Amazon.com: How to Improve MGB, MGC and MGB V8 (Speedpro): Roger Williams: Books

Review

Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, November 2007 - US magazine

The MGB was competitive with other small sports cars in its day, but in the past 30 years, the performance bar has been raised substantially; while the 1980 MGB made 62.5hp and cornered at .76gs, today's base Miatas and Solstices top 165hp and circle the skidpad at more than .85gs. While a stock MGB will never come close to being a 'modern' performer, it is a vehicle that is ripe for modification, with a huge aftermarket that offers a surprising number of performance and appearance upgrades. UK-based restoration specialist Roger WiIliams has put together an MGB modification guide to educate owners and enthusiasts as to how to get the most out of their MGs.

Part of Veloce Publishing's informative SpeedPro Series, Roger's 'How To Improve MGB, MGC & MGB V-8' breaks down its ample information into 12 chapters that cover topics like four-, six-cylinder and V8 engines; five-speed gearboxes; front and rear suspensions; brakes; induction and exhaust; and body shells. Discussions include altering the power and torque characteristics of the standard MGB engines, as well as modern suspension upgrades and big-brake conversions. Roger even offers tips like how to increase the roadster's scant luggage space by carrying a Saab 900/9000 temporary spare wheel, which bolts up without issue, in the trunk.

Although the author refers to this 128-page paperback as an extension of his earlier SpeedPro title, 'How to Give Your MGB V8 Power', it offers enough useful information to stand alone, and will prove useful to anyone considering updating his or her classic MGB.

*** Worth reading

Hemmings Sports & Exotic, November 2007

“Will prove useful to anyone considering updating his or her classic MGB.”

Product Description
When the MGB was introduced in the 1960s, enthusiasts marveled at its performance and extras like chrome wire wheels, leather seats, and overdrive. It wasn't long, however, before "ordinary" cars improved, and by the early 1980s MGB owners found themselves left at traffic lights by family sedans. In the meantime, a thriving aftermarket has evolved supporting owners seeking to restore and modify their MGBs, MGCs and MGB GT V8s. After briefly examining MGB and MGC design and development, this completely illustrated how-to offers a wealth of advice on improving these popular British sports cars for high performance, aesthetics, and today's road conditions. Topics covered include general engine, transmission and suspension improvements; better braking; modernized heating and cooling; bodyshell and interior improvements; and updated electrics. Also included is an appendix listing U.S. specialists and suppliers.

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Product Details

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Veloce Publishing Plc (May 26, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1901295761
ISBN-13: 978-1901295764
Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,236,883 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Although very popular, the MGB is unquestionably underpowered in 1800cc trim and standard tune, by today's standards anyway. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
oil pump base, secondary chokes, three synchro, pot calipers, valve seat recession, top wishbone, tyre width, front crossmember, section tyres, boot lid, boot rack, cross bolts, contact breaker points, telescopic shock absorbers, alloy head, twelve volt battery, rear axle ratio, donor parts, inlet manifold, ventilated discs, brake servo, glove pocket, pedal travel, cylinder head bolts, spare wheel

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Clive Wheatley, Demon Tweeks, Range Rover, Maidstone Sportscars, Visit Veloce, Towery Foreign Cars, Red Line, Ford Sierra, General Motors, Wilwood Superlite, Borg Warner, Dellow Automotive, East Coast Rover, Hawk Cars, Land Rover, Terry Tearne

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 1 book:

Roger Williams by Carole Marsh in Front Matter

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars How to Improve MGB, MGC and MGB V8, September 10, 2001

By	Vernon L. Bengtson, Jr. (Mesa, Az USA) - See all my reviews

Having over thirty years of experience owning, driving, racing and working on MGs, I had hoped to find this book a gold mine of information. It is--fool's gold. The standard MGB engine, required in forms of racing and used by thousands of owners in their cars, is not even covered. Williams makes a vague comment about the 1800 engine not being large enought and states that his book is only concerned with the larger 1950 and 2100 cc modifications. Immediately, he has made this section of the book usless to the vast majority of MGB owners. Additionally, these two engine modifications have some serious problems, well known to the MG community, which the author does not bother to discuss (cylinder bore flex and excessive oil consumption). In a similar vein, the author mentions the MGC automobile, but only in passing. When discussing suspension modifications, he does not mention that the MGC has a completely different form of front suspension than the MGB and his recommendations will not work on the MGC. For the most part, this book would be useless to the owner of this very rare model car. Most of his "improvements" in the suspension area would cost more than the value of a good car (L 2,000 for the rear end modifications, or about $3,600, plus the cost of modifying the body and installation). Throughout the book, Williams makes use of the phrases, "This should be possible" or "I was told by". He offers no supporting documentation (as in personal knowledge based on his experiments) for these broad statements, no results of anyone's experiments, nor does he relate the actual steps involved in most of these modifications. Very poor technical research for an engineer. He does, however, maintain a very consistant quality as his poor research is combined with poor technical writing and some of the worst technical photographs I have seen. (One illustration is of a brake caliper. He does makes a vague comment about a brake line which is barely distinguishable and does not even bother to insert an arrow into the photograph to point out which line.) This book is of very little value to most owners and should not be purchased. It is unfortunate that the SPEEDPRO Series has published this book as it detracts from the overall quality of their line, many of which are excellent and a few of which are truly outstanding. This book is neither.

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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inappropriately Titled, August 31, 2001

By	Steve S. (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

I found this book to be of little practical use. The author speaks mostly in generalities, with little in the way of specific recommendations as to "How To" actually go about doing anything. Few of the modifications recommended involve the easier, simpler improvements that the average owner can do himself at reasonable cost which conribute so much to improving an MGB. Instead, most of the improvements the author recommends involve the purchase of expensive and often elaborate conversion kits more appropriate to a race track than on a street-going car, all of which are accompanied by photographs obviously supplied by their manufacturers. The text refers to such items as a "Brown & Gammons head gasket" which Brown & Gammons do not themselves make and is commonly known amongst MGB aficionados to be manufactured made by Fel Pro. All this, plus an absence of in-depth technical knowledge, tends to leave the reader with the impression that the author has never laid a wrench on an MGB and gleaned all of his information by reading magazines and sales catalogues. This is not a "How To" book. It is instead a collection of advertisements masquerading as one. I consider my purchase of this book to truly be a waste of money.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not at all what the average MGB owner is expecting, October 1, 2002

By	Ron Walsh (West Palm Beach, Fl) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have owned and worked on MG's of one sort or another for more than fifteen years, with my 65 MGB being my longest lasting car (outlasted my marriage). I bought this book hoping that it may give me some ideas as to improve my old friend. Well, I was deluged with vague references as to what would work, how to do things and many bad photographs. I was impressed with the amount of upgrades that are available in the U.K., but very disappointed to the amount of material that was devoted to outlandish and totally inappropriate modifications to the classic MGB. These modifications are well out of the scope of the average owner to accomplish and probably out of the price range of most vintage racers. If you are looking for a book that will help you get the most out of your MGB get a good service manual such as the Bentley manuals, or the Guide to DIY restoration of the MGB. Both of these books more clearly demonstrate proven examples of modifications that can be carried out by the novice to intermediate skilled owner. If anyone is still interested in this book, mine will be on sale shortly. Thanks for letting me vent... Semper Fi!!