MG Tech Tips by John Twist

50 Years of University Motors

By UM staff | January 8, 2025

John Twist opened his University Motors MG repair shop in Grand Rapids on January 25, 1975. The rest is history!You’re invited to the University Motors 50th Birthday Party on Saturday,…

Miracle on 28th Street

By UM staff | September 18, 2023

by guest columnist Allen Bachelder The corner of 28th and Patterson in Grand Rapids Michigan looks totally normal. Just ten blocks north of the Gerald R Ford International Airport, a…

The Twist Library

By UM staff | March 23, 2023

During March 2023, John Twist and his assistant Martie started relocating his MG Technical books and archives. John’s 50 years of MG books, magazines, factory literature, and University Motors memorabilia…

Red engine for MG sports car

Is Your Engine Tired?

By John Twist | March 5, 2023

I talk to a lot of MG owners about the condition of their engines.  Over and over, I hear the phrase, “My engine is tired.” I tell them there is…

Spring Maintenance & Lubrication Checklist

By UM staff | March 5, 2023

Ready to wake up your MG after cold weather hibernation? If you followed the Winter Storage Instructions, you should be in good shape. Here is John Twist’s Spring checklist to…

Celebrating 48 years of University Motors with John Twist

By UM staff | February 2, 2023

John Twist celebrated the 48th Birthday of University Motors on January 21, 2023 in Grand Rapids, MI with his employees, customers, and friends. John opened a small British car repair…

Eliminating Rear Axle Clunk

By John Twist | December 14, 2022

By John H Twist A common problem I hear from MG owners is “There’s a clunking sound in the rear of my car!” The Salisbury, Tubed-type, or “GT” rear axle…

Winter Storage Tips

By John Twist | December 13, 2022

Ask a dozen MG owners how each of them stored his MG last year and you will receive a dozen different answers. Methods range from abandoning the MG under a…

FAQ Archives: Timing Chain on MGB

By John Twist | November 18, 2022

Hello John,I have a stock 1971 MGB that appears to have jumped a tooth on the timing chain. The engine will start and run but has a pretty bad shake…

FAQ Archives: A Ticking TF

By John Twist | November 18, 2022

Question: Dear Mr. Twist,Here is a thorny problem for you to cogitate! I have conducted extensive research and value your input. My 1955 TF 1500 is making a ticking sound,…

TD Clutch Repair Misadventures

By John Twist | November 9, 2022

Guest post by David Capallo In October 2022, John Twist visited me in Savannah, GA to replace the clutch on my 1951 MG TD. This was his second time visiting…

1977 MGB Run-On

By John Twist | November 2, 2022

Peculiar to the 1977 MGBs (and some, very early 1978’s) is a wiring design fault that allows the engine to continue running when the key is turned off. This problem…

Blue vintage car

FAQ Archives: TD Oil Leak

By John Twist | November 1, 2022

Dear John, How would you like to hear another MG adventure? I recently started up a TD that had the engine rebuilt several years ago. I went through the start-up…

Restoring an MGA

By John Twist | October 29, 2022

The MGA restoration is a huge project! It will eat up time and money for several years. Take your most liberal estimate of the time and cost — then multiply…

John’s Guide to Buying and Selling MGs

By John Twist | October 29, 2022

The rules of selling an MG and buying an MG are so diametrical that they barely deserve to be covered in the same article.  Yet they bear a symbiotic relationship…

FAQ Archive: Valve Guides on MGB

By John Twist | October 18, 2022

QUESTION: I hope you can help me. I had the head rebuilt on my 1969 MGB with hardened valve seats. The engine ran fine for a few minutes then started…

FAQ Archives: MG History & Trivia

By UM staff | October 16, 2022

Dear Mr. Twist, Over the last few weeks I have been trying to research into the history of the MG Sports Car, but have not been successful in answering these…

FAQ Archives: Cruise Control Conversion on MG TD

By John Twist | October 16, 2022

Question: As sinful as it may seem, because of a leg problem, I must install a cruise control in my 1951 MGTD. Has anyone done this before and what type…

Sounds of the MG: Zizzes, Clunks, Rattles & Ticks

By John Twist | October 6, 2022

By John Twist The familiar sounds of the MG — a throaty exhaust, the whine of the engine, the sounds of rushing air — make MG driving its best!  Strange…

Workshop Safety Guide

By John Twist | October 6, 2022

Safety First!A safe, clean, well-illuminated workshop can make the difference between an exciting mechanical endeavor and a tedious, filthy, time-consuming undertaking. Plan ahead! Organize your workshop before you begin your project.FIRE!Carelessness, mixed with a bit of gasoline, can spell disaster. The resulting inferno can incinerate your MG, your house, and kill you. To be caught…

This post is only available to members.