http://www.autoshrine.com/ en Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:51:06 -0800 15 3073 http://www./journal//3073 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:37:00 -0800 Four days off for New Year's and still only one good days' work... Bought a can of rubberized undercoating and sprayed the underside of both front wings, then mounted them to the body. Had to go to the shed and find my coffee can full of bolts, but they were all there. Was thrown off a little bit by the spacer washer that fits between the wing and the scuttle up under the windscreen; the wings didn't line up right without those spacers, but after fitting them everything looked okay. Also took some time to chase the threads on all (okay, most) of the captive nuts.<br /> <br /> Also fitted the tranny mount and crossmember. This was a job I had been dreading, partly because of the thick layer of greasy dirt covering the entire crossmember, and partly because of the odd bolt angles and limited accessibility under the car. Also took some fiddling to fit the new round buffers through their holes. But it's all in there now, except for the stay rod - I need to locate the bracket that connects the stay rod to...<br /> 3072 http://www./journal//3072 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:24:07 -0800 Since my last entry<br /> 3071 http://www./journal//3071 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:57:34 -0800 Since my last entry, Gerty was rescued from the person who was doing her up as he went under. So armed with the trailer we went to get her and her bits back, but am still missing my rear leaf springs which are goodness only knows where????!!!!!!! I then went on the net to source some more as most dealers in UK said that they were now being made abroard but NOT to a high standard but very expensive. Luckily, Anglo parts in Belgium had a pair but they needed some work as the bands were too big. So looking like a pair of blacksmiths we heated the bands and bent them over. Great job! they are fitted along with all suspension front and back. The engine was fitted in along with a 5 speed gearbox ( fitted as we live quite far up in the north of Scotland and to get down south is a long journey) New marine ply floorboards were cut, painted and sealed with epoxy resin then sprayed black.<br /> I was recommended a man called David Stewart near Edinburgh who started doing up cars in his retirement and went on to do...<br /> 3070 http://www./journal//3070 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:39:07 -0800 As the MGB gets tucked away for the winter, a new project takes hold. Not knowing fully what awaits discovery under the body, a lift is studied and planned with help from the A forum. Using tools at hand, the body is lifted off the frame. Initially snagged by the pedal bracket, the body is finally freed and the frame is rolled from underneath.<br /> 3069 http://www./journal//3069 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:10:06 -0800 In a quest to obtain more MGB parts, I answered an attractive ad for a car and loose parts. When the garage door was opened, my eyes fell on a MGA Coupe covered in boxes and misc. parts. I figured the seller was simply moving the B parts in order to make room for the A project. But I had to ask...<br /> 3068 http://www./journal//3068 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:59:00 -0800 Today was again very cold. I am trying to clean off the muck of 40 plus years. This is a joy. NOT.<br /> <br /> I shall clean up the garage instead.<br /> <br /> It is cold. I am called to the light. <br /> <br /> Central California isn't this cold. I can't paint my front suspension parts again.<br /> <br /> Woe is me. <br /> <br /> Color me discouraged.<br /> 3067 http://www./journal//3067 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:47:17 -0800 been pretty much just doing nothing much last couple weeks. Although, been making plans to clean and paint engine and engine bay. Picked up the "Glacier White" in rattle cans yesterday along with some degreaser. Will pick up POR-15 on Monday.<br /> <br /> We're having an unusually nice morning (the sun is out!) so, since I needed to go to our local home improvement store for "stuff" I decided to take Daphne off the dollies and take her out. It's only a couple miles away so I figured why not.<br /> <br /> On the way back, I start hearing this weird noise for the first time - pull in the garage, pop the bonnet and narrow the sound to the front of the motor. PLEASE! tell me it can't be the new water pump?!?! further leaning in, i'm hearing it from the alternator.... hmmmm, low and behold - one of the "ears" where it bolts on is cracked in two!! <br /> <br /> Oh well, guess that's my answer as whether or not to officially "lay her up" and begin taking stuff off the motor in prep to paint..... This...<br /> 3066 http://www./journal//3066 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:08:58 -0800 I put the MG away for the winter around the week after Halloween. That was pretty late for us as I make it a point to have it all stored away by the end of October. I drove it in early November but it really does not like the cold and if 30 degrees out the car never warms up fully so it tends to buck and snort. I have some winter projects in mind, once the holidays are over. I found a small leak in the top radiator tank in the fall, so I plan to pull the radiator out. It will be the third time in 25+ years I have had to fix a seam leak in the top tank. Also I may have the distributor "Schlemmerized". It depends on how much we have available after some dental work my wife is going through. So for now its just tucked away and let the bench racing begin. Our club's valve cover races are coming up and I have my valve cover racer ready!<br /> 3065 http://www./journal//3065 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:37:17 -0800 getting the BIG BANNA SPIRDER OUT OF MY CAR,<br /> then dad found some used tires and we put them on to keep the car off the grond b/c the other tires were crap next came oil and antifreeze <br /> <br /> we are open to any help or coments u can give us<br /> 3064 http://www./journal//3064 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:51:04 -0800 65,000 original miles, from the original owner.<br /> 3063 http://www./journal//3063 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:41:42 -0800 April 2004...<br /> <br /> After surveying a car for a potential customer, and giving him the presentation on the economics of it all, (a complete restoration)he said instead, "You want it?" And so, after some brief haggling over virtually nothing, it was instead brought home.<br /> 3062 http://www./journal//3062 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:42:08 -0800 I got the new 1" front bar on, along with the 5/8" rear, doesn't feel as good on street tires, but never got a chance to go autocrossing and try it out on racing rubber.<br /> 3061 http://www./journal//3061 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:44:26 -0800 In the past four months I've done tons of work. The wiring harness is all in and looking good. Sections were tested and worked. <br /> <br /> Doors have all hardware and windows in, except for the locks. I need to get a new like-keyed lock set. The windshield is in, but it has some scratches in the glass. I have a buffing/scratch removal kit that worked in testing and I will continue with that. <br /> <br /> Chrome bumpers are both in , although the front bumper needs some 'shaping' because there is some difficulty in getting the grill in. Both bumpers got new overriders.<br /> <br /> Headlights and marker lamps are in, and were tested and worked when the wiring harness was installed. <br /> <br /> The heater box, vents, and tubes were put in. The cockpit was lined with Dynamat, and a new carpet set was put in mostly. I am working on installing the dash. I am also working on refurbishing/refreshing the brake calipers.<br /> 3060 http://www./journal//3060 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:53:53 -0800 Over the winter of '07, I rebuilt the rear brakes and the front suspension. I replaced the gaitors adn generally cleaned beneath the front of the car. A GM dealer friend took the car to his shop and steam-cleaned the entire underbody and engine compartment. The old tires still had reasonably good tread, but they were 12 years old and had become very hard....I felt they were unsafe, so my friend also put new tires on the car while he had it in his shop. I also stripped and repainted the wheels while the tires were off, and installed a new front valance. I got it all put back together in time to enjoy some spring and summer driving, and get it ready to paint.<br /> 3059 http://www./journal//3059 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:02:22 -0800 I've always wanted a Midget - even as a kid. Odd, I know. So I bought one - on eBay - and trusted the seller (in Ohio) to have given me the right information on the car's condition. Thankfully, he did...<br /> <br /> I spent $3000 to buy the car, and much much more to get it into driving condition. I'm not a mechanic, nor do I want to be, but the local mechanic took the engine / mechanicals on as a "project car" and I've done the interior and exterior refurbishment.<br /> <br /> I'll post more pics when I get them downloaded from the camera!<br /> 3058 http://www./journal//3058 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:23:33 -0800 Of course it wasn't only rust damage which was visible on my Midget. Stripping all paint off revealed serious accident damage in the boot area and worse on the nose section (radiator surround) and both front wings. What made things worse was that this damage was very poorly repaired. The body shop which had "repaired" it before, just simply drilled a lot of holes in the dents and used a large amount of filler to cover everything up. In some places the layer of "bondo" was half an inch thick (necessitating drilled holes so the filler had a "grip" on the metal). It took me ages to remove all this by wire-brushing, weld-up all drilled holes and panel-beating the dents out. I wanted to keep the original wings with the body shell as these had a perfect fit onto the upwards curving sills and towards the scuttle area. The radiator surround was beyond repair so I had to order a new panel here. This too needed extensive modifications as it just wouldn't fit onto the chassis rails and both wings. The left front wing...<br /> 3057 http://www./journal//3057 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:59:20 -0800 After stripping the Midget back to a bare shell, I was able to make a solid assessment of the condition of the bodyshell.<br /> Although this seemed to be one of those famous "ex-California rust-free shells"; the floorpanels in both footwells were completely rusted. It seemed that the car had fallen off axle stands once in its life, because there were two gaping holes punched in the boot floor. And of course there were the occasional rust spots on the usual Spridget places. It looked serious but not beyond repair. There was evidence of some accident damage too in the boot area and on the front wings. This caused me more concern but first I wanted to start with the floor panel repairs.<br /> The punched holes in the boot were easy to repair. I decided to renew the entire floor panel under the seats and footwells. This involved drilling out dozens of spotwelds and remove the spring anchor plates, before I could remove the old floor. This had the added benefit that now I was able to watch the inside of the b...<br /> 3056 http://www./journal//3056 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:39:54 -0800 Replaced the slave cylinder. Tore out the carpets and seats. Working on replacing the clutch and coating the inside and outside metals.<br /> <br /> To go<br /> Getting the electrical system figured out<br /> Fixing rear fenders and hood<br /> Paintjob<br /> New Carpets<br /> New Top<br /> Filling and replacement of dash<br /> 3055 http://www./journal//3055 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:22:34 -0800 We brought this car home yesterday. Started sorting through all of the boxes of parts and tried to cordinate all of the parts that went togather.<br /> <br /> Several parts I am not sure where the go but will hopefully be able to figure out as I start the restoration.<br /> 3054 http://www./journal//3054 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:47:41 -0800 Happy Christmas! The holidays mean, well, a holiday from work, and since we didn't travel this year, I had several days at home. One entire day was spent working on the 'B, and I was able to spend that day mating the engine and tranny, and mounting the assembly into the car. This is really good news in a project like this, since the drivetrain is of such obvious importance in a car, and because it's probably the single largest assembly that must be bolted into the chassis. Not only that, but now that the motor is installed, I can bolt the wings on, and once the wings are bolted on, I can align and install the bonnet. Once the wings are bolted on, I can install the windscreen; once the wings are bolted on, I can open the doors and work on the interior. So this weekend's work has now cleared the way for lots more progress!<br /> 3053 http://www./journal//3053 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:46:01 -0800 We purchased the "bug" in Cobourg, Ontario in July, 2008. We had a terrific drive up to North Bay, Ontario, about 400 km. Beautiful MGB country!<br /> 3052 http://www./journal//3052 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:40:05 -0800 We purchased the "bug" in Cobourg, Ontario in July, 2008. We had a terrific drive up to North Bay, Ontario, about 400 km. Beautiful MGB country!<br /> 3051 http://www./journal//3051 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:27:39 -0800 Merry Christmas everyone !!!<br /> 3050 http://www./journal//3050 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:03:50 -0800 Well I had a chance to drive this car for 6 weeks before I put it away for the winter. I put some miles on it and had some fun in doing it, but I also found some things that need some work. <br /> <br /> One of them was the heater, I had air blowing but no heat. Earlier I ordered some gaskets and other parts for the car. When I got those I was ready to drain the anti-freeze. After that was done I pulled the thermostat and the heater valve.<br /> Well it was obvious right away that the cause was a blocked valve. I pulled it apart with directions from Bob M. on his web site. It came apart real easy and I cleaned it out, but the casting has too much corrosion to save. I posted this infomation earlier on the forum and got some good advice from the members. Some said it may have been blocked from someone using stop leak in the cooling system. I think it was a combination of that and the car wasn't driven very much in the last 4 years before I bought it.<br /> <br /> While I have the system drained I'll pull...<br /> 3049 http://www./journal//3049 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:29:35 -0800 Spent last night installing the front crossmember, rebound buffer, and lever shocks.<br /> 3048 http://www./journal//3048 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:46:18 -0800 Bought a pair of HIF carbs off ebay today for $46.00 US, hope I have done the right thing but I need to replace one of my carbs as the body is shot, will see if the run the car smoother than it does now then next step after new year a rebuild by Jimmy I think.<br /> Also bought a new dizzy with electronic points, if this weather ever warms up here I will try and install it and make sure the car still runs.<br /> <br /> I want the car running smoothly ready for spring so I can do some serious top down driving and then I can make a start on restoring the car back to A-1 condition, new paint, upholstery etc.<br /> 3047 http://www./journal//3047 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:28:57 -0800 Two weeks ago we got the front brakes bled after completely rebuilding them, that went pretty smoothly. We ran into some issues with bleeding the clutch though. Last night we got that taken care of, put the rear of the car up on jack stands and put it in gear. Thankfully the clutch engaged and disengaged (tested 1, 2, and reverse) and it seems fine. I still need to change the fluid in the rear axle and the gearbox, but everything seems to be fine.<br /> <br /> One step closer to hitting the road! yay!<br /> 3046 http://www./journal//3046 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:23:03 -0800 With the economy being what it is and after losing a good bit of my contract work, my search for another little British car, though still minimally active, got put on the backburner. Then, back on December 15, 2008 I was reviewing my craigslist account and remembered an ad that I had placed back about a year ago when I was looking for an LBC. That ad had generated one response which resulted in the pile of rust sitting in my shop that had once been a TR6. Of course the qad had expired a number of months ago, but I decided that I would repost it just for the heck of and see what happened. That was a week ago today and I hadn't heard anything...that is until this morning. I got to work around 0800 and immediately checked my email. To my surprise there was a response to the ad. A gentleman emailed me to say that he had a 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 sitting in his driveway. He had a good bit of work done to it but then went through a divorce and stopped working on the car. He said that it fires right up but runs a...<br /> 3045 http://www./journal//3045 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:01:41 -0800 Project #2<br /> 3044 http://www./journal//3044 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:58:28 -0800 Project #2<br /> 3043 http://www./journal//3043 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:31:12 -0800 I took my last drive in my MGB for the 2008 season two days after Thanksgiving. <br /> It was about 42F with mostly sunny skies and calm winds the last few days. Really great weather for the end of November in Minnesota. I put on about 40 miles that last day with an additional 55 miles the day before.<br /> <br /> On Thanksgiving I brought it over to the in-laws for our turkey dinner and later my wife and I went over to my sisters place to visit with my family.<br /> <br /> Thanksgiving was the first time some of my family had seen my car as I only bought it about 6 weeks earlier. I wanted to let my nephew have a chance to drive my car. It was his first time behind the wheel of a MGB, and I'm sure he got a kick out of it. He he likes old cars and things like that and he's heard me and his dad talk about the MG's we had in the '70's.<br /> His dad had a '63B he bought sometime around '72 and I'm sure that had a large influence on me buying my '69B in '73. His dad later owned a Jaguar XKE for some years i...<br /> 3042 http://www./journal//3042 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:12:32 -0800 Star date 12-20-08 haha, I have taken the engine which I put in there for safe keeping back out and a tragic accident happend were a gust of wind knocked my lift of balance and sent the engine smashing into the pavement. The oilpan is a little dentend and the paint is scratched off(from the drop and removing it from the engine bay). I took pics of the car and the engine and created a post for all to see and give advice, also someone needed some dimensions on the gastank, and I went out and took pics of mine to help.<br /> 3041 http://www./journal//3041 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:30:30 -0800 Fall of 2008 found my thinking about adding another car or replacing the MGB GT. As the girls are getting older, they do not quite fit so well in the back seat anymore. So on to eBay and Autotrader I went. I found a 1962 Triumph Herald that was located in Scotland. I true british car with RHD, built as a saloon it had a 'real' back seat and it had been converted to be a convertible too! The best of all worlds. So I started the negotiation with the wife. Needless to sat a secong LBC was out of the question. My 9 yo daughter was pretty adamant that the MGB GT was not going anywhere. Well during the talks, the car became "No longer available for sale". Well that makes that decision easy. Fast forward a month or so and I am not at my eldest daughters for Thanksgiving. After dinner, she hands me the phone (with my son who is stationed in California with the Army on the other end) and an envelope. They tell me belated Happy Birthday and in the envelope is the shipping papers for the car I had been considering! Mt w...<br /> 3040 http://www./journal//3040 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:42:53 -0800 engine bay<br /> 3039 http://www./journal//3039 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:41:13 -0800 rear of car<br /> 3038 http://www./journal//3038 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:40:11 -0800 front of car<br /> 3037 http://www./journal//3037 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:39:09 -0800 Left side of car<br /> 3036 http://www./journal//3036 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:34:48 -0800 I bought my B in 1997 in Anacortes, WA. I drove it home to Milwaukie, Or with the intention of starting a restoration. I bought a cover and parked her on my pad next to my house. Fast forward to 2008, so 11 years later I am starting work on her. Here are the pictures of how she looks today.<br /> 3035 http://www./journal//3035 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:44:48 -0800 In the restoration of my B, there were two important mistakes I made.<br /> <br /> If you’ve been reading my journal to this point, you’ve already heard my project was on a very tight budget; therefore I wasn’t in much of a hurry. Also, you’ve heard that my experience is in carpentry and property maintenance – not mechanics.<br /> For those of you who’ve done home repair, you know that if you’ve had to take the plaster off of a wall for some reason, you try to do as much as you can while it’s down. You may have been repairing a pipe, but if there is some old wiring that will eventually need replacing or some insulation that should be upgraded, you do that at the same time. As long as the wall’s open, do everything you can do. I’ve also heard others on this board talk about while the engine was out of their car, they took advantage of the situation to paint the engine compartment or change their fuel lines or whatever. The same logic does not always follow however…<br /> <br /> ...<br /> 3034 http://www./journal//3034 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:02:42 -0800 I have a 1975 MGB which at one time had a manual choke. A few years back I had to convert the choke to a automatic choke. Now that the period for smog check for the vehicle is past I want to reinstall the manual choke back on the vehicle. BUT I have misplaced the old manual choke assembly. Does anyone know where I can find a replacement one. I have checked the MGB cat. but can't seem to find one listed. Thanks for any help that can be given me. GC<br /> 3033 http://www./journal//3033 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:16:44 -0800 I drove the GT to work today. I had feeling I was going to get caught in a snow storm that was forecast for this afternoon. I drove from Crystal Lake to 35th &amp; Pulaski in Chicago. About one hour and twenty minutes. It started to snow within fifteen minutes of my arrival. I knew it was going to be a long ride home. The job was wrapped up and I was on the road by 2:00 pm. There was about three inches of snow on the ground. It was coming down fiercely. Needless to say I got home at 8:20 pm. WOW, 6hrs. 20min. I could have driven to Cincinnati to see my brother in that time!!! <br /> <br /> I gotta tell you, the GT handled the snow INCREDIBLY. I mean the car was way better than I expected. The snow got deep and the GT plowed through it like nothing. There was no problems starting or stopping. I was passing traffic with the 4x4,s. I even decided to take some back roads as I got closer to home. One of them has a steep S curve. I was up for the challenge! There happened to be someone else up for the challenge,...<br /> 3032 http://www./journal//3032 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:34:54 -0800 I think I am over my initial withdrawal after storing the GT away for the winter. It was ugly for a few weeks, but I am better now, I think......<br /> I took some time and rebuilt the Cooper canister and ran all new rubber lines. It was very easy to do and the replacement charcoal was bought at Petco. I also have upgraded the alternator with a GM Delco Saturn unit. I will have to report back about how well this works. Hopefully, it will fix the brown out condition I get when the driving lights and fan are run together. The local streets are full of salt and I am not going for a test run for awhile. I currently have the driver side door apart. The latch began giving me trouble about the time I took the car off the road for the season. I have a used latch on it's way from a forum member and I am also fixing the lock linkage and have a lock installation kit on the way from Moss, which will hopefully keep the lock from rotating. I am also changing the rubber moulding on the window, it is a little weather cracke...<br /> 3031 http://www./journal//3031 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:47:53 -0800 here is a link to an album I started. I plan to update it weekly<br /> <br /> http://picasaweb.google.com/jaym67mg/67MGBGTV8CONVERSION?authkey=WcethjvABAw# <br /> <br /> <br /> JM<br /> 3030 http://www./journal//3030 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:16:20 -0800 I picked up this 1980 MGB in August of 2007 in Asheville North Carolina. It has been my ongoing project since and I love it. Its the perfect car for the Mountains. I Started autocross racing it almost immediately and started modifying it. The current list of mods include, Lowing the suspension, Weber carb, Slotted cross drilled rotors with v8 pads, upgraded rear wheel cylinder, perfomance ignition, 5 point racing harness, free flowing exhaust, performance header, roll bar. Thats all I can recall off of the top of my head at the moment, there is lots to come in the future. Every thing is at a stand still for now while I finish out my contract as a medic in the Army.<br /> 3029 http://www./journal//3029 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:36:18 -0800 U-Joint Euphoria!!<br /> <br /> Call it a fluke, or an anomalie but, I completed my very first U-joint change today. Driveshaft came off really easy (not too easy) then I commenced to fight the old u-joints off - guess if i had a workbench bolted vice it might have been easier.<br /> <br /> All totalled, was about 3.5 hours start to finish (that included a run to auto parts store to get new zerc fittings).<br /> <br /> It didn't eliminate the "thunk" i hear in the rearend, but it was fun to do and now i can say I've done u-joints!<br /> <br /> Oh well - up next: pulling the wheels, send them off to get "dipped" in prep for painting, then while she's in the air, to work on the differential (or rear axle splines - whichever are causing the "thunk").<br /> <br /> Stay tuned!<br /> 3028 http://www./journal//3028 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:43:10 -0800 My new MGB, “Phoebe” was now running, but she had a few physical problems – pretty serious rust in the floorboards, for one thing, and it appeared that her hood/bonnet must have flown open at some point. It looked like the hood had been seriously creased although most of the damage had been pounded out. Given the financial issues identified in post #1, I didn’t have much money to spend, but I decided to poke around on the internet and try to find a replacement hood. This evening ritual of scouring Ebay and all the regional Craigslist boards was a way to feel like I was making progress on my car without spending any money.<br /> <br /> One evening in June, I happened upon an ad on the Portland (Oregon) Craigslist. The writer of the ad was in Camas, Washington. He was selling a 1979 MGB roadster “rolling tub”, which I later learned is simply a body shell with wheels - no interior, no engine, no gearbox. He was only asking $100 for the entire thing. I wrote and asked if the “tub” had a ...<br /> 3027 http://www./journal//3027 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:49:53 -0800 After surgery to fix my finger and rejoin the tendons i have been told about three months to work can start again but here is a shot of where i was up to.<br /> 3026 http://www./journal//3026 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:22:30 -0800 When I bought “Phoebe” she had been sitting for about five years. Bob told me that she ran well (the former owner was a customer of the shop), but she was likely not drivable due to an inoperable brake master cylinder. Sports Car Shop was nice enough to actually deliver the car to my house on their trailer! First order of business – bring her back from the dead…<br /> <br /> While I was working out the purchase transaction, I had stumbled upon the excellent “Awakening a Sleeping MGB” article I found on theautoist.com. While I didn’t end up following the article step by step, it was a very handy reference. <br /> <br /> My first order of business, before I even brought her inside, was to give her a good washing. The removal of five years worth of mud revealed that the car was actually white! Once she was clean, I pushed her into the garage, put her up on jack stands and took off the hood. (see picture)What I did next was not rocket science.<br /> 1) Turn the engine over a few times ...<br /> 3025 http://www./journal//3025 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:49:29 -0800 Well, been driving lil miss Daphne for two weeks now and petrol guage is just below half tank - that's over 100 miles and I haven't even tuned the carb yet!!<br /> <br /> Looking at either adjusting the valves and replacing plugs this weekend or perhaps taking my chances at my first ever u-joint replacement... got me a Bentley manual, so might just give it a try....<br /> 3024 http://www./journal//3024 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:46:33 -0800 Sad day - the 67 Sprite MKIV left with her new owner this morning. Not fretting, just feelings of all the hard work, blood, sweat and yes, tears that went into that partial restoration. It was really a bit of a neglected basket case when i got her - but she's off to a good home (someone from this forum!) and I'm sure will be well cared for. Now, there's plenty of room in the garage for "Daphne" our 76 B. And Daphne has plenty of room in her for me to get in and out of!!<br /> 3023 http://www./journal//3023 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:42:06 -0800 Well, the weather Gods were with us this Thanksgiving weekend - sun was shining most of the day - darn near 60 degrees! So, it was clean, clean, clean day. I pulled everything out of the trunk (boot) laid out the full tonneau, half-tonneau on the driveway and hit 'em with the maguire's vinyl restorer - WOW! this stuff came right back to life with a great luster and not a mark or tear or scratch on either of them! So, it was onto the top (hood) - same thing! This vinyl is in great shape. After that, i hit the interior - feelin mighty good about this purchase right about now!! The interior is excellent - not the slightest blemish on the dash or seats - console is complete with no major cracks or blemishes either (hardly shows its age!).<br /> <br /> The morning got away from me and now it's off to hang Xmas lights on the ole casa....<br /> <br /> ciao!<br /> 3022 http://www./journal//3022 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:36:49 -0800 Well, I forgot to mention that the shopkeep hadn't quite figured out why she wouldn't start with the key (he had the car running alright, just did it by the coil wire onto the fuse block).<br /> <br /> So, after a few posts on this great forum, a lil while studying the schematic, I decided to run down and get a replacement starter relay. Viola!! she starts as she should just by turnin the key! That was the easiest $2.99 I've spent on an LBC in a loooong time!<br /> 3021 http://www./journal//3021 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:33:50 -0800 11.26.08<br /> <br /> Well, she's all mine! After mulling over this "find", we finally did the deal and brought home this really nice 76 MGB. She's been in the carport (under a cover) of the widow owner for the last 3 years. A dedicated customer of the areas reknown LBC shopkeeper since 1986 (second owner), she called him up in September and said, please come get the car, get it running and tell me what it's worth.<br /> <br /> Shortened story: Since this shopkeep knew I was a wee-bit too large for my Sprite, he figured I'd be a perfect candidate to take good care of this MKIII B. So, we struck a deal - the best part: this shopkeep had been giving this car the once over (in their spare time) for a couple months (all gratis to the widow by the way).<br /> <br /> So, I dropped off the cash, and drove her home!<br /> 3020 http://www./journal//3020 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:17:20 -0800 When I was younger and in college, I used to stop in at the "sports car" garage that was down the street from my house. They had a bulletin board in there that always had ads from people with various sports cars for sale. It seems like there were always a lot of BMW 2002's, but that's a topic for another day. <br /> <br /> I always wanted a sports car, so a few years later (when I had a few bucks), I stopped in at our local lbc garage called, appropriately enough, "The Sports Car Shop" (www.sportscarshop.com). That's where I met Bob Macherione. I told him what I was looking for and he fixed me up with a '74 B he'd been saving for a future project. I can't say enough about his support and advice during my restoration - he let me use his sandblasting cabinet, he lent me tools, he sold me parts at cost, and he even offered to let me use the shop lift at no charge if I needed it. Years past, and I lost that car in a divorce... life happens.<br /> <br /> Fast forward 20 years or so - I'm working with "...<br /> 3019 http://www./journal//3019 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:07:27 -0800 I can only go back three owners. <br /> 8/1997 - 8/2008: Robert Woodhouse - Lakeville, MA<br /> 6/1991 - 8/1997: Richard Dow - Kingwood, TX<br /> 6/1988 (est) - 6/1991: Derek Scovell - Houston, TX<br /> 3018 http://www./journal//3018 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:14:39 -0800 Tonight was great. Nigel's frame came home. Rande brought Nigel's bottom home from Cap's. It rained a freckle and there is dirt on the frame. ICK.<br /> <br /> We know begin putting things back together.<br /> <br /> I am happy.<br /> <br /> I have great friends.<br /> 3017 http://www./journal//3017 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:32:50 -0800 Wow it passed inspection and I have managed to get a few drives in before the snow has come, it is now minus 16C and snow all over so I have had to put it away for the winter. Never mind it will give me time to get the Carbs rebuilt as it just does not run as well as it should.<br /> <br /> But it was fun to drive even if I only managed a total of 60 miles.<br /> <br /> Looking forward to spring.<br /> 3016 http://www./journal//3016 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:12:14 -0800 I have learned a great deal in the first summer of having an MG. This, being my first car, was a great learning experience that was frustrating at times but very rewarding at others. I am relieved to say that I haven't had any breakdowns or any serious problems since receiving this car as a gift in June of 2008. Some of the work that has been done this summer was redoing the cooling system, replacing the starter motor, and dealing with the often-occurring electrical problems (many of which I still have not sorted out). <br /> <br /> Unfortunately, I made a tough decision last week. I decided to take it off the road for the winter. I know that in a few years from now I would regret not doing so when rust starts to appear. I am fortunate to have such a beautiful car and must treat it with care. I am aiming for a late March or early April awakening and am already looking forward to that day. <br /> <br /> This forum is the only reason why my car runs the way it does. It is great that there is such ...<br /> 3015 http://www./journal//3015 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:33:16 -0800 My grand mother had the car shipped over in 1972 for my mother. she drove it for 12 years. When I was a Kid it was the junker in the driveway and my play car. Years later I had the money and dropped about 30 k into it. I am just now after all these years able to drive it and I will be giving it to my wife as soon as I can get the bugs out. The wipers and break lights don't work and there a few leaks. The fuel pump makes a loud rattle sometimes and then returns to its nice hum.<br /> I look forward to talking with you all and sharing stories.I have had the major work done by pros and I would like to start servicing and maintaining the vehicle my self. I would appreciate any help and guidance you are willing to share.<br /> 3014 http://www./journal//3014 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:01:30 -0800 I must have been conceived in a rumble seat ‘cause I’ve been a car nut since birth. I can remember as a young boy being able to identify, by make, year, and model, every car we passed on the highway. And since it was amusing to me to do so, I figured it was probably just as amusing to adults. Such is the logic that has guided me through life as a car nut.<br /> <br /> My earliest exposure to British sports cars was the Triumph TR-3 that my much older cousin, Jim, drove to college. One turn around the block in that wide open, rackety little roadster and I was hooked for life. By the time I reached driving age I was ready to take the plunge. My father, however, thought better of the idea of his teen-age son racing about in that kind of accident waiting to happen. His insurance premiums for a male teen driver might have had something to do with his thinking. Go figure. So I drove my trusty and rusty ’51 Ford through my high school years and then enlisted in the Air Force. My plan was to buy that...<br /> 3013 http://www./journal//3013 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:53:05 -0800 I've been driving my 74 1/2 MGB GT this winter. So far I'm very impressed. The car handles the snow quite well. Everything works, heat, wipers, and HRW. I'm running Bridgestone Weatherforce tires, 185/70/14's. I've had no problems with cold starts. The GT sat out all day on Friday. It was 6 degrees F. when I left work, after a few cranks and some choke the GT started up. I let it warm up for 5 min. and was on my way. I wash the GT every night in my garage, thank goodness it's not my wife's Ford F-150!!!<br /> 3012 http://www./journal//3012 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:03:38 -0800 After the side cover leak was fixed, the next time I had a chance to drive it was about a week later. I took it out around the block on two different days, about 5 miles each. I just wanted to get things up to normal temps and make sure that I didn't have any more leaks. On the second test drive I brought my wife, it was the first time in a MG for her. I think she liked it, she said she felt kind of special riding in it. <br /> <br /> A couple of days later it was sunny and about 48F and then I really took it out for a drive. I put on about 60 miles that day. I stopped near a pond and a lake where there was some late fall color left. I wanted to get some good pictures before the winter came.<br /> <br /> These are some of the pictures I took, I hope you enjoy them.<br /> 3011 http://www./journal//3011 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:26:27 -0800 I drove my new MG from the previous owners home, 31 miles on the freeway. I needed to have the choke about 1/2 out at the stop lights, but I didn't use it on the freeway. The instrument light was out in the speedo and I had a hard time trying to guess just how fast I was going. I could see that the needle pointed at the 12 O-clock position but I didn't know what speed that was. It was to dark to see and that part of the speedo was covered up by the steering wheel. I just guessed I was going about 60-65MPH. <br /> <br /> Boy did that drive feel good, that was the first real time behind the wheel of a MG in over 30 years. It felt great to be in the car, with the same seating position and sounds reminding me of when I last drove my '69 and I was in my 20's.<br /> <br /> The car ran great with about 70lbs oil pressure and the temps running nice and steady.<br /> <br /> A couple of days later when I got back from work I had my first chance to go for a drive. I got about 1 mile down the road and smelled hot ...<br /> 3010 http://www./journal//3010 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:07:37 -0800 A fruitful weekend! Installed the pedal box, complete with a brand-new Lucas (TRW) brake master from Basil Adams, and my "refurbished" clutch master (if it fails, okay, I'll get a rebuild kit or a complete new cylinder). Installed all of the hard hydraulic lines, which required lots of fiddling with the pedal box mounting and the hard line connectors - don't want to strip them, you know. Also installed Speed Bleeders on all four wheels. Only hydraulic task left is the clutch slave - I'll try to "refurbish" it the same way I did the master - if that doesn't work, I'll just buy new!<br /> <br /> Also pulled the steering rack. The rack on the car was the original, as far as I know, and turned out to be rather badly worn. I know that I drove it for several years with torn gaiters, and now I see firsthand the damage that doing that can cause. The tie rod ball joints were worn down precipitously close to their limit, and the driver's side bushing was all but nonexistent! Definitely too much slop for my l...<br /> 3009 http://www./journal//3009 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:44:38 -0800 Hello! i thought id give you guys some updates!<br /> <br /> ive been a member for a while but never did much on the forum so heres the most resent updates<br /> <br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/MGB/DSC00539-1.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/MGB/DSC00031.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/MGB/DSC00017.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/MGB/DSC00029.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/MGB/DSC00019-1.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/MGB/DSC00020.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/DSC00058.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii163/trueblondegod/Bug/DSC00057.jpg"><br /> <br /> <img src="http://i264.p...<br /> 3008 http://www./journal//3008 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:14:16 -0800 The weekend before Thanksgiving we reinstalled the starter,and reconnected the tranny. We then dropped the engine back in.<br /> <br /> last weekend we hooked up the new slave cylinder and got the clutch hydrolics working.Filled the tranny with fluid.Hooked up the header pipe.<br /> <br /> Today we covered the pedal box,put the alternater on,solenoid is attached and battery cables.Also winshield wiper motor is attached.<br /> <br /> After trying to get the old fuel line fitting out of the gas tank,we gave up and decided on a new tank.<br /> <br /> New fuel line has been shaped and is ready to go.<br /> 3007 http://www./journal//3007 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:09:18 -0800 One of the problems all converters will have is the choice of which way to get the exhaust from the heads to back of the car. When I started my project the most common method was the use of the block-hugger header. They had a bad rap because of a propensity to crack as well as the reputation for poor performance. I wanted to tackle the header problem at the outset of the conversion; to build the best set of performance headers I could, and work around the headers in the placement of steering and other exhaust components. Dual exhaust was a requirement for performance and aesthetic reasons. <br /> <br /> I started by learning as much about header design as I could and found my way to Headers by Ed. Ed had been building performance headers in his shop for years and a long conversation with Ed led to a 4 into 1 design, with 1-1/2" X 38" long primaries that would give me the maximum power in the RPM ranges that I wanted for a strong road machine. I ordered all the J-bends, U-bends, straight pipe and preformed...<br /> 3006 http://www./journal//3006 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:55:34 -0800 During the course of my ongoing restoration of my MGBGT I recently rebuilt the front suspension. At completion I then needed to reinstall the front coil springs. I had one problem: I had previously removed the engine which is awaiting a rebuild. The usual method of using my floor jack under the spring pan and pushing up until I could slip the bolt in the top trunion would not work in this instance since without the weigh of the engine in place I would merely be jacking up whole car. Solution: I asked one of my MGB "expert" friends how much an MGB engine weighed.<br /> He said about 450lbs. So I made some plywood panels and laid them across the chaisse rails and crossmember covered it with plastic and put in 9 50lb bags of sand that I use for my sand blaster. 450lbs is 450lbs!!!<br /> This made up for the engine weight and the jack just pushed everything right up so I could put he bolt through the top trunion and upper shock arms.<br /> Somtimes you have to think out of the box.<br /> 3005 http://www./journal//3005 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:55:13 -0800 Other than the bother of doing a brake job in the first place, replacing the wheel cylinders is a big PITA, mostly due tot he fact that they are retained by a spring clip instead of a screw.<br /> <br /> I sourced new units frrom the B-hive. They were made in Italy and the factory obviously didn't look at the install to select the spring clip because it comes with a giant e-clip that is flat out impossible to fit.<br /> <br /> In retrospect, the whole job would be much easier on a workbench or in the vise. However, I wasn't in the mood to pull the hubs to get it off.<br /> <br /> The cylinder itself fits perfectly and to all appearances is identical tot he original unit. The spring clip is another matter, entirely!<br /> <br /> Instead of a cupped spring washer and e-clip (which is hard enough to deal with), the giant e-clip provided is flat impossible without modification.<br /> <br /> After wrestling for a long time, I finally gave up and modified the clip.<br /> <br /> The picture attached (poo...<br /> 3004 http://www./journal//3004 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:04:14 -0800 I just happened to find this web-site sometime in 2007 and I've been on it ever since. Well in the spring of 2008 the MG bug really started taking hold and I started looking at cars in my area.<br /> <br /> I had a '69 B back in the mid '70s which was my second car have fond memories of it. I wanted something like my old car and so I looked at '68 through '74 chrome bumper B's. Some cars that I looked at were just way over priced for what they were or higher than the price range I wanted to spend on a second car. <br /> <br /> In mid October I saw this '74 B with OD on E-bay and called the owner and he e-mailed me some additional photos. The reason he wanted to sell was that he wanted to get a Corvette and needed to make room for it in his garage, he had 5 other cars in there at the time.<br /> <br /> I arranged to meet him after work the next day to see the car. Well, just after I pulled up to his home another guy arrived to look at the car at the same time. I thought to myself that this co...<br /> 3003 http://www./journal//3003 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:34:17 -0800 Tail lights in, side molding on, car buffed, back up lights in, simple stuff, but details that make an impact. It's starting to take shape!<br /> 3002 http://www./journal//3002 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:10:50 -0800 project hits a major setback due to injury but ill be back at it when the healing is done.<br /> 3001 http://www./journal//3001 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:43:17 -0800 just need a spot to stash a pic<br /> 3000 http://www./journal//3000 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:58:45 -0800 This car was my daily driver in the '80's but has since spent too many years just sitting in the garage. So in mid 2008 I started what will be a driver-level restoration/customization. The finished car will be used just for fun and local shows.<br /> <br /> The engine was rebuilt in 1986, converting to duel SU's with header mated to a TR6 exhaust, bored .080 over, .398 lift - 248* duration cam and 10:1 compression. There's now about 50K miles on the rebuild but it still runs strong.<br /> <br /> I've lowered the suspension 2" in the front and about 2 1/4" in the back.<br /> <br /> The car's currently primer grey and I cut down a Lexan windscreen and I'm in the process of custom making a fairing for behind the driver's seat. I've completed most of the conversion to chrome but I still have to finish the body work to match the conversion.<br /> 2999 http://www./journal//2999 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:21:47 -0800 Back in about 1967 I put a deposit down on a Triumph TR3A but that was sold out from under me and I ended up with a 1964 MGB Mk1 with a J&S hardtop and chrome wires with knockons. Thought I was pretty cool in the B. One night on a midnight run south of Sydney ( a 250 klm run)I got to Liverpool About 35 klms from home with the gauge showing empty and only 20 cents in my pocket, reckon I made it on fumes.When the insurance went through the roof, it had to go.<br /> 2998 http://www./journal//2998 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:57:10 -0800 I just bought it from a fellow MGExp'er I'll be driving it back from Atlanta over the Christmas break...<br /> <br /> Trip report to follow...<br /> 2997 http://www./journal//2997 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:36:44 -0800 This is from one of the last days that I drove my little roadster this year. We were day trippin' and I must say, I didn't realise how much I missed her until I looked at the photos from our drive to the winery. <br /> <br /> Tonight the wind is blowing, the snow is falling and she sleeps quietly, in the dark garage. I cannot wait to bust her out of there in the spring. <br /> <br /> Until then, she needs a little more work. We finally installed new leaf springs and she sits so perky. <br /> <br /> Vroom, vroom...now I need to replace the valve cover gasket, exhaust system (brand-new SS from the factory!), hydraulic dampers...oh goodness, the list goes on and on. <br /> <br /> Unless, you've driven one, you cannot even begin to imagine the freedom one feels. Hmmm...man and machine! Okay, well...woman and machine!<br /> 2996 http://www./journal//2996 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:16:16 -0800 After the car was painted, it has just sat there unattended. It was finally buffed, but only hit and miss. It is still not reassembled. However, the guys started back today, and a little progress has been made. My patience was lost months ago, now it is just funny. I am eagerly awaiting the day that the B comes home.<br /> 2995 http://www./journal//2995 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:11:50 -0800 Spent Thanksgiving week in Orlando, and had to resuscitate the VW the week before that, so very little progress made. I did, however, receive my rebuilt fuel pump from Dave DuBois while we were out of town, and I took a few minutes to install that and some stainless brake hoses on the car yesterday evening.<br /> 2994 http://www./journal//2994 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:27:58 -0800 I bought a 1979 B roadster in 1994 and drove it for 12 years putting over 150,000 miles on her BUT I couldn't get it through smog this time and decided it was time to move on. I have always liked GTs and wanted one that was smog exempt so I went looking for a likely candidate that was in my price range. After looking at a couple of pretty bad ones I found this little diamond in the rough <br /> on Craig's list for $2000. It was a little rough around the edges but drove good and even had OD which my roadster didn't have.Being retired i didn't have a lot of money for a great paint job but I found a 1 day paint store in Lancaster Cal that was doing good work and let them have her.It needed some rust damage repaired and a dogleg replaced and they did all this for $1900. I have put new tires on it, a new steering gaiter,repaired some exhaust leaks ,tightened up the rear spring bolts and now it is a nice driver.Next up is replacing the bike cable throttle cable the DPO put on and replacing the stripped speedo pino...<br /> 2993 http://www./journal//2993 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:38:08 -0800 I'm trying to get a collection of "before" pictures posted of my MGB. Sorry if it gets boring or redundant...<br /> 2992 http://www./journal//2992 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:58:41 -0800 I went to a Kruse-Leake auction with a friend in the spring of '07. He was selling a '56 Chevy that he had begun to customize, and had lost interest in. While we were there, we looked at a '70 MGB Roadster that had been COMPLETELY restored by a shop in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I drooled over that car for a couple of months, until my friend mentioned that a friend of a friend had an MGB that he might sell. We went to see the car, which turned out to be a COMPLETE basket case that was stored in one of those rent-a-sheds. When I saw it, I told the seller that it was just a little more of a project car than I was looking for, that I was more interested in a driver that needed work. He said that he had another one that would probably be more to my liking, and that it was in his garage at home. We looked at it, I drove it, and bought it that June day. It was a '79 Roadster, with 30,445 miles and in remarkably good condition. I paid $3,400 for the car and about $450 worth of new suspension, steering, and bra...<br /> 2991 http://www./journal//2991 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:32:38 -0800 The madness started with the purchase of 2 Austin A40 sports. Total rebuild of 1, and 8 years of fun with it. Then the first of 3 MGA restorations began, the last being the one you see. Also rebuilt and restored a 1938 MGTA (Horror story) I've also restored at least 6 MGB's and put another 8 or 9 back on the road. It's been, so far 22, years of fun and frustration.<br /> 2990 http://www./journal//2990 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:55:27 -0800 GT is 90% apart. I am waiting on a friend that is building me a dolly to move the vehicle around. Once I get the dolly, the vehicle will be going for sand blasting. In the meantime, I have been buying parts on Ebay.<br /> 2989 http://www./journal//2989 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:09:46 -0800 This Thanksgiving break I finally got around to changing the hubs on my MGB for wire wheels. I only have the front hubs, so only the front is done. But the difference is amazing. It used to have ugly American Racing bolts on. It was fairly easy to do. Now it's really starting to look good, even the dog liked it. If any one has any information on were I can get a not-too-expensive set of tube style axle wire wheel hubs please let me know<br /> 2988 http://www./journal//2988 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:57:41 -0800 With the Brit-Tek big brake kit including V8 pads, some extra seals, spacers and a MC rebuild kit MAC's brakes are better than new. The Moss Motors Tourist Trophy stainless steel exhaust can now be fully tested as stopping is now reliable, fast and straight.<br /> The weather is now perfect in SW Florida for touring. Looks like we're headed for a few laps of Sebring next weekend during the Historic Fall Classic races. Check them out at www.hsrrace.com<br /> 2987 http://www./journal//2987 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:27:21 -0800 But still havent forgot the B. Got interior bits, still need to repair the damage done to the car by a careless driver.<br /> 2986 http://www./journal//2986 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:54:28 -0800 After restoring a 1959 MGA many years ago, I was on the look-out for another project. In December 1996 I bought a right hand drive ex-UK MG Midget (one of the last sidescreen models made in Febr. 1964) and started the restoration immediately. Soon I discovered that what seemed to be a piece of cake, would end in a nightmare. The body had been subjected to a previous "repair" which constisted mostly of tiny strips of metal brazed together and copious amounts of filler to hide all this. Not in one place, but the whole lower part of the body had been treated in this manner. Floors, sills, lower wings, boot floor the lot !!! <br /> I would need lots and lots of repair panels to bring it back into shape. The cost would be enormous but the end result would be very uncertain given my limited welding capabilities. In short: I had to find another, better body for my Mk1 Midget.<br /> Now this was something easier said than done ! For many years I had to search in all sorts of magazines to find an identical model...<br /> 2985 http://www./journal//2985 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:53:28 -0800 Well, sort of.<br /> <br /> After probably paying to much for the 59 MGA, and then realizing that I bit off more then I can chew... I panicked and was going to sell it after only owning the car one week !<br /> <br /> After many people on this forum, and even my wife, talked me out of it, I am now ready to start on the big project. This will be my first project car and I'm nervous as hell... But if I chip away at it it will get done... eventually!<br /> <br /> Wish me luck, and I'll update as progress goes... which will be slowly, since I have four month old twins that take the majority of my time. So, its going to be a hour here and a hour there for the beginning.<br /> <br /> Remember, if I start to wane, bolster me back up.. I need the moral support, lol!!<br /> <br /> John<br /> 2984 http://www./journal//2984 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:45:53 -0800 I own an early 1974 MGB that I purchased from a former boss in South FL in 1976. I drove the car from the Miami area to Everett, WA to work at the Boeing 747 plant in July 1978. While living in that area, I drove the car over the Cascade Mountains to central WA many times; I also drove it to Stevens Pass numerous times in the winter to go skiing. (I still have the removable ski rack that mounts on the trunk (boot) lid.) I moved to near Portland, OR in 1981, got married, and ended up moving back to Snohomish County, WA in 1983. For all those years, my MG was my commute car. In 1985, I accepted a job offer in Laurel, MD, where I am still located. For the cross-country move, we drove a family car and the MG rode in the moving van with our household stuff. I have not driven the car very many miles in the last ten years but it is still in pretty good mechanical condition although it shows normal wear, bodywise. I hope to do a modest restoration some day. I have my own "parts warehouse" waiting for that day. All I ...<br /> 2983 http://www./journal//2983 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:13:02 -0800 The car is not producing spark. I checked for spark in the spark plugs and nothing, then tested spark in the ignition coil and nothing. The voltage between the positive and negative terminals of the coil is ~ 9V when at rest and ~8V when cranking.<br /> <br /> Anyhow, I am unsure what other things to try. Thought of connecting the positive terminal of the coil to the battery but I don't know if this will work.<br /> <br /> Will appreciate suggestions.<br /> 2982 http://www./journal//2982 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:31:12 -0800 The next three...<br /> 2981 http://www./journal//2981 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:04:47 -0800 Decided to convert to chrome bumper creates a lot of work but i think its worth it after looking at some converted cars.Hand formed panel under tail lamps after making paper pattern glad i learn't this at trade school it came up well, now to the are other side.Picked up rental gas bottle for mig and now it welds like it should disposable bottles are the pits.<br /> 2980 http://www./journal//2980 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:14:00 -0800 Tonight with raindrops syncopating on the driveway, my friend Forrest brought over his trailer for "Nigel" to rest on until tomorrow morning when Rande arrives to take my car's frame to get sandblasted and powder coated. <br /> <br /> I am blessed...<br /> <br /> Cap's in Fresno is doing the work and I cannot wait to see what the ol' boy will look like.<br /> <br /> God speed.<br /> 2979 http://www./journal//2979 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:28:10 -0800 This is my MGB as it sits now. I'd like to do primarily aesthetic touch ups to it until I get the guts up to fool with the mechanics.<br /> <br /> Your comments or suggestions are most welcome.<br /> <br /> Best,<br /> <br /> Bill<br /> 2978 http://www./journal//2978 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:05:38 -0800 more progress<br /> 2977 http://www./journal//2977 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:48:40 -0800 Reached a milestone today and shot some primer on part of the engine bay. Looks nice. It's the easy part, as only a few things had to be moved out of the way. Next will be moving the pedal box and heater box.<br /> 2976 http://www./journal//2976 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:36:42 -0800 I just decided to document this project which is just into it's third year, I never planned on doing a frame off restoration but as I would start on project it would lead to another which would bring another, sound like something you have herd before?<br /> <br /> to date 11-24-2008<br /> <br /> BRAKE SYSTEM complet rebuild all four wheels, pipes, master cylinder and parking brake.<br /> <br /> FRONT SUSPENSION complete rebuild, bearings, bushings, etc<br /> <br /> REAR AXLE complete rebuild, including differential, bearings bushings, and seals<br /> <br /> TRANSMISSION complete rebuild, bearings, syncros, and layshaft<br /> <br /> FRAME blasted rusted floor supports replaced and repainted working on floorboards and transmission tunnel<br /> <br /> BODY off frame sils replaced sitting in storage<br /> 2975 http://www./journal//2975 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:35:56 -0800 I just decided to document this project which is just into it's third year, I never planned on doing a frame off restoration but as I would start on project it would lead to another which would bring another, sound like something you have herd before?<br /> <br /> to date<br /> <br /> BRAKE SYSTEM complet rebuild all four wheels, pipes, master cylinder and parking brake.<br /> <br /> FRONT SUSPENSION complete rebuild, bearings, bushings, etc<br /> <br /> REAR AXLE complete rebuild including differential<br /> <br /> TRANSMISSION complete rebuild<br /> <br /> FRAME blasted rusted floor supports replaced and repainted working on floorboards and transmission tunnel<br /> <br /> BODY off frame sils replaced sitting in storage<br /> 2974 http://www./journal//2974 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:13:04 -0800 This week I started restoring the works supplied hardtop for my Midget.<br /> It is the so called "commonised design" BMC item (parts# AHA6462). Early Sprite HAN6 and Midget GAN1 used different hardtops for each model. As my car is in BRG strictly speaking the hardtop should be Old English White. When I bought it from someone in Wales three years ago, it came in a multitude of colours. The old layers of paint have to be removed of course and a few scratches in the GRP have to be repaired.<br /> Fortunately all fixing hardware is with the top and the rear screen is in one piece. The "Triplex" glass has a code indicating a manufacturing date of Apr/May/June 1963 and as such it would be correct for my August 1963 made Midget. All I have to search for are the rubber profiles which go around the edges of the top. With this model hardtop you can use the standard sidescreens while early GAN1 Midgets need the so called "reverse-rake" sidescreen for use with their hardtop.<br /> It will be the final stage of th...<br />