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Vintage Cars/Questions Answered by Expert Jo Jesty
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Radiator | 1/20/2012 |
| Q: have a 1979 MGB Roadster. I need to change the radiator and get a new one. While taking the old one ... A: I'm afraid I've never worked on a B this late. I suspect that the switch seal is seized up/corroded ... | |
| 71 MGB | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: What is the voltage on the temperature gauge suppose to be around? A: It's supposed to be 10V, coming from a mechanical voltage stabilizer, which often gets noisy or ... | |
| 1979 MGB Turn Signal | 10/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a 1979 MGB. Both turn signals quit working but the 4 way flashers work. I checked the fuse ... A: It's likely the turn-signal flasher unit, since the lamps obviously work. (The turn signals and ... | |
| 1967 Austin Healey Sprite Positive Ground With No Spark | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a 1967 Austin Healey Sprite (Positive Ground) that I am trying to get on the road again. It ... A: Final comment: the negative-ground pump could well be a problem (hard to insulate the body of a pump ... | |
| 1967 Austin Healey Sprite Positive Ground With No Spark | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a 1967 Austin Healey Sprite (Positive Ground) that I am trying to get on the road again. It ... A: I think it highly unlikely that your fuel pump replacement affected anything, although it does come ... | |
| 1967 Austin Healey Sprite Positive Ground With No Spark | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: I have a 1967 Austin Healey Sprite (Positive Ground) that I am trying to get on the road again. It ... A: Oh dear! I'm a bit baffled too, but let's try. Let's return to the fuel later. Your first priority ... | |
| car wont start | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: i have a 73 mgb ,last fall i spent alot of money to get it running well,before i put it away for the ... A: Just to confirm I got the question, but I have grandchildren visiting. I'll get back to you as soon ... | |
| 1971 XKE | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: Jo; Thanks for the answers about oil pressure. The oil pressure drops below 20 psi while ... A: Don-- OK, that's clearer, but weird! And unfortunately mostly beyond my expertise. A problem pump ... | |
| 1971 XKE | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: Jo; I have a 4.2 XKE. When I start the car the oil pressure is about 40#. When it gets up to ... A: It depends whether those are idling or running pressures. 40 psi cold and 20 hot (or even 15) is ... | |
| Bj7 | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: Jo. My bj7 runs great around town but when the engine temp gets up to 190 the engine begins to cut ... A: OK: I didn't know it was fine at lower temps. In which case my answer #3 (even though I have no ... | |
| Bj7 | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: Jo. My bj7 runs great around town but when the engine temp gets up to 190 the engine begins to cut ... A: I'm jealous--want to sell it? (I have a BT7, which regularly soaks me from leaks around the ... | |
| 1975 mgb | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: am looking at a 1975 mgb ,has retrofitted chrome bumpers,weber carb. good paint,3rd owner,wire ... A: I don't know values, but I would guess less than $5K. The bumpers and Webers are pluses, but the ... | |
| 72 midget 1275 twin carbs | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I put shims for the float adj. and set at 0.0120 Still had to much fuel. Installed a fuel pressure ... A: Sorry, I was away for a week and forgot to inform the site. I've actually never adjusted a float, ... | |
| Austin Healey 100/4 | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: My 1953 Austin Healey runs great, BUT just this week the starter is sticking. Upon ignition it ... A: 1953? I'm jealous! I don't know the car (naturally, given the rarity), but will assume that you ... | |
| Over Drive 1979 MGB LE | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: Did all the 1979/80 LE's come equipped with Over Drive? If not can you tell me who would know how to ... A: This is actually much later than my expertise, and this source explains it much better than I can. ... | |
| Horn TR6 | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: Where do you connect the wires when installing a horn on a '74 Triumph TR6? Art ANSWER: I don't ... A: Followup... First..as the owner of an ancient car (!), you really need either a 12V test light or a ... | |
| Horn TR6 | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: Where do you connect the wires when installing a horn on a '74 Triumph TR6? Art A: I don't know those details for that TR, but I think it only has one horn, and the basics are ... | |
| MGB carb/fuel problem | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1978 MGB GT, I broke down recently during a journey on the motorway. The symptoms were a ... A: Sorry--holiday time! It's almost certainly nothing to do with the timing (the usual cause of ... | |
| MGB ignition | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: When turn signal, horn stalk or wiper stalk is activated the tach drops to zero, fuel pump stops ... A: Goodness, it seems that 90% of my questions these days are about MGB electrics! As usual, the ... | |
| 1980 MGB Limited Edition | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm having a really hard time finding a copy of the door keys! Would you happen to have a set? I ... A: I can only quarter answer this (I really shouldn't risk my knowledge rating this way!) In more ... | |
| mgb 1979 | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: what is the recomended tyre pressures for mgb roadster 1979.It dont say in manual.g1qji A: Assuming 165x14 tires (modern close equivalent is 185/70HR14), the book says 21 psi front and 24 psi ... | |
| 71 mgb gt lights | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: There was a question on 7/2 that you answered. My problem relates to it. I turned on my lights and ... A: That questioner went through a lot of connections and ground checking, and cured it. And I had an ... | |
| 71 mgb | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: i have a71 mgb and it is not getting spark to the points and plugs'i check the coil and it started ... A: You may have a double answer, and I had to rewrite it! If the coil is OK, check: 1) 12V at the ... | |
| Door latch | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I am a new owner of a 73MGB. My 12 year old son and I are learning as we go. The passenger door ... A: Apologies if you got a part-answer before (browser problem)... Tricky without a picture. AllExperts ... | |
| 1971 MGB Electrical problem | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a 1971 MBG in excellent condition. When I push the light switch to the first ... A: Congratulations on going through all the possibles and fixing it! For that car, and especially that ... | |
| installing a new stereo in my 78mgb | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: I am putting a new stereo in my mg and I need to know what wire in the dash next to the radio is ... A: I probably should have answered this "don't know"...specific wiring in a late B is beyond my ... | |
| Selling My MGB | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: Recently I took my 1974 MGB convertible to the shop. Now I have learned that the carburetors are bad ... A: If you want to keep it, I would cancel the insurance, hold on to it, and wait until you have a few ... | |
| MGB restoration | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: Hey Jo, I am looking at a 1979 MGB (the VIN is GHN5UL490975 G, not sure what the last G is for...) ... A: Apologies for the delay: didn't see the email, and my daughter just got married! This is a bit weak ... | |
| 1971 MGB Electrical problem | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a 1971 MBG in excellent condition. When I push the light switch to the first ... A: Goodness, what a combination of symptoms! First off, also try Moss Motors forum or other MG forums. ... | |
| '77 mgb electrical problem | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: Everyone tells me these cars were known for their electrical idiosyncrasies--but can't seem to find ... A: Ah! I don't know why damp ignition would produce your symptoms (why it's OK in the Start position ... | |
| '77 mgb electrical problem | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: Everyone tells me these cars were known for their electrical idiosyncrasies--but can't seem to find ... A: As I think you suspect already, it's most likely the switch going bad and losing contact with the ... | |
| mgb | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: what does MGB stand for? also how can I tell if my car is original A: MG is from Morris Garages, which started in Oxford in the mid-1920s. The MG T series ran from the ... | |
| Makes, Models, and Years | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: Is there any good list of makes and models and years of all or most of cars on the internet you can ... A: That's far too broad. For older cars, you can find a lot of stuff in Hemmings (hemmings.com). JJ PS ... | |
| 1978 MGB electrical problem | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: My left brake light does not work. When I turn my lights on, only one filament seems to be working. ... A: Same comment: connections. If you have a test light or voltmeter check whether the plate holder ... | |
| 1978 MGB electrical problem | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: My left brake light does not work. When I turn my lights on, only one filament seems to be working. ... A: Connections, connections, connections. Suspect: 1) In-line connections like spade or bullet. It's ... | |
| MGTC voltage regulator | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I would like to put a solid state voltage regulator in place of the mechanical one (RF95/2). Are ... A: I can only half-answer this. I'm not familiar with the solid-state replacements and can't find any ... | |
| MGB Ignition | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: Jo, After I switch off the igniton, the motor "runs-on" jerkily with "pinking". I have tried ... A: I'm afraid I've never used them. There's certainly no harm in trying one or two, and at fairly high ... | |
| MGB Ignition | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: Jo, After I switch off the igniton, the motor "runs-on" jerkily with "pinking". I have tried ... A: Sorry, I was away a few days. I'm afraid you likely need a head-cleaning job, but try a few other ... | |
| Austin healy sprint | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: Can not find vin on a car I had given to me only number I can find is on driver side frame rail in ... A: It's a Healey Sprite, but they come in two types, frogeye and spridget (the later mashup of AH ... | |
| carburetors | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1967 Austin 3000 Mk lll. I have not started in a year, When I did try it almost started ... A: You almost certainly have a stuck float needle in the lid of the carb. The little pipe is the ... | |
| MGB | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: My sister has a 1980 MGB black limited edition with a trunk rack and front spoiler and would like to ... A: I'm afraid that's a hard one: I don't track prices, and that car is not special. So, personally, I ... | |
| Positive Gounding - Austin Healey | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: I am a long time owner (40 years) of a 1960 Austin Healey 3000. I have had extensive experience ... A: Congratulations on keeping it running this long. Same car as mine (except for my non-original Mk II ... | |
| MGB fuel pump | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a 79 MGB, 100K miles. After driving at 55mph for 15 minutes, the car dies, but pumping the ... A: Late B's are not my expertise (all the late emissions stuff), but I'll try... Could be the pump, ... | |
| MGTD turn indicators | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: The turn indicators on front and back work when the turn indicator switch is operated, but the ... A: The TD is really outside my ken, and faulty British electrics can drive you nuts, but I think the ... | |
| 1973 MG | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: Parked the MG and she was running great. I have had medical problems that kept me from driving her ... A: I would guess that either (1) you've had a leak in the clutch hydraulics and you're out of fluid, or ... | |
| oil cooler austin healey | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: thinking about oil cooler formy BJ8. is this wise? A: If you drive fair distances, especially in hot weather, I would put one in, yes. If mostly short ... | |
| mini | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: could u tell me was there ever a mini with the engine in the rear. A: No, never. Issigonis designed the transverse front-engined layout, with transmission in one piece ... | |
| Volvo 122S | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 67 Volvo 122S wagon that has suddenly developed this nasty clunking and accompanying noisy ... A: Sorry: didn't get the original experts email... If the onset is sudden, I rather doubt it is the ... | |
| Positive Ground | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: What is the easiest way to determine whether my newly acquired Triumph TR3 is set up for positive or ... A: It's likely still positive. (1) The ignition switch wire should go the negative terminal on the ... | |
| mg fuel pump failure | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: 74 mg midget rubber diaphram in the pump got eaten by the fuel I guess-- Walbro remarked thus:"The ... A: The increasing oxygenators in fuels are certainly hard on diaphragms in pumps, carbs etc, and in ... | |
| 65 Volvo 1800S | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: The front float chamber has a ventilation hole under the intake gas line with a metal cover. The ... A: That is my most interesting question since I volunteered for this stuff; and I thought I knew these ... | |
| MGB cold weather adjustments | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: My 74 MGB is running very roughly since cold weather set in here in Belgium.Idles rough right from ... A: I'm afraid that's not much information, but let's try, based on the sudden change in behavior. 1) I ... | |
| Engine Over Running | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a leyland princess car (o series engine).sometimes, when i turn off the car the engine ... A: You don't give a date, which is important. There are 1950s Princesses (Austin limousines), and 1980s ... | |
| triumph spit | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: im stumped on this one. Triumph Spitfire 1976, recently acquired. it ran rough, replaced needle and ... A: Again, not a particular expert on the car, but I can probably point you the right way... 1) ... | |
| MGTD Ignition key | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: I lost my key. Any suggestions on getting a replacement made? Thanks Mike A: Not definite; sorry... I think it's highly unlikely you will find 1) a good enough locksmith and 2) ... | |
| ignition coil | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: i have a positive ground car should the wire from the start switch be hooked to the neg or pos ... A: Sorry about the delay: I was away. On positive grounds (lots of 1950s-60s English cars) the negative ... | |
| MG Midget Battery Connection | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a 67 midget without a battery. Can you tell me which way the battery should be installed. I ... A: I don't know that Midget personally; but be careful. It's very likely a positive ground car. You ... | |
Vintage Cars
Jo Jesty
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Most detailed about Austin Healeys but also MGs (A,B,C), old Minis, old Volvos: they share SU carbs, Lucas (Prince of Darkness!) ignition, Girling brakes & shocks. Some things shared with TRs too, but I don't know so much about them. Can advise the semi-neophyte on the basics of keeping things running, especially tuning ignition and carbs; but no rebuilding engines or transmissions; no frame or bodywork. General date range: late 50s to 70s (not so good about cars with emission controls, electronics). No valuation experience at all.
Experience
Middling: I am not an auto mechanic. (Should we stop right here?)
Grew up In England and a workshop. I have had a 3-carb 60/61 Healey for ca. 8 years, largely looked after myself. New fuel system and carbs, resuscitated ignition, brakes (discs and drum). Great driver's car. Major jobs done by others: king pins, front frame cancer excision; caliper rebuild; etc. Organizations.: Austin Healey Sports & Touring Car Club (PA)
Publications: > 70, irrelevant
Education/Credentials: PhD, irrelevant
Awards and Honors: irrelevant
Languages: Je peux essayer francais...
Education/Credentials
Re. cars, none--see experience.
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