh, London, Budapest, Paris, Barcelona, and a remote little retreat in the south of France. Until they force me back into an office, I'm hoofing it everywhere I can go with a good Internet connection for the next year. ;)

So basically, his brother will continue storing the car until I either buy it, or Jeff ships it to France.

Well October has been a pretty good month for GRM, QuasiMofo at the Challenge, Doll back on the board... woo hoo!

Anywhere between $500 and $1000 is fair for a not nice MGB GT. They are roomy inside and there is a lot of room in the engine bay for activities. Not BIG activities but activities none the less.

Personally I would look into the 3.4L Camaro or the 2.8L S10 drivetrains if you want a swap, I'll have a Renesis drivetrain with controls in the spring for sale for 1/2 Challenge credit or so if you really want a test I guess we should ask how deep do you want to dive into the rabbit hole?

Welcome back!

John Brown wrote: Well October has been a pretty good month for GRM, QuasiMofo at the Challenge, Doll back on the board... woo hoo!

Dawww! Feeling the love! <3

Anywhere between $500 and $1000 is fair for a not nice MGB GT. They are roomy inside and there is a lot of room in the engine bay for activities. Not BIG activities but activities none the less.

This is helpful!

Personally I would look into the 3.4L Camaro or the 2.8L S10 drivetrains if you want a swap, I'll have a Renesis drivetrain with controls in the spring for sale for 1/2 Challenge credit or so if you really want a test I guess we should ask how deep do you want to dive into the rabbit hole? Welcome back!

Considering everything I own (including my tools) is currently in storage in North Carolina, and I'm realistically not going to have a permanent address/garage for six months to a year...I can't dig that rabbit hole too deep. Yet, at least. Part of why I'm thinking of going for a rebuild rather than engine swap. But, it's also never too soon to start looking for that next Challenge car. ;)

I recall reading that any rust beyond light surface rust on the pinch welds generally indicates the inner structure is toast.