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WHERE DID IT ALL GO?
In the July/August issue of the MGB Driver, Dave Reed told us how he brought his 1978 MGB and described some of the problems he discovered after purchase. Here we give a breakdown of the hours and costs involved both as a guide and a warning to prospective MGB purchasers.
HOURS | COST | |
1978 MGB purchased 1991 with 63,000 miles on the clock (in average, neglected condition!) | 20 | $500 |
BODY | ||
1. Wash, scrub, scrape, paint and undercoat the under-body | 10 | $20 |
2. Replace rusty front fenders, rockers and rear fenders | 120 | $1600 |
3. Prime, sand and top coat the body with Delcron black paint | 120 | $500 |
4. Prime, sand and top coat bumpers to match body | 8 | $30 |
5. Repaint windshield wiper arms | 2 | $0 |
6. Rustproof with Waxoyl kit | 4 | $75 |
7. Replace cracked windshield and windshield rubber | 8 | $150 |
8. Replace chrome body trim and moldings | 8 | $100 |
9. Replace rear view mirror parts with replacement parts | 2 | $25 |
10. Replace rubber body weatherstrips and window seals | 8 | $125 |
11. Clean and replace worn carpet pieces | 4 | $40 |
12. Rebuild hazard and fan rocker switches | 2 | $0 |
13. Replace console lid striker and catch | 2 | $5 |
14. Replace seat belts with Rover recall belts | 2 | $0 |
15. Replace worn clutch and brake pedal pads | 1 | $5 |
16. Replace worn aluminum sill plates with stainless steel | 1 | $20 |
17. Replace worn vinyl steering wheel with leather 14" wheel | 4 | $150 |
18. Lower steering wheel with shims for better visibility | 1 | $0 |
19. Replace rubber floor mats and shelf with 'MG' carpeted mats | 0 | $130 |
20. Replace worn seat cushions with new cushions | 1 | $50 |
21. Replace worn vinyl seat covers with Moss leather kit | 10 | $550 |
22. Replace worn vinyl shift boot with Moss leather kit | 10 | $20 |
23. Replace shift knob with leather 'MG' knob-Paint lever | 1 | $10 |
24. Replace worn vinyl convertible top with Moss Fabric top | 20 | $500 |
25. Replace damaged front valance with flexible air dam | 2 | $110 |
26. Install 'emergency' pull-wire for hood release | 1 | $0 |
27. Plug front bumper license plates holes with black RTV | 1 | $0 |
28. Replace all nuts, bolts and screws | 10 | $50 |
CHASSIS | ||
29. Replace leaking rear axle pinion seal | 4 | $5 |
30a. Replace front wheel bearing seals-grease bearings | 4 | $10 |
30b. Replace worn front brake rotors, pads and pins | 4 | $60 |
31. Replace leaking rear brake seals, linings, springs-repaint | 10 | $80 |
32. Replace cracked brake and clutch hoses and bleed | 4 | $30 |
33. Replace worn steering tie-rod ball joints, boots and fluid | 4 | $40 |
34. Tighten steering gear lash-remove shim in gear cover | 2 | $0 |
35a. Replace worn front shocks with rebuilt units | 4 | $150 |
35b. Replace worn front king pins with rebuilt assemblies | 4 | $200 |
35c. Replace lower outer front bushings | 1 | $35 |
35d. Replace front springs with Moss Stage II lowered springs | 3 | $100 |
35e. Replace worn trunnion rubber bushings with Nylatron | 1 | $20 |
35f. Replace worn lower control arm bushings with V8 type | 1 | $20 |
35g. Sand blast and repaint front lower control arms | 8 | $10 |
36. Replace broken front bump stop and corroded spacer | 1 | $10 |
37. Lower rear spring height with Moss Stage II kit | 8 | $75 |
38. Install five new Minilite 6x14 wheels and 185R14 tires | 2 | $800 |
ENGINE and ETC. | ||
39. Change engine, transmission and differential oils and lube | 3 | $50 |
40. Rebuild Stromberg carburetor-sticking choke | 8 | $20 |
41a. Replace Stromberg Strangler with a used downdraft Weber | 6 | $225 |
41b. Replace cracked exhaust manifold with tubular header | 1 | $100 |
42. Replace rusty exhaust system with free-flow exhaust | 8 | $150 |
43. Replace stock rocker cover with aluminum rocker cover | 1 | $100 |
44. Install Crane-Allison Electronic ignition system | 4 | $125 |
45. Replace spark plugs, rotor, cap and wires | 2 | $40 |
46. Clean and repaint engine | 4 | $10 |
47. Replace cracked L/H engine mount | 2 | $20 |
48. Replace leaking heater water valve | 1 | $30 |
49. Replace worn heater and radiator rubber hoses | 4 | $50 |
50. Replace cracked fuel tank hoses | 4 | $10 |
51. Replace carb fuel hose, filter, remove fuel cut-off switch (Clutch and fuel pump had been replaced by previous owner) |
1 | $10 |
ELECTRICAL | ||
52. Replace dead battery | 1 | $50 |
53a. Replace worn alternator belt | 0 | $10 |
53b. Replace alternator with 'bargain' rebuilt Beck/Arnley | 1 | $70 |
53c. Re-Replace failed Beck/Arnley alternator (100 miles!) | 1 | $0 |
53d. Re-Replace 2nd failed Beck/Arnley alternator (100 miles!) | 1 | $0 |
53e. Re-Replace 3rd failed %&!%@* Beck/Arnley with LUCAS | 1 | $140 |
54. Replace broken fuel sender unit and O-ring | 4 | $40 |
55. Replace radio with 4 speaker AM/FM stereo cassette | 6 | $150 |
56. Replace manual antenna with Radio Shack power antenna | 2 | $50 |
57. Replace dim headlamps with brighter Halogen headlamps | 1 | $20 |
58. Replace weak horn with Fiamm extra loud horns | 1 | $15 |
59. Replace squealing radiator fans with single Hayden 10" fan | 1 | $55 |
TOTAL HOURS OF FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT COSTS | 500 | $8000 |
North American MGB Register Home Page
Also from this issue of The Driver