MG Works B/C GTs

[Peter Mallett]

Ah,

You've fallen into the trap. Certainly they are front heavy but the "excessive" understeer was an urban legend brought about by the then BL management wanting to increase the profile of Triumph at the expense of MG. They apparently set the tyre pressures too low. And of course nowadays they can be made to handle extremely well.

[Al Weyman]

I never really read that its just what it felt like to me and I did take it for a damned good road test like you do as we were driving this thing to Spain, in some ways I wish the other guy had not turned up with the Bentley at the last minute as I was kinda looking forward to the trip in the C as it was a really nice car then I would really have been able to push it. Mind you an S3 Bentley in the early 70's in Franco's Spain was a real hoot amoungst all the Faits and 2CV's, we had people posing by it to have their photos taken and they thought we were a pop group or something which of course we didnt exploit ;-). Back to the C it just never felt so good as the Healy and if you look at the point where the engine is inline with the front axle line its far more forward than the big Healy hence the lump in the bonnet.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Back to the C it just never felt so good as the Healy and if you look at the point where the engine is inline with the front axle line its far more forward than the big Healy hence the lump in the bonnet.

Yes as I said the balance could have been better. It's also not a Healey engine which I believe would have been shorter.

[Al Weyman]

Surely it is the same straight 6 i.e. the C series, no?

[Al Weyman]

Actually you are right Pete (almost) as I have just researched it like you do. Apparently the engine shares the same bore and stroke but little else and was thin wall casting last development of the 'C' series engine. In fact it weighted 45lbs lighter than the Healy 3000 unit and was only fitted in the MGC and Austin 3 litre saloon then fazed out.

[CJCA]

Originally Posted by terence bower

What happened to the avatar Chris? [Just realised who you are!]

Wrong Chris... After searching the forum, I think your talking about the guy who has an avatar of a Porsche Safety Car?

As for the rollcage, if the engine is under 2000cc than that cage is fine, according to "blue book"

Rgds

Chris Astley

[terence]

Thanks for clearing that up,bit confusing with two of you.
As to the engine,it is a three litre.

[CJCA]

as for Works MGB's, has anybody made a replica of the car was originally red, but then had to be painted green for the "national colours" thus leaving the engine bay, inside of doors etc red. I have recently purchased a "to be" FIA car, currently red, and thought that it would be unusual to see one of this ilk. Also, does anybody know what colour the front valance was on this car, or if anybody has information on this car, any will be appreciated.

Rgds

Chris Astley

[JP12]

I thought that some of the Targa cars were originally painted red and then changed to green on the outside only. I am sure Terry will be able to help a little on the B history front. All I know is what I've read in the Works MG book.

Regarding the C. I was having a quick chat with John Chatham earlier in December and he thought the MGC was a nice handling car and didn't mention any issues with excessive understeer. That said, his car used an all ally motor and they eventually moved the engine 4 inches back from the standard position. I am currently looking for one to build a replica of John's Targa car.

[Al Weyman]

Errr fitting a non standard all alloy engine moved back 4 inches would have totally changed the handling situation, its like comparing chalk to cheese compared to the standard road car so I stand by my original appraisal of the standard car when I drove one years ago, i.e. nose heavy and understeering!!! If I was to put a lightweight all alloy LS6 engine in my Chevy set back 4" I am sure I would cure some of my Camaro's understeer! :-)

[Peter Mallett]

The works cars (the original ones) ran an all alloy engine. As to re location that was a Chatham special and not a works mod.

Al, I'm not going to defend them because I agree to a point. But there was a distinct lack of understanding of the suspension and the tyre pressures when they were first launched. If you read the books you'll find that very soon owners learned to ignore the manuals and set the cars up independantly. In fact Downton produced a version that was very good. The handling was never going to match that of the B but then again the MG works had tried to stop Isigonis from going down the straight 6 route for the reasons you state.

Nowadays of course, with better bushing and that pushrod suspension they are a much more competitive prospect. They are also a very good long legged GT for cruising the continent.

[terence]

Quite right Peter,a little known fact is that the original plan was an OHC Alloy engine,shame they pulled the plug!. The overall feeling is that most of the bad press was down to most of the scribe's not being good enough drivers in those days,non of the works drivers complained about excessive u/steer! They really do not take much to set up,classic Koni's,bushes etc turns them into a pretty nimble car.Now,where did I leave that alloy block?

[JP12]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Errr fitting a non standard all alloy engine moved back 4 inches would have totally changed the handling situation, its like comparing chalk to cheese compared to the standard road car so I stand by my original appraisal of the standard car when I drove one years ago, i.e. nose heavy and understeering!!! If I was to put a lightweight all alloy LS6 engine in my Chevy set back 4" I am sure I would cure some of my Camaro's understeer! :-)

Al,

I don't disagree with anything you have said in your post, I was simply telling you what he did to his race car.

[MFFAN]

Originally Posted by CJCA

as for Works MGB's, has anybody made a replica of the car was originally red, but then had to be painted green for the "national colours" thus leaving the engine bay, inside of doors etc red.

Yes this is what I have done, although based on a factory BGTV8 rather than a "C"

[terence]

That is exactly what I did with a C.It was already built as a replica,Alloy front wings etc,when my then boss bought it from Colin Pearcy,through Gerry,it was finished in Tartan Red. We repainted it in BRG keaving the door shuts,engine bay etc.Registration number GYH 5H.

[GBRM]

Cough, cough....

[Al Weyman]

Originally Posted by MFFAN

Yes this is what I have done, although based on a factory BGTV8 rather than a "C"

Sorry I understand that its trying to recreate an old car even in period even if that car was not correct at the time but was that really worth the effort? I can't help think it would have been better all green.

[terence]

Ah yes,the other car.Thanks Gregor

Turned to be a good car,once I'd had a look under the Ally sheeting that was pretending to be 'Heal Plates',turned out to be covering the rust holes in the floor.Engine problem only involved clearing out the Cam bearing Oilways,obviously they had never been done when the engine was 'built'.













[Where did I get the other number from,worried now!!]

[MFFAN]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Sorry I understand that its trying to recreate an old car even in period even if that car was not correct at the time but was that really worth the effort?

Well it's what I wanted to do so.... errrrr.... yes

[terence]

It looks a very nice job,only thing that spoils the effect are the mounts for the Rubber Bumper.Sorry to be picky but you have obviously gone to an awfull lot of time/expense,just a shame you didn't just 'slice' off the chassis rail tops.

[MFFAN]

Thanks for the comments, the car has changed quite a bit since those pics were taken and the front bumper mounts are now hiding quietly behind a custom grille

[terence]

Thats called'cheating'.

[Al Weyman]

Maybe it would have been better to do a vinyl wrap on it! Thats what you get when you do a colour change with vinyl thinking of doing it on one of my my cars from black to white leaving the door shuts and under the bonnet white, wonder if anyone will want to copy this in 30 years time, no maybe not.

Sorry I am pulling your leg I used to be in the garage game and we used to do resprays and sales and it was always a big no no on a car to have different colour door shuts etc than the outside, always looked at with suspicion of a bad repaint or dubious past which is obviously not the case with your car as it must have been hard to achieve what you wanted here. Its like a Les Dawson playing the piano and missing keys for laughs, my old mum always reconed that was harder than playing it correctly!

BTW great looking car.

[MFFAN]

There's already some of your vynl on it Al ..those 22" roundels

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by MFFAN

There's already some of your vynl on it Al ..those 22" roundels

He knew that!

But FWIW they are great looking cars, not sure whether it's proportion or just because they look bigger than actual size. Can't fathom it, Ferrari or Aston they are not, but lookers they surely are.