My father-in-law passed away earlier this year, leaving the care of his
beautiful '66 MGB to me. He loved this car, and as a sign of respect to
him (and to the car), I want to take care of it as well as he would have.
This is my first foray in LBCs, so I've been snooping on the list, reading
Moss catalogs [that's the only LBC literature I could find around the
house], and perusing the team.net website, but I feel like I've only
scratched the surface of understanding this wonderful automobile.
This car served as daily transportation for my mother-in-law while she was
in college (she even raced the car with her father a few times until tires
costs became prohibitive). After being passed down through the family, the
car (by then in pretty rough shape) was stored in a barn for a decade or
two until my mother-in-law could have it restored several years ago as a
gift for her husband (her father, who owns several LBCs himself, did most
of the mechanical work with the help of one of his grandsons).
With a history like that I don't feel like I even deserve to drive the car,
but I know if I don't the car will just sit unused in the garage (for some
reason my mother-in-law hasn't driven the car much since it's been
restored. I think her tastes have changed to BBTs (big British trucks); she
lusts after a Range Rover).
Fortunately the car is in terrific shape (thanks to the restoration), so it
only needs some minor work (an oil leak and a fuel gauge are all that I
know of).
But I have no idea what kind of maintenance it needs. (I do a lot of work
on our own cars, but all of my experience is with fuel injected German and
Japanese cars of more recent vintage). Are there any good books covering
MGB maintenance and repairs?
The MG also needs new batteries. I saw a few posts and a note on the web
site recommending replacing the dual 6 volt batteries with a single 12
volt, but can that be done with a positive ground system? Can I fit a 12
volt battery in the space for one of the 6 volts?
In either case, can anyone recommend a good place to buy a battery? Of the
6 local auto stores I called today, only 1 had the dual 6 volt batteries
(at about $75 each). That seems high to me, but then again you don't see
many 6 volt automotive batteries these days.
Any suggestions are more than welcome!
Thanks!
James
____________________________
James McElroy
mailto:jmcelroy@alum.wpi.edu
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