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MG MGB Technical - Clutch replacement question

As per my previous post it's time to put in a new clutch on my 73B roadster.

Just curious.....how long should this take. The answer is of course dependant upon experience, but for a very experienced MG mechanic who has done this many times, would one expect it to take 1/2 a day....1 day....2 days etc?

Whatever the answer I can expect to at least double that time for my project.

Also, can someone tell me what "MOT" stands for? I see it a lot on this forum.


Thanks,
BH
BH Davis

BH-
If it's your first time, expect the job to take a weekend. Work systematically and carefully. A friend to help you maneuver the engine/transmssion package in and out of the engine bay is a great help.

"MOT" stands for Ministry of Transportation. They do the motor vehicle inspections in the UK. Kind of like our DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) in some states on our side of the big pond.
Steve S.

BH Assumeing you work a five day week pull it and take it apart on sunday, get the parts you need durring the week, put it together starting on saturday, drive it and correct problems on sunday, sleep late on monday because you can make the trip in less time. I can't remember exactly when I did my first of many B clutch jobs 60s? 70s? but I think this timeframe will work for you without makeing you too crazy. Let us know.
Ric
RIC LLOYD

"Ministry of Transport" to be picky, and was originally short-hand for "The Ministry of Transport Ten-year Test", and refers to the annual test of cars (now) 3 years and older. They don't do the vehicle inspections, private accredited garages do, the government department just administers the process. 'MOT' is no longer an acronym but a 'word' (albeit spelt out) in its own right as the government department is now known as the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency or DVLA.
Paul Hunt 2

Isn't it VOSA that is now responsible for administering the MoT?
Dave O'Neill 2

Oooops, got distracted there.... In answer to the original question, I did my first B clutch replacement in about 5 or 6 hours IIRC. It was a long, long time ago!
Dave O'Neill 2

It kind of depends what goes wrong along the way (eg manifold studs, gearbox mounts) and what you decide to replace while you've got the engine out (clutch slave cylinder, timing chain, engine mounts, sump and tappet chest gaskets if they are leaking).

I would say 5 or 6 hours is a very good result! I vote for a weekend assuming you have the parts to fix any problems; it doesn't 'look' like a big job in the manual because it refers out to other procedures. I don;t know about you, but changing the oil and filter usually takes me a couple of hours by the time I have found the drain pan, then managed to get the filter off, mopped up the spillage from the garage floor, poked around in the drain pan to find the sum pan, then remembered where I put the new copper washer. Repeat that for the cooling system, then the carburretors, and it starts to add up.

Good luck,

Neil

Neil22

I reckon to take about 4 hours. I do it regularly on our race car.

It's sometimes easier to take the engine & gearbox out at the same time as it can sometimes be a real pig to get the engine to mate with the gearbox, even if you align the clutch plate very carefully with an alignment tool.

Don't forget that you can't get the starter out until you lift the engine up a bit!

Good luck.
Richard Tinkler

I think the best alignment tool to use is an input shaft from an old gearbox. I had terrible trouble trying to get mine aligned until I borrowed one off a MG mechanic then everything went together easily. As to where you can get one from, well, can't help there but if you ever find one hang onto it!
Simon Jansen

Now you say that it *is* the VOSA logo that is on the MOT, they are part of the DfT, the DVLA issues tax discs based on the results stored on the VOSA computer, and then there is the MID ...
Paul Hunt 2

You can get the starter off a 1970 GT without raising the engine. There is no way I'd put my hands down there with the engine hanging by a chain!

Neil
Neil22

<<I would say 5 or 6 hours is a very good result>>

I forgot to mention...the car was only about 4 years old, so no great problem with seized nuts and bolts...and I was an agile teenager at the time, too!

<<I reckon to take about 4 hours. I do it regularly on our race car.>>

Race cars don't count. I could take the engine out of the race midget in under an hour...again, due to everything being recently assembled, coupled with A LOT of practice ;o)

I don't recall having any problems removing the starter on the B. It was a pre-engaged starter on an 18V. I don't know about the inertia starters, though.
Dave O'Neill 2

This thread was discussed between 17/10/2007 and 20/10/2007

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