Discussion
Good Afternoon PH,
I have recently purchased a MG B GT which is in need of restoration and as it turns out a friend of a friend's uncle's badger has an MG B which is shortly due to be scrapped and said that I could have parts from that at a minimal cost, I was wondering how interchangeable the parts will be from one to another? Main things I'm looking at will be body panels, wiring loom, distributer etc. If anyone has any information it would be greatly received.
Regards,
Jacob.
I have recently purchased a MG B GT which is in need of restoration and as it turns out a friend of a friend's uncle's badger has an MG B which is shortly due to be scrapped and said that I could have parts from that at a minimal cost, I was wondering how interchangeable the parts will be from one to another? Main things I'm looking at will be body panels, wiring loom, distributer etc. If anyone has any information it would be greatly received.
Regards,
Jacob.
If they are both chrome bumpered or both late rubber bumpered cars, then all parts should be no problem swapping. If one is a GT and one is a roadster, things like front wings,doors and roof!!! 
are different to each other.
Any parts that are good on a car that is going to be scrapped are worth saving, you can always sell them on or swap them with bits you need from other MGers.
Ebay is a good source for parts, plenty about. MGB Hive are also good.
are different to each other.Any parts that are good on a car that is going to be scrapped are worth saving, you can always sell them on or swap them with bits you need from other MGers.
Ebay is a good source for parts, plenty about. MGB Hive are also good.
ETA: Tony answered whilst I was still typing
Jacob your question is a bit vague what year cars?
vague answer yes, no, er, maybe, more than you’d expect, less than you’d expect
sometimes it’s better to buy new parts and components, some new components and parts are very poor quality
helpful answer:-
poor body panels and distributor will cause no end of problems - http://www.distributordoctor.com/ or go part or fully electronic
for compatability of parts check out two or three spare parts web sites and cross reference the information as typos and mistakes are not unknown – free catalogues are available paper and electronic
better still is to buy the DVD that has factory Parts Catalogues and Lists, plus factory Workshop Manual and owners Handbooks - http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-HMCC3006DVD
also very useful is to have paper copies
paper factory Workshop Manual - (Ref: 0001) - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Workshop_Manuals...
owner's Handbook - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
as a nice book with clear photos and loads of information the Original MGB: with MGC and MGB GT – http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=h2pqrXtZJZoC&am...
loads of information and help also available on the MG BBS - http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgb...
Jacob your question is a bit vague what year cars?
vague answer yes, no, er, maybe, more than you’d expect, less than you’d expect
sometimes it’s better to buy new parts and components, some new components and parts are very poor quality
helpful answer:-
poor body panels and distributor will cause no end of problems - http://www.distributordoctor.com/ or go part or fully electronic
for compatability of parts check out two or three spare parts web sites and cross reference the information as typos and mistakes are not unknown – free catalogues are available paper and electronic
better still is to buy the DVD that has factory Parts Catalogues and Lists, plus factory Workshop Manual and owners Handbooks - http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-HMCC3006DVD
also very useful is to have paper copies
paper factory Workshop Manual - (Ref: 0001) - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Workshop_Manuals...
owner's Handbook - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
as a nice book with clear photos and loads of information the Original MGB: with MGC and MGB GT – http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=h2pqrXtZJZoC&am...
loads of information and help also available on the MG BBS - http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgb...
Thank you very much for both answers, I will duly investigate all the sites listed! Reason for being so vague is I have only just found out about the MG B that is due to be retired and haven't asked about the year etc. However mine is a rubber 1979. Obviously year dependant, are there any parts that I should grab whilst I can for a decent resale? Or even anything anyone on here might be in need of? Condition of the vehicle is also unknown but as its due for scrapping retirement I'm going to presume it's on it's last legs.
1979 is very late B so will have quite a few differences to earlier years
I don't know what parts and components are not available on a B now best you look on the suppliers parts lists for what's not available but check a few as each can vary with this also ask on MG BBS
some things can be cleaned up or repaired very well others are not worth the effort
I'd save indicator flashing units (keep it if it fits your car), steering wheel, boss, horn ring, column stalk switches, steel disc wheels (not rostyle) but can't think beyond these, others will know
I don't know what parts and components are not available on a B now best you look on the suppliers parts lists for what's not available but check a few as each can vary with this also ask on MG BBS
some things can be cleaned up or repaired very well others are not worth the effort
I'd save indicator flashing units (keep it if it fits your car), steering wheel, boss, horn ring, column stalk switches, steel disc wheels (not rostyle) but can't think beyond these, others will know
If you have somewhere to put the car that's being scrapped so that you can strip it, then there's lots that can be worth money. Glass, especially quarter-lights from early models, interior if it's in reasonable condition and not stripey!, engine, gearbox, dashboard,dials etc, chromework, lights ond so on.
Everything on the car will sell. Mostly for decent if small amounts.
Virtually everything on the car can be made to fit even from the earliest pull handle roadster to the last GT off the line, of course you wouldn't as it's pointless but my essential point is there will be a lot of useful bits there.
The valuable bits vary year to year but you would be surprised at some of the bits that are now selling, including rostyles, few years ago you couldn't give them away in any condition, now usable ones will fetch £40 a set. I bought the correct LE wheels for my roadster by selling a couple of sets of rostyles that had built up in the garage!
The earlier the car the more desirable it is either in bits or complete, the later it is then if it's a mess it's worth more in bits.
Virtually everything on the car can be made to fit even from the earliest pull handle roadster to the last GT off the line, of course you wouldn't as it's pointless but my essential point is there will be a lot of useful bits there.
The valuable bits vary year to year but you would be surprised at some of the bits that are now selling, including rostyles, few years ago you couldn't give them away in any condition, now usable ones will fetch £40 a set. I bought the correct LE wheels for my roadster by selling a couple of sets of rostyles that had built up in the garage!
The earlier the car the more desirable it is either in bits or complete, the later it is then if it's a mess it's worth more in bits.
Rust free B? We both know that's not going to happen.
No I'm being glib, your not daft Nigel, there are nice cars and cheap cars, never both unless your prepared to put the work in to turn one in to the other. Of course if your not careful you can turn a nice car in to a cheap car!
3-3.5k will buy any resto B. It will buy a split mint rubber bumper BGT. A nice usable solid rubber bumper roadster. A tidyish Chrome GT with some grot possibly tarted over. A roughish chrome roadster.
My opinion is if he hasn't had one before buy a cheap rubber bumper GT for a grand, run it for a year spending the bare minimum, at the end move it on and decide what direction he wants to go, he can save up in the mean time and worse he will lose is a grand. 90% of the ownership experience of any B but peanuts to buy, run and economical and reliable!
No I'm being glib, your not daft Nigel, there are nice cars and cheap cars, never both unless your prepared to put the work in to turn one in to the other. Of course if your not careful you can turn a nice car in to a cheap car!
3-3.5k will buy any resto B. It will buy a split mint rubber bumper BGT. A nice usable solid rubber bumper roadster. A tidyish Chrome GT with some grot possibly tarted over. A roughish chrome roadster.
My opinion is if he hasn't had one before buy a cheap rubber bumper GT for a grand, run it for a year spending the bare minimum, at the end move it on and decide what direction he wants to go, he can save up in the mean time and worse he will lose is a grand. 90% of the ownership experience of any B but peanuts to buy, run and economical and reliable!
wildoliver said:
Of course if your not careful you can turn a nice car in to a cheap car!
many classic (and B) owners do seem determined to do just thatwildoliver said:
My opinion is if he hasn't had one before buy a cheap rubber bumper GT for a grand, run it for a year spending the bare minimum, at the end move it on and decide what direction he wants to go, he can save up in the mean time and worse he will lose is a grand. 90% of the ownership experience of any B but peanuts to buy, run and economical and reliable!
yes I agree but of course also fully servicing, maintaining and repairing the car to keep it safe and reliable - perhaps you'd need to keep the car 18/24 months then(?) but as you say they're easy to keep goingGassing Station | MG | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff