That bracket is a definite weak link on the MGB. I assure you that 50% of
Rubber Bumpered B are driving around with cracked motor mount brackets.
Nothing major in the changing of the brackets and you should do the mounts
along with the brackets. Make sure you put same number of spacer plates back
on the sides they came from. As for reliablity of a B, you can not get much
more basic. The bad rap is due to years of neglect. Well maintained,
regularly serviced MGBs can not be beat in the reliable catagory.
Safety Fast,
David Deutsch
-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Beavis <sbeavis@ntlworld.com>
To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 4:03 PM
Subject: Argh! Big rattly problem!
>I have just s u b'd to the list from home as I'm not at work this week as
>travelling into London for a course (what fun!) so Kim ('er indoors) has
>been left with the MG ('79 BGT) and been told to not break it because I am
>not around to tow her home and fix it etc etc. It seems that whenever she
>drives it she manages to make it play up. Ok, I know it is not her driving,
>but the moment my back is turned and she goes out it in she comes back
>saying "it seems to be steaming a bit" or "there's an odd rattly noise
>coming from the engine". When I drive it, it is good as gold.
>
>Anyway, she picked me up from the railway station this evening and I asked
>how the car had been. Fine she said. Mmmm...spoke too soon. About another
50
>yards up the road there is a "crack" noise from the engine and an AWFUL
>shaking rattle coming up the steering column. Oh dear....WHAT NOW??? What
>more can go wrong with this car?!?!?! It was only about 1/2 mile to home so
>we limped in and then I popped the bonnet expecting to find something nasty
>like a rod through the block or the servo wrapped around the steering
shaft.
>Instead, nothing obvious. Mmm...I wonder if it is *just* the head gasket
>blown and making the engine sound awful. After a bit of idling and looking
>and pulling things about it seems that the "oil filter side" engine mount
>has collapsed. The engine has dropped about 1" and is vibrating against the
>steering shaft. The oil filter input is also hitting against the chassis.
It
>seems that the bracket coming off the timing cover below the alternator has
>sheared off, leaving the rubber 'blob' on the chassis and the engine
>somewhat unsupported. The other side seems to be still attached, but the
>bracket does look cracked. I will try to take a photo and scan it. Both
>sides have been like this since we bought the car last year and because
they
>were the same I assumed that the brackets were supposed to be like that.
>
>Mmm...now what? I'll have to order a new engine mount (I think) or do I
need
>the bracket? I'll try to remove the broken bit at the weekend and identify
>it.
>
>Hate to say it but after all these problems in the few months of owning the
>car, I'm beginning to wonder if something more reliable is required
instead.
>It would be great get something else and make the MG a second car, but
>seeing as I have two minis also (and I'm not selling them) the MG must be
>reliable or it gets sold.
>
>
>Scott
>
>PS: Anyone going to the Stoneleigh (UK) show?
|