DRIVEWAY MAINTENANCE

Things You Can Do Without Jacking Up the Car

1. TIRE PRESSURES

    Check and adjust tire pressure when cold.

    Too high pressure wears tire at center.

    Too low pressure wears outside edges, car handles poorly and pulls to one side.

2. TIRES AND WHEELS

    Wire wheels need to be checked. Are the spokes tight? Is the big nut tight?

    Splines need to be cleaned and lubed once a year.

    Check tires for abnormal wear.

    Check brake pads on front.

3. FLUID LEVELS

     (Check every couple of weeks.)

    BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER - Flush and bleed at least every two years.

    CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER - Flush and bleed at least every two years.

    ENGINE OIL - Change every 3,000 miles or sooner.

    COOLANT - 50/50 mixture, flush and fill every two years.

    CARBURETOR - Late model dashpot always empty?--internal "O" ring leaking.

    BATTERY ELECTROLYTE LEVEL - Fill filter with distilled water.

4. BELT TENSION AND CONDITION

    Glazed?

    Cracked?

    Frayed?

    Proper tension is about 1" deflection between pulleys about one foot apart.

5. CHECK LIGHTS

    Lube hazard switch with WD40.

    Clean fuse box. (Early side markers not fused.)

    Clean connections and sockets.

    Corroded connections and sockets are the biggest problem.

    Reverse light connections come off easily.

6. CHECK FILTERS

    AIR FILTER- Can you see through the paper element?

    IN-LINE FUEL FILTER - Change at least once a year. The plastic type rather than the metal type will make reading easier.

    OIL FILTER - Change at every oil change.

    AIR PUMP FILTER (if air pump still on car) - Change with tune up.

7. NORMAL LUBRICATION SERVICE

    A normal lubrication service should consist of checking and topping up all under bonnet fluids. With the MGB raised all grease nipples

    should be serviced. The differential and transmission fluid levels should be checked and topped up as necessary. This is also a good time

     to check for obvious exhaust leaks, front suspension play and other obvious faults or damage.

8. OTHER LUBRICATION POINTS

    Bonnet hinges and latch

    Door hinges and strikers

    Bonnet cable release

    Choke cable

    Carburetor linkage

    Seat runner tracks

    Convertible top joints