Jeff Wilkins's Journal

Purchased 1977 MGB. The prior owner was in the process of rebuilding the car from the ground up but the project stopped due to the builder becoming ill. The work completed so far are as follows:

Body shell and all body components painted Brooklins Green. Front suspension and and brake hardware all replaced. Engine rebuilt but none of the external parts have been installed. Transmission rebuilt. Rear axle rebuilt. None of the brake lines or rear brake hardware have been installed. Time to do an inventory of parts to be purchased.

Prior to going on vacation I met with John McAnany who finished a similar project in 2003 on a 1976 MGB. John helped me get my bearings on how big the project is. John provided a lot of knowledge and shared tools manuals and a lot of encouragement. I spent many late nights on the internet learning about MGbs and searching for parts. While on vacation I combed through Moss and Victoria British catalogs searching and pricing parts. I learn that e-bay is a great place for bargains but also learn to be patient and not buy everything in sight. Some key part purchased early in the search are as follows:

Starter, Alternator(needs rebuild), Rear Rubber Bumper, Brake master cylinder(needs rebuild), Clutch Master Cylinder(needs rebuild), Clutch Slave(needs rebuild), dip stick(needs paint job), and stick shifter

After much preparation the motor was fired on 8-26-07. Some of the big hurdles were as follows:
1)finding a mount for the distributor drive unit
2)getting the engine mounts bolted in place (which lead to replacing the boots on the rack-n-pinion steering
3)learning the electric wiring and setting up a good ground for turning the starter and getting juice to the ignition system
4)getting all the correct information for how to do the first firing of the engine
5)rigging up a temporary exhaust and coolant overflow.

After getting the Green B started the problems started to surface. I only could get 92 to 108 psi compression in the cylinders. To get the car to run the timing had to be set way advanced other wise it would pop through the carburetor and it really didn't start well. I was starting to realize something was not right with the motor. After spending too much time messing with the timing I finally discussed the situation on the MGBE forum and with my Uncle Larry. This is when I decided to do some detective work so I pulled the radiator back off and pulled the timing chain cover to take a look. Finally the truth of the matter was known. The timing chain and gears were not installed properly and from what I could see the thing had been thrown together probably to get it sold. The timing was retarded by 4 to 6 degrees and there was some hardware missing. Like the nut to hold the cam gear in place. So today I went to the auto parts store and got some loaner tools to pull the timing chain gears, reset the cam timing and put everything together correctly. When I did the compression test it was a big improvement. Now there is 152 to 154 psi across the cylinders. When I fired it up what a difference. It really sounds better and the timing can be adjusted much better now. It starts right up now. I am so relieved to know I can put the rest of the car together without having to worry about the compression and timing problem. I still can't get it to idle but that can be worked out when I put all the vacuum tubes in place and the air cleaner for some road testing.

I have taken a 6 weeks hiatus from working on the Green B project so that I can finish building my new garage and take care of some other things. Then I had the break I have needed. John Mack called and said there is a B for sale here in town. I went to take a look and it turned out to be the perfect parts car. It happens to be a 1977 so there are a lot of parts on there that will really save me some time from hunting parts. Some of the parts that stand out right away are as follows: Tail light, marker light, door sill plates, seats in good condition, visors, Interior door panels, under dash panels, Seat belts, over flow tank strap, jack, Taunu cover and braces, rear brake shoes, fan guard, spare top, spare alternator, spare starter. yipee!!

With winter here I will be doing a lot of preparation for the major assembly type stuff to be done in the spring so I can do the first road test by early summer. I almost have the doors reassembled. Ran into a slight problem with the hardware causing a dimple in the outer skin but will have to live with it. I need to slow down a bit. I order the missing trim pieces to finish the doors. My next project will be to install the dashboard, windshield and doors. But before I get into the assembly I will try to sell some of the extra parts on e-bay.