That awful colour MGB GT

[SiC]

So as per what did today thread, I sent this off to a local classic MG specialist earlier this week. After relieving me of £235 I got it back after an oil change service, grease and a few other things including a carb tweak. Driving it the other day I noticed it hesitating under full acceleration.

I decided to retune the carbs myself. After trying by ear, I remembered how much of a ballache to tune this engine. I ended up using my colourtune, which made it a breeze. Might buy a few more so I can see more cylinders in one go. I went for a slightly yellowy, blue rather than straight blue. Rather have it on the tad rich side.


I checked the vacuum advance was working properly too, which it was. I'm wondering if the dizzy is/was sticky. I've got a brand new 123 ignition in its box for this car too. Already programmed up what I think is a correct curve after a bit of faff, so just need to fit now.

I have noticed that the timing does skip about at times. Possibly why the idle is a tad uneven.


Finally fixed the horn.


Simply the spring contact is no longer pressing against the ring. Probably when I removed the stalk to fix the light flasher.


Contact is worn very unevenly. I bent it to the best as I could to give a new area for contacting.


Sprayed some white lithium grease into the stalk mechanism to free it up. Last time I soldered the flash wire, I clean it out and lubricated it. Unfortunately what I thought was lube was sodding carb cleaner. This ate some of the plastic away. A clean up and fresh grease has got it working much smoother.

I could buy a new one but I much prefer the click action and feel of the original Lucas switches.


Then went for a drive. Hesitation has gone now. Not sure if it's the retune or simply the dizzy/dashpot/something else that has freed up.

I bloody love this car. Still my favourite so far - subject to ever getting the Dolomite back on the road.


I think I'll fit the 123 ignition soon, so that's done and ready for this summer. Next weekend I have booked in to the Haynes Museum pre-80s Breakfast meet. It's an hour trip down there, so a good chance to give it a proper run! Hopefully she'll behave herself as I'm quite looking forward to going.

[panhard65]

That reminds me I must book a car in for the Haynes thing as I paid a fiver for it.

[SiC]

That reminds me I must book a car in for the Haynes thing as I paid a fiver for it.

Which one are you going in?

The post-80s were booked up for this month (today) and next month. The pre-80s I have heard is under subscribed. Possibly not a bad thing. Personally I think it should be post-80s and pre-90s, as many 80s cars are proper classics now.

[panhard65]

I am booked in the pre 1980 so will probably take the DKW but as the fiat is 1980 I could take that

[SiC]

My mate asked if he could go anyway even if he hasn't got a pre 80s car, they said yes. But I don't think they are publicly saying that out in the open.

[Bazfr69]

I’d still like to have a GT at some point and a Series Land Rover but I’d really need to move house first.

And possibly sell a kidney...

[PhilA]

Excellent, they really aren't that complex to get set up right, and stay in tune reasonably well too.

Where did you take that picture? Looks familiar with the bluebells, out towards Iwood or up the top through towards the airport?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Quantocks?

[SiC]

Excellent, they really aren't that complex to get set up right, and stay in tune reasonably well too.

Where did you take that picture? Looks familiar with the bluebells, out towards Iwood or up the top through towards the airport?

The garage apparently tweaked them but as you said, the HIFs apparently keep their tune pretty well. I'd be surprised if it was them though as it's their bread and butter. Only things I can think of is if the dizzy vac advance was sticky or maybe that bimetallic strip misbehaving.

I've still got a 123 ignition in its box to install, but not had a chance to fit yet. Was hoping yesterday but the weather was shite here. I'm really interested to see if the timing skips around less with it though. Currently you see it hitting bang on 10 degrees and on occasion backing off to 0 degrees on the crank for a few cycles. Explains the uneven exhaust note at idle I get too. If it still does skip around then presumably something else must be causing it - slack in the timing chain?

The picture is the bluebell wood up Goblin Coombe way. Really pretty at this time of year around there while they're all out.

[PhilA]

I had similar stupid issues with my timing and crappy running due to the quite major vacuum leak through the vacuum pump, which gave impossible to tune idle and poor low to midrange performance and economy.