Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

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tannyo
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

The speedometer had to be rebuilt because the insides were gummed up. The tachometer was converted to negative ground. Morris at West Valley Instruments did the work, cleaned the instruments and replaced the bezels. Because the two small instruments didn't need repair, I cleaned the glass and replaced the bezels of the fuel gauge and combo water and oil pressure gauges.
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by gorms68 »

If you plan to use electronic ignition Morris can upgrade the tach so that it works with an upgraded distributor. he did mine and I am very happy with the results!
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by VWNate1 »

Looking Good there Tanny !

Baby Steps , keep on with them and before you know it , you'll be driving again .
-Nate
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

gorms68 wrote:If you plan to use electronic ignition Morris can upgrade the tach so that it works with an upgraded distributor. he did mine and I am very happy with the results!
You call electronic ignition an upgrade? :P
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by VWNate1 »

Yes , unless it's the crappy Lucas one .
-Nate
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by gorms68 »

Steve Simmons wrote:
gorms68 wrote:If you plan to use electronic ignition Morris can upgrade the tach so that it works with an upgraded distributor. he did mine and I am very happy with the results!
You call electronic ignition an upgrade? :P
well. it was an upgrade in that the tach now worked with the install Pertronix module. I once experienced the downside of a Pertronix installation over a decade ago in my 1968 Mustang. The darn thing just stopped working, like a light switch, either on or off, no in-between. I called their tech support number in the manual and talked briefly with one of their "support" people. His advice was to reinstall the point back in the car and see if the Pertronix was the issue or something else on the car. needless to say the points are still in the car.

My decision to use Pertronix in the MGB was made a weak moment. I carry a set of points in the boot and will install them at the first sign of trouble. Points of course have their own limitations, but they can easily be serviced by a driver who is well versed with their car. To me this is a very valuable trait. So I know you are just poking fun Steve, but I wanted to explain to the rest that might not have the same insight. Pertronix and the like are not necessarily an upgrade. :drive
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by Westfield 11 »

Gee, I don't think I own a car with points. Even the A-series is crankfired. I think that the lawn mower has electronic ignition too. Perhaps the problem is more with the manufacturing quality of the Pertronix company than with the whole electronic ignition thing? In fact, I would go so far as to say that the ONLY ignition problems that I hear about are with Pertronix modules.
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by Jimmy »

Well, you never know when the next nuclear attack will come, and then those electronic ignitions won't function. Or anything computerized, for that matter.
And perhaps all screwdrivers will become inoperational in the process, too, making it impossible to switch back to points.
Maybe Steve "Survivalist" Simmons is on to something?
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by Westfield 11 »

Well, everyone is different, but if LA gets hit by a nuclear weapon, getting an MGB started will be pretty low on my priority list.
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Re : Pertronix Failures

Post by VWNate1 »

Westfield 11 wrote:Gee, I don't think I own a car with points. Even the A-series is crankfired. I think that the lawn mower has electronic ignition too. Perhaps the problem is more with the manufacturing quality of the Pertronix company than with the whole electronic ignition thing? In fact, I would go so far as to say that the ONLY ignition problems that I hear about are with Pertronix modules.
The actual facts of Pertronix Ignitor failures are almost always the customers fault , they don't bother to check the coil for proper impedance .

I did and have never had any failures on my Metropolitan Nash DHC's generator powered Pertronix Ignitor .

The only reason all my oldies don't have this fine up grade is the co$t ~ they used to be $35 , suddenly jumped up to $100 and that lets me out .

Doing the ground work and choosing the correct ignition coil , is , IMO , they key .

The improvement in power and running is startling to say the least .
-Nate
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by gorms68 »

I should maybe clarify my statement. I the big advantage of points is that they can be serviced on the side of the road and to the trained ear give the driver some indication of pending trouble. Pertronix and the like, while very reliable when installed correctly, do not share these same capabilities. And for my money I want to be the guy that can fix his car on the side of the road (if needed) rather than have to carry the kitchen sink of spare electronic parts in the boot as insurance.
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

I have the Crane electronic ignition that I will not be putting on this car. It has been reliable and it's been nice not to have to adjust points. However, I see the point that with an extra set of points you can replace it with a screw driver and feeler gauge.
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Re : Roadside ' Fun '

Post by VWNate1 »

gorms68 wrote:I should maybe clarify my statement. I the big advantage of points is that they can be serviced on the side of the road and to the trained ear give the driver some indication of pending trouble. Pertronix and the like, while very reliable when installed correctly, do not share these same capabilities. And for my money I want to be the guy that can fix his car on the side of the road (if needed) rather than have to carry the kitchen sink of spare electronic parts in the boot as insurance.
Well ;

I'm guilty of carrying far too much crap in the boot but a set of points & one screwdriver isn't much , it all fits in a ziplock baggie in the glovebox....
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

Tanny's thread sure got hijacked! :lol:

I agree with Chris about the reliability, serviceability and advance warning of potential problems that points offer. I do have EI in my GTS because it came that way, and it was fried once when a shop connected a battery charger the wrong way. I would have switched back to points right there but I just wanted to get the car home so I ordered a new power unit for the EI instead.
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by gorms68 »

Steve Simmons wrote:Tanny's thread sure got hijacked! :lol:

I agree with Chris about the reliability, serviceability and advance warning of potential problems that points offer. I do have EI in my GTS because it came that way, and it was fried once when a shop connected a battery charger the wrong way. I would have switched back to points right there but I just wanted to get the car home so I ordered a new power unit for the EI instead.
Hijacked is correct, but it is nice to see so much activity around here.

...and to further get away from Tanny's original post :devil:

I remember a year or so ago when I walked in to the local PEP Boys to see about getting a Pertronix for the MGB. I had the part number with me, approached the desk and proceeded to request an electronic ignition module. As one would expect the kid behind the counter asked what type of car it was for. I responded that it would not be in his system, but I had the part number. He insisted he needed to know what the application was for. I left before I was asked what an MG was :lol:
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

The eBay grill arrived in a very strangely shaped box.
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Inside I found newspapers and two different kinds of bubble wrap.
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Under that the grill was wrapped in a foam like material.
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Not bad. There's a small spot that looks like the chrome was rubbed, but I'm probably the only person who would notice it.
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by Jimmy »

tannyo wrote:... with an extra set of points you can replace it with a screw driver and feeler gauge.
And that, Tanny, is the very best reason for you to have an electronic ignition.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by malcolmr18zoy »

I guess there are plenty of reasons to say that an electronic distributor is better than an old fashioned point system,but I prefer the old fashioned points approach. In the first place, that's what cars had, in the fifties and sixties. Secondly, I'm a mechanic, and like things as mechanical as possible. Thirdly, why stop at the distributor, why not just get a new car, so everythiing is more effective? Electronic distributors, alternators, bah! humbug!
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Re : ' Bah , Humbug ! '

Post by VWNate1 »

:lol: So sayeth the Man who doesn't drive his Classic Jaguar anymore.... :roll: .

New cars suck . that's why I don't own any .
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by malcolmr18zoy »

Actually I do drive my old Jaguar, I alternate between that, my old MG, and my truck. I guess your dislike of new cars doesn't extend to new motorcycles, one of which you have!
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by VWNate1 »

I never see your Jag out , I mis seeing it out & about .

My Ural may be ' newly manufactured ' but it's about as new as your old Jag Sedan is....
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by Jimmy »

malcolmr18zoy wrote: Electronic distributors, alternators, bah! humbug!
Malcolm
To put things in perspective, keep in mind that even things like generators and points are relatively newfangled inventions to Malcolm, since he's old enough to have started his mechanical career working on steam engines.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

I decided to see how I could do painting the wire wheels. Since the car is getting the paint taken down to the metal and then painted, I thought I'd try my hand with the spare. The wheel was media blasted to get rid of the rust by Pico Wheel. I created a wheel stand with some cheap (I mean cheap) saw horses and some round stock secured with tie wraps. I then primed the inside of the wheel because of the way the wheel hung on the dowel.
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I then flipped the wheel and primed the tube side of the rim, using the hub to turn the wheel. And finally the front of the wheel.
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After letting it dry for about 45 minutes I took the same steps to paint the wheel.
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I got carried away and painted one area a little heavy causing a drip on two of the spokes. Otherwise I'm pleased with the result.

I used Dupli-Color self etching primer and Moss Silver Wheel paint.
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Re : Wheel Painting

Post by VWNate1 »

I did this to my '67 MGB GT's wire wheels too , I used a traffic cone to hold the wheels , this way I could walk around them as I was spraying so no drips , runs or other uneven paint surface .

I did 6 thin coats with a 5 ~ 10 minute tack time between coats , it doesn't begin to look really good until the 5th coat .
-Nate
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Re: Tanny's 1967 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

Pete took it right down to the metal. The undercarriage, rocker panels and valences were covered in some sort of rust prevention material. The bottom of the passenger side dogleg needed to be replaced, but the driver's side dogleg just needed a little welding. The engine compartment has been stripped. The body turned out to be in much better condition than we expected. I bought the paint today and Pete will start on the door jams and engine compartment in a few days. Then it will be time to put the doors, hood and hatch back on and paint the outside of the car. I can hardly wait.
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