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MOTRS

MGB GT V8

1973-1976 / Coupe / United Kingdom

All MGB GT V8 problems All workshop issues
Common Gearbox

Second Gear Synchro Wear

Symptoms

A crunch or grind when shifting quickly from 3rd to 2nd gear, especially when the engine is cold.

Cause

Second gear takes the most punishment in normal driving -- it's the gear you downshift to most often. The brass synchro ring wears thin and can no longer match shaft speeds effectively.

Fix

Gearbox rebuild with new synchro rings.

Cost: $800--1,500 for a rebuild.

A used replacement gearbox from a specialist is $400--800.

Cost mentioned in fix
Cost: $800$400

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Other known issues

Critical Gearbox

Overdrive Failure

The overdrive fails to engage, engages intermittently, or drops out under load.
Minor Body and Structure

Sill Corrosion (Inner and Outer)

The outer sill skin bubbles, softens, and eventually perforates. In advanced cases, the outer sill crumbles when prodded. The inner sill -- the structural member -- rots from inside the box section and loses its load-bearing capacity.
Critical Body and Structure

Floor Pan Corrosion

Soft or perforated floor pans, particularly in the footwells and under the seats. Wet carpet is a telltale sign. In severe cases, you can see the road through the floor.
Minor Body and Structure

A-Post Corrosion

Rust at the base of the windscreen pillars where they meet the scuttle panel. This area can be invisible until advanced.
Minor Body and Structure

Door Skin Corrosion

Rust along the bottom edge of each door, working upward from the inside.
Minor Body and Structure

Rear Spring Hanger Corrosion

The mounting points for the leaf spring rear suspension corrode, crack, or tear away from the body.
View all 18 MGB GT V8 problems