MGB GT - I didn't need to see this

Just when I think the HPDE E36 is getting to about where I want it be for a fun toy, the E46 M3 DD is running well, and car project expenses are on the way down, this pops up:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5902401430.html

Like y'all, I absolutely don't need a true "basket case" project. The car is local, and I'm sure could be picked up for $500. I have a few enabling car friends here, who I'm sure who help get into the garage here.

Since I only have 3 garage bays, and the wife WILL NOT park outside, either the E36 or the M3 would get parked in the drive (probably the E36).

The B GT has 3.4 V6 swap written all over it. I have previously done the Rover V8 conversion to a MGB so this would be something different.

Maybe I'll just go "look" tomorrow..........Someone tell me this is a horrible idea...

wake74 wrote: Someone tell me this is a horrible idea...

I can't. Those floors are SOLID. That looks like a perfect shell to start with. I'm more of a "purist" so I'd do the Rover V8. But an Ecoboost motor might be fun if money is no object.

I'm sure I'm one of the few, but I'd keep it that color, too. Some nice wheel arches and chrome alloys would look sweet.

-Rob

Master of all things linkage

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5902401430.html

Moatl

Op, do it! I'm not a fan of the gm v6 swap, but there are plenty of other awesome engines!

I'm pretty sure any MGB that doesn't need 400 hours of rust repair is worth more than that, especially a GT.

BrokenYugo wrote: I'm pretty sure any MGB that doesn't need 400 hours of rust repair is worth more than that, especially a GT.

You would think so, since there are no end of enthusiast putting in the hours and/or dollars to fix rusty ones, but no, nobody wants to buy a rust free shell.

To the OP...will there be a open bar at the funeral? If so, then please go a head with this plan.

Oh, and my vote is the LFX engine out of a Caddy CTS.Lots around and just leave the auto on the back.

A friend of mine has a 2.8/5 spd swapped BGT and I know another guy in NJ with a V6 swapped BGT. As swaps go, it may be a bit bland, but it's also easier than a V8 swap and still essentially doubles the original power.

$700 sounds like a freakin' steal. I wish I had the room for another project. Being a 1800ES fan/owner, I love the BGT as well. This one is painful to see.

Color me jaded. I think with no engine, and no title its overpriced.

Well, with the exception of spitfirebill, most of you are enablers, the whole lot of ya :-)

Not concerned about the title, luckily with parents in Maine, an old car title is just a bill of sale away to my parents, who then can title it, and sell it back to me.

This color looks like Harvest Gold. The same color as my last B, before I repainted it. I should have left it the more vintage correct color.

As far as engines, I'm most familiar with the Rover/BOP engine, so that would be the easiest for me. After having to deal with using INPA/GT1 on my E46 M3, a car without a dozen different distributed computers would be a joy.

My wife has been pretty patient with car purchases, except that horribly rusty TR7 I drug home in bad decision in my youth. That one never made it out of the garage, before it was sold to some other unsuspecting victim. Never again, will I buy a rusty car, I like to dabble mechanically, but I'm a lousy welder / body person.

"Enablers-R-Us"

The question isn't "should I buy this?" It's a B-GT! The question is "How can you not?"

Overpriced? At $700? I want what you're smoking!

I was thinking Rover V8 too. Especially since I've seen a few threads about cheap Land Rovers and how most of the nightmares do not relate to engines or transmissions.

Ouch Ouch Ouch.!!!!!! I'm kicking myself for selling Mine a few years ago, I see an aluminum SB Ford 5 speed Jag rear,Make it a bit more ridged(solid)And Insulate the crap out of it.Minimal Interior but nice driver comfort clean. I have two projects now and what appears to be another taking shape in the yard.

Building this shell around another rover engine would be like going back to dating the old GF. She will be a bit older and it wont be as great as you remember. The Rover is a very old school engine. Besides, are not most Rovers broken down within weeks of buying them?

The LFX is one of the cool kids. It is hip and up to date on all its technologies. V8 roadsters even has it as a plug and play for the Miata.

More importantly, I need someone to stab one into an MGB so that I can decide if that is the plan with my GT once the Molvo is done!

GRMs new sales pitch? "One Free Divorce Consultation with each paid subscription"

The Miata comment is interesting. I seem to recall GRM doing a series on this in the magazine, I should have saved the old copies. I recall the fabrication of the throttle cable article, but not much else.

I'm first in line to see it on Friday, he's working between now and then apparently.

My wife rolled her eyes, but did say in jest, why don't you just build a small single car garage, for the 4th bay. I think she was kidding, as doesn't understand that one should not kid about garage expansions :-)

With no title, you're looking at a bond to get it on the road, and you can't have it inspected for bond until it is roadworthy.

If you get it, let me know where you live. I'm local so I want to go make a lowball offer on all of your stuff after your wife kills you in the event you've been lying to her about how much you've been spending.

Unless things have changed, I can get a Maine registration for it, by just having my parents register it off a bill of sale to them (Maine is a no-title state for old cars). From that, I can then apply for registration and title here in NC based upon them selling the car to me. Of course, that assumes the VIN doesn't show up stolen in either state.

No chance of lying to my wife on expenditures. She tracks everything in Quickbooks. Heck when I was racing Formula Fords, she'd stick food at the track under Racing. I am almost positive we eat whether we are at the track or not, and track food should go to the food budget, not the racing budget.

In reply to wake74:

LOL! I do the same thing in my book-keeping. "Food" is filed under "food" for the exact reason you said. Yeah, "track food" is generally more expensive, but unless she separates when you occasionally eat out at a nice restaurant, then it's not really any different.

1988RedT2 wrote: Overpriced? At $700? I want what you're smoking!

Have you ever registered a no title car in SC?

wake74 wrote: No chance of lying to my wife on expenditures. She tracks everything in Quickbooks. Heck when I was racing Formula Fords, she'd stick food at the track under Racing. I am almost positive we eat whether we are at the track or not, and track food should go to the food budget, not the racing budget.

Honesty is the best policy, and the race food thing is funny. Are you in the Tarheel Sports Car Club, by chance?

Brett_Murphy wrote: Are you in the Tarheel Sports Car Club, by chance?

No. I ran my E36 HPDE track rat with the BMWCCA up at VIR this year. I haven't run with the Tarheel club yet.

spitfirebill wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote: Overpriced? At $700? I want what you're smoking!

Have you ever registered a no title car in SC?

I have not. Is it an onerous process?

1988RedT2 wrote:

spitfirebill wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote: Overpriced? At $700? I want what you're smoking!

Have you ever registered a no title car in SC?

I have not. Is it an onerous process?

Unless you know the right person, it's not possible. You maybe can if the car comes from a state that doesn't require titles on old cars if the car had a current registration. We don't have bonds. I have never had a trooper inspect a VIN when I title a car. I did have trouble once when a 5 got transposed as an S on the registration on my TR3 which disagreed with the title.

- Wah, wah, wah - I was able to get the VIN from the seller, and find a previous owner online. He gave me a very good history of the car, and why he abandoned the body to a scrap yard. Let's just say, it's not a rust free straight example. It's more work than I want to take on body work wise.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the enjoyable brain storming, and friendly back and forth. Back to working on my E36 track rat (until the next impulsive item comes along on CL)........

Oh well... 'tis fun to dream for a bit. We do a lot of that here.