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 MGB Technical - Two-post lift points

I'm another MGB newbie. I've had my MG-TD for several years but just recently acquired a beautifully restored '72 MGB (this pic is the restorer's/PO's grandkids). I have a two-post lift. Lifting the TD is easy- just put the pads under the chassis frame and up it goes.

Because the MGB is a unit body, I don't know where to put the lift pads (it's also a lot lower than the TD making it harder to see under it). I don't see anything in the owner's manual on this and I don't yet have a workshop manual. I doubt putting the pads under the outer body seams is correct.

Can someone show me the correct points for lifting an MGB with a two-post lift?

Thanks. Jud

J K Chapin

HI Jud, nice car. I cant help with the two post lift question I'm afraid as I have to manage with trolley jacks and axle stands :) But I can help with a workshop manual download:

http://www.geomatique-liege.be/MGJP/DocumentsPDF/MGB_Workshop_Manual.pdf

Andy
Andy Robinson

At the front, anywhere under the sills should do it, if it doesn't the car needs serious work ...
By sills I mean the inner sill box section, which is substatially gauged. You can see the top of it inside the car next to the seat when the door is closed. The bottom panel of that box has a rib about 1" wide running along the length of it.
However, make sure that you check the integrity of the box section first. You could use the chassis rail further in if you prefer or are in doubt about the soundness of your sill.

At the rear, there is a triangular panel with two fillets running forward from the front mount of the spring. It can be supported on those fillets.
Paul Walbran

I always lift using the chassis rails (just where they level off at the start of the floorpan) and the front rear spring hanger just infront of where the spring bolts. I wouldn't trust sills ever.
Roadwarrior

There is a huge amount of strength in the sills, and they support the factory-fitted single jack point. Sure, if they are rusty then that's an issue and should be checked out first. However chassis rails can rust too. Fortunately here we don't have salt on our roads and the in-service test is tough on rust.
Paul Walbran

"There is a huge amount of strength in the sills,"

WAS ... originally.

Many years ago I read somewhere that if the sills were more than a few years old or of unknown age/condition they shouldn't be used for jacking. I've never used them on either of my cars.

A few years ago a tyre place used a sill-lift type when replacing the tyres. The rears pads were under the front spring hangers which were OK, but the fronts were under the flange at the bottom of the front wings which of course bent it. When I protested they said they weren't responsible for the condition of the car! They also tightened the nuts with an air gun - and I mean tightened them, not just spun them on. I measured 120 ft lb on them when I got home before my torque wrench broke. They denied responsibility for that as well.
Paul Hunt

Andy, thanks for the link. All, thanks for the info on lift points. My sills should be in good condition but I'll probably try to use the chassis rail and the rear triangular panels first.

Jud
J K Chapin

Jud, I've owned my '67 B for over forty three years and have had access to two posts for many of those. Whenever I used one, I would place the front supports under the front chassis rails, as far forward as possible. In the rear, I used the forward most section of the leaf springs. This always provided the best support and balance for the car. Sills can be a trouble spot when applying a lot of weight, as their previous history is almost always in question. RAY
rjm RAY

Never the sills! It is only the jacking point which is suitably reinforced for "point "loading. As we all know this was known to fail when B's were quite young. My sills have two reinforcer brackets each and I would only use in an emergency.
Allan Reeling

Ah you see we don't have the same rust problem here ...
Paul Walbran

North or South Island Paul? Probably unsalted roads though!
Allan Reeling

Rust or no rust, they're not properly reinforced to take the weight of the car for any amount of time except in the middle.
Roadwarrior

"they're not properly reinforced to take the weight of the car for any amount of time except in the middle."

Don't forget that the jacking point is being asked to take the weight of the whole of one side of the car, but a four-point lift is only taking one quarter of the weight of the car at each point. I've seen similar queries about a how safe a one-tonne jack being used on a two tonne (for example) car is, and again the jack is only being used at one corner.

Still wouldn't use the sills though.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 05/07/2015 and 08/07/2015

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now