Newb here. Best bang for buck?

Getting my 79 MGB this weekend. Very excited about finally getting one of these cars. Every time I saw one on the road made me want one. The body is mint and the interior is very good. Engine runs good but I wouldn't call it mint condition at all. I am curious as to what the best bang for the buck items I should look at. I have $500 to spend after I purchase the Tonneua cover and stereo. I know I want those two things for sure. Other than that I am not sure what to do besides some routine maintenance the I always do when I get a new car. The long term plan (5 year plan) is to convert to a V8 or V6 but only once I am in a better position financially. So the next few years is all about enjoying the car and learning as much as I can about it. The car has been lowered to the chrome bumper height I think, could be lower but the PO did say it was lowered. All electronics are working, and it runs strong. I'd love to dress up the motor area and have been thinking of upgrading the exhaust or getting a weber intake or ?? So any advise from you experienced MGers would be great. I've been reading all over this forum and its great. Also wondering if it is difficult to swap out the wire wheels. Would it be easier to find some one with an MGB with regular wheels and just trade? I like the wires but think I'd rather have something else. Not am important concern though.
Pic is a little blurry and dull, its a cell phone cam, will get better ones this weekend.
Thanks
B

Wow, nice!

More and more peoeple buying MGs wow. Looks great

You can bring your wires over to me and we can swap any day. :)

Looks like you have a great find though. If everything is in working condition then there really isn't too much to do. Once you start tearing apart the engine you can upgrade certain things to get better performance. If you want you can always send your distributor to Jeff to get it worked over and setup specifically for your car. It should add some zip to it even if it's in perfect condition. I want to send mine but then I'd have to stop driving it. :(

Looks like a nice car. Just drive it for a while and get a feel for the car. Then you can think about thing to do with it. Cleaning the engine bay is an easy and rewarding first thing to do.

Thats nice,I would check all the mechanics first,you never know till you have driven the car for a while what little things need attention.

If all the body and mechanics are ok give the car a treat to a short service especially if service history is unknown.

I noticed the seats look like they sagg (or is that the photo),thats where I would put my money,you got to be comfortable to enjoy the whole experience.If you going to put in a v8 in the future don't spend money on the engine now just to be disgarded later.

The V8 section of the forum will give you loads to think about but treat the forum as your bible theres always the answer to your problems here,usually within 10 mins,I know I've tried it.

Welcome!

Welcome Brian.

Things to consider investing in, in no particular order (except for the first one, which should always be first):

-Renew the braking system. Pads, master cylinder, shoes, hoses, fluid, etc. Everything. This is important.
-Renew all other fluids. Don't forget the gear oil in the rear differential.
-New plugs and plug wires. New belt(s), too.
-Tires aged? Get new ones.
-Lube chassis. Plenty of zerks for your grease gun.
-Flush and refill cooling system. New hoses never hurt.
-Locate and clean as many wiring grounds as you can.
-Battery date code > 5 years old? Replace it. Personally, I'm partial to Interstate batteries.
-Find your car (scroll down as needed) and print your diagram(s), in color, on 11x17" paper and get them laminated:
http://www.advanceautowire.com/mgb.pdf
-Purchase some books:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mgb&x=12&y=20

After, and only after the car is mechanically refreshed, would I recommend that you toss some lucre at aesthetic niceties such as stereos, tonneau covers and the like.

-Jim

Nice looking car. Hold off a bit before buying a sound system or a cover. B's traditionally usually need about $1500 in essential stuff right off the bat. Like brakes etc. I just did a V6 conversion and I live in your area. Lets chat some time.
David

Welcome to the forum. I would drive it as is for awhile and you'll soon figure out what it might need. You could switch the carb to a weber, but then you have to to change the exhaust header too. I am not sure the power difference is worth it. I switched to a weber beacuse the stock zenith stromberg needed a rebuild and I wanted something there that was idiot proof to set up. Are you in Orlando itself? There are a few enthusiats around that get together at the Golden Corral on 434 in ALtamonte Springs periodically; I have never gone myself but have been invited (living in Mt Dora, I have not been motivated to make the 40 min drive on a weekend morning). There are also a couple shops around that could help you if you get over your head.

Paul

Looks great.

Don't get carried away, drive the car and enjoy it.

kelvin

Double WOW. But keep the wires, they look better than the rostyles...more classic ya know. It doesnt really look like the car has been lowered. If the engine is running good, not using oil, has good oil pressure, doesnt overheat, then leave it alone. If the Z-S carb is running ok.....dont screw with it either. The Weber carb is a good overall economy carb if thats what your after, but the dual SU's are better if your looking for a little bit more get-up-and-go. Welcome to the board.

Hey Brian, Great looking car..Sure you will enjoy it..By the way, I live in Cromwell, Right down rte 99 from Wethersfield.

Welcome!

Join the North American MGB Register ( http//:www.namgbr.org/index ) and a local MG or British car club!

Assuming all the tune up, fluid changes and brake stuff is out of the way, if the money is burning a hole in your pocket, get fresh tires if they're a bit aged. That's my opinion for best bang for the buck for handling and stopping.

Ditto on David.

Don't buy the sounds and stuff right away. You might be having to just go sit in the car in the driveway and listen to the tunes.

It sounds like you didn't have the car surveyed before buying it. If you didn't, the first thing you need to do is to locate a REPUTABLE shop that is VERY FAMILIAR with MGs and pay them two hundred bucks to go through the car thoroughly and come back to you with a clear and orderly list of things that need to be done immediately, in the near future and in the long term.

If they don't have a prepared pre-purchase check list let me know and I'll shoot one to you.

The bottom line is that the worst thing that you can do is to jump into this and get over your head and disappointed and then disgusted with the car and the situation.

Jack

Welcome Brian. Nice looking car. I'd give strong consideration to James R.'s listing if I were you. The brakes would also be first on my list. Something about that stopping sensation that I like! Again, welcome.

X2 to James the Tall Man.

I did all of the listed items before I did anything else and now have a car I feel safe to drive just about anywhere. Have fun with it and then decide what to spend money on. I was going to get a stereo right away, but at this point I just like to listen to the car and the country side.

Good luck.

Welcome! Everything above just about covers it. I'm just down the road in Brandon and saw the listing for that car, looks to be a good find. The funny part is your cell pics are better than the pics in the ad for the car. Looks like you did GOOD!

Welcome!

Regarding the wire wheels - I believe you have to change out the hubs from bolt-on to splined. So, its not just plug and play changing out the wheels. Like everyone else said, drive it and see what you've got. You're going to find places to spend some money - maybe more than you've planned. :)

Welcome board! All above is good advice.

Hydraulics, If they haven't been recently serviced. Most ignored part on these cars and will stop them in a heartbeat.
No mater how bad everything else may be, no clutch or brakes = BAD.
If they are in tip top shape, disregaurd this post and welcome.:beer:

Welcome but lets get down to it!
Like Jack said, have it thoroughly inspected and take it from there.
To my eye, that car, albeit beautiful does not look lowered unless the tires are low profile.
Best bang for the buck? Get an uprated front sway bar, you'll need it w/V8 engine anyway.
RS

That is a sharp looking car and looks like the PO took care of it but Im with the others in thinking it has not been lowered. All the above is solid advice and I agree, My advise is to look for a hardtop for it, They help in performance as well as comfort. Mine is a snugtop and it stays on year round and of all the extras I have the HT is the one Id get first if I had to start over. Many may throw rocks at me for saying that to a member in Fla. but too much sun can cause problems to you as well as the car. I would also keep the wires. A big ole Welcome to you and your pretty car. Ken

Welcome from Northern California, wine country, Brian. Looks like an excellent buy! I side with the opinions to keep driving it to sort out those small probs before doing any major changes.

Thanks for the advise. I'll definitely drive it for a while before doing anything major. Will check the brakes for sure. Still have to have tunes though. Won't really effect budget but thats something I need. lol. I'm going to double check on the lowering thing and make sure I heard him right.