Description

XCMG MGB Workshop Manual

You have a British Leyland MGB in your bay, and the customer is waiting. You need the correct cylinder head torque sequence, the fuel system vacuum routing, or the rear axle shim specs for a semi-floating type. Grabbing a generic aftermarket PDF off the internet is going to cost you time, busted knuckles, and possibly a comeback. I have pulled wrenches for 28 years, and I have seen what happens when someone trusts a third-party manual that says “torque to spec” without giving the actual torque. That is why this XCMG MGB Workshop Manual stays on my bench. It is the same 417-page factory document Leyland issued to its dealers. No condensed version, no missing pages, no translated garbage. If the factory printed it, it is here.

Engine Overhaul: What This Manual Covers

The Engine section alone runs from the block strip to the head torque procedure. Page 3 of the manual lists the maintenance schedule, including the exact numbers for cylinder head nut torque, rocker shaft nut torque, and valve clearance adjustments. You will also find the “Engine (Local and territorial requirements)” subsection that covers emission-control variations. If you are swapping a cam or rebuilding the bottom end, the General Data chapter gives you the bore and stroke, compression ratio, and firing order. This is not a summary. It is the full factory sequence, including the order in which you tighten the manifold nuts.

Cooling System and Fuel System Specs

Two systems that cause more diagnostics time than anything else on these cars. The Cooling System chapter walks through thermostat location, water pump lubrication (early models only), and belt adjustment. The Fuel System chapter includes the evaporative loss variant used on North American models. If you are chasing a hot-start stumble or a vapor-lock issue, the factory procedure for the SU carburettors and the fuel line filter is in there. The manual even tells you the correct way to run the engine and check for coolant leaks after a refill—step by step, no shortcuts.

Does This Manual Include Wiring Diagrams?

Yes. There is a dedicated Wiring Diagrams section near the back. You get the full colour-coded layout for both RHD and LHD versions. If you are dealing with an aftermarket alarm hack or a short in the tail-light circuit, you trace it from the factory diagram, not from a sketch someone drew on a napkin. The Electrical System chapter covers local and territorial requirements, so the North American lighting and ignition differences are included.

Suspension and Steering: Factory Alignment Data

The manual splits the rear axle and rear suspension into two types: three-quarter-floating and semi-floating. The Front Suspension chapter gives you the spring rates, damper settings, and the procedure for the Hydraulic Dampers. Steering Gear includes the energy-absorbing column. If you are replacing a tie-rod end or setting toe-in, the alignment specs are in the General Data table. Do not guess. Use the factory numbers.

3 Reasons to Trust This Over Aftermarket

First, the torque values come from Leyland’s engineering department, not from a typist who copied a forum post. Second, the manual includes the official service-tool list—so you know exactly which socket, puller, or gauge you need before you start. Third, you get the authentic “recommended lubricants” table, which tells you the correct oil grade for the gearbox, overdrive (type L.H), and automatic gearbox. Aftermarket manuals often merge different years into one blob. This one is model-specific for the MGB and published under the XCMG brand for global distribution.

Who Needs This Manual?

If you own an MGB and work on it yourself, you need this. If you run a shop that sees these cars once a month, you need this. The 417 pages cover the clutch, gearbox (all synchromesh and overdrive), propeller shaft, braking system (including tandem master cylinder), wheels and tyres, and the body section with local and territorial requirements. The DIY mechanic will avoid the frustration of buying the wrong part because the manual lists the exact part numbers in the service-tools and recommended-lubricants chapters. The professional will save billable hours because the troubleshooting is laid out in the maintenance summary—like checking volt drop between coil CB and earth, or adjusting the distributor advance with the vacuum pipe disconnected.

Does this manual cover the MGB GT and roadster?

Yes. It applies to all MGB models from the period, including both roadster and GT variants. The sections on body and rear axle differentiate between three-quarter-floating and semi-floating types, which cover the different model years.

What is the publication part number?

AKD 3259, 14th Edition. Printed by Leyland Cars-Service, Cowley, Oxford.

Are the wiring diagrams in colour?

No, the manual uses black-and-white line drawings, but the wire colours are labelled with text codes. Every wire is identified by its colour abbreviation, so you can trace circuits without colour confusion.

Can I use this for a 1978 MGB with a single Zenith-Stromberg carb?

Yes. The Fuel System chapter includes the evaporative loss setup used from 1975 onward, and the Engine Tuning Data section lists the correct settings for the later emission-controlled engines. Check the Engine (Local and territorial requirements) subsection for the specific carburettor adjustments.

Do not waste another afternoon with a reprint that skips the critical steps. The factory Leyland manual—now published under XCMG—gives you the same data the dealership mechanics used when these cars were new. Access the Factory Manual and put it on your tablet or print it for the bench. You will know the torque, the clearance, and the procedure before you turn the first bolt.

Related Manuals:

• MG TF Workshop Manual (K Series / PG1 Gearbox)
• MG MGF 2000 Workshop Manual
• XCMG XS 120 2008 Operators Manual | OEM Factory Specs
• External reference: Manual Transmission – Wikipedia article on manual transmission operation and maintenance.
• External reference: Manual Transmission – further reading on gearbox theory.