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Originally Posted by Bill Rubenstein
Electrical systems on those cars were pertty ratty and failed regularly.
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Also, both the MGs and the Triumphs used a pair of side draft carburators -- either SU or Stromberg. They both needed lots of tweeking and balancing to run properly. It isn't hard to do but they are a mystery to most auto mechanics. They used to selll a device to balance them (a Unisyn) but a good ear and a length of rubber hose worked better for me.
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One other thing -- both cars had solid lifters so the valve lash had to be reset regularly. Again, not hard to do.
Have fun...
Bill
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I was an old-fashioned Journeyman mechanic in a former life, the 'Foreign Car Guy' in our shop. I regularly cared for a number of MGs, a Triumph or two, a couple of Jaguars, and a Rolls Corniche, among the British stuff.
The cars are basically solid; here are some hints for you. Make sure you roll underneath and check all the body and frame bolts, (and anything that bolts to them) put removable locktite on anything you find loose and retighten. Get a wiring diagram and get ready to replace the critical parts of it if it hasn't been done already. Pay particular attention to the areas around the batteries: it can corrode pretty badly back there if just left alone in a damp climate. Also remember you're working with a positive-ground car.
If you get the chance and the cash to pull out (and throw away) the original distributor and replace it with a Bosch, do so. It will add tremendously to your reliability and make the car run just so much better.
The carbs no matter if SU, Zenith, or Stromberg, are pretty good once working right. They may at some time need a bit of a rebuild; this is something you can do yourself on the bench if you have a dial caliper for setting the depth of the jets. Balancing for flow isn't all that hard, and once set should only need to be done infrequently.
As mentioned previously, keep up on your valve lash.
Best advice? Be fussy about getting everything fixed right. Also if you have something simple like a bad water hose, get a full set and replace ALL OF THEM at one time. The greatest enemies to British automobile reliability are half-way measures. Fix it once, fix all of it, and it won't strand you.