Stewart's 67 MGB GT

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Stewart
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

Just a few issues to fix. Throttle is out of adjustment and became a bit sticky. Brake light switch isn't working. Brake lights work when jumped. With the hydraulic switch do I need to bleed the system when I change it? And the exhaust need a bit of adjustment as the muffler is rubbing on the trunk floor. Overdrive did not engage so I need to trouble shoot that one.

Otherwise it's running and driving pretty good. Now I just need to train myself not to go into first unless stopped.

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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

Wow! Congrats on the fastest complete restoration ever. The brake switch works purely off pressure, so if the brakes work then the switch should work. Sounds like it was bad out of the box. I assume you jumped the brake switch terminals when you tested them.
Stewart wrote:Otherwise it's running and driving pretty good. Now I just need to train myself not to go into first unless stopped.
Or learn the joys of double clutching a stump puller. ;)
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

Still got a long way to go Steve. Need to tie up a few odds and ends and then back to Guillermo and upholstery.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

Stewart wrote:Otherwise it's running and driving pretty good. Now I just need to train myself not to go into first unless stopped.
You just have to wait until the last second. If you're stopped, first gear will grind.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

Forgot. What a beautiful bonnet. Very shiny.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by malcolmr18zoy »

You really have to try not to grind it into first gear, or you'll end up with a noisy first gear. I heard it a few times on your video, and winced.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

tannyo wrote:You just have to wait until the last second. If you're stopped, first gear will grind.
That's essentially double clutching, but very slowly.

The best (safest) thing to do is come to a full stop. Nudge it into second gear and then into first. It will go in smooth as butter. You normally don't have to go all the way into second, just partially.

If you aren't completely stopped then I wouldn't bother with first gear at all. Especially with a supercharger, first gear in a MK I is only to get the wheels moving. In my experience you could easily do away with it once you put a blower on.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

Minor update

overdrive works just needed to get power to the switch, brake lights work after installing a new switch, exhaust has been figured out and almost every system is up and running other than the fuel gauge which should be the new moss voltage regulator as the ohms were right but the voltage was wrong at a steady 2v.

I can't wait till I get some miles on this car so I can open it up. Even with keeping the revs down it feels like it's got some serious oomph. It would also be nice to get some sound and heat insulation in this car as it gets oven like quite quickly. And yes I've figured out how to drive it without grinding gears. I do love how the gears click in on the 3 sync box.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

I had a 4-sync box in my '67 when I got it. By all accounts it is a superior piece of technology. But in my opinion it isn't "better". I guess that's why we drive old cars instead of newer, "better" ones. :)

Do you think your BGT is faster than the roadster? Was more done to this engine than the other one? They are probably comparable in weight, the roadster being a later (therefore heavier) car and the GT having a roof and rear hatch.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

I'm not sure yet Steve. Of course the Gt at this point is just a drive train and shell at this point so it's pretty light and feels pretty quick.

Just picked up the drivers seat so I should be able to drive it over to Guillermo next Monday legally. All the seats are done so once it leaves Guillermo the upholstery should go quick.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

The interior doesn't weigh much, maybe 50 pounds. The Mark I cars are simply lighter and have a sportier feel.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

First real drive completed. Little over 10 miles in traffic and other than a sticky throttle it ran pretty good. Found out the hard way the trans tunnel gets flesh cooking hot after about 2 miles. I'm quite happily surprised at how good the visibility is out the front. Totally different experience than the roadster with the top up.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by tannyo »

It's easier to see because the windshield is about 4 inches taller.

Not sure why, but my 3 synchro trans tunnel gets flesh burning hot too, and that's with Hushmat on it which is supposed to reduce sound and heat. I don't remember my 71 being that hot. When I rode up to Goleta with Steve in his 67 GT I had to move my leg away from the trans tunnel because it got so hot. I'd suggest before installing the carpet, a lot of heat shielding material.

I don't notice the heat from the exhaust because I drive on the "right" side now. I remember the floor on my 71 being very hot until I installed the Moss heat shield. It really does reduce the heat. Expensive at $114.95 and not easy to install, despite what the say on the web page, but worth it.

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProd ... exID=65445

How's the mirror on the dash working out?
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

My tunnel doesn't get nearly as hot with my new engine, not sure why. Maybe because it's running richer than the old engine. This morning (a cool one) I felt it after driving 80MPH for a while and it was barely warm at all. Then again mine has carpet and padding whereas yours is bare metal. The old engine had a 4-sync gearbox and the new one a 3-sync so obviously that isn't the issue since both of your tunnels get hot with the 3-sync. I do have my rear manifold pipe wrapped so perhaps less heat is being blown from it into the tunnel.

Funny, people always figure the GT is more cramped because it has a roof, but it has far more room. The top of the glass is a good 2" higher than the roadster, and the roof is much higher than the roadster soft top. The door windows are taller also which is nice.

As for size, yeah. Some people feel the need to compensate and some don't...
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Stewart
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

I was "" close to bringing it home today

The interior is in and looks pretty good. Seats are all leather carpet is wool. Unfortunately when the panels were put into the tail gate one screw was to long and dimpled the tail gate so it's now back at Classic Vision. At least I got to drive it a bit today.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Fifty Six MGA »

Looks amazing. Congrats. :bow: Nice work
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

It's back in my possession and it's running pretty good. It's effortless driving on the freeway even with keeping the rpm down. Now that there is an interior it's now pretty quiet inside and the heat doesn't seem to bad other than the trim ring around the shifter which is blazing hot. I just need to fix the sticking throttle issue which is driving me nuts as I've made it about a smooth as you can get the linkage and it's still sticky when hot.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

I can't wait to drag race supercharged '67 BGTs. ;)
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Larry Kluss »

It looks great, Stewart, and I really like the wheels. Nice job!
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Martin Keller »

I have to agree your MGB GT looks very good.
Am I wrong in the fact that your car had wire wheels at one point.
Are the wheels that are on the GT steel with knock off centers.
Looking forward to seeing your car in person.
:drive
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

Yes it had wire wheels and the current wheels are replica D type splined wheels made from aluminum.


Sticky throttle has been fixed however it's running a bit hotter than I would like in traffic. It's been pushing 200 to 212 if traffic is backed up. If the road is clear it sits at 170. Otherwise it's running quite sweetly.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Martin Keller »

Hi Stewart,
Those wheesl cost more than I paid for my GT6 but sure make your car look good.
Might be time to replace the original radiator with a larger one or add an electric pusher fan to the system if you have not done so already.
Stewart wrote:Yes it had wire wheels and the current wheels are replica D type splined wheels made from aluminum.
:drive
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

I've got a aluminum radiator coming for it but it looks by the time I'm able to drive the car again it should be quite a bit cooler. As they say in Russia You don't brake car, car breaks you. Broke my right foot for the second time after driving the gt. Well I should say the brakes on the gt didn't cause the break but it sure made the results worse.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Stewart »

Finally got back to work on the car as I need to get it moved this weekend. Finally finished up installing the defroster tubes and heater controls along with the Stereo. I also went ahead and tinted the windows with 3m crystalline 70% on all the glass. Really does a great job at cutting down the heat. Thankfully it did it's job as the car didn't turn into a sauna that I expected it to as I drove the car back with all the windows closed. Down side to driving with the windows up is all the little rattles that you hear that need to be fixed.

I also found the upholstery shop did a wonderful job of insulating the tunnel including the plug for the dip stick. :oops: I went ahead and changed the points out for a petronix ignitor II and ended up with a random miss so I'm back to running points and the cars running perfect again.
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Re: Stewart's 67 MGB GT

Post by Steve Simmons »

Stewart wrote:I went ahead and changed the points out for a petronix ignitor II and ended up with a random miss so I'm back to running points and the cars running perfect again.
That's what you get!!! :P

Judging by the points episode, the radio could make the muffler fall off and the window tint will make the engine overheat. Seriously though, I wonder how much the tint will do in such a small car. I feel the biggest improvement by far is insulation. Namely the headliner, gearbox tunnel, floorboards and firewall, in that order. These have made a huge difference in my cars. The MGC has all of it and runs as cool inside as any modern car... sans AC of course. The BGT was poorly insulated and just installing an insulated headliner made a massive improvement in the Summer heat. Keeping the engine as cool as possible seems to make a noticeable difference also. These old cars with their metal firewall transmit a lot of heat. I've always thought of experimenting with insulation on the engine side. I bet it would make a real difference, even if only on the lower sections in front of the footwells.
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