MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MG Y Type - first time driver

Any advice for a first time driver.
been driving for 40 years, every thing from MGB / Chevy Blazer / 60's Volvo / Moriss Minor.... BUT have not yet sat in a 'Y' and will be driving mine for the firat time in 5 days, any advice would be appreciated.
Michael

Michael: I think my advice would be - enjoy! You'll need to plan ahead a bit, as power surplus has never been a problem Y owners have had to contend with, and the brakes are a constant reminder that this is a car designed and engineered seventy years ago... but I love all the sensations of driving mine, and have since 1970, right down to the noise of the non-synchro bottom gear. Have fun!
Tim Griggs

Tim is quite right - enjoyment and planning ahead are the key.

Also juat think for other road users, they will be concentrating on you / admiring the car ... and not what they should be doing which is concentrating on their driving.

Good luck,

Paul
Paul Barrow

Welcome to the Y.

You may find that Y ownership becomes obsessive.

When I first drove mine, the lack of power seemed a problem and I became well acquainted with second gear on hills, which is a bit wearing.

However, I quickly became confident in the strength of the XPAG engine, and learned to give it plenty of stick, change down early and try to work up a bit of extra speed approaching inclines.

Enjoy yourself.
Michael Nicholson

They are all quite right, especially about the obsession. The best advice I was given was to wear narrow shoes or trainers at first. The clutch, brake and throttle pedals are very close together and take some time to get used to after driving a modern car (one person told me the best thing to wear was ballet pumps, but even my love of Y Types won't let me go that far). Also, the XPAG is a noisy. clattery engine which sounds as if it's going to throw bits out all over the road at any minute. It's not going to, it is a strong reliable engine that will drive you along at 55mph forever.
Enjoy your driving.
Peter
P S Sharp

Apart from not being used to RHD, from the first miles in my Y I recall the violent oversteer (caused by ancient Portugese crossply rear tyres, cured with new Dunlops with the right pressure), bad brakes (caused by sticking wheelcilinders and glazed lining), vague steering (cured with proper alignment), grinding gears (cured by practicing double clutching even in the daily driver). What this learned me is not to take anything for granted because of the old age of the Y; it is much better than you expect.

The best thing I recall however is the magnificent view over the bonnet (hood for you) and watching the road pass by reflected in the chrome headlamp bowls.

Prepare yourself for a most enjoyable learning experience!
Willem van der Veer

Why didn't you tell me about those narrowly spaced pedals when I first got my Y?

When I took delivery of it last December, it was parked in a dark wharehouse. I tried to start it for a good 10 minutes without success. I was pumping the gas pedal while pulling on the choke and the starter button. It sputtered and died every time. When we pushed the car out in the sunshine, I finally saw the pedals and realized that my large boots were pressing on the brake pedal and were never reaching the accelerator. I took of my right boot and the car started within one second!
Gilles Bachand

Gilles,
Just in case you hadn't realized, you can achieve a small increase in space between the throttle pedal and the brake pedal by removing the pedal head itself and reversing it's mounting. All will be obvious if you take a look, but you might have done this already.
Ted Gardner
Ted Gardner

Gilles - I do believe you never asked - LOL, however, I bet you dont want to sell you car though do you? If you do, let me know as I have a buyer wanting a Y!

Paul
Paul Barrow

I have just driven the YB to work (I live in Liverpool)- about 7 miles to Bootle - provided you start out early to avoid traffic then it's perfectly feasible but you need to remember to use both wing and rear view mirrors as vision is restricted in a Y. Don't forget that compared to a modern rubber belt driven timing arrangement on a modern engine its a bit noisier. You get used to the acceleration which is not too bad really - but easier to start off in 2nd to save a noisy first gear in my case - also watch out for road humps which are a bit more effective on old rear springs! Finally give it a miss on wet days as the wipers are noisy and you can get leaks through various gaps!. Remember the brakes have no servo and need a shove compared to today's cars! Finally have flashing indicators fitted - many people don't understand those trafficators arms now. I also intend to fit an extra rear window brake light.
All in all if you are not in a rush it's a pleasant way to drive!! Roll on summer holidays when I can drive over to North Wales and potter about! Heaven.
David Mullen

Thanks for all the feedback. As another Y newboy it was very useful for when I go to Birmingham to collect my YA.
M K Grainger

Dear MK

We all look forward to getting your entry for Ys on Parade on http://www.mgytypes.org too and wish you well on your collection of the vehicle.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Well, the first time drive for this first time driver turned out to be quite eventful. After a stop at the Northampton MG Saloon day, where we paired the oldest MG with (probably) the newest owner, we set off for London. After about 40 minutes all power disappeared and we had to make an unscheduled stop by the side of the motorway. The AA diagnosis was "blown head gasket". After 3.5 hours the truck finally arrived to take Clara away. So, I still don't have my 'new' MG.

Another worrying development was a very rough and clattery noise from the left-front while on right lock. Any ideas what else I might be up for when the mechanics get their hands on my Y?

As a new boy, I do appreciate the feedback that the more experienced owners provide in this forum.

Thanks
Murray



M K Grainger

Gilles Bachand:
Your posting said:"I was pumping the gas pedal while pulling on the choke and the starter button..."
Gilles,"pumping" like that only works if the carbs have accellerator pumps built into them. SU carbs on MGs don't have such pumps!
Carl

Well Murray, congratulations on the first time drive...., my first trouble-free drive was the forth!

My "blown headgasket" turned out to be a totally blocked radiator, recognised (sp?) by the meagre trickle of coolant after removing the bottom hose. Although it didn't hurt to remove my head for decoking, it did not solve the problem, recoring the original radiator did (as a makeshift solution I descaled the radiator with household cleaning vinegar which improved the flow much but did not improve the cooling very much...).

The noise from your left wheel can be anything from worn wheel bearing (search the archives for info on that) to loose brake parts scoring the drum. All to be taken quite seriously of course.
Willem van der Veer

Murray,
Sorry to hear about your journey home; it was good to meet you at the MG Saloon car event. Here is a picture to remind you of being a happy, trouble free new owner.
peter

P S Sharp

Murray, Michael who started this thread off has sent me his entry for Ys on Parade, but I'd still love to have one from you too please Murray. Click on the link on any Ys on Parade page (top left) at http://www.mgytypes.org, complete the online form, attach a photo and press submit - I'll do the rest for publishing.

Thanks

Paul
Paul Barrow

Sorry for the confusion - I'm new to all this. I filled in the form that goes to Jack Murray and ticked the option to add to Ys on Parade and attached a photo. I thought that got the job done, but clearly not. I will submit the way you propose when I am at my home PC, with the photos available.

Murray
Murray Grainger

Hi Murray

Dont know what has happened there - breakdown in internal communications! I apologise. Maybe if you can do it again please, and if Jack reads this and send me his set too then twice is better than none!

Cheers

Paul
Paul Barrow

Dear Murray,

received your registration form OK but there was nothing attached.

Jack
Jack Murray

This thread was discussed between 25/05/2007 and 04/07/2007

MG MG Y Type index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MG Y Type BBS now