Mid life crisis
Discussion
Greetings
On the verge of committing to my fist MGB GT, 1972 with Oselli tuned engine (not V8) to address my mid-life crisis. I'll be using it frequently and will put a few miles on it and would ask you gurus your view on converting it to dual fuel petrol/lpg? Is it do-able on such an engine? Also want to swap the mini-lites for wire wheels (it's an age thing I suspect)any good sites for these?
Cheers
Dogb
On the verge of committing to my fist MGB GT, 1972 with Oselli tuned engine (not V8) to address my mid-life crisis. I'll be using it frequently and will put a few miles on it and would ask you gurus your view on converting it to dual fuel petrol/lpg? Is it do-able on such an engine? Also want to swap the mini-lites for wire wheels (it's an age thing I suspect)any good sites for these?
Cheers
Dogb
I would not other with the dual fuel, where would thwe tank go? and not that heavy on fuel either, not like a jag v12 or V8 rangie.
Someone hereabouts might be able to help with wire wheels, if not try mgbreakers and andy jennings.
http://www.mgbreakers.com/
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/andyjennings/
Ebay is your friend.
Someone hereabouts might be able to help with wire wheels, if not try mgbreakers and andy jennings.
http://www.mgbreakers.com/
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/andyjennings/
Ebay is your friend.
Edited by Huntsman on Saturday 26th January 17:04
Ta very much, I see your points Mr H and tend to agree. It's just that I spend 2 hours a day in the car going to and from work (in a very nice part of the world without jams I hasten to add...)and want to do it in something more than a bland yawnmobile and was looking to cut the costs as i'm sure i'll recoup the cost of an LPG conversion relatively quickly. I'll do more sums and give it a bit more thought. Obliged for quick response.
Dogb
Dogb
LPG - be very careful where you get this done also check out actual availability of LPG at the pumps (some garages advertise they've got it when they rarely have)
I would think that you could have an LPG tank the size and shape of the spare wheel in your boot (but it would take up more space than the spare wheel with fitting) and loose the spare wheel
(shock/horror for some) I've not carried a spare wheel for years
The B's boot isn't big so no room for extra tank and spare wheel in boot
But with spoke wheels is it more necessary to carry a spare? I don't know as I dislike cleaning even minilite style so I've never wanted spokes
I would think that you could have an LPG tank the size and shape of the spare wheel in your boot (but it would take up more space than the spare wheel with fitting) and loose the spare wheel
(shock/horror for some) I've not carried a spare wheel for years The B's boot isn't big so no room for extra tank and spare wheel in boot
But with spoke wheels is it more necessary to carry a spare? I don't know as I dislike cleaning even minilite style so I've never wanted spokes
No problem Paul, more advice
I found boot racks to be of little use as whatever you put on them has to be weather proof and secure against theft plus it makes using the boot heavy and awkward
When I bought a S/S boot rack for my B the first rain and it rusted, I swapped it (FOC) but wished I hadn't bother with a permantly fitted type and then stopped using it when I took the spare wheel out of the boot
I found boot racks to be of little use as whatever you put on them has to be weather proof and secure against theft plus it makes using the boot heavy and awkward
When I bought a S/S boot rack for my B the first rain and it rusted, I swapped it (FOC) but wished I hadn't bother with a permantly fitted type and then stopped using it when I took the spare wheel out of the boot
Dogb said:
Also want to swap the mini-lites for wire wheels (it's an age thing I suspect)any good sites for these?
If you've not had wire wheels before, I would definitely suggest you find someone who does and volunteer to wash one for them before you decide to fit them to your own car! They look great when they're all nice and shiny, but you'll never get to drive it, as your entire life will be consumed trying to keep them nice and shiny!Plus don't forget the splines wear and clonk and any old axles/stub axles you buy will be old now. Wheels go "square", pains to clean, chromes pit and rust and can't be refinished, painted wires need repainting every few years and are a pain to do well.
Oh and the add on kits to adapt steel axles are a bodge, and they space the wheels out too far.
But wires look lovely. My preference would be knock on minilights.
Oh and the add on kits to adapt steel axles are a bodge, and they space the wheels out too far.
But wires look lovely. My preference would be knock on minilights.
You've probably noticed a hint about wire wheels from three people now
You did also say you wanted to use the car frequently which would mean very frequent wire wheel cleaning
Excellent idea to see if someone will let you clean their wire wheels just to see what's involved, that would be for painted wire wheels as you'd probably never get chromed wire wheels cleaned to the owners precise satisfaction
Good advice also about the additional facts involved with wire wheels
You did also say you wanted to use the car frequently which would mean very frequent wire wheel cleaning
Excellent idea to see if someone will let you clean their wire wheels just to see what's involved, that would be for painted wire wheels as you'd probably never get chromed wire wheels cleaned to the owners precise satisfaction
Good advice also about the additional facts involved with wire wheels
wildoliver said:
But wires look lovely. My preference would be knock on minilights.
Interesting, only today I was told that knock-on minilite style wheels are twice the price of the bolt on1) LPG - you're going to really really struggle to convert it due to the lack of room. Suspect if you have to start cutting bits of the car out then you won't ever see the financial benefit.
2) Wire wheels conversion - two ways of doing this. First, just buy bolt on wire wheels from Owners Club / Bee hive and swap them over. They don't look quite as good as the real thing due to the lack of spinners. Second, buy either whole new rear axle (second one with splined ends should be about 100 quid or so) and buy new splined shafts for the front, and then buy standard wire wheels.
Personally, like wild oliver, I went for minilites on mine. They look the part, they don't require special maintainance, they're reasonably easy to clean (the bits where the spokes meet the rim are a bit awkward) and they're more robust.
2) Wire wheels conversion - two ways of doing this. First, just buy bolt on wire wheels from Owners Club / Bee hive and swap them over. They don't look quite as good as the real thing due to the lack of spinners. Second, buy either whole new rear axle (second one with splined ends should be about 100 quid or so) and buy new splined shafts for the front, and then buy standard wire wheels.
Personally, like wild oliver, I went for minilites on mine. They look the part, they don't require special maintainance, they're reasonably easy to clean (the bits where the spokes meet the rim are a bit awkward) and they're more robust.
Please please please don't fit those dreadful bolt on wires. It isn't a tacky 1980's caddy deville!
As stated the only way to fit wires to a non wire car is new rear axle, new front stub axles, I think from memory the actual front uprights holding the stub axles are the same ww and steel same as midgets, so you'll just need the hubs/disks. But check a parts diagram first.
And the knock on minilites are about twice the price, but they look so pretty!
As stated the only way to fit wires to a non wire car is new rear axle, new front stub axles, I think from memory the actual front uprights holding the stub axles are the same ww and steel same as midgets, so you'll just need the hubs/disks. But check a parts diagram first.
And the knock on minilites are about twice the price, but they look so pretty!
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