MGB GT Restoration

task · 9 Feb 2014 at 22:14

This weekend I made what looks like actual progress!

Engine bay was sprayed in satin black, I still haven't decided on an actual colour, this enables me to start fitting more of the oily bits.

Last weekend a friend cleaned up the crossmember with a wire brush and gave it a lick of paint while I took the rest of the suspension apart. Turned out the wishbones were beyond repair, all the bolt holes had elongated to oval and two had cracks. The kingpins were also a sorry state. Not having the correct reaming tool or the desire to splash out on one I bought exchange king pins along with polybushes, wishbones, ARB links and springs. Lever arm dampers were emptied and re-filled with oil, if anyone has suggestions of the best oil to use then please let me know. I just used some hydraulic oil. Steering rack was also given a lick of paint and replaced the balljoints.

Cleaned up crossmember and rack fitted;

Pile of bits awaiting fitting;

All fitted along with new discs, calipers, bearings, seals and braided brake hoses.

handbrake and rear brakes have been fitted and steering column bolted in place.

That's all for now

vanpeebles · 9 Feb 2014 at 22:20

Looks smart with the engine bay painted black

You can get the proper lever arm oil from moss.

task · 16 Feb 2014 at 21:14

This weekend I seam sealed the floors and gave them a lick of paint;

Rear brake lines were run through to the front;

then I started tearing down this;

Forgot to take many photos but I'm sure you've all seen the insides of an engine. It was filthy. Some bolts didn't seem as tight as they could have been too.

Engine is now in pieces and the block is clean, pistons and the replacement front cover are now sat in a big box full of diesel to soak for a week.

I hope to start putting it back together next weekend and perhaps get it fitted along with the gearbox. Speaking of which, I gave up on my hunt for a drive flange and machined the old one slighlty to get rid of the rust, I hope the oil seal should take up the metal I relieved. The gearbox remote bushes were replaced with poly bushes.

More next week I hope

Yaayuh! · 17 Feb 2014 at 10:52

Looking good!

vanpeebles · 17 Feb 2014 at 15:26

Nice Wychwood box

task · 17 Feb 2014 at 20:37

vanpeebles said:
Nice Wychwood box

Not as nice as the contents was

I ordered a load of bits today, so expect an update with some shiny content before too long!

vanpeebles · 17 Feb 2014 at 21:10

Looking forward to it! It will be effortless to drive with that big engine!

task · 21 Feb 2014 at 11:30

Some of the shiny new parts for this week, although they're not going to set anyone's world on fire;

I wouldn't normally buy wheels at this stage of a build but these were cheap and new, seemed too good to pass up.

More photos to follow when the rest of the bits arrive.

I may have also chosen a colour for the car (possibly, my mind may change next week);

task · 22 Feb 2014 at 20:28

Today was engine building time

cleaned these up;

Forced the old 4x4 spigot bush out the crank and fitted the 2wd one

Crank fitted and mains torqued down, pistons fitting started

All fitted and new adjustable duplex timing chain and Piper cam

I now need to degree the cam in.

Brake master cylinder also fitted

feels like progress is being made, slowly

vanpeebles · 22 Feb 2014 at 21:41

Another good update! I see the heater is fitted, that was the worst job I've ever done on any car ever.

task · 22 Feb 2014 at 21:50

Ahh, it's not fitted yet! just resting there while some gaskets are cut from foam.

Hope to get a bit more progress tomorrow

mysticsniper · 24 Feb 2014 at 22:40

Excellent work so far. Great dedication and skill sets on show

coolamasta · 25 Feb 2014 at 12:55

Great work, love restoration projects

task · 13 Apr 2014 at 22:23

Seems like I haven't done much updating here, I worked away for 3 weeks in a row and over the weekends so didn't get much of a chance to touch the BGT. Back with a vengeance now!

Lining up the holes for the RV8 headers using the mock-up block;

Air grinder out and started cutting;

Checking for clearance;

Heads cleaned up and new oil seals, valves ground in;

Front wings fitted, heads fitted, headers fitted, doors fitted;

Rockers cleaned up and fitted;

New fuel tank painted and fitted with a new sender/pick up pipe;

Rover P6 water pump and P6 alternator mount, the SD1 crank pulley was machined to line up with the P6 water pump. Remote oil filter take off has been fitted and the chassis rail adjusted to allow pipes to be fitted. Rocker covers are going to get painted but they've been fitted to keep the inside of the engine clean. You can also spot the cleaned up heater now fitted into place.

I've ordered the front and rear valences and a bonnet, going to order an inlet manifold and the rest of the induction parts tomorrow, anyone who knows me will think my choice of induction is a little out of character

It also turns out the wheels I bought that were advertised as being for the MGB were actually MX5 wheels, the seller didn't want to honor a return so I sold them. I will most likely buy a set of wheels the same design but 15" as there seems to be a better selection of tyres available.

That's all for now.

InvaderGIR · 13 Apr 2014 at 23:55

Some impressive work going into this. :cool:

Out of interest though, cutting the wings like that, does it reduce structural / chassis / body rigidity at all? Whilst it seems to be the only way to get the headers off the block and out I can't help but think it'll make the front end a little flimsy.

task · 14 Apr 2014 at 07:12

Thanks

This is the way that Rover fitted the headers for the MG RV8 they built in 1992. Doesn't seem to be any loss in strength.

Malt_Vinegar · 14 Apr 2014 at 09:24

Looking good!

TFC · 14 Apr 2014 at 11:56

Subscribed..

vanpeebles · 14 Apr 2014 at 13:10

InvaderGIR said:
Some impressive work going into this.

Out of interest though, cutting the wings like that, does it reduce structural / chassis / body rigidity at all? Whilst it seems to be the only way to get the headers off the block and out I can't help but think it'll make the front end a little flimsy.

A strengthening panel goes around the holes. Also the GT shell is a very good one

Great work as always task, I need to fit a new tank sender to mine but I've not got around to it

task · 16 Apr 2014 at 16:11

A little update, some of the parts I've ordered arrived today;

I've also ordered a load of other parts and collected a lot of the little bits and pieces required for the jobs that you don't think about till it's too late.

Which reminds me, I need to go out and grab a fan belt!