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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Newby question!

I have recently bought a 1974 BGT which I am really pleased with. However when I went out last night in the dark I found that none of the instument lights where working. My midget has a switch for turning them off, does the BGT have something that I am missing? I seem to have some movement of the engine and transmission when accelerating or lifting off the throttle, is this normal? The other thing I cannot get used to is the relatively heavy steering. The car has a new rack which I have topped up with oil, the steering is free with the wheels off the ground. I am currently running the 175x14 Pirelli P600s at 32 psi to help with the steering weight but I am still not happy. Does anyone have any experience of the Brown & Gammons castor kit as I am thinking that this may help


C Bintcliffe

The instrument light control is either a small knop on the dash or a slide switch on the left side of the steering column housing. This is on the padded dash used in the US if you still have a steel dash it may be different. The steering should not be all that heavy. Wear of the front swivel pins and/or the thrust washers may cause binding when the weight of the car is on the front end but you won't notice it with the car jacked up. I haven't seen the caster kit but if it increases caster the steering will get heavier.
John H

Grease up your kingpins and the rest of the fittings. Make sure grease comes out the opposite end from the fitting. One time I had hardened grease in the internal passages and it wouldn't take grease. Judicious use of a propane torch while pumping freed it up.

Also, my car came with a small aftermarket steering wheel. When I replaced it with a 15 1/2" one things were much better. As MGB steering is very quick I find it on the heavy side as park or very slow speeds. My 65 originally came with a 16 1/2" wheel. There was a reason. Also, most of us are used to power steering.

Check tire inflation recommendations in your manual if you have one. Normally I think MGB's like 3psi more in the rear than front to reduce oversteer.
Robert McCoy

Thanks John, the swivel pins are new so I would hope that it is not that. The castor kit reduces the amount of castor, so that should make a differance. I do have a small knob between the tacho and the speedo with a letter P on it, is that for panel?
C Bintcliffe

Yup, the knob with the P is a reostat for the panel lights. They can be prone to failure. if you put a jumper wire across the two teminals the panel lights should come on at full brightness. Since they really aren't all that bright you may want to solder the wire in place if the reostat has gone bad.
John H

As Robert says, people new to MGBs and cars of this era are used to power steering and anything in an MGB will appear heavy. As well as the other recommendations lift the front of the car off the ground and check the steering effort then. You should be able to spin it easily from lock to lock with just the tip of your little finger. It will fly from lock to lock very easily, don't bang it into the end-stops. I've not tried it, but reducing the castor angle will reduce the turning effort *when under way* at the expense of loss of some self-centering, which is pretty powerful, probably more powerful than it needs to be hence the reduction kit. But if the problems you are having are at parking speeds I can't see castor reduction making much difference.
Paul Hunt 2

Thanks Paul
I have tried lifting the front end and it does fly from side to side, the problem I have is knowing what people mean by heavy! When reading through the archives I get various descriptions with some people claiming to have very light steering! Mine is definately stiffer than I like at slow speeds and very difficult while parking. While stationary and with the 8dg of castor I am in effect trying to lift the weight of the car quite a bit. I think the kit reduces this angle to 4dg so this should make a differance. I think I will fit the kit and see how it goes,its easy to go back to standard. I shall post my findings on here when I have done it.Paul Where in the West Midlands are you?


Cheers Carl
C Bintcliffe

Carl, if you know someone with an MGC try steering it. Your B will then feel like it has power steering unless there is something wrong.
John H

Solihull, Carl. You?
Paul Hunt 2

Have you checked what size steering wheel you've got? I think 15"(?) is about standard but many will have been changed.
Steve Postins

In 1966, the steering wheel was 16.5 inches with 2.9 turns lock to lock.

In 1976 it was changed to 15 inches, 3.5 turns.

GeoffE

Hi Paul

I am in Warwick, Maybe we could meet up somewhere and compare our cars and maybe have a drink! My problem is not knowing how my car should be,it would be nice to compare it with another example.If so please contact me at carlDOTbintcliffeATntlworldDOTcom .

I have a Midget although I haven,t driven it for some time,but when I did the steering was lovely and that was fitted with very sticky 185 60 13s and a small steering wheel. I look at other Bs and V8s fitted with anything up to 205 50 15s and I cannot imagine how they would steer them if there cars where like mine. Does anyone have any opinions on what I would call the transmission shunt? Which are the mountings that I should be checking?

Cheers Carl


C Bintcliffe

Carl, the B is really heavy compared with the Midget. When I moved from Midget to B, I felt like I had bought a truck! You do get used to it, but you have mentioned something that few people realise, namely that when you turn the steering you are actually lifting the car up at the front. No wonder its heavy. I have put the B&G kit on my BGT, but since it is just a bare bodyshell at the moment, I can't tell you if it has made much difference. Oh, I also have 195/60 x 15 tyres!
Mike Howlett

Hi Cliff - didn't get to your reply soon enough, there was a regular classic meet at Wythall this morning! They are monthly throughout the year although this was the last in the 'winter' schedule. From Thursday 24th April they are from 7pm onwards at The Moat House Inn, Birmingham Road (A435), Kings Coughton, Alcester. Then 29th May, 26th June, 31st July, 28th August, and 25th September.
Paul Hunt 2

Thanks Paul

I shall try and get along on one of those dates, not easy because I work nights but I am due some holiday.

Cheers Carl
C Bintcliffe

I forgot one other thing on steering. It is not likely but maybe your steering rack damper is misadjusted. Once I adjusted mine by pulling out shims to increase damping. Too many and the rack dragged and didn't return well to center. If your car centers well probably damper adjustment is not an issue.
Robert McCoy

This thread was discussed between 11/04/2008 and 14/04/2008

MG MGB Technical index

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