It begins! (project thread)

DingleBerry

DingleBerry

DingleBerry

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Joined
19 Oct 2002
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Cloud Cuckoo Land
Shhhhh, she's sleeeping
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Poor little thing, all mucky and neglected!
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No, i certainly haven't been using her as a cupboard!

First job done....get to engine!
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Success! Its still there! Crickey! And there's no more rust in there than there was last time. Thanks in no part to a multitude of previous oil leaks nicely coating the general engine and transmission area. There is of course disappointingly not less rust than last time.

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Unfortunately the bonnet has quite clearly absolutely had it! This is what happens when people reverse into the front lip (Christ knows how they got past the bumpers and the spots) and you don't repair the resulting split. Oh and when you let British Leyland design bonnets with a water storing pouch right at the front. Genius! On the plus side it will make a good white (blue) board for the inevitable notes and scribblings.

The next entertainment is either taking the engine out OR getting it started. I'm not sure yet.

Hmmm....to prematurely buy shiny suspension upgrades....hmmmmmmmm.....
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No engine swaps for now though. I might put a fast head on it after she's running again. If the engine turns out to be a lemon though all bets are off!
 
Yeah, get it running, no point floggin a dead horse...well actually even if it doesn't run, get it running, they are nice cars. :)
Looks like it should be a good log.

My brother is doing one, has a manky shell with all the gubbins from one, and a lovely empty shell from one, and is putting it all in the nice one. Then once done he'll be bringing in bits and completely rebuilding the manky shell to something nice.

InvG
 
jon.bda said:
Get it running first mate, less suprises than when you put it back together to find its goosed!.
:)
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InvaderGIR said:
Yeah, get it running, no point floggin a dead horse...well actually even if it doesn't run, get it running, they are nice cars. :)
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You're probably right. Unless something horrific has happened while its been sat it should be fine. It was running sweetly before I took it off the road. But its always had a cold start problem. If you use it everyday it won't let you down. You leave it for three and it will refuse to start until you've turned it over for about half an hour and fettled it. The last time was much worse than before. I'm confident its just spark so now its not in the street and the rain I might be able to get it to run.

InvaderGIR said:
My brother is doing one, has a manky shell with all the gubbins from one, and a lovely empty shell from one, and is putting it all in the nice one. Then once done he'll be bringing in bits and completely rebuilding the manky shell to something nice.
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If only I had the space for a shell swap! (or the money/time/patience!) Its the way to do it properly I think. Tarting up this one will have to do though.

I've got a nice varied list of compulsory things to do before she's road worthy again.
  • weld up a couple of holes and put a new boot floor in
  • replace the leaky fuel system
  • replace the wheel ends of the brake system
  • replace at least one leaf spring & shock which has collapsed
  • replace a clutch bearing I killed
  • replace the seats to some nice black mx5 ones
  • clean EVERYTHING!
I'm sure once I start this list will become even longer and more varied. I should probably avoid making lists in the future.

I've got a nice big compressor to help me on my way, I'll be getting a shot blasting gun for it to go with the ratchets and wrenches. Tell you what air grease guns are pretty good! SPLAT!
 
Decided against getting it running first after getting some advice from people who know their stuff about mgs. Its also got the advantage that the petrol tank is empty now anyway which saves me a job.

We made some good progress last night. I'll put up some pictures later but drained the oil and water and removed the carbs, inlet manifold, exhaust manifold, rad and oil cooler. Goodness me air wrenches/impact drivers are the greatest tools ever invented!!! The exhaust manifold nuts just flew off in a shower of rust. Fantastic!

And we've got our first entry to the major component replacement list. It seams that at some point some one has decided to stop the car from speed using the front cross member. Christ knows how I missed it before. Its got a huge chuffing dent in the leading edge!
 
yeap and me the green heap sitting out on the drive with the engine rebuild which seems to have a direct debit on my bank account for all my wages every month.
 
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It's project threads like these that keep putting me off tracking down a Zephyr Mk.III! :o

Great car though, shall look forward to seing the outcome.
 
hmmm red, green and blue . Its like the primary colours of crap!

Azagoth said:
Great car though, shall look forward to seing the outcome.
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So do I!!! :p I'm a little annoyed Christmas is here. I'm not going to be able to do anything until the new year now after all the obligatory Christmas travelling. Which is a shame as a single concerted weekend could have the engine out and fuel system and transmission off. But there you go.
 
my mum had an mgb gt and she loved it at first, however they are a money pit, handle horribly and are incredibly unreliable....

but saying that , if you have the money to do it up ... go for it .....

alternatively you could pick up one for about a grand with all the sills etc done (this is what my mum sold hers for having spent £4000 on it restoring it )
 
Apatche64 said:
my mum had an mgb gt and she loved it at first, however they are a money pit, handle horribly and are incredibly unreliable....

but saying that , if you have the money to do it up ... go for it .....

alternatively you could pick up one for about a grand with all the sills etc done (this is what my mum sold hers for having spent £4000 on it restoring it )
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If I wanted a car that worked....I wouldn't have bought an mg! Its true I could get rid of it and buy another but what would I learn doing that. If I was paying someone else to do it you'd be right though. They are good cars to work on because they are so spectacularly simple and every things so big!

The handling's not really that bad. Its no rocketship but it feels like it is. Everything seams to shoot past you when you're hardly moving. I've never found it unpleasant though (except over big bumps).

I know I'm not getting any of this money back. Its not an investment!
 
DingleBerry said:
If I wanted a car that worked....I wouldn't have bought an mg! Its true I could get rid of it and buy another but what would I learn doing that. If I was paying someone else to do it you'd be right though. They are good cars to work on because they are so spectacularly simple and every things so big!

The handling's not really that bad. Its no rocketship but it feels like it is. Everything seams to shoot past you when you're hardly moving. I've never found it unpleasant though (except over big bumps).

I know I'm not getting any of this money back. Its not an investment!
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sorry mate, wasn't trying to diss your project.

i disagree on the handling though, floats like a boat:)

gl on the project, hope it goes well for you:)
 
I had a '72 MGBGT whilst I was at college. It was awesome. Everyone fell in love with it, proper classic it was. I miss it, but I had no use for it when I left for uni and it wasn't for for it to sit unused.

Chrome bumper, low riding and it was fantastic fun round the lanes. Hairiest moment was when the battery died. It's under the rear bench, my mate and I removed the bench then the panel and chagred the batter. Not wanting to shoot ourselves in the foot, we drove round for half and hour with the bench off and the cover, so you could see the road. Bad luck the road had a dip and the car bottomed out and stones came flying in :( Was only going slow as well (rear brake kept binding :eek:)
 
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DingleBerry said:
Don't worry I wasn't offended.

It wasn't a rubber bumper was it? They quite comprehensively ruined the car after about 1974. They lowered the engine power increased the weight and ride height.
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yup rubber bumper, though it was only a cosmetic change, i stand corrected.

actually i was really disappointed with the drive so now i know the crome is better i might try one of those:)
 
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