Attitude, patience and expectations will certainly have to change now that I own a MGB. I suppose COVID even adds to that with respect to shipping delays. But today I had a win. A real one. Why am I writing about this little win?

After having multiple new vehicles from a convertible Abarth 500, Vespa GTV-300 and the latest BMW R1200R there were no issues that could not be solved by either myself or by dropping by the dealer and having it fixed immediately under warranty. The MGB is about to challenge that process. This car will teach me patience. This car will teach me things that I cannot even imagine. I think it will be good for me (or the death of me, lol).

I have had the car for a few weeks yet put on an enjoyable 800 miles since, with no real operating issues. Then on the way back from the Ottawa MGB Club – Paul Williams Memorial Drive the car just started spitting and sputtering under load at higher speeds. It ran fine when it was still and revving up to first or second gear but as the speed increased the engine would start failing.

Hence the investigation began. First and foremost was the immediate realization that if I needed a part it would take at the least two weeks to arrive. My second thought was that I need to create a list of parts to order or acquire through other means as spares. My last thought was yikes, I have not worked on a simple system since the 1970s and have certainly lost my mechanical confidence when it comes to carburetors, coils, distributors, and such.

So with the help of many Ottawa MGB Club members, The Sports Car Factory and Sawyer I started with the process of elimination. First were the points and as I went to change them I discovered I have electronic ignition. Then we moved on to fuel. I changed the filter and was about to clean the float bowls but this morning I read an article in a forum that this type of issue could be coil related. I was not certain what type of coil I had so a member of the Ottawa MGB Club sent me a link to a Moss video. In the video it showed how to measure the Ohms and when I did, I noticed a very loose and dirty connector. So, I cleaned it with contact cleaner and squeezed the connector tighter so it would not be loose. I intend to change it for a new one and that may lead to a project that will change all the connectors in the car. This was a win for me. The car ran perfect and I even noticed a much smoother idle.

Nobody guided me to connectors, yet I solved it myself. I am not trying to pat myself on the back or be a braggart, but instead I needed that little success to get me back into the MGB Mechanical thought process and to have the confidence and ability to resolve most common issues on my own. After all, there are no more British Leyland dealers to go running to when in need of immediate help.

My local paint shop joked about that the other day. I stopped by to ask where I could buy some touch up paint and after he looked at the car he asked me if I had tried the dealer, joking of course.

So, back to my original plan. Change the gas tank, fix the transmission oil leak and somehow get the last two wheels form Moss and put the Minilites and new tires on the car. But today I am off to NAPA to pick up three new windshield wipers and new plugs which I will install immediately.

One final note. UPS has closed the investigation on the lost box with my two Minilite wheels and sent the report to Moss Motors. Their report says that they have confirmed delivery even though their current tracking shows the last know location as Concord. Moss is disputing their claim. When and if I receive the two wheels, lug nuts, and MGB logos is up in the air? This must be one of those lessons on patience and perseverance, right?