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MG MGB Technical - 1981 MGB GT LE

Hi,

I have just bought my first MG - a 1981 MGB GT LE. The car, while in very good condition for 23 years, does need some TLC and I have begun the process of improving the overall appearance and performance of the car. Does anyone know where I can find details of what factory fitted options were available on the 1981 MGB GT LE? I want to keep the car as original as possible, but wouldn't mind upgrading it from the basic model.

Bob
R S Price

Hi Bob, and welcome.

If the car still has the original notoriously unreliable electronic distributor (it has no points and a 'lump' on the side) I would consider fitting one from an earlier car, maybe with an up-to-date electronic points system.

Get the Waxoil (or similar) out, giving particular attention to the sills, top of the fuel tank and door bottoms.

Consider fitting an alarm and steering wheel lock (the Stoplock Pro is my choice) as the security isn't as good as on modern cars.

I consider an oil thermostat worthwhile.

A high-level third brakelight is a must in my opinion.

Check to make sure that an extra fuse has been fitted in the overdrive switch feed, a wiring short near the gear lever can cause loom damage.

The head seems to be the area where perfomance improvements are most easily gained.

HTH... Don
Don

I belive wire wheels or triumph stag style wheels was a kinda of option although I have only ever seen the wires on a roadster. When I say kinda option I mean because the LEs were built in 1980 but most did not sell until 81 and because they sold so slowly the last one sold I belive was registered in 1984. They were built largly on spec ie not prebought so you had to take what you were given. The wheels are the only option I know of althought they had pritty much all the equipment offered on Bs. I have not heard that about the electronic ignition being fitted before as far as I have been able to asertaine that was never an option it was points to the end. When I bought mine it was on points. As far as upgrades go you could return the carbs to an type and stetting the later Bs being signifantly slower than the earlier ones the last cars only manageing a rather pedstrain 98mph in GT form compared to 107. This is not totally due to the carbs as there is a slight weight disadvantage and the latter cars were given a different cam to give more mid range torque to make up for this which does not help eagerness ( I am told) but does mean can climb hills in top so a relaxing drive. The most anoying thing I find about the cards standard setting is that the revs dont drop freely there is a delay which makes the engine feel a bit lazy easy to rectey I am told dont know how and have not done it. The next obvous improvement would be to drop the ride hight to chrome bumber level improving handling quite a bit. I have never done this my self as I like to keep the car orginal and find the increased ride hight handy for all the pot holes and bumps in the road Besides rubber bumpers and high ride the fashion at the moment volvo crosscountry or a rover streetwise or that audi lol.

An improvment that I found worthwhile was changing to electronic ignitions as the points did not seem to perform well from cold or at idle this however is much debated but the generall concesour is electronic is better for normal use at least. Another useability improvement is having the dome light come on with the map reading light as the map reading light is next to useless and the done light only normally works if you open the boot which I found causes the map to blow about in any sort of wind. The seats are another area that many people improve one reason being you can no longer get the strippy grey cloth and its not hardwearing If you have decent cloth trim stripy seats may be covers would be an idea so they stay decent as in normal use they dont.
JIM

Clausager has a list of options and accessories in his 'Original MGB'. As to what was fitted to your car you will have to apply for a Heritage certificate from http://www.heritage.org.uk/archive/trace.htm

Considering that the car was basically 70s technology there is a whole lot of 'improvements' that could be done many of which will take you further and further away from the character of the MGB. If you are talking about period options there was almost nothing for the LE roadster except radio, boot luggage carrier, tonneau cover and hard-top, and the last three wouldn't apply to the GT! Perhaps a roof rack might, but surely you wouldn't want to fit one of those. After 77 everything was either standard or discontinued except wire wheels, but the LE had special allows anyway.

Only North American spec cars had the electronic ignition, the UK spec LEs, as with all UK spec cars, retained points to the end. Like the SU carbs I have never had a problem with the points ignition, including on a daily driver that was kept outside and used in all weathers, if they are set up correctly.

Paul Hunt

Thanks,

I want to keep the car as original as possible, but Ihad seen an LE with leather seats. As the striped grey ones are looking a bit tired I woundered whether leather seats were an option. I am more than happy with the car as it is now - just needs a few rust patches that are starting to appear on the top of the doors sorted out. thanks for the info on th heritage certificate - looks like an ideal Father's Day present!

Bob
R S Price

This thread was discussed between 18/04/2004 and 21/04/2004

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