-- [ From: Bill Mills * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
Dash is not too bad to replace -someone recently commented on the procedure
for a '73 dash, process is the same but no glove box. Check on condition of
tires before driving this back to Tx. If they are bad or have been sitting
up a long time, they may be dry rotted. Replace with 175SR14, not always
available. Wire wheels will require tubes, you must get the correct size
tube. Tire places are not very knowledgable about wire wheels and tubes.
Find out where current owner gets his tire work done. If the inside of the
wheels (under the tubes) are rusted you will need to clean them up or they
will punch holes in the tubes. You must have the correct rubber wheel
liners (giant rubber bands that cover up the ends of the spoke nipples).
These are sometimes hard to find. I believe the last ones I got were from
Moss but were often unavailable. Hopefully the tires and spare are in good
shape. You will have great deals of difficulty in getting a tire/tube
repaired on the road with wire wheels. More than one spare would not be a
bad idea if you can get it. However, space to carry the extra spare will be
difficult. Can sit in passenger seat or in the boot. Get a few spares to
carry with you on the trip, you will need them eventually anyway (fan belts,
distributor cap, rotor, condensor, points, plugs, thermostat - I've been
running the 165 F thermostat year round - , heater hoses, radiator hoses and
clamps , cellular phone and AAA card ). Before I started out on the trip, I
would hit all the grease fittings with a shot and top up the shocks with
fluid. Be sure to tighten hard all the wheel centre nuts.
Go for it.
Bill Mills
70 BGT, WW, O/D (not in yet), but no AC - daily driver
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
Date: Thursday, 05-Sep-96 09:07 AM
From: W. Lee Vick, Jr. \ Internet: (mkii@pobox.micro.ti.com)
To: mgs@autox.team.net \ Internet: (mgs@autox.team.net)
Subject: Advice on buying a 70 BGT
mg.gurus,
I've posted this to other places but this is my first time asking
the on-line gurus of MG'ness so please forgive me if you've seen this before
.
Right, here we go. I'm 'bout thiiiis close to buying a 1970 MG BGT
to replace my reasonably dependable but less than exciting 1990 Ford Escort
LX. The kicker is this thing's in California and I'm in Texas (my uncle's
seen it and I have pictures of the outside which show it is pretty good
shape). So, assuming I am insane enough to take a few days off work (like I
have the time. NOT) and fly halfway across the country to spend thousands of
dollars on a car I've never seen and then drive it to death for two days, I
thought I'd ask a few questions.
First, here's what I know:
1970 MG BGT, chrome bumpers (split rear), BRG, black interior, Uncle
says interior is in good shape except for the dash (standard problems but
the car comes with a spare dash though I hear they're a booger to replace),
paint looks good (but could use a polishing), wire wheels, No O/D, ORIGINAL
OWNER (retiring 70 year old physicist), no modifications that I know of, No
A/C, bumper(s) have been replaced once or twice because he accidentally let
his wife drive the car (don't attack me ladies, I'm repeating what I heard).
Ehmm, that's all I can think of. No wait, about 90K miles with the engine
rebuilt at 75K, body is straight, claims no rust (car is in Sacramento) and
Uncle says he hasn't seen any. Owner says he'll take $2900.
I haven't spoken with the owner yet but will be calling him probably
this weekend. What should I ask? I have had my uncle ask and he was told
that the wire wheels are in good shape and easy to remove (not rusted on)
but I'll double check that with the owner. So, bottom line I need help in
knowing:
1) What should I ask about?
2) Is the price reasonable?
3) What should I do to it before driving back?
Many thanks. And I hope to soon join the ranks of MG owners and then
I can begin pestering you all with questions about what to do next! BTW, I
really want the car as a daily driver (about 4 miles each way to work and
the odd 3 hour highway drive) and am not interested in concourse, rallying,
racing, or tweaking. I'm guessing the car's pretty original and I'd like to
keep it that way (except for the odd bit of expediency but that will be the
exception and not the rule).
Cheers,
Lee.
************************************************************************
* Lee Vick * "Maybe we can get away with *
* leevick@ti.com * kludging up the macro." *
* +1 713-274-2241 * wishing-to-remain-anonymous co-worker *
************************************************************************
* Collecting: Old 8-bit micros - Kaypro, Osborne, Altair, C64, Vic-20, *
* Coleco Adam, Morris... Please write if you've one collecting dust. *
************************************************************************
* Standard disclaimer: TI as an organization is much too smart to *
* to agree with anything I have to say. *
************************************************************************
-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
|