British car repair
 

I have a MG Midget and am wits end on getting to run right. I am considering on bringing it to Glen's MG and British Car Repair in St Petersburg. Anyone have any experience with them?

Not running right not really clue to the problem?

Old British cars always respond well to a 'Damned good Thrashing.'
You Americans treat your problem cars far to leniently.
Please watch video for correct treatment for stroppy cars!

Basil thrashes his car - Fawlty Towers - BBC - YouTube

Have used AG Auto Repair, Leesburg and Shannons Auto in Ocala.

British cars from that era never did run right, not even when new. It would take away all of their character :-)

Try Auto Master in Leesburg foreign auto repair they service my Benz I'm happy

Several of my friends and I owned several British sports cars back when we were young and foolish. Every one of us had a tool kit in the trunk. One friend owned a Jaguar XKE. He only got to drive it on those rare days that it wasn't in the shop. They are fun little cars but they require constant maintenance.

These cars were known for electrical problems. If this appears to be what you are having, I might be able to help. I am assuming you have the documentation (aka wiring diagrams) for this car.

I can teach you how to set up and balance the SU carbs if that is the problem. Villagetinker is correct they do tend to have electrical problems and be careful with brake fluids, the original seals on the brakes will be destroyed by modern brake fluids.

They require almost constant maintenance, but are a lot of fun to drive.

I had a GT6. It was well worn when I STUPIDLY bought it. I don't think I ever drove it 300 miles without a repair. Tools, you needed three sets, sae standard, metric and wintworth.

You should learn to repair it yourself. Reason is fairly simple. When, you bring it into a shop unless they specialize in your car, they will not know how to fit it either. Many will not even try.

Mine too, great place.

So says the kitty car drivers :icon_wink:

Disagree, I had Ford cortina when I was stationed in England. After I cleaned carburetor and adjusted, set valve lash it ran like top. But I agree MG is no Ford cortina.

From someone who drove a Dagenham Dustbin!!:ohdear:

I wore a t-shirt in the 70's that said "Lucas Prince of Darkness" I owned a AH bug eyed Sprite and a Morris Minor convertible. Hit of bump and the lights go out, hit another and the horn beeps. Lucas ignition.

.........and the faster you went when it was raining, the slower the wiper blades moved.
.........and always carry a hammer so when the starter motor jammed, you could give it a good clout to free it.
The good old days!:)

Check out the reviews of Continental Imports in Gainesville.
I have had good experiences with them.

I had a Triumph and a MG a long time ago, yes they use Lucas Electric parts, we called Lucas “the Prince of darkness” it never worked correctly, I finally changed just about the entire system, but finally it ran correctly, I was foolish and in my 30’s, now in my 76 Birthday, I would use a trusted mechanic, and here I found Cliffords Garage in Summerfield that meets the trusted and honest traits.
Hope you will find it my bet is on the electrical system

Can heartily recommend George Pardee in Clearwater. George and I date back to the 70’s racing MGs (George ran a Very effective TF)
Now commanded by his son.
727-709-2881

Owned a TR6 back in the '70s.

Me: Hello, Dave's Foreign Car Repair?

Dave: Where's the car now?

It's a carburetor issue. Plus possibly an air leak somewhere. It idles around 2500 rpm's!

I had two TR6’s and an Austin Healey 3000. I can relate. Always in the shop. But nothing like them! Ah, the good old days.

I will give him a call.

Thanks, but It's a carburetor issue.

I have a single ZS carb that needs adjustment plus I been lead to believe there is an air leak. It starts the when warm idles at 2500 rpm's! Can't get it to slow down!

Bought a 62 Triumph TR3B in 1965. Paid $600 and it was in premo condition. Loved working on cars so we were a perfect match. Sold it in 68 when our first child was born. Would love to have that car today, but probably couldn’t get in and out of it.

Glenn’s is a great shop, but they are usually booked out 3-4 months. You should join The British Motoring Club here in The Villages. We have a great mechanic in our club that can give advise and our Goal is to keep our cars in the road and not in the garage!

If you want to sell the Midget, let me know as I am looking for a small British project car. There is a new Villages British car driving club here in the Villages- I’ll bet they could direct you to a good repair shop. I think they have a new website too.

We have 2 MGs a 1952 MGTD and a 1959 MGA we consider Glenn a master both in repairs and bodywork. His shop is a bit of a creative mess but Glenn always has time to talk on the phone and walk you through when you are at your wits end with these cars and we can not reccomend him more highly!

Years ago I had a MGBGT. The problem with mine was the carburetors would not stay synchronized which called for constant adjustment. My husband was handy and was able to make adjustments as needed.

Agree, the only thing I couldn’t fix myself cause I didn’t have welder. Friend had Mini Cooper MK it was blast.

I will! When does the club meet again?

I had a Spitfire. Ran great for a couple of years. Then, one day smoke came out from under the hood. I popped the hood and saw a white-hot wire burning in a bundle. I found a rag and tore the wire out. When I quit sweating, I got back in the car. Started up. All the gauges worked. All the lights worked. Just like nothing had ever happened. I drove it for several more years and without a problem. I had to give it up when my first child was born. Twenty years later it was time to get back in. I ran right down to the British Layland dealer. Oops...

The only modern car with the same feel is the Miata.

BTW driving a small British car is the most fun you can have with all of your clothes on.

Carburetor’s have internal check balls, if left out can cause vacuum leak. (how do I know this? When I was 18 I rebuilt my first autolite 4100, found small ball bearing in the clean up pan, I looked at the parts break down with kit and it didn’t show it. I had to get repair manual to find out where it went, symptoms was similar to you’re’ s)

Any shop with experience on carburetor’s, ( side drafts??) should be able to rebuild the carburetor after they diagnose the problem (not intake manifold leak, vacuum hose broken, cracked, fell off, or even cracked intake manifold?

Which one is Glenn's

There is an auto repair shop in Leesburg that does work on foreign cars. Sorry, don’t remember the name. I’m sure you can Google it.

Many of your posts are making me feel really lucky. I owned a 1979 MGB for a few years and never had to touch it.

Two of the best days of my life was the day I bought my 2005 Lotus Elise - and the day I sold it. When not in the shop, it was like driving a shifter-kart.