MGB GT Restoration

It's a panel that sits behind the center of the dash on minis and blocks a big hole in the bulkhead. Other wise you could drive along controlling the engine directly with your hands :D I've hijacked the thread now! :( The closest thing on the MGB would be the two big rubber bungs on either side of the bulkhead. (Thread saved!)
 
Cheers! :) On a related note, I've got a 2nd hand alu bonnet to the fit the MGB and I'll be going with alu door skins at some point. (In the near future it will need a full set of panels).

Have you got grp front wings? If so are the originals just bolted on?
 
Yeah, I have GRP doors/bonnet/front wings.

Front wings bolt on along the top, up the front edge and up the back edge. They're blended in at the top where the steel wings would usually have a seam.
 
I was going for rot resistance and cost saving actually :D

If you look at the prices of the steel panels compared to the GRP versions the differences are massive. It does have the added bonus of being a bit lighter too!
 
Bit more progress;

Bit of an odd jobs weekend this time, I kept pushing the car outside to work in the sun and then it would start raining so inside it'd go.

Trimmed the side panels and fitted the brightwork so I could fit the rear windows.

Removed the windscreen as I'd forgotten to trim the front of the roof in headlining, refitted the windscreen and added the spreader insert. That's a job I don't want to do again.

Fitted the headlamps, which didn't take all that long but visually made a massive difference, see the photos at the end.

Repaired some of the damaged wring loom, wired the headlamps, side lamps and cooling fans. There are only a few cables that need plugging in now, the end of the wiring is in sight!

Fitted the new switches to the dash, cleaned up and repaired the column stalks and fitted a new ignition switch.

Modified the new throttle cable to fit and attached it at the accelerator.

Fitted the new fuel filler and plumbed it in.

Finished plumbing the remote oil filter.

Probably a few other jobs I've forgotten to mention :)

A few photos taken as I was moving the car back into a different garage bay, it's getting a little heavy to push now so I should probably think about getting some life into the engine.

DSCN2691.JPG


DSCN2688.JPG
 
I think we are going to need a "first time starting engine video" please. On a side note about the side windows (no pun) I was reading about those special edition 50th MGBs made by Frontline and they used their own rear side window seals for a better fit and wind noise reduction.
 
vanpeebles said:
I think we are going to need a "first time starting engine video" please. On a side note about the side windows (no pun) I was reading about those special edition 50th MGBs made by Frontline and they used their own rear side window seals for a better fit and wind noise reduction.
Click to expand...

I will certainly be filming the start up :) I thought the wind noise was mostly a result of the front windows not being fully framed and therefore making a poor seal with the glass?
 
Possibly although mine doesn't go fast enough for it to be an issue :p I was thinking they might make for a better weather seal(if they would even sell them separately). Mine has more leaks than vegetable growers competition :)
 
vanpeebles said:
Possibly although mine doesn't go fast enough for it to be an issue :p I was thinking they might make for a better weather seal(if they would even sell them separately). Mine has more leaks than vegetable growers competition :)
Click to expand...

The rear windows seem to make good contact with the new seals I've fitted to them, the test will be how much it leaks when it's all finished up I guess :)
 
Looks fantastic. Was doing my daily checking of usedcarsni and noticed that it's that time of years when the convertibles are available. Three MGBs and four Midgets have popped up for sale in the last week alone.
 
Just read through the entire thread and I must say, your attention to detail is very impressive. Great set of pics and the progress looks amazing and that colour :eek: stunning!! Fantastic work!
 
So, this happened at the weekend...


I'll post a more in depth update later, but I'm just chuffed it moved under its own power!
 
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I should have added, you'll want headphones for this video ;)

Lacking photos but;

Brakes bled and working
All lights working
Gauges working with exception of oil pressure
Sunroof fitted
Seats fitted
Dash finished off
Cooling fans wired
Heater valve plumbed
Ignition wired
Washers wired/working

A minor setback, I wasn't happy with the steering so stripped the column out and found it was not as it should be, too much slop. I've ordered a new one along with a new UJ.
 
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