Your car looks wonderfully cared for. I keep almost no spares in my car, but I do carry plugs, fuses, tape, wire and epoxy putty and a relay. I do excessive maintenance so things are checked often. I also carry a fire extinguisher and quite a few tools. With an eye to weight, I install new parts on the car instead of carrying them in the trunk. I do believe, I'll go put a spare belt in the trunk. I also carry a laptop as I have an exotic fuel injection on my old BMC engine. It allows detailed troubleshooting of the engine; yes, I know EFI is a bit overkill.
Thanks for your comment - its always difficult to know what might fail... I did have a failure though - more on that in our upcoming video on the trip coming soon! :-)
Hi Graham, i used to take a ton of items with me in the trunk of my B. One day, i tried to find a noise so i emptied the trunk and OMG, the car handled like a sports car 🙂 Since then, i just keep a fan belt and that's about it. I have AAA (a towing service) that is good up to 300 miles. I put between 1000 and 2000 miles on my B every month of the summer with trips to the mountains, beach and the British Invasion in Stowe VT. Knock on wood, i only had a fuel pump die on me once. It was 17 years old so i can't complain. Well good luck with the trip and take a video.
Thanks for the comment - I did include some gloves, fuses and a torch! We're now back and editing the video which will be uploaded in the next couple of weeks - Great trip despite a mishap or two!!
Great video. Love your channel. I just drove my 73 B tourer 500 miles each way from Innisfil, Ontario to Newark, Ohio for an MG gathering. I took no spares. It was another 500 miles back. No issues whatsover. I'd imagine with the weight of all of these spares, the car's performance could very well suffer. Hope you attack this Isle of Man journey with a lot of confidence. Thanks again for your wonderful channel, please keep these videos coming! Safety Fast from Canada.
An outstanding video for longer MGB road trips. You have a beautiful MGB GT and in looks like it could effortlessly drive from your home base all the way to tip of Italy without a hiccup/any issues. Gods speed on your trip and most importantly have a fun and a enjoyable trip. May I suggest a scissors jack. They are more compact, lighter and safer than the original side wind up type.
Thanks for your comment and advice. I use a heavy duty trolley jack in the garage but have the standard jack at the moment. I'll look into a scissor jack...
In regards to tool kits, I have taken the habit of doing my periodic service and repair jobs using the mobile tool kit I carry in the boot. That way you are fairly certain you have the right tools on board if you happen to need them out on the road. Over time you will stock the tool kit with items you maybe didn't know you would need. Good luck with your upcoming trip to see the cats with no tails.
Thanks for your comment - good thought regarding tools. I like to have a separate kit in the car so I don't forget anything, but I tend to add bits (like the multitool) if I use a "garage" tool that isn't in the kit!
Blimey Graham will here be any room for you with all those spares! Really interesting and useful video though and looking forward to the Isle of Man video.
Thanks for your comment! I took the back seat squab out a whole ago as I never use the back seat. I removed the backrest this week to get our suitcase in, so it will be a bit of a squash! :-)
Nice video. Recommend parts that are absolutely necessary and difficult to obtain on the road i.e. starter and alternator. Yes expensive but mg starters and the old generators do fail more than most people realize and of course in the mountains of New Mexico in my real experience. Best, Mike
I wouldn't bother with a starter. It's nice if it works, but you can always push start the car if it fails. Use the room for things that will absolutely strand you...
Thanks for your comment. The starter motor was replaced last year and the alternator the year before so hopefully they'll be reliable!!! In case you haven't seen it, this video - th-cam.com/video/yA0bg31f8Pw/w-d-xo.html - outlines what's been done to the car (and how much it cost!):-)
Don't forget to check the air in the spare!! I don't know how things are in the UK, but in most of the US you are never far from an AutoZone, NAPA, O'Reilly, etc. I wouldn't waste space carrying anything that is commonly stocked at those stores (oil, hoses, plugs, wires and such). They stock generic fuel pumps, coils, and other fairly common parts as well.
Thanks for your comment - fair point - I've managed to get all the spares packed into a toolbox and I've checked that it fits with all the luggage. As its a holiday though, I didn't want to spend time hunting round parts shops so fingers crossed I won't have to!
Looking forward to your IoM trip - quite daunting if you haven't been used to driving that far in the car. What can possibly go wrong with a car over 50 years old?? 😄
Thanks for your comment - we're back for the IOM with LOTS of footage so the video will be up in a couple of weeks. Just so you know, we did have a problem, but I won't drop any spoilers!!!!
Man you like spending money! I would advise you dump the standard heater valve as even new ones can fail pretty much straight away. I use a much more robust taxi type valve. Had no problems since the swap.
Thanks for your comment and advice on the heater. The spares didn't cost much compared to the cost of the trip so I thought it was justified - I'm guessing they'll be needed eventually!
Hi Graham, I'd add a known good spark plug, a spare HT lead, long enough to reach the furthest plug (#1 I think) & a core plug, you seem to have everything else covered. Maybe a 5/16 UNF nut in case you have to fix something and damage the nut taking it off. Most nuts & bolts on the MGB respond to a 7/16, 1/2 or 9/16 AF spanner.
Thanks for your comment - I actually forgot to include the HT leads in the video - I do carry a spare set ever since Tim fixed a problem at Castle Combe circuit by replacing my HT leads, and I did include a set of plugs in the list. Like the idea of some spare nuts though :-)
@@ClassicMGB Would it be enough to put a fire out though ???……when my 1971 Costello Roadster caught on fire on my drive…my alternator exploded and severed a fuel line..I felt so helpless…by the time the fire brigade would have arrived it would be gone …… luckily my hosepipe was next to the car…I isolated the battery and extinguished it quickly..still needed totally rewiring hoses etc. and bonnet restoring…good job I had agreed valuation or they would have written it off and paid me peanuts ..insurance Companies invariably look for get out of paying clauses but thankfully it was restored. I now have a full size extinguisher in the boot and a smaller one in the footwell.. 50 year old cars or younger should all have them !
All old car owners of old cars who don't bother with a MOT Should check with their breakdown service to see if they will go out if the car doesn't have a MOT. This is because so many people used them to get an old wreck home FOC Plus having a MOT is peace of mind and respectful of other road users!
Thanks for your comment - and the lovely compliment about my car! They're minilite wheels - in my mind, better than Rostyles and much easier to clean than wires :-)
Thanks for the video! I'd say you have too many spares. If you're in a relatively populated area spares are all a day away w/ overnight shipping. For example, if the hoses are old, replace them now. Here are a few additions based on my experience. Checks: Check the transmission fluid level Check the brake lights Tools simple test light I'm surprised the kit included Phillips screwdrivers. MGBs use Pozidriv screws. Spares: If you've capped off any vacuum ports on the intake, bring some spare caps I learned the flex line to the anti run on valve and gauge don't last forever. ;) I had one fail and was saved by a fellow traveler who had two spares. One of our US suppliers used to sell a 'loaded' points plate that had the points and condenser pre-installed. Certainly easier to install that then fiddling around with all the little screws on the side of the road. It can be fun to observe what comes out of people's trunks when there's a breakdown on a group drive. I've never seen so many types of fuel pumps. Have a safe trip!
Too many spares , I would hate to replace a water pump at the side of the road using a tool roll 😂 and the badge bar and lights will restrict air flow to the radiator. Enjoy the trip looking forward to seeing the video
Thanks for your comment and advice. To be honest, some of the spares I probably wouldn't fit myself but would try and find a local mechanic to do the work. Having the part should speed up the process... :-)
what is the exact colour of your car? PS. i just did a tour from norway to northern italy and austria in my 65 mgb roadster and all i needed was 1.5L of oil 😊
Thanks for your comment. As far as I know it's British racing green but I do know it was resprayed quite recently as it was blaze when it left the factory in 1973. That must have been an amazing tour all the way from Norway to Italy - great stuff!
Looks like your car is very unreliable having to carry all those parts ok so when you test the indicator do it with the lights on incase you have a bad earth
Thanks for your comment - the car hasn't been unreliable so far. Good point testing the indicators with the lights on... Before filming, I actually did the checks and found a bad earth on one of the driving lights and a blown sidelight bulb which I fixed :-)
Your car looks wonderfully cared for. I keep almost no spares in my car, but I do carry plugs, fuses, tape, wire and epoxy putty and a relay. I do excessive maintenance so things are checked often. I also carry a fire extinguisher and quite a few tools. With an eye to weight, I install new parts on the car instead of carrying them in the trunk. I do believe, I'll go put a spare belt in the trunk. I also carry a laptop as I have an exotic fuel injection on my old BMC engine. It allows detailed troubleshooting of the engine; yes, I know EFI is a bit overkill.
Thanks for your comment - its always difficult to know what might fail... I did have a failure though - more on that in our upcoming video on the trip coming soon! :-)
Hi Graham, i used to take a ton of items with me in the trunk of my B. One day, i tried to find a noise so i emptied the trunk and OMG, the car handled like a sports car 🙂 Since then, i just keep a fan belt and that's about it. I have AAA (a towing service) that is good up to 300 miles. I put between 1000 and 2000 miles on my B every month of the summer with trips to the mountains, beach and the British Invasion in Stowe VT. Knock on wood, i only had a fuel pump die on me once. It was 17 years old so i can't complain. Well good luck with the trip and take a video.
Thanks for your comment - and rest assured, we'll be doing a video of the trip whatever happens! :-)
Don't forget the brake lights!
Thanks for your comment. Good point - I did actually check them but didn't film it!
Great video, thank you!
Don't forget some spare fuses, a torch and work gloves.
Thanks for the comment - I did include some gloves, fuses and a torch! We're now back and editing the video which will be uploaded in the next couple of weeks - Great trip despite a mishap or two!!
Good luck on your trip! I can't wait to see the video! Btw I've taken a lesser maintained MGB GT on longer distances. You'll be fine.
Thanks for your comment - fingers crossed! Really looking forward to the trip!
Great video. Love your channel. I just drove my 73 B tourer 500 miles each way from Innisfil, Ontario to Newark, Ohio for an MG gathering. I took no spares. It was another 500 miles back. No issues whatsover. I'd imagine with the weight of all of these spares, the car's performance could very well suffer. Hope you attack this Isle of Man journey with a lot of confidence. Thanks again for your wonderful channel, please keep these videos coming! Safety Fast from Canada.
Thanks for your comment - much appreciated! We'll be filming a video of the trip so everyone can see how we got on :-)
An outstanding video for longer MGB road trips. You have a beautiful MGB GT and in looks like it could effortlessly drive from your home base all the way to tip of Italy without a hiccup/any issues. Gods speed on your trip and most importantly have a fun and a enjoyable trip. May I suggest a scissors jack. They are more compact, lighter and safer than the original side wind up type.
Thanks for your comment and advice. I use a heavy duty trolley jack in the garage but have the standard jack at the moment. I'll look into a scissor jack...
@@ClassicMGB Never trust the the factory jack I have had 2 fail on me.
In regards to tool kits, I have taken the habit of doing my periodic service and repair jobs using the mobile tool kit I carry in the boot. That way you are fairly certain you have the right tools on board if you happen to need them out on the road. Over time you will stock the tool kit with items you maybe didn't know you would need. Good luck with your upcoming trip to see the cats with no tails.
Thanks for your comment - good thought regarding tools. I like to have a separate kit in the car so I don't forget anything, but I tend to add bits (like the multitool) if I use a "garage" tool that isn't in the kit!
Blimey Graham will here be any room for you with all those spares! Really interesting and useful video though and looking forward to the Isle of Man video.
Thanks for your comment! I took the back seat squab out a whole ago as I never use the back seat. I removed the backrest this week to get our suitcase in, so it will be a bit of a squash! :-)
Brillant, thank you. I've always wondered what would constitute a sensible spares and tools package.
Thanks for your comment - I should thank Chris and MGOC Spares who advised me as his knowledge is far greater than mine!
Nice video. Recommend parts that are absolutely necessary and difficult to obtain on the road i.e. starter and alternator. Yes expensive but mg starters and the old generators do fail more than most people realize and of course in the mountains of New Mexico in my real experience.
Best,
Mike
I wouldn't bother with a starter. It's nice if it works, but you can always push start the car if it fails. Use the room for things that will absolutely strand you...
Thanks for your comment. The starter motor was replaced last year and the alternator the year before so hopefully they'll be reliable!!! In case you haven't seen it, this video - th-cam.com/video/yA0bg31f8Pw/w-d-xo.html - outlines what's been done to the car (and how much it cost!):-)
Don't forget to check the air in the spare!! I don't know how things are in the UK, but in most of the US you are never far from an AutoZone, NAPA, O'Reilly, etc. I wouldn't waste space carrying anything that is commonly stocked at those stores (oil, hoses, plugs, wires and such). They stock generic fuel pumps, coils, and other fairly common parts as well.
Thanks for your comment - fair point - I've managed to get all the spares packed into a toolbox and I've checked that it fits with all the luggage. As its a holiday though, I didn't want to spend time hunting round parts shops so fingers crossed I won't have to!
Good video Graham. Looking forward to the video of the road trip
Thanks for your comment - always appreciated!
Looking forward to your IoM trip - quite daunting if you haven't been used to driving that far in the car. What can possibly go wrong with a car over 50 years old?? 😄
Thanks for your comment - we're back for the IOM with LOTS of footage so the video will be up in a couple of weeks. Just so you know, we did have a problem, but I won't drop any spoilers!!!!
Man you like spending money! I would advise you dump the standard heater valve as even new ones can fail pretty much straight away. I use a much more robust taxi type valve. Had no problems since the swap.
Thanks for your comment and advice on the heater. The spares didn't cost much compared to the cost of the trip so I thought it was justified - I'm guessing they'll be needed eventually!
@@ClassicMGB it's good to be prepared. Seems like the standard of quality of the original type heater valves is pretty low.
@@stuwhite2337 fair enough 😀
Great video fingers crossed for you on your trip I’m sure you will be fine a friend of mine suggested strong ziptie’s always handy 👍
Thanks for your comment and advice - zipties added to the toolbox!!
Hi Graham, I'd add a known good spark plug, a spare HT lead, long enough to reach the furthest plug (#1 I think) & a core plug, you seem to have everything else covered. Maybe a 5/16 UNF nut in case you have to fix something and damage the nut taking it off. Most nuts & bolts on the MGB respond to a 7/16, 1/2 or 9/16 AF spanner.
Thanks for your comment - I actually forgot to include the HT leads in the video - I do carry a spare set ever since Tim fixed a problem at Castle Combe circuit by replacing my HT leads, and I did include a set of plugs in the list. Like the idea of some spare nuts though :-)
I did not see you check your fan belt for cracks but i am sure you did. Have a safe trip in your beautiful MG. Warren in vermont
Thanks for your comment - that's a good point and one that wasn't on the checklist in the book... Thanks for the heads up!
You should also carry a suitable fire extinguisher….with the age of the cars, travel at your peril without one !!
Thanks for your comment - I have one of those firestick extinguishers permanently installed (securely) in the drivers footwell
@@ClassicMGB Would it be enough to put a fire out though ???……when my 1971 Costello Roadster caught on fire on my drive…my alternator exploded and severed a fuel line..I felt so helpless…by the time the fire brigade would have arrived it would be gone …… luckily my hosepipe was next to the car…I isolated the battery and extinguished it quickly..still needed totally rewiring hoses etc. and bonnet restoring…good job I had agreed valuation or they would have written it off and paid me peanuts ..insurance Companies invariably look for get out of paying clauses but thankfully it was restored.
I now have a full size extinguisher in the boot and a smaller one in the footwell.. 50 year old cars or younger should all have them !
All old car owners of old cars who don't bother with a MOT
Should check with their breakdown service to see if they will go out if the car doesn't have a MOT. This is because so many people used them to get an old wreck home FOC
Plus having a MOT is peace of mind and respectful of other road users!
Thanks for your comment - Couldn't agree more - I always get mine MOT'd :-)
What a lovely BGT. Which wheels are those?
Thanks for your comment - and the lovely compliment about my car! They're minilite wheels - in my mind, better than Rostyles and much easier to clean than wires :-)
@ClassicMGB Sure thing! My B has Rostyles, and with more options for 15" tires, new wheels are being considered.
Overdrive switch and accelerator cable? I've had both fail on long trips in my '73 B GT.
Thanks for your comment and advice - I guess there's always something that can fail :-)
Thanks for the video! I'd say you have too many spares. If you're in a relatively populated area spares are all a day away w/ overnight shipping. For example, if the hoses are old, replace them now. Here are a few additions based on my experience.
Checks:
Check the transmission fluid level
Check the brake lights
Tools
simple test light
I'm surprised the kit included Phillips screwdrivers. MGBs use Pozidriv screws.
Spares:
If you've capped off any vacuum ports on the intake, bring some spare caps
I learned the flex line to the anti run on valve and gauge don't last forever. ;) I had one fail and was saved by a fellow traveler who had two spares.
One of our US suppliers used to sell a 'loaded' points plate that had the points and condenser pre-installed. Certainly easier to install that then fiddling around with all the little screws on the side of the road.
It can be fun to observe what comes out of people's trunks when there's a breakdown on a group drive. I've never seen so many types of fuel pumps.
Have a safe trip!
Thanks for your comment and really good advice. :-)
Too many spares , I would hate to replace a water pump at the side of the road using a tool roll 😂 and the badge bar and lights will restrict air flow to the radiator. Enjoy the trip looking forward to seeing the video
Thanks for your comment and advice. To be honest, some of the spares I probably wouldn't fit myself but would try and find a local mechanic to do the work. Having the part should speed up the process... :-)
what is the exact colour of your car? PS. i just did a tour from norway to northern italy and austria in my 65 mgb roadster and all i needed was 1.5L of oil 😊
Thanks for your comment. As far as I know it's British racing green but I do know it was resprayed quite recently as it was blaze when it left the factory in 1973. That must have been an amazing tour all the way from Norway to Italy - great stuff!
Too much gear, Graham.Take your daily driver instead- much easier.
Thanks for your comment - that would be admitting failure - and as its an organised MG Owners Club trip I'd never live it down! :-)
Looks like your car is very unreliable having to carry all those parts ok so when you test the indicator do it with the lights on incase you have a bad earth
Thanks for your comment - the car hasn't been unreliable so far. Good point testing the indicators with the lights on... Before filming, I actually did the checks and found a bad earth on one of the driving lights and a blown sidelight bulb which I fixed :-)