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MG MGB Technical - Engine repairs

I'm going to look at a couple of MGBs for a good price. There is one problem with each of them, I want to know how much trouble they will be to fix. The first is a 1973 MGB with a burnt valve, and the other is a 1968 MGB with a 25 year old engine rebuild that has never been started, turned over, and no oil has been put in the cylinders. Can I save this engine?
Thanks in advance.
-Jovan
Jovan Vuksic

My suspicion is that either one of them will need to have engine work done. The 73 with the burnt valve may have problems with that piston and/or ring also. I wouldn't bother to pull off and fix the head without addressing the rest of the engine at the same time. The 68 with the old engine rebuild that has never been stored properly might work out OK. There is a special product whose name escapes me that can be squirted into the sparkplug holes to unfreeze the piston rings.

Engine work is relatively easy; it's the body work that is more of a potential pitfall. I would focus on determining which of the two has the best structural integrity and go with that. You should get hold of a copy of Lyndsay Porter's 'Guide to Purchase and DIY Restoration of the MGB', republished as 'The mgb restoration Manual'. Here are some links to check out:

http://www.mgbexperience.com/faq/buy-dray.html
http://www.mgdriversclub.com/tech/mgb.buying.guide.html

Hope this helps,

Mark Bates
Mark Bates

This thread was discussed between 09/04/2004 and 10/04/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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