Are Mods a Good thing on an MGB??

Hey all!!!

I just got myself a 72 MGB Roadster and it is in need of a ground up restoration as it sat outside in the wonderful Ontario weather for the last 2 years. I found it and picked it up for only $300.00.

My biggest question is, would it be allowed for me to modify the car to my liking or will I be frowned apon? I would like to create my own custom dash, shave the door handles, reverse the doors, and add a custom stereo package.

Is this a bad thing, will I still be allowed in Car clubs and shows for the MGB?

any feedback would be great guys and gals.


Thanks,

Dezi

Maybe someone at a concours event would frown on what you suggest, but I have seen some tastefully done customizations.

Bottom line is, its your money, its your car...

I bought my MGB because I love the way they drive and feel. I did not buy it to put on a trailer and put on public display. If you want a conventional car show winner then that is great and I admire you for it. Hick I can’t get mine completely restored because I can’t stop driving it. The bottom line is
HVE FUN!!

If you are going to restore it, do it the way you like. The MG police will not arrest you. I have made many changes that were non-stock, or even close to it. But 90% of it you do not see. There are so many good mods that are more reliable than original, why not go for it.

I want the car to be as reliable as possible. If going aftermarket does the job, so be it. Cosmetic stuff I try to keep original looking as possible, thats just me. But engine/drivetrain/suspension, etc - the working part of the car - I am doing the way I like (lowering it, poly and v8 bushings, etc, electroinc ign, weber carb, k+n filter....)

Bottom line is, as mentioned above, it's your money and your car.
However, I would suggest thinking long and hard about mods that can't be put back to original later. In a sense, we are caretakers for these cars, only owning them for a while. No one wants to be a DPO.
First thing, if it's been sitting out in Ontario, is make sure it's solid. You're probably looking at a bundle to get the sills replaced.

After that, there's quite a few Bs out there with custom dashes (some wood, or other ideas)... I'm about to (hopefully) de-skin a padded dash and make a mock early-style. I don't see too much problem there.
Shaving the door handles will add some weight from the solenoids and such, but hey again, I don't see a big problem there.
I wouldn't reverse the doors... besides being a big re-engineering that would be horrible to ever try to return to stock, the front bulkhead is much stronger than the rear. I wouldn't want doors hanging from the rear. Just my opinion.
Stereo, knock yourself out. Don't cut the rear bulkhead between the trunk and passenger compartment. You don't have to.. There's tons of ways to get tons of stereo in a B without cutting it up, you just have to be creative. (tip: use a battery box as a subwoofer enclosure!)

If you're reviving it from the dead, you get to do whatever you like. It is yours and those are the rules. But here's my take on modifications.

Before you go sticking a big wing spoiler on it and 6" diameter exhaust, you might want to read and learn about the B. It should suck you in. Interesting history and there is a certain amount of class these cars have as is. I'd hate for you to realize that and start appreciating it "after" you made some mods.

From my point of view, the most appealing modifications are the subtle ones that modernize the car with a healthy appreciation for retro styling. You can class up the dash with wood and some modern gauges. But stay analogue with the guages for example.

All this will cost a lot of money though. I'd suggest sticking original if things are going to be done on a shoe string budget. A shabby MG in original condition is way more appealing than a shabby MG with strange alterations. That's something to remember since you may want to sell it some day.

It's just like when you see these fast and furious cars. The ones that are done right ($$$) are beautiful. Then there are the ones outfitted with autozone supplies. It kills me to see someone pay good money to kill the value of their car. I think everyone knows what I mean. We've all seen the honda civic on the road that just looks like things went terribly wrong between theory and application.

There are some really nice pictures that turn up on this web site every so often from people who have redone their MGBs with slight modifications. They are mouth watering. Some of these interior kits are beautiful.

Just remember, MG got "style" right the first time.

In my book, stereo upgrades are a good thing if that's what you want. Just store the old head unit if you have it.

By the way, I was interested in a 1991 Alfa Romeo one time. The price was low so I called the guy up. He told me he had shaved the door handles and had large wheels in it and a bunch of other strange stuff. I wasn't even interested anymore. Even at a lower price. You could alientate many potential buyers when you sell especially if the doors are backwards.

But in the end, nobody will fault you for doing what makes you happy. As a matter of fact I highly encourage you to do just that.

Have fun,

Dave

Lowering sounds like a good thing. When it comes to body mods, I would like to keep it as original as possible.

Thanks for the help guys...

Dezi

If it's a 72 you don't want to lower it more than about an inch, or else you'll never get across a speed bump again. But yeah, lowering it can be beneficial.

For three hundred dollers do what ever you want to it, You can always buy another one later and make it original.

Anything you want is a good thing.
I'm guessing that you didn't choose a MG because it was the most economical, convieneint, practical and reliable car you could lay your hands on.... you picked an MGB because it made you happy. You should approach Mods in the same manner.
But here's the caveat:

I think most people would agree that this: http://www.garage24.net/MGBGT/MG-861.jpg

and this:
http://www.mg2003.com/images/mgpix5.jpg

are pretty wierd (I know the owners of these cars are reading this right now). But hell... I ain't most 'most people'.
If we all did what the majority was doing, we would all be driving identical SUVs.

I'm likely going to catch hell for this but I think you should leave it basically stock. There are too few MGBs out there, only a half a million made for the entire world, and none in the last 23 years. Sure put a Rover V8 in it, or redesign the dash or replace the seats with something modern. If you absoultly must modify it, then I suggest that you do it tastfully, unlike some of the butchered cars I have seen. Please, for the next owners sake, don't do anything that will make the car unrestorable in it's future. We're talking about a classic car here not some Ford or Chevy that there were millions made just like it. Besides,MGs have there own design working against them, and sooner or later, every MGB will be rusted beyond salvage and then there will be none left for anyone to enjoy

Oh I Plan to keep all the original parts intact and stored away for the next owner.. I would never do anything to permanantly damage the MGB. This is a very nice car.

Thanks for the advice

Dezi

Going to be mighty hard to do if you chop the doors, A pillars and B pillars up to swap opening direction and chop the door handles off. Those pillars are part of the B's structure design and contributes to it's strength

Thanks for the advice. Idon't think I will change the doors then. I wanted to have the shaved door look on the car but It sounds like that might not be a good thing.


Thanks again, It's nice to get some feedback on things like this before it gets done.

Dezi

72 MGB

You can likely shave the doorhandles without too much work. Going back stock would just require replacement of the door skins, which is done often anyway

true gerry, they are a limited resource and maybe part of the responsibility of owning one is at least having the right attitude about the future of all B's. sort of like an animal that we don't want to become extinct. I think another factor with mods is how long u plan on keeping the car, but the truth is: most of the mods can be switched back to orinal very easily.

I've seen a few cars that were modded so bad that there was nothing left og the original design so you may as well start building a new B from scratch. But I guess the thing that bothers me the most is a certain attitude seen in a growing number of people now that think that they are the people on earth that matter. They believe that they should do whatever they want to do without and concern of others. These are the same people who through their trash on the roads, trash other's property and paint graffitie on anything they care to. They see nothing wrong with their self centered viewpoint. Seems like every generation gets worse than the one before it. And I get more vocal about it every day. Sorry for the rant.

I hate to stir the hornet's nest, but what Mods are acceptable? MY GT is pretty much a rolling piece of original junk, but I would really like to avoind putting a Webber carb, or Fiero seats into her. In selecting a paint color (if I ever get the prject to that point) I'll choose a color only available to MGB's in 1970. On the other hand, if I had an old Positive ground car, I would probably want to make the conversion, I'm considering electronic ignition, and I have a spin- on oil filter and would be loathe to re-install the disposable element type.

I see your point there. I would never do anything to the B that I could not reverse if I was to sell it again. I have decided not to reverse the doors but still go ahead with my own dash. All parts that I remove, would be stored in a safe place for the future so I could put it back.

Dezi

Dezi...I've put off tossing in my opinion, however, here goes:

look at my website <http://www.theautoist.com/V8project.htm> wander around there...you'll see every mechanical/suspension mod around, you'll see interior upgrades, you'll even see some tasteful (i.e., period) body mods....its your car, do as you please but remember: you can't turn it into a Miata or other "buzz bomb", you can't make it an American iron hot rod...whatever you do, you have to do within the integrity and style of the car....good luck...
....now, as to originalty...it does have its benefits & I'm keeping one '79 original while I'm modifying another '79.....yours was dead already...reviving it as a comfortable, daily, highway driver with your personality in it is okay at this point...Gerry's not a purist but he does have a point about how far we should go....your car is not a good candidate for a V8 conversion but is a candidate for a V6 one....chuck can tell you more about that!