Mike is right. I bought a '75MGB when I was 16, and the first manual I
owned was Haynes. This book was great for a beginer, and was very easy
to understand. I overhauled the engine using this book, and it ran like
a dream. On the other hand, the electrical diagrams were kind of hard
to follow, and you may need to have another book just for the electronic
aspect of the car. I am not sure if there is a good book for the
elecrical aspect, but if there is I would love to have one.
James Fisher
RBB Lover
> ----------
> From: Mike Hartwig[SMTP:mhartwig@cbu.edu]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 1997 3:29 PM
> To: David Altman; mgs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Am I crazy?: Soon to be new B owner
>
> At 12:11 PM 12/30/97 -0700, David Altman wrote:
> >Hello all-
> >
> > I've been lurking around here for the last few weeks, trying to
> >increase my MGB knowledge from zero. Next Friday I'm going to
> drive
> >from Salt Lake to Kansas City to buy my friends brother's 1977 B.
> I'm
> >actually taking my friends Harley to his brother and he is giving me
> the
> >B for $125 bucks to cover his back taxes. So basically its costing
> me
> >the 125 plus another 125 to rent a tow dolly plus gas for my new
> >project.
>
> Wow, what a deal. You can't get a car much cheaper than that.
>
> >
> > I've gotten a buch of pictures and the car looks a pretty good
> >shape considering this guy hasn't done anything to it. The only real
> >rust is some cosmetic rust on the passeger side in front of the
> trunck.
> >He says the floor boards and rocker panels etc. are rust free. The
> car
> >runs but goes through plugs in a manner of hours. Looks like it will
> be
> >in need of a engine overhaul. Top needs replacing, but the interior
> >looks in pretty good shape. I know I'll sink some initial cash
> >overhauling the engine and buying a new top, just to get it road
> worthy.
>
> Fouling out plugs doesn't necessarily spell engine overhaul. First
> things
> that
> come to mind are carbs adjusted improperly, and a weak ignition
> system.
> check those before plunking the change down for an overhaul.
>
> > You guys have mentioned a bunch of books in your dialogues.
> >Which 2 would you recomned as I start this adventure? Any
> initial
> >thoughts before I pull the engine out?
>
> David, I have four books in my collection. Haynes, Chilton's, Lindsay
> Porter's Guide, and the Bentley manual. For engine overhauls and
> in-depth
> coverage check out the
> Haynes book. It's excellent for overhauls. The Chilton's is mediocre
> in my
> humble opinion. The Porter book is good for a good overlook of many
> jobs
> which need to be performed on MGBs, like rocker repair, and floor pan
> repair.
> It also contains some history and specs and covers things like
> performance
> upgrades.
>
> The first book I would buy if I were you, would be the Haynes book and
> then
> the Porter book. Try to buy as many as you can as sometimes you will
> find
> one
> book is horrible in one aspect while others are quite sufficient in
> that
> one category.
>
> >thanks!
> >
> >David Altman
>
> Anytime David. Good luck to you.
>
> Jay
>
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