MGB Register Forum

At the recent MGB Rebuild day we discussed what tools and spares should be carried. Parts can be secreted about the car but those using a single 12V battery have the advantage of storing a comprehensive set of spares in the other battery compartment. I know this topic has been covered before in other publications but below is a summary of the items we thought most useful. Other suggestions are welcome.

Tools:
1. Breakdown Insurance Details
2. Fluorescent Jacket
3. Warning Triangle
4. Jump Leads.
5. Tow rope
6. Fire Extinguisher… powder as it has better fire knock-down than foam
7. Torch: head torch and/or standard torch
8. Jack
9. Mallet / Wheel Brace
10. Screwdrivers
11. AF Spanner set
12. AF Sockets particularly the range from 3/8AF to 7/8AF
13. Plug Spanner
14. Feeler Gauge
15. Tyre Pressure Gauge
16. Various lengths of Electrical wire (to bypass/replace circuits)
17. Test light or Multi Meter.

Spare Parts:
Ignition:
1. Spark Plugs.
2. HT Coil and long Cable ties (to secure to existing coil)
3. Spare Distributor Cap and High Tension leads.
4. Rotor Arm – Original stock or Red rotor arm (without rivet)
5. Condenser.
6. Points
7. Electronic Ignition coil and spare sender unit if used
Electrical:
8. Fuel pump or spare points for fuel pump.
9. Spare Battery Terminal.
10. Starter Relay.
11. Light bulbs
12. Fuses
13. relay if any fitted to car
14. insulation tape
Cooling:
15. Water
16. Thermostat and Gasket.
17. Bottom hose (which can be cut to create a top hose if required).
18. Jubilee Clips – can also be used to secure an exhaust
19. Fan Belt
Other:
20. Oil
21. Brake fluid
22. 'dum dum’ exhaust mastic
23. Disposable gloves
24. Glue – Super glue / Araldite
25. Rags
26. Waterproof sheet to lay on
27. Misc nuts and bolts and self tapping screws
28. Cable ties

Foreign tours:

29. Spare brake and clutch master cylinder
30. Voltage Regulator. Only required for dynamos. If you have an alternator consider carrying a rebuild kit which contains the necessary diode pack.
31. Items required in various countries by law

+ the kitchen sink presumably. Is there any room for you, management and her luggage and your spare socks and trollies?

Very comprehensive and pessimistic at the same time.

Below are suggested additions to Graham's list - they will not take up too much space:

Electrical: Crimping tool, terminals and connectors
Direction Indicator unit
Hazard Flasher unit
In-line fuse holder

Cooling: Radiator cap
Radiator sealer
Water pump

Other: Duct tape
Fuel pipes
Spare keys
WD 40

Why all this concern about space in an MGB? Many years ago when I worked away from home for a well known spark plug manufacturer my wife and I took in our BGT (the same one I am still driving):-
Ourselves
Luggage (daily changes of clothes, plus all the usual bits, soap, towels etc) - usually two cases.
Food for a week
Portable television set
Afghan Hound
Three cats plus dirt box and kitty litter
The usual car tools
spare petrol pump
fan belt, jump leads
The journey was 150 miles each way and the most seriously inconvenienced was the Afghan hound which didn't have much room to spread out as is their wont.
Begs the question "How many elephants can you get into an MGB?"

Quote :-"Begs the question "How many elephants can you get into an MGB?"

Answer: (Before some other pensioner does it!!) Comfortably FIVE in a GT. Two in the front, two in the back and one under the hatch.

Most of you will be too young to remember the rash of "elephant jokes" that were around in the early sixties, I think they were a daily feature in the Mirror or Sketch at the time, and were completely ridiculous, but provided endless amusement for us schoolboys!

I suppose the US spec cars could use their trunks to put their elephants in!!!
I took just about everything I could think of to the Cornish weekend, and only used a very small screwdriver and pliers to fix my wife's glasses and a spanner to tighten the fan belt in 828 miles, (it was the longest distance the car had travelled in over four years) . Sods law says that the tool or spare part I didn't take would have been the one I would have needed. I normally carry a small selection of tools, my breakdown recovery service phone number and of course my mobile phone. I did once move an engine crane in the BGT and was verbally abused by someone for treating my classic car in such a manner at least it wasn't an elephant!!!

Add to list : pliers and hammer. and for longer tours hylomar, gasket set/gasket paper.

Mobile phone and AA card.

If travelling over 35 miles, wellies and a 'brella, works fine for us! Never had to use them but once forgotten......... Entrust me if I say we have been places since owning our B since 1988. Have a toolroll with the usual spanners and things but for example, had to tighten a U bolt on the exhaust once which appeared to be metric (13 mm), A 1/2" didnt fit, so an adjustable (Bahco) spanner will save your life! Insulating tape and a few tie wraps are always handy. In general, many people from our part of the world (the continent) travel mainly to Blighty or to clubmeetings, meaning help and other tools/parts are often short-by.
I have flipped over the spare and fastened it with a bold & spacer, giving plenty space for standard equipment like spare Vbelt, towing line, jumpers, gloves and some rags. Have the toolroll / emergency light / fire ext (powder) at hand in the garage to put in the car we are going to use, meaning each and every time we start a trip, I will automatically test the light and see the date on the fire ext. which are by the way very cheap and should be replaced in time.
Interesting list though, and certainly important for long holidays away from civilization!

...."I have flipped over the spare and fastened it with a bold & spacer, giving plenty space " -- What a good idea, Peter! It's one of those - Why-on-earth-haven't-I-thought-of-that moments!