MG BGT and Volvo C70
Discussion
First a brief car history... I learnt to drive in 2005 at the advanced age of
26. Having lived in Bristol before I simply didn't need to drive and the petrol
engine had not exerted its call over me. After moving out from the civilisation
of Bristol to the wilds of Somerset (Portishead but it felt like the sticks) a
car was needed.
First up was a 1997 Ford Ka which my dad had bought new, given to my sister and
then given to me. P374OTP had 96,000 miles when I got it and 126,000 when I gave
it to my mum. Being a Ford of that era the rust was rife and was eventually sold
to a welder. Apart from that it was a great little car and I was sad to let it
go. The replacement was a Peugeot 106 which had had one elderly owner from new.
Unfortunately he wasn't a careful owner... I couldn't really complain though as
the car had been given to me.
After a couple of years of basic Peugeot ownership I had a phone call from my
mum asking if I wanted an MGB GT. My Grandfather had what could only be described
as a collection of MGs and as his Parkinson's Disease advanced he had been
getting rid of them. The Midget, and the 1100 had gone. They had a buyer for the
A and lots of interest in the Magnette and the B but nobody was interested in
the BGT. Did I want it? Of course I did and after a brief discussion with the
wife it was mine. It hadn't turned a wheel in five years so had to be put on a
trailer by my dad to be taken to a garage and resurrected. It's now been mine
for three and a half years and gets used as often as possible.
Anyway, back to the Pug. After a few years and some increasing expensive
servicing and repairs the exhaust began to blow. Undeterred, I got some exhaust
repair stuff from Halfords and jacked the car up to find the leak. After some
time under the car I could not find the source. Well, not until I removed the
rear wheel and looked at what was left of the back box! Too many other niggling problems meant it was time for a change!
After some time looking on the internet at many and varied cars I started looking at large coupes. Peugeot 406 coupes, Mercedes CLKs and similar. Criteria wise, it had to be fairly powerful, able to carry four and have a manual gearbox. After a bit of looking I found a Volvo C70 T5. In purple, with a manual box and 138,000 miles on the clock meant it had clearly been on the dealers list for a while. A trip to Bridgewater and a test drive and my mind was made up. My wife's wasn't however as she said it had done too many miles, would be too thirsty and cost too much to run. Flowers didn't placate her so I contracted pneumonia as a way to get sympathy and stop her being so mad at me for buying it...
Anyway, that's the background to my two cars. I'll keep posting updates and pictures here when I've changed or fixed anything.
Thanks for reading!
26. Having lived in Bristol before I simply didn't need to drive and the petrol
engine had not exerted its call over me. After moving out from the civilisation
of Bristol to the wilds of Somerset (Portishead but it felt like the sticks) a
car was needed.
First up was a 1997 Ford Ka which my dad had bought new, given to my sister and
then given to me. P374OTP had 96,000 miles when I got it and 126,000 when I gave
it to my mum. Being a Ford of that era the rust was rife and was eventually sold
to a welder. Apart from that it was a great little car and I was sad to let it
go. The replacement was a Peugeot 106 which had had one elderly owner from new.
Unfortunately he wasn't a careful owner... I couldn't really complain though as
the car had been given to me.
After a couple of years of basic Peugeot ownership I had a phone call from my
mum asking if I wanted an MGB GT. My Grandfather had what could only be described
as a collection of MGs and as his Parkinson's Disease advanced he had been
getting rid of them. The Midget, and the 1100 had gone. They had a buyer for the
A and lots of interest in the Magnette and the B but nobody was interested in
the BGT. Did I want it? Of course I did and after a brief discussion with the
wife it was mine. It hadn't turned a wheel in five years so had to be put on a
trailer by my dad to be taken to a garage and resurrected. It's now been mine
for three and a half years and gets used as often as possible.
Anyway, back to the Pug. After a few years and some increasing expensive
servicing and repairs the exhaust began to blow. Undeterred, I got some exhaust
repair stuff from Halfords and jacked the car up to find the leak. After some
time under the car I could not find the source. Well, not until I removed the
rear wheel and looked at what was left of the back box! Too many other niggling problems meant it was time for a change!
After some time looking on the internet at many and varied cars I started looking at large coupes. Peugeot 406 coupes, Mercedes CLKs and similar. Criteria wise, it had to be fairly powerful, able to carry four and have a manual gearbox. After a bit of looking I found a Volvo C70 T5. In purple, with a manual box and 138,000 miles on the clock meant it had clearly been on the dealers list for a while. A trip to Bridgewater and a test drive and my mind was made up. My wife's wasn't however as she said it had done too many miles, would be too thirsty and cost too much to run. Flowers didn't placate her so I contracted pneumonia as a way to get sympathy and stop her being so mad at me for buying it...
Anyway, that's the background to my two cars. I'll keep posting updates and pictures here when I've changed or fixed anything.
Thanks for reading!
That's one of the better colours for MGB GTs, Damask Red. Personally I like the B series engine, it's very of its time and easy to live with. They are reasonable on fuel as well, our soft top car being capable of 40 MPG.
So I wouldnt change it if its all fine, plus it looks a nice original car.
If I was resurecting a GT as a daily driver then a mildy tuned 1.6 K series might go in. + 50 BHP and - 100 Kg should work. Then you need something like the Frontline rear suspension or the Hoyle and you finish up with a "special" .
So I wouldnt change it if its all fine, plus it looks a nice original car. If I was resurecting a GT as a daily driver then a mildy tuned 1.6 K series might go in. + 50 BHP and - 100 Kg should work. Then you need something like the Frontline rear suspension or the Hoyle and you finish up with a "special" .
sshenton1975 said:
Love the B! All it needs now is a K series transplant and some nice Minilites!
I have no less than nine rostyle wheels so I'm sort of committed there... Four plus spare were with the car and the other four came from my grandfather's B when it was swapped to alloys (not Minilites mind). The tyres were ancient so I had my local garage remove four. They were more than twenty years old which meant cornering involved squealing tyres and not a lot of grip! I tried refurbishing them at home but the first wheel took ages and after spraying didn't look great. My next door neighbour recommended a blaster so I took the rears there and for £40 each had them blasted and powdercoated in silver. Two new Vredestein Sprint Classics and I was running around with shiny rears and ancient fronts for a couple on months. I had the fronts done after Christmas when I could afford it and I like the look of them now.As for the K series, it's not something I've considered. The rest of the car is pretty much original specification although I'm no stickler for originality. This is a car which gets used so if the engine packed up I would be thinking about what to put in its place.
SMGB said:
That's one of the better colours for MGB GTs, Damask Red. Personally I like the B series engine, it's very of its time and easy to live with. They are reasonable on fuel as well, our soft top car being capable of 40 MPG. So I wouldnt change it if its all fine, plus it looks a nice original car.
If I was resurecting a GT as a daily driver then a mildy tuned 1.6 K series might go in. + 50 BHP and - 100 Kg should work. Then you need something like the Frontline rear suspension or the Hoyle and you finish up with a "special" .
I do love the colour of it as do my kids who have named it 'The Red Car'. As above I have no immediate plans to change the engine but if I did it's nice to know there are lots of options. So I wouldnt change it if its all fine, plus it looks a nice original car. If I was resurecting a GT as a daily driver then a mildy tuned 1.6 K series might go in. + 50 BHP and - 100 Kg should work. Then you need something like the Frontline rear suspension or the Hoyle and you finish up with a "special" .
4340BB said:
Nice. I like both.
Synchromesh said:
Lovely pair 
Church of Noise said:
Nice pair of cars!
Thank you for your comments. I'll try and get some more pictures up when I get a chance.Baryonyx said:
Any interior shots of the C70?
The interior needs a bit of TLC; well the drivers seat and steering wheel do. I'll get some photos as I want to do a before and after I restore the leather.What I didn't add in the first post is that the C70 is slightly broken at the moment... It had leaked power steering fluid for a while from the reservoir so I changed the tank out last week. That was fine but I didn't secure the thermostat to coolant hose after I finished and it found the aux belt and holed itself. I've repaired the hose with tape and it is holding but I'm using the B as a daily driver until my replacement hose arrives.
Right then, small update time...
Three hundred or so miles in the B including a bit of commuting in all weathers. I've now converted to a single 12V battery from the twin 6V it has had from new. The 6V batteries were knackered and no longer held a charge. My fault really as I kept letting them go flat. One shiny new Bosch 063 battery was ordered and after a bit of modification with a hacksaw it fits neatly in the driver side battery bin. I took the opportunity to fit a cut out to the battery to keep this one in better condition than the others. I've also replaced the vacuum hoses from the engine to the brake servo and anti run on device. The newest one had 2001 stamped on it and the oldest looked like it could have been original. I had to use a hacksaw to remove that one!
Next up is renewing the under seal but I don't know whether to do this myself or pay someone...
The Volvo had eaten through a coolant hose (I hadn't secured it properly) so that had to be replaced. Apart from that it's been an easy month. There is a knocking sound from the front near side suspension which I think is the tie
rod and end. I'll get someone who knows what they're doing to look first before I start buying parts though...
Three hundred or so miles in the B including a bit of commuting in all weathers. I've now converted to a single 12V battery from the twin 6V it has had from new. The 6V batteries were knackered and no longer held a charge. My fault really as I kept letting them go flat. One shiny new Bosch 063 battery was ordered and after a bit of modification with a hacksaw it fits neatly in the driver side battery bin. I took the opportunity to fit a cut out to the battery to keep this one in better condition than the others. I've also replaced the vacuum hoses from the engine to the brake servo and anti run on device. The newest one had 2001 stamped on it and the oldest looked like it could have been original. I had to use a hacksaw to remove that one!
Next up is renewing the under seal but I don't know whether to do this myself or pay someone...
The Volvo had eaten through a coolant hose (I hadn't secured it properly) so that had to be replaced. Apart from that it's been an easy month. There is a knocking sound from the front near side suspension which I think is the tie
rod and end. I'll get someone who knows what they're doing to look first before I start buying parts though...
Edited by williredale on Saturday 13th April 08:23
Shadow R1 said:
Drop link on the suspension of the c70, mine did that.
I miss it.
I will do the drop links first but had to do the track rod on the drivers side as it was "a floppy dogs cock" in the words of a mechanic mate who helped. At the time I wondered if I should do the other side...I miss it.
The red suits the shape but I don't think I've ever seen one in red before. Was yours a T5?
So, six months after my last update what has changed? Not a lot really; both cars have been MOT’d and are still running well.
MG first.
I’ve had problems with the indicators for a while. I tried two different flasher units before it’s service and MOT at the Bristol MG Workshop but it was still a bit flaky (I wrote intermittent but then realised that the PH pedants would point out that I was talking about an indicator). They put in a heavy duty one which just like the two I’d changed seemed to work for a while and then stop. Eventually I stripped the steering column to look at the indicator stalk and while poking it with a screwdriver the earth cable fell out. One new stalk later I can now indicate!
Talking about the MOT, on the way back from Yate to Portishead there was an absolute torrential downpour. My nearside wiper made a break for freedom and fell off on the M4. Well, it fell off the spindle on the M4 and sat on the scuttle until the M5. It fell off on to the hard shoulder before I could clear the roadworks to stop and grab it.
I’ve tidied up some of the other interior. The old Fiat radio that didn’t work went in the bin replaced by a blanking plate. I never listen to the radio in the car so no loss there. I took the opportunity to remove the aerial as well. It’s currently got a rubber blank in there but I will eventually get it welded over.The old unmarked and badly fitting switch for the heated rear screen was replaced but the wires to the screen itself have seen better days. I have a persistent squeak coming from the rear hatch and when investigating one of the wires came away from its bullet connector. Two more things for the to do list...
Volvo.
I replaced the drop links to see if it would stop my low speed clunking but it made no difference. The ones which came off still seemed sound so I’m now thinking it is coming from the upper spring seats, another weak point on the suspension.
So I’ve started buying suspension parts and having them delivered to work so my wife doesn’t know what I’m spending… two new spring seats and strut mounts arrived this week and I’m going to get a full set of Bilstein B4 dampers to go on the car together with whatever ancillaries the garage say they’ll need. My budget is about £600 for parts and fitting but don’t tell my wife!
I replaced the top engine mount as it was shot. I bought a poly bush one but got one for the early pre-ME7 engine which doesn’t fit. PM me if you want it cheap otherwise I need to put it back on ebay! I had to get a standard one in a hurry and fit it. Removing the old one involved a hacksaw but the new one involved a bit of wood chopped up by someone at work to fit the new bush and a pair of G-clamps to press it in.
The air-con is borked. The condenser is holed and there are many other things I will spend money on before the air-con. I’ve polished washing up liquid into the inside of the screen to stop it misting up and that’s that.
I’ll post separately about my leather seat refresh. Lots of photos with that one.
Oh and finally a few pictures of both cars at Classics in Queen Square. Second Sunday of every month. A varied collection of metal (and fibreglass).
MG first.
I’ve had problems with the indicators for a while. I tried two different flasher units before it’s service and MOT at the Bristol MG Workshop but it was still a bit flaky (I wrote intermittent but then realised that the PH pedants would point out that I was talking about an indicator). They put in a heavy duty one which just like the two I’d changed seemed to work for a while and then stop. Eventually I stripped the steering column to look at the indicator stalk and while poking it with a screwdriver the earth cable fell out. One new stalk later I can now indicate!
Talking about the MOT, on the way back from Yate to Portishead there was an absolute torrential downpour. My nearside wiper made a break for freedom and fell off on the M4. Well, it fell off the spindle on the M4 and sat on the scuttle until the M5. It fell off on to the hard shoulder before I could clear the roadworks to stop and grab it.
I’ve tidied up some of the other interior. The old Fiat radio that didn’t work went in the bin replaced by a blanking plate. I never listen to the radio in the car so no loss there. I took the opportunity to remove the aerial as well. It’s currently got a rubber blank in there but I will eventually get it welded over.The old unmarked and badly fitting switch for the heated rear screen was replaced but the wires to the screen itself have seen better days. I have a persistent squeak coming from the rear hatch and when investigating one of the wires came away from its bullet connector. Two more things for the to do list...
Volvo.
I replaced the drop links to see if it would stop my low speed clunking but it made no difference. The ones which came off still seemed sound so I’m now thinking it is coming from the upper spring seats, another weak point on the suspension.
So I’ve started buying suspension parts and having them delivered to work so my wife doesn’t know what I’m spending… two new spring seats and strut mounts arrived this week and I’m going to get a full set of Bilstein B4 dampers to go on the car together with whatever ancillaries the garage say they’ll need. My budget is about £600 for parts and fitting but don’t tell my wife!
I replaced the top engine mount as it was shot. I bought a poly bush one but got one for the early pre-ME7 engine which doesn’t fit. PM me if you want it cheap otherwise I need to put it back on ebay! I had to get a standard one in a hurry and fit it. Removing the old one involved a hacksaw but the new one involved a bit of wood chopped up by someone at work to fit the new bush and a pair of G-clamps to press it in.
The air-con is borked. The condenser is holed and there are many other things I will spend money on before the air-con. I’ve polished washing up liquid into the inside of the screen to stop it misting up and that’s that.
I’ll post separately about my leather seat refresh. Lots of photos with that one.
Oh and finally a few pictures of both cars at Classics in Queen Square. Second Sunday of every month. A varied collection of metal (and fibreglass).
williredale said:
The red suits the shape but I don't think I've ever seen one in red before. Was yours a T5?
Sorry for the late reply, yes it was a T5 ME7 with a manual.It had bilstein all round, on eibach springs, strut brace.
Brakes were black diamond with red stuff pads, braided lines.
Shadow R1 said:
Sorry for the late reply, yes it was a T5 ME7 with a manual.
It had bilstein all round, on eibach springs, strut brace.
Brakes were black diamond with red stuff pads, braided lines.
Which Bilsteins did you go for? I'm looking at the B4s with the standard springs to keep the ride fairly similar to standard.It had bilstein all round, on eibach springs, strut brace.
Brakes were black diamond with red stuff pads, braided lines.
99Chimaera said:
Love your MGB GT, I had a 1970 model too in pale blue which had 35k on the clock from new, I sold it 3 years ago due to lack of use (it was stored in a barn some distance away from my house). Still miss it now, I'd buy another one tomorrow if I could
Wow, that's a shame you had to sell it. My youngest who is in some of the pictures has declared it to be hers so it looks like mine will be sticking around the family for a while yet Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff