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Welcome to The MG Experience's MGB Library! Thanks to the contributions of MGB owners around the world, we have one of the biggest collections of free information in the world on the 'B. Any question probably has an answer in this library, but if you can't find what you're looking for, please don't hesitate to contact us or post your question on the Forum.

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All information here is covered by the disclaimer on the front page, and remember to always observe proper safety precautions when servicing your vehicle.

Buying a Used Vehicle

Buying Your First MGB: Good overview of the large range of models available, and some common pitfalls for new MGB owners.
MGB Buying Guide: A thorough article on body styles, prices, inspection and everything to look for when looking to buy an MGB.
Used Car Checklist: A great checklist when buying any kind of car, print this out and take it with you if you're considering buying.
Used Car Checklist (Printable) (pdf): A nicely formatted, printable PDF version of the SOL Used Car Buying Guide checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

LBC Fact and Fiction: 60 common LBC questions answered by Motorhead Garages.
MGB FAQ: Answers to the most common questions received at The MGB Experience, including common terms, model identification and VIN location and decoding.
What's a DPO?: Unless you buy all your cars new you probably know the answer even if you don't know it yet!

General Care

Folding Your Soft Top (Early) (pdf): The proper way to fold and store your packaway top and frame.
Folding Your Soft Top (Later): The proper way to pack your post-1970 Michelotti folding hood.
Leather Care: How to keep your seats from fading or cracking, and looking their best.
Running on Unleaded →: Does it harm our leaded-petrol-designed engines to run on unleaded?

Servicing

Basic Servicing

Maintenance Schedule: If you follow this guide, your MGB will (probably) give you years of trouble-free driving.
MGOC Basic Service 1: This MGOC guide shows you how to change your engine oil.
MGOC Basic Service 2: This MGOC guide shows you how to lubricate your gearbox and axle.
MGOC Basic Service 3: This MGOC guide shows you how to grease your front suspension.
MGOC Basic Service 4: This MGOC guide shows you how to tune your SU carburetors.
MGOC Basic Service 5: This MGOC guide shows you how to muck around with your distributor and timing.
MGOC Basic Service 6: Learn to maintain your brakes in this thrilling conclusion to the MGOC Basic Servicing series!
Mounting Tires: How to change tubes and tires the "old school" way and get a nice cardio workout in the deal.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Guide: A step-by-step chart to help diagnose the cause of nearly any problem you might have with your MGB, and the corresponding solution.

Tops and Windows

Door Glass Removal and Installation: How to remove and re-install the glass door windows, a job the workshop manual doesn't cover in much depth.
Soft Top Replacement: Replacing the soft top (hood) on your 'B.
Tonneau Cover Installation: Getting all the snaps (Lift-the-Dots) aligned on your new tonneaux.
Vent Window Assembly And Window Channels: A great how-to on restoring your vent windows as well as replacing the window channels to new.
Window Seals Replacement: Detailed instructions on replacing all the rubber window seals including the side vents, side windows, and one of the more aggravating jobs on the MGB, the windscreen seals.
Windscreen Installation: A neat trick for compressing springy new windscreen seals.

Suspension and Wheels

Fixing The Steering Column Lock: The column lock design was flawed from its introduction to this day. If it binds up and needs to be replaced, here's a very detailed post on how to work around it and and replace the assembly, with a little history thrown in too.
Front Suspension Rebuild: Just what it says, a step-by-step guide to rebuilding your front suspension.
Good and Bad Wire Wheel Hubs: Some photos of badly worn wire wheel hubs and what they should like new, a common source of vibration and clunking sounds.
MGB Ride Height Survey: Table of ride heights for all years of MGB as collected from members of the MG Experience Forums.
MGB Tire Sizes: In the era of ever-shrinking sidewalls, what size should I buy for my MGB?
Rear Shock Conversion: Converting the MGB to use modern gas shocks in the back is actually pretty easy.
Rebuilding Saggy Leaf Springs: How to disassemble, clean and restore saggy leaf springs and save a lot of money in the process.
Steel Wheel Paint Codes: Cross reference of paint codes for steel wheels.
Steering Rack Service: Great article on steering rack maintenance and servicing.
Tire, Gear & Speedo Calculators: Easy number crunching for non-standard tire sizes, speedo correction, etc.
Wheels Cross-Reference: Big list of makes & models that share the same wheel bolt pattern as the MGB and may be candidates for a cheap junkyard-sourced swap.

Brakes

Bleeding Brakes: More methods of bleeding your brakes (see also MGOC Basic Service above).
Building V8 Brakes: How to build calipers like the beefy factory V8 brakes from junkyard parts.
Quiet Brakes: How to cure brake squeal.

Cooling and Heating

Fixing a Leaking Heater Duct: How to fix a leaking heater duct.
Heater Valve Improvement: How to make the heater valve flow more, and thereby increase cockpit output on cool days, and plans for fabricating a high-flow "manual" valve.
Keep Your Fan Belts Loose: How to extend the life of the generator and water pump bearings on the T-Series, MGA and early MGB.
Simple Heater Valve →: Another set of plans for a "manual" high-flow heater valve.

Engine and Tuning

Advance Curves Reference →: Paul Tegler's very useful chart of model years, distributor models, and advance curves.
B-Series Engine Oil Flow: An in-depth discussion on the oil flow in the MGB engine, its function and theory.
British Automotive Tech Page →: Extremely useful articles on a variety of MGB servicing and tuning issues.
Dipstick Tubes on the B-Series Engine: Description of the 3 different dipstick assemblies used on the MGB and especially on replacing the difficult to find "middle" series tube (post 18GF, pre 18V).
Engine Balancing: Notes on balancing your engine, most important in racing applications or any high-rev engine.
Head Cross Reference →: Cross-reference for the B-Series Engine head.
Make a Spark Tester: Diagnosing a weak spark with a few bits and pieces from the junk bin.
MGB PCV Systems: Theory and operation of the MGB PCV system with descriptions of the system as it evolved over production.
Oil Filter Study →: A good website showing what oil filters are made of, and good and bad components to look for.
Oil Filters List: Cross-reference of modern spin-on oil filters for the MGB.
SOL British Tech Page →: More servicing and tuning tips from the Scions of Lucas club.
The Gasket Basket: Making your own, materials, theory and installation. They say if it doesn't leak, it's not British...

Transmission, Driveshaft and Differential

How To Install A Nissan 300ZX Five Speed: Detailed instructions on the modifications and fabrication needed to install a Nissan 300ZX five speed transmission in the MGB.
Transmission Rebuild: Very helpful tips for rebuilding a non-O/D gearbox.

Carburetors and Fuel

An Easy Way to Siphon Gas: An easy modification to make this jerry can pump work with your LBC's gas tank.
Float Lever Drop: Making an adjustment on the float lever of T Series MGs, MGAs and MG Magnettes to eliminate fuel overflow resulting from jammed float levers.
Fuel Delivery Troubleshooting Guide: Great troubleshooting guide for all vehicles that use SU electric fuel pumps.
Gas Gauge Adjustment: This article covers the simple adjustment on the back of the standard MGB gasoline gauge, and how it operates.
How To Adjust the Fuel Gauge Sender: How to recalibrate the gauge and sender, often needed when installing new tanks.
How To Blow Through an SU: Notes on the use of the HS or HIF series carburetors in a blow-through turbo or supercharger installation.
Passing AirCare (Emissions): Some tips and readings related to MGB emissions testing.
Permanently Installed Back Up Fuel Pump: How to install a backup fuel pump, including wiring and plumbing instructions with photos.
SU Fuel Pumps 101: Basics on the types and operation of the SU fuel pump.
SU HIF4 Carburetor Restore: Cleaning up a ratty old pair of HIF4's to better than new condition.
SU HS4 Carburetor Assembly: A couple of scanned pages showing SU HS disassembly, cleaning, reassembly and exploded view.
SU HS4 Carburetor Tuning: How to adjust and synchronize the "mysterious" dual SU carbs.
Weber 32/36 DGV Setup: Jet and idle setting for the alternative Weber downdraft carburetor conversion.
Weber 45 DCOE Setup: Part numbers and initial settings for this popular & effective, but tricky to tune, side-draft carb conversion.
Weber Hose Routing: One way of routing the carbon canister hoses with a Weber downdraft conversion.
Zenith Carb Damper O-Ring Replacement: Is your Zenith carb losing damper oil? Could be you need to change the O-ring, here's how.

Electrical and Instruments

77-80 Cooling System Electrical Improvements: Upgrading the coolant temperature fan switch and adding relays to the fan motors on the 1977-80 MGB.
Battery Disconnect Switches (pdf): The reasons for and how to wire-in a battery disconnect switch.
Bosch Alt Conversion →: Just like the Delco conversion, but with a Bosch alternator instead.
Car Radio Primer - Speaker Connections (pdf): Explanation of speaker connections on newer car radios and how they differ from older radios.
Checking the Starting Circuit: Simple troubleshooting steps for MGB no-start problems.
Delco Alternator Conversion: Converting your Lucas alternator equipped MGB to use a cheaper and more powerful Delco unit.
Fixing the Panel Dimmer: R&R on this expensive and usually inoperative variable-resistance switch.
Fuseology - Fuses 101 (pdf): What are fuses, how they work and how they relate to MGs.
Ground Point Preparation: Removing corrosion from your car's ground points often solves all kinds of electrical gremlins.
Headlight Relays (pdf): Adding relays to MGB headlight wiring.
Ignition Run-On (pdf): Ignition Run-On as related to the Anti Run-On Valve and the Ignition Relay, MGB 1977 to 1980.
Installing a Brake Light Relay: Installing a relay on the brake light circuit to suppress arcing and extend the life of your brake switch.
KPH Speedometer Conversion: Simple paper overlay to convert your speedometer to read out in metric kph.
Lights Warning Buzzer: A simple circuit to remind you when the lights are on.
Lucas Wiring Colour Guide: Reference chart showing the function of any wire from the main and tracer colours alone.
MGB Electrical Systems: Extremely comprehensive and easy to understand manual explaining every major and minor electrical system, electricals 101, common terms, bulbs, diagnostics, and much more. (Permission granted by author to mirror on The MGB Experience)
Negative Earth Stickers: A simple request to all owners who have converted their car to negative ground.
Negative Ground Conversion: How to convert pre-1968 MGBs to use negative ground, like all modern cars.
Odometer Adjustment and Matching: How to make your old odometer read the same as your new odometer when swapping them out for repair or replacement.
Speedometers Reference: Chart listing the specifications of the different speedometers fitted to the MGB.
Tachometer Servicing: Common faults, part numbers, calibration and negative ground conversion.
Understanding Alternators: Operation and theory of the alternator, explained in simple terms.
Understanding the Ignition System: Operation and theory of the ignition system, explained in simple terms.

Restoration

Build a Body Rotator: The ultimate low-buck body restoration aid (mirror)
Chrome Bumper Conversion →: Converting later rubber-bumper cars to chrome bumpers requires a bit of work...
Crack of Doom Repair: How to patch and weld the vertical crack (nicknamed the Crack of Doom) that appears on some MGB doors. This method is generally known to be a permanent fix.
Fighting Rust FAQ: An unedited collection of posts on fighting the insidious tinworm.
Fitting Fiero Seats in the MGB: A popular junkyard replacement for the MGB seats with better lumbar support, optional leather, headrests, headrest speakers, working recliner etc.
How To Get a Good Wrinkle Paint Finish: How to restore the coveted crackle-finish paint job on your flat steel Mark I MGB (1963-67) dashboard.
Mysteries of Removing the Dash, its Gauges and Switches: Removing the dash and all the instruments is an essential part of any good restoration. Rather than damage your original gauges or switches, read this guide and learn the secret incantations to remove them in one piece.
Original MGB Paint Colors, Codes and Names: Scans of paint samples for original MGB colours (that's colors to you Americans) from 1964-78, with names and codes. Also covers some other BMC and BL marques like Triumph and Healey.
Paint Code Pictures →: Pictures of MGBs sporting the different factory colours collected on the 'net.
Paint/Year Chart →: Paint codes and names available for the different model years of the MGB with some relatively recent cross-references to modern equivalents.
Painting 101: Demystifying the application of a 1st class paint job to your restored MGB.
Repairing MGB Rubber Bumpers: Make your rubber bumpers look better than new in this detailed article with lots of photos.
Restoring Steel & Wire Wheels: Making your wires & Rostyles sparkle and shine.
Rubber Bumper Rehab: Repairing and painting rubber bumpers.

Reference

XPAG and XPEG Engines Fastener Reference: A comprehensive fastener reference for T-Series XPAG and XPEG engines, including bolts, studs, plugs, nuts, wrenches, size, length and original and modern part numbers.
1972 BMC USA Price Sheet: "Suggested retail prices" for the MGB and factory options back in '72.
British Car Production Figures: Total production data for all British makes and models.
CO% to Air Fuel Ratio (AFR) Table: Handy chart for CO based tuning.
MG Engine History: Engines for MGs, their story after 1935, covering the XPAG, A Series and B Series (and variants)
MGB Evolution 1962-1980: Overview of the British car family tree and MGB evolution through its amazing 18 year run.
MGB Performance Data: Stock performance numbers (BHP, Torque, etc) for each year of the MGB.
MGB Specification: General and specific technical specifications of the MGB.
MGB Torque Settings (pdf): An easy to print PDF of torque values for the MGB, from various sources. Please note that these values are compiled, not personally established or validated. Please use according to your best judgement and contact me if any errors are found.
Power, Torque and Consumption Curves: Data on BHP, Torque and fuel consumption curves.
Standard Threads Reference: Table comparing UNC, UNF, USP, BSW (Whitworth), BSP (Pipe) and Metric threads.
Wrench and Socket Reference: Reference table of US (Imperial), Metric and Whitworth wrench sizes.

Contemporary Publications

Autocar Road Test #2069: MGB GT (pdf): Mar 1966 - Another look at the new MGB GT model.
MGB Seat Belt Recall: 1977 - Text of NHTSA Recall Number 85V059000.
Motor Brief Test #4/72: MGB (pdf): Jan 1972 - A look at BL's latest facelift of its best selling MGB.
Motor Road Test #37/67: MGC (pdf): Nov 1967 - The MGB's inline-six big brother, the rare MGC.
Motor Road Test #7/66: MGB GT (pdf): Feb 1966 - A look at the new MGB GT model. (Thanks to the WDMGCC)
R&T Comparison Test: Four Sports Cars: June 1970 - The MkII MGB goes head-to-head with the Porsche 914, Fiat 124 Spider and Triumph TR-6.
R&T Road Test: MGA-Judson: May 1958 - Interesting review of a supercharged MGA.
Road Test: MGB: Nov 1962 - A sneak peek at BMC's successor to the MGA - the cleverly named "MGB".

Dealer Brochures:: 1980 MGB Brochure: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (low quality scan, sorry)
Magazine Advertisements: Introducing the Golden Anniversary MGB
Dear Brad: Here is our brand new MGB
The Great Escape Car. MGB/GT
Exciting Opportunity to See the World
Think of it as a well coordinated athlete
Still built with the human hand
It says more about you
Lute Eldridge, Lockheed F-104 Test Pilot
MGB. The Sporting Breed
MGB. The Classic Breed.
MGB Special with all these Extras
MGB Presents the World's Biggest Sunroof
MGB LE Unlimited Fun
Magic in a new Shape, MGB/GT
MGB/GT Hotel Valet

Humour and Miscellaneous

A Nice Morning Drive: Fiction piece from Road & Track -- November 1973, pp.148-150
Holiday Prose, LBC Style: A Little British Car themed "Night Before Christmas".
How Tom Got Hooked: The Rest Of The Story (or How Tom Got Hooked On Cars)
MGA Owner's Top 10: "Top Ten Things You Will Never Hear an MGA Owner Say."
MGB Adoption Application: Have you got the Right Stuff?
MGB Custom Trailer: One man's quest to build a unique and possibly useful MGB themed trailer.
MGB Custom Trailer: One man's quest to build a unique and possibly useful MGB themed trailer.
MGB vs TR6: An objective look at the car BL killed the MGB to sell.
Rotary Engine Conversion →: I'm not sure who is crazier, this conversion or the guy that stuffed a Cossie into his MGB.
Scratching an Itch: What to do when bitten by the LBC bug?
Sunday Morning: Another MG road trip story.
The Forever Car: What happens if you keep your vehicle longer than three or four years?
The Poker Run: Great MG roadtrip story, follow along on a "gimmick" rally in Iowa.
The Ugly Wedgling: The saga of an MGB owner's adoption of a ratty Triumph TR7.
To The Moon: Living with the MGB over many enjoyable miles.
US-British Technical Terms: Translations of terms with different meanings on different sides of the Atlantic.
Why an MG?: The perfectly rational reasons why we own these little cars.
Why the MG? Paper: An analysis of MG owners, from a university marketing course.
You Know You're Driving an MGB When...: All too familiar for MGB drivers!

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This page last modified May 11 2009 00:44:33 am