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Re: Just got my 'new' 1972 MGB

To: MG List <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Just got my 'new' 1972 MGB
From: Max Heim <mvheim@attbi.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 09:39:36 -0800
on 3/13/03 7:19 AM, Gudz, Roman (EM, PTL) at Roman.Gudz@penske.com wrote:

> Yesterday, I finally got my 1972 MGB that I bought on eBay (can't believe I
> did that).
> 
> The odometer says 52K miles and does appear to work.
> 
> Below are some initial findings, just looking for some direction:
> 
> 1) Car starts fine and seems to run OK, although it seems to idle pretty
> fast (about 1300 RPM).  Is that a problem?

Not a horrible problem, but I would try adjusting it lower; and if that
didn't work, I'd try to figure out why. Timing and vacuum leaks could be
possibilities.
> 
> 2) There are a few quarter sized holes in the drivers floor pan,  should I
> patch them or should it be replaced?  The passenger's looks OK.

You have to determine if the surrounding metal is sound, and will hold a
patch. If so, I would be inclined to patch, unless I were stripping the car
down for a complete paint job.
> 
> 3) The fuel gauge always shows empty.

I would check continuity, the sender, and the gauge, in that order.
> 
> 4) The wipers wipe at about 1 MPH.
> 
Remove the wiper motor and gearbox, take the cover off the gearbox, clean
out the old dried-up grease, and relubricate it and the cable.

> 5) The car has only one battery and I can see the driveway.  Is that normal
> or should this area be enclosed?

Two batteries is the norm, but the single battery conversion is common. You
can buy a handy plastic storage bin for the other battery location from
Moss.
> 
> 6) The hose going to the bottom of the absorption cannister is missing, is
> this important?

I'm not familiar with this year, in particular, but in general you need to
keep the fuel system hoses in good working condition. This is a typical area
for DPO negligence.
> 
> 7) I have no idea if any modifications were made for unleaded fuel.  Is it
> OK to not worry about it and just put in premium gas?   All I can find is 93
> octane.

In practice it seems the B-series engine is not particularly prone to
problems with unleaded fuel. I wouldn't worry about it.

By the way, where are you located that you can find 93 octane fuel? 91 is
the highest available in my area.

> 
> Thanks.
> 
> 
> Roman
> 
> 72 MGB

--

Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires

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