mgb gt

29 Mar 19 Homecoming

This update is nearly a week late, but its been a busy time so this is the first chance I have had and maybe it benefits from a bit of reflection before posting anyway.

The MG is back home! The respray/body restoration is finally over and the car is back in my possession with its beautiful new coat of paint. I am really pleased with how its turned out and the way that the whole process with Gavin from Reef Paint shop went. Gavin was completely straight with me throughout the process and so its just as I expected, including the final bill. The car threw up a few challenges at the paint shop with misaligned panels and various parts not being willing to fit without a fight. its certainly made me realise that when buying a part restored car, you have to be sceptical about all the work previously carried out, because you just cannot tell from looking whether its been done right. In fairness, despite the challenges, the price I paid for the car still stacks up, so no regrets.

Here are some photos of the finished job, first at the paint shop

Next photos taken at home, I like how the sun bounces off the bodywork

So there we are. Strip down complete, bodywork complete, the rebuild phase now commences. I’ve got some parts on order already (wiring harness, clutch) but I need to order some more to get really started including brake pipes, exhaust and cables to name but a few.

I rang Gavin earlier to discuss care of the paint. He advised that the paint will harden over the next few weeks so it just needs to be left rather than treated. Then, as its been machine polished, it can just be hand washed for some time without the need for any product.

Looking forward to the build phase!

23 Mar 19 Rocker cover

Lovely spring day in Chippenham, so I opened up the garage door and pulled on my overalls. I have now got a firm date for the MG returning from its body restoration, so not long now before the rebuild commences. I have a couple of parts which need to be freshened up including the gearbox cross-member and the rocker cover. I cleaned both items up with a bit of sand paper and had time to put a coat of etch primer on the rocker cover and then some satin black. For the minimal work involved, it came out quite nicely. Certainly it looks tidy enough to go back on car for now.

  • Rocker cover back on after its coat of satin black

The gearbox cross-member needs a bit more preparation, then I might use up some of the wrinkle finish paint I had left over from the dash. The cross-member is quite exposed under the car, so a tougher paint finish probably a good idea.

Still debating what to do about the carburettors. Just give them a clean and stick them back on, or send them off for refurbishment. There are some nice little businesses which will turn them around for about £300, but that’s a big old chunk of money so I am a little reticent if its something I can put off – any thoughts?

23 Feb 19 Little steps forward

Earlier this week, working away in Cambridge, I invited Rob (friend and colleague) over to my place for dinner. I was clear about my motives, saying to Rob that I had homework for him to do. After a satisfactory curry, we sat down with the MGOC, Moss and David Manners catalogues and my list of parts required for the initial build of the MG and worked our way down the list comparing prices and working out which parts to order from whom and also what were the peripheral parts required. Helpfully Rob has extensive mechanical experience having raced TR6s for years as well as his back-catalogue of interesting cars. At 10pm we called a halt and were about 3/4 down the list, but it was a really useful session. Thanks Rob. I now have a schedule against which I can place orders, although I need to be sure I’ve got space for it all as it arrives.

I nipped over to see Gavin and Dean at the paintshop when I got back from Cambridge, to deliver door rubbers and to collect the faulty front valance. I also took over some donuts which went down well. I had ordered a new valance from Smith & Deakin, a specialist fibreglass company who do Motorsport parts. Hopefully this will fit better than the other item which I hope to return to Moss in due course for a refund. On Friday, Gavin posted updates photos on FB and it was good to see the progress that had been made.

  • The inner wings look so smart
  • Masked up ready for primer
  • Gavin was keen to get some paint on areas that had been worked on to avoid exposing the bare metal

I am really pleased with the work being done, the inner wings look especially tidy compared to how they looked previously. The identified problems are gradually being worked through and we are moving ahead.

This afternoon (Saturday) I spent a couple of hours in the garage sorting parts, adding to the junk pile and just generally getting my head around what’s ahead. For example, I plonked the gearbox onto the cross-member with the old mounts just to see how it goes together. I also removed the thrust bearing as I am going to replace the standard carbon item with a roller bearing version. That has to be the easiest part I have ever removed, two circlips to rotate and it couldn’t wait to come off. Nice to have an easy job for a change. I also trial fitted two more gauges into the dash just for fun. They have all cleaned up okay, but the acid test will be whether they work when they are all reconnected and I have my doubts about some so am prepared to replace what doesn’t work.

  • Lou took a picture of me looking pleased with myself