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MG MGB Technical - How can I tell?

I just recently bought a 1976 MGB. How can I tell what model type I have?
Steve Trejo

Steve, welcome to the board. You'll want to be a little more specific about your question. You've just asked what color was George Washington's white stallion.

Pats on the back to all of the listers who resisted burning this gentleman to the ground with sarcastic answers.
Matt Kulka

Thank you Matt for your comments. I was hoping to get help in determining what sort of collateral I need to add to my library that will give me specific information on repair, restoration and otherwise. Unfortunately there is very little identifying markings on this little car other than the vin #.
Steve Trejo

Hey Steve,

There are a few books out there that provide a lot of information.

Probably top on the list is "The Original MGB" by a fello Anders Clausager, ISBN :
1-870979-48-6.

Get a Moss and Victoria British parts catalog, they both have listings of a lot of books.

There were early and late cars, known as mark 1 and Mark 2 --(was there a three?)

What did you want to know about your car?
glg

Give us the Vin and we can tell you more!
Chris at Octarine Services

For repair, you'll want a Haynes repair manual (good) or the Bentley manual (better) which is really called something like "The complete official MGB 1975-1980." Both are available through Amazon and other places.

For restoration, you might want "The mgb restoration manual" by Lindsay Porter. I think it's currently being re-released by the Haynes company.

There are a ton of books for history and other arcana. The book glg mentions is well respected as the guide to what changed when, and what was available on what models. Probably good for a show car buff, less important for the daily driver.

You'll pick up on others as you go along. As noted, Moss has a book section in their manual, and searching for MG or MGB on Amazon will also probably give you quite a list. There's also an MGB webring, if you're so inclined.

As far as identifying marks, if it has a tin roof, it's an MGB-GT. If not, it's an MGB. That's about it for models. As Chris notes, please post the VIN. The various numbers will give ideas about the car - low or high compression motor, originally sold with overdrive, etc.

Best wishes.
Matt Kulka

There were only two MGBs in 76 (or any other year apart from when the V8 was being produced) - a roadster and a GT. The GT had a tin roof and the roadster has the folding roof. This isn't sarcasm, I suspect Steve is very early in the MGB learning curve, as once we all were. There weren't huge changes over the years - I know some will say that the MGB had some pretty major changes but I'm comparing that with many manufacturers who produce several completely different cars under a common name, frequently over a shorter timescale than the life of the MGB. Books like Haynes and the factory workshop manual or Bentley cover the changes that *did* occur over the years in quite some depth for the puposes of repair and maintenance, mainly mechanical and electrical. Porter is best for body/trim restoration nad has some mechanical and electrical. Clausager is best for determining the subtle and not so subtle differences from year to year and month to month. The glovebox handbook (usually included with Bentley) tells you how to drive it.
Paul Hunt

Steve,

Paul's comment is correct for the UK, but in the US the choices are even fewer. There was only one MGB available in the 1976 model: the roadster. Major factory options were limited to wire wheels and overdrive transmission. Any other options or variations were dealer installed and could vary considerably from dealer to dealer. While it's possible you could have an earlier model that wasn't titled until 1976 (my 57 MGA is titled 59), if you have a 76 model you have a rubber bumper roadster.
Whatever you have, welcome.

Bill
Bill Boorse

Thank you all for your comments. My VIN # GHN5UG404634G. Engine # 18V801AE L12413

Body number, GU23T 064139P

Any help would be appreciated.

S
Steve Trejo

Steve,

Your 404634 was built just before the '77 model year (410001). To list body changes would get a bit lenghthly and esoteric.

On the engine, you should have a single Zenith-Stromberg,info that might come in handy when researhing carb problems.

Here's the thing with knowing the VIN: Changes in the production line were a common occurance - thus all the little Santa MGB helpers need to know what we're dealing with.

You must feel free to post any questions or concerns, and include the engine/VIN number.

How do you like it so far? Been out for a tour? Is anything in the operation, acceleration, stopping, wiggles or shakes raiosing their troublesome heads?

You'll get a lot of godd, solid mechanical help from here, for free. Just all you have to do is ask.

Welcome to the wunnerful world of MGB-dom:
Klick your heels together three times and say, "I'm not in Kansas any more".


glg
glg

Steve: There is an MG club in Phoenix with talented folks to advise and encourage. If you need info contact me. Les Bengston, a member, is a contributor to the site and offers thorough advice.
jim mindy

The car is a 1976 model year and was built around April 1976.

Detailed changes were made year by year and often month by month - your Vin (chassis) number or model year is all you need when ordering spare parts.

Get yourself the "Bentley" workshop manual, based on the factory one.

And just keep asking questions!
Chris at Octarine Services

If you are on a budget, get the Bently manual for your car year. 75-80. I would also get the Moss and Victoria British parts catalogs. They are free and have excellent drawings of about every part on the car. I have somethimes used the Moss catalog to figure out how to remove and repair parts on the car. Great breakdowns. Never buy used parts on E-bay without checking the price new in Moss or VB. Same goes for your local wreaking yard.

Welcome, and remember No question is to simple or dumb to ask.
Jim Lema

This thread was discussed between 13/11/2003 and 18/11/2003

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