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MG MGB Technical - New MGB owner, need guidance on sill issue

I am new to the MGB. I’ve owned MGs continuously since 1951, and I thought I was smart, but I was stung buying my first MGB. The car looked gorgeous - Weber, extractor exhaust, new Minilites and tyres, new Robbins top and tonneau, Nardi wheel etc, etc. But when I took it for inspection, the car was refused because of the non-existent structural beams under the doors; and yes, the doors were (barely) touching at the top.

Starting with the MGB archives, I’ve spent the last few days researching the best source for quality parts. My first stop was Moss, but enquiries told me that their sill kits are a mix of Steelcraft and Asian metal. I spent a lot of time on the B&G site but their parts like HZK496K and HZK497K, whilst having numbers almost like Heritage part numbers, are deceiving and again, I understand that B&G mix Heritage and Steelcraft in the sill kits.

So I went to the Heritage site http://www.bmh-ltd.com/mgbparts.htm#
and selected the parts from that. From talking with restorers, I now realize that Heritage apparently make the best panels, and that’s what I should be using. Whilst price is important, the structural integrity of the car trumps price and I want the best quality and the best work.

Before I plunk down my credit card, does anybody have any comments.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

‘34 PA
‘51 TD
‘54 TF (bought new)
‘65 midget GAN3
‘79 MGB



Gordon A Clark

Gord-
Call the Roadster Factory; they are picky and will be straight with you. Best you can get or tested alternatives. Some Heritage parts are actually Steelcraft.

http://www.the-roadster-factory.com/

The website drives me mad, because of my connection speed, but they are always having sales that are actually worth something. Hard parts like that tend to be in the winter though, but he frequently has really super shipping or overall discount sales.

Triumph and MGB only, wish he could expand.

One point is that he reinvests money in producing better parts if he would not use the crap available on his own car - I get everything I can from them. Some of his repros are much better than the OEM stuff!
Plus he uses factory parts numbers and has a system which crosses all known numbers for a part to what is in his computers, so a part with MG, TR, Lucas, Lockheed and Girling numbers will show up no matter which number you use. And he even has Moss' & VB stupid numbers in there!

FRM
FR Millmore

FRM has the answer. You might also ask about their protection - to galvanize or are modern coatings adequate. You don't want the same probs a few years down the line.
Roger
R Walker

Hi Gordon,

If you're in Rockburn, there is a fabulous importer right next door in Dorval. I suggest you contact Chris Hollum Imports:
http://www.christianhollumimports.ca/

He is a wealth of knowledge and can get you anything you need. He stock mostly Parts from GB, but he can get the cheaper stuff too, if price is a concern. I've never bought a part from anywhere else and I've been very happy.

Cheers,

Scott
Scott Auchinleck

Thanks Scott. I spent yesterday afternoon with Chris - not sure I can afford him.

Because of the enormous price disparity, I've had to do a full cost analysis in QuatroPro, of buying from 3 different sources. The problem arises when they don't disclose the part source, hence the quality. I want only the best quality - ie:- Heritage OEM, but there is no consistency from supplier to supplier. Only the Heritage OEM panels come from the original dies and presses.

Fletch: You were bang on re the TRF site - what a dog's breakfast !! Hours wasted! I 'phoned them - still no further ahead.

I have learned however, that Heritage are the exclusive world-wide distributor for Steelcraft, so one can't really be sure of what they're offering; and Heritage go only through wholesalers. The little guy doesn't have a chance!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

Gordon A Clark

Gordon,

Owning many Brit. cars, you must be familar when you buy outside CDN, you have to pay brokers fees+shipping with each order. This influence greatly final cost of parts. I know a good Moss seller in Qc city combining customers orders and not charging shipping. I could give you infos to contact him if you want.

Cheers,

Jean G.
Jean Guy Catford

Gord-
Call the TRF tech support number, usually does better but you pay for the call.
814 446-4491
You can give them BMC numbers, Moss, etc - they can find it.
I have done the comparison shop many times, and it always comes out that it is better or far better to just get it from TRF - if their price is higher there is a reason. Once on a complete TR$ resto it was several thousand $$ less than anybody else - and nobody else had many of the parts.

Right now until 21 Sept all the pieces you need are on sale about minus 25-30% for OE Heritage parts. In the "All Summer Long" special, which is posted on the website.
TRF are very aware of Canada problems - they used to have an "arrangement" with somebody on your side.

Or take a drive down here - they are about 50 mi S of me.
Might Email me and tell me what you are doing - I might like such a job if you are paying for it instead of doing it yrself. Would be a winter thing for me. I'd probably just go pick up the parts rather than paying to ship all that stuff. Then you just drive it home!

FRM
FR Millmore

J-G,

Many thanks for your kind suggesttion. Rockburn is right on the NY state border. I'm 12 minutes from my NY post box and from my stree shipping address. I'm in NY at least 3 of 4 times a week.

So shipping, brokers, etc has never been a problem as I do it all myself. Faster, less expensive and it is I that control the situation (like arguing over the duty rate).

As I indicated above, some suppliers do not disclose the quality of their product. So I am going to buy these parts based on quality and try to get th best deal I can.

Again, I really appreciate your input.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Fletch,

You're right on again. It looks like the TRF will win most of this one, with a few bits going to Chris Hollum. Again, it boils down to quality.

And again you and I are on the same track. I plan to drive there. I used to have that part of the world as a sales territory MANY years ago, plus I'm in Harrisburg 4 times/yr.

Our MGB is scheduled for the work in about 3 weeks. We have a chap here in Québec that does nothing but MGB sills. He's seen it all, and I mean ALL. He's a highly competent chap. He's done over 30 MGBs and about 10 MGCs. He knows what he wants and won't compromise.

I've made a note of your addr and will contact you when my plans are made.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Charles Runyan has one or maybe two of the factory TRS Le Mans cars, and their proper Sabrina engines. On display I believe. Don't miss them!

FRM
FR Millmore

This thread was discussed between 15/08/2012 and 17/08/2012

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