I just bought my wife a 1979 MGB, (shh its a secret) for our 35th anniversary, birthday, Christmas and everything else. It has 50,000 miles on it. I know very little about them. It idles rough and slow, some what hard starting, cranks slow with a 12.5v battery alternator is doing 13.4v when running at idle. I think the carb needs rebuilt am I right? Drives great. It has a zenith-Stromberg 175 cd-2 carb.
Is there anyone in the Indianapolis area good with these that doesn't charge like its a Porsche? Thanks

 

 

It's a secret only because you have not got the nerve to tell your wife that you have just purchased a car that you always wanted.

 

Good try 180, but no she has wanted a green one since I met her 36 years ago . It is fun to drive but it seems a shame to be using a whole lane of the highway by yourself.

 

Very cool! I'm jealous. 😁 Just try basic tune up parts like plugs, wires, fuel filter etc.... Looks fun as heck to drive.

 

I will try these ideas thanks. Only car that I've ever had that takes oil in the carb.

 

Are those real Mini Lite wheels or reproduction? Either way,I like them. Squirrel Crusher

 

I don't know either way the seller just said that they were aftermarket wheels.

 

Very nice!

 

Great car and fun to drive. Wait, I think I'll buy one for my wife.
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Enjoy!

 

Your B has a carbon bearing in the clutch, so you have to start it out of gear with your foot OFF the clutch to avoid slow startup. This was learned after one too many push starts. Have fun. Will your wife have her own keys or will she use yours?

 

Wonder if there is still the mgb show and gtg in abingdon IL.
Since they where made in abingdon England, and in il is the only abingdon in usa.

Might be a idea for you to check out?

Grats on purchase, looks good

 

Other than say, Abdingdon, Virginia .....

 

Didn't know.
Being from that area, what was said why they had it there.
Farm town, maybe 1 curve in whole county.
Galesburg just north of there has been going downhill bad.

 

It may just have old gas from sitting so much and some varnish in the bowl and jets. Sounds like it was a garage queen if that is actual mileage. The first thing I would do is drain the tank and fill with fresh gas and then take it on a long drive. I would also run it in the dark and look for any arcing in the wiring. Beautiful car, I had a couple of MGAs and loved them. My 1961 even still had the hand crank for the engine. Yes, 1961!!!

 

In 1961 all the apprentices in their final apprenticeship year visited various factories to see some other industries I remember three of the plants we went to, the Ford plant in Dagenham, the Morris plant in Oxford and the Guinness brewery somewhere just west of London. We could not wait for the brewery tour to finish with free beer and some food in the cafeteria waiting.
Guess which place we liked best. Cheers.

 

I moved from northern Indiana to Arizona in 1973. I drove a 52 TD.

 

Congrats , Happy wife happy life ...That is very nice, the best looking US bumper version ive seen, Great color combo and nice looking wheels too .
Hows she go ?

 

I saw one very similar the other day, different bumper, same color and it had what appeared to be spoked wheels, where they real or fake?

 

Wire wheels were the usual on mgbs in the uk but i think the export cars had other choices.
but those minilite wheels in the pic were probably aftemarket , minilite wheels were der riguer on cooper s's in the 60s
they do suit this B tho.
even that bumper looks ok for once.