Admiralty, Enemy, Rival, Fallen & Angel..............

All follow or proceed ARCH(ES) .......................( OK the last one stretched it a bit )

Before we go further........I passed all my exams................Yippee !!

So Arches, or arch to be precise. I've finally finished the patchwork quilt of welding the lip of the arch inner - outer section. It was a swine. The main problem being the wheel hub right in the most awkward place imaginable. Your head needs to be there to see what you are doing and get out of the way of all the falling crud ( and grinding sparks and welding sparks). Its very difficult to get a head covered with welding mask in there and weld. It was managed albeit with some bird poo type welding in parts, lots and lots of stray sparks behind the mask ( it makes you leap around a bit) head wedged and stuck in position, mouths full of 32 year old crud and sparks falling onto your arms and chest. Yes they hurt too.

As proof see the photos below, labelled looking out from the ( left rear) arch.

Bear in mind the camera was easy to position as its small. My head+welding mask is not.
I,m rather proud of this and the composite layout ( done in paint) .
You will see in the centre the view of the tailgate section. Yes it still is a shed/tool storage space since I've long since run out of storage locations.
However, most of it will be spirited away somewhere whilst I work on the floors inside.
Bodywork wise its just about done. There is one 50p piece hole in the top RH corner of the tailgate gutter ??? and a pencil sized hole just under the rear screen rubber at the 5 o'clock position with a little more underlying rust ,so the rear windscreen is coming out soon. The rubber surround is awful anyway, very brittle and scabby. The chrome trim will be cut out, polished up and re-used.
Methinks that with a respray its imperative to have new front/rear rubbers ( fitted after respray, obviously)

AND, to continue the good news a small windfall from the tax man has allowed me some cash for the next stage. What shall be the next stage ?. I guess I must attach the fuel tank, fuel line and work on getting the engine turning over at least. This part worries me as I see it as a potentially frustrating part. Auto electrics, carb balancing, mixture adjustment all will play a part in the life of one happyish student Radiographer over summer.
Since the money is there and not needed for the above work I guess I may buy Poly bushes for the front suspension, and give each side a overhaul and refurb. I have a pair of lower springs bought on e-bay last year (£ 5/pair, if i remember correctly).

So, I must fit for now, the accelerator pedal and cable, but first wire brush the floors and red lead them.

Soon, with a little luck I may be able to drive it under its own power..............oh joy oh joy.

Bad news is wifeys on D.I.Y overdrive with the cash windfall. So far I've painted the bathroom ( twice) and toilet. She's offered to paint the kitchen. This is a sneaky feminine tactic. She's terrible at painting but denies it. However she knows I will offer to do it after making a bo****ks of her first attempt. In fact she visited B&Q.....!! EVERY DAY!! this week for one thing or another ( matchpots x 30,0000, bathmat, wallpaper [ not purchased, painted existing instead, twice] paving [n/p], look at bathroom suites, brushes.........I eventually refused to visit the last time, instead feigning a headache from all the paint fumes........two can play that game !!!!!!!

Hello All

Big delay in posting. Simple reason really. I've been swatting for my exams. What with that and the recent hot/sunny spell my mind has been elsewhere.
The exams are over and boy were they tough. The hardest part though is the waiting for the results. At least another week yet posted on the Uni website.

After a bit of DIY ( Bathroom painting) the wifey decided the colours wrong. Damn.
I spent the whole of one rather hot and sunny day ( yesterday, my first official day off) getting it done for when she returned. Only to find out she now wants the walls painting since they don't quite match the new paint. I might add at this point we BOTH agreed on the colour, even if we did buy it several months ago.
Of course in my life there has to be some engineered Ying & Yang, so I spent today welding on the MG with a sulky face whenever wifey appeared. I tackled the last inner, outer wing part.
I had started to use an new VW repair section cut up into sections. This is working well, however grinding the inner wheelarch with the wheel hub in the way is a real pain. Still most of it is done now. Only one section to fit in and a couple of patches then done.
Soon I will be fitting the remaining fuel line, tank and throttle cable/pedal. Before this though I will give the floors ( drivers and passengers) a good rotary wire brush and coat with red lead.
The rain has been leaking in a bit and left lots of surface rust.
The comes the big fire up...........................yipeeeeee !!
I have a feeling that the electronic ignition and/or the immobiliser fitted will cause me a few headaches though. Wiring and fault finding/understanding is not one of my strong points.

Ohh......I almost forgot. I did three days as a traffic census officer directly after the exams so I have a little extra cash. Not much though as I have spent some on a new pair of walking boots.
Yes I know its a little sad, but walkings free, it get me healthy and why not use the peak district since I'm/we are only 15 minutes away.

I will post pictures when the above stuff is done and I've given it a celebratory drive up/down the culdesac.

More progress

Hello folks.

The nice weather and a lull in studying has seen a little progress on the MG.
I deferred getting the engine going till I can afford some special fuel hose and Imperial nuts/bolts for the fuel tank.
The rear LH wheel arch was still needing work (inner wheel arch- outer portion ) .
I had put off attempting this for a long time since, read below.
I did actually buy a repair section from the MG hive last year, £60 , for my birthday, along with several other panels.
However at the time, I'd already cut the rust away and fitted the complete real rear wing over it. But, then I make a complete novice error. I realised I'd bought the WRONG side rear repair section. It was a right outer - inner section, I needed and I had a left. Hay hoe.
So i did use it on the correct arch several months ago, see much earlier post, and remembered it was a swine to do.

Nevertheless, I set to full of determination.
I had no money but some enthusiasm. It was all i could do.
With rear jacked up and head in small confine of wheel arch. I should say that I had to roll the car onto the road, reverse and push back tuther way into drivespace ,so its pointing the other way, again. Thank you Son No 1.
I'll hammer some sections to fit. Three of four pieces curved round, lipped and curved the other way should be simple enough.
I even went green and recycled the old doorskin to use for said patches.
I had a set of the correct hammers and dollies- no guesses where I bought them from !
How hard can it be ?
After at least 2 hours............. simples !.................VERY VERY HARD. I gave up. Almost.

Then I remembered.

In a moment of e-bay purchasing way back when I was employed and in full control of our finances I did buy one VW GOLF ( Rabbit for our colonials ) outer left wheel arch repair,

WHY I hear you ask ?

Well look further down at the lovely Maroon example. It looks fantastic with very subtle flared wheel arches. I contacted the owner and he gave me the details. Mk 3 Golf rear arches are a near perfect fit for all MG arches. So i bought one. £20 from the usual source.
I had a brainwave........not often i get one but a good one at that.
If it is turned arse about face and maybe cut into 3 or 4 sections a new inner arch could be fabricated.
Why not. correct shape with lip. right curve. clean. smooth free and available.
To press I've done two of the four sections and left them there clamped in-situ.
What is horrible is using the wire wheel cup on the grinding machine. Flat on back looking straight up at almost invisible ( since my goggles are rather scratched and contrast of sky and dark wheel arch make it impossible) edge with a fine mist of 33 year old underseal coating my mouth, hair, eyes, nose and teeth. It was about 10 inches from my forehead, so a slip would have really spoilt my day. I'm scared enough of the grinder as it it anyway.
I looked like I'd been down a mine for months, ergghhhh. And there's still more to do, then weld.
Next post will be photo of job done, hopefully.

Once my exams are over I'll crack on and do as much as possible to get the rolling restoration underway. I reckon I need :-

6 rattlecans of primer
Fuel line - tank to sender
Fuel tank nuts/bolts
RH wing bolts
Rear springs - Lowered type
Small drop arms- rear
Complete Poly bush set
Front Brake discs and pads
Rear brake pads
Front chrome windscreen surround
Front windscreen rubber
Rear screen rubber
Door rubbers
Tailgate rubber surrounds.
Seam sealer

The rest I can live without for the now rolling resto. I hate the seventies Orange/brown/white stripes of the seats though.

That all as far as I know........................................!!!
Yes it is quite a lengthy list. But this time 3 years ago it was unthinkable i could even make a list.

So just a small problem of 3 exams to pass, summer job to find and I'll be making real progress.

It makes you think..............really !!

I came across this whilst surfing tuther day and it impressed, scared & inspired me all at the same time.

Watch it and see what you think.......its regarding technology and the pace of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY&feature=player_embedded

A dull spark can have its moments

Well well people, after lots of hurried excitement and climax/anti-climax the MG has turned its crankshaft in anger and fired up all four cylinders, albeit momentarily.
I paint a serene and planned scenario.......................................................................not.
I planned to get the water hoses and fuel hoses on last bank holiday week, plus the oil connection pipe/union to the oil pressure gauge. This did not go well. I had to wait for the latter to be posted, it arrived well after the bank holiday. Even worse, when fitting the fuel hose ( Pump unit to manifold ) i found the hose 2" ( 50mm) too short !!
Not to worry, whilst all this was resolved by some telephone calls and waiting I set too ordering a battery ( Wifeys birthday prezzie to me). Gawd almighty It arrived the next day, it cost £33 + £9.99 delivery, it was the correct spec, and a single bank holiday was approaching to co-incide with said birthday.
What a let down. The battery was flat as a fart. Nil pwa. zero volts. even less amps.
Even tried connecting brother in laws battery charger and waiting 10 hours..............nothing
It just had to wait till my exams were over the following week and I could call the vendor.
I had a shock somewhat when I looked up the vendors seller rating ( yes it was E-bay again,and i know I should have done this BEFORE purchasing) but it was pants. Nevertheless, when contacted they sent a replacement and it was received today ( the very next day ).
Connected up and bingo.................no not firing but engine turning and willingly turning.
After a couple of hours convinced there was no spark then the coil was faulty then the silicone leads not showing continuity I eventually summoned assistance. Son No 1 came to help ( yes and without being bribed) I had some unleaded in a plastic container down the shed ( been there for about 2 years ). So pouring some fuel into the plastic see through filter and into the carbs it looked more of a possibility. But still no fire or spark.
Then I thought back to the great Mark Evans, or more precisely the bloke from stoke who sprayed something highly flammable into the carbs. I did the same whilst son turned the key.

Bingo................ firing, smoke, oil pressure, water pumping( somewhere) , alternater turning, son terrified, dad beaming and running round drive giggling & crying.

It died after a few seconds due to the solvent being used up, however it goes to show the fuel was at fault all the time.......not the lack of spark, timing, incorrect assembly of anything, stupid owner or shagged out coil.
So the crappy fuel was poured into the daily driver and the MG tank will be assembled and filled sort of at the weekend for a more measured attempt. I need to buy a proper fuel line though as I ain't replaced the short one yet ( Man a MechSpec did say at the time it might not be long enough)

So things are moving forward at a pace now..................except the cash.

An update....... and real progress

Its been so long that I have forgot where I left off last time.

Anyways, the thermostat sent back to the MGOC ( and oil gauge pipe) that got lost in the post is now resolved.

After a little windfall from the good old NHS Bursary dept I purchased from MechSpec

:- thermostat housing ( £ 5.50 and second hand, new from MGOC is £16.00)

brass plug to suit, I think I must have thrown the "saved" one away or can't find it.

Top and bottom water hoses,

braided oil gauge pipe with unions,

braided fuel pipe ( pump to tank ).

Unfortunately fuel pipe and brass plug for thermostat was not in stock so I had to wait a few days for them to be posted. This gave me a few days of good weather during the recent Easter break to crack on since Uni had 2 weeks off.......yipee.

During this period I managed to sand down the front RH lower wing where I welded on a large repair panel. I even added more filler and sanded down again to get a reasonable finish. I really hate filling and sanding. There is still a little more work to do on the wing but this requires its removal so I left it to get on with the fuel tank, hoses and heater.

The heater required a brackett at the base welding. It opens/closes a flap to direct the hot air ( Do MG's have hot air ???) It also needed the foam insulation for the mini radiator in the heater body and specially shaped foam to insulate the two pipe exits from the heater.

The welding part was easy, the foam bits not so. I had run out of money to buy these from Mechspec or elsewhere and was thinking of visiting my lovely towns Fri morning market. I know there is a " Foam Stall" frequented I guess by budding upholsterers and bedmakers, but he was not there. recession and all that. So in a dutiful fit of Saturday morning shopping in town I did my usual wander around Wilko's.

Below is a view of the unmolested heater.

Where the cable disappears to is the brackett that needed welding. The cable goes into a hard ( but very perished ) shaped foam seal. The rest of the foam seals were on the base and around the inside body to insulate the mini radiator. After lots of cleaning and ages of rooting around the shed, swearing and a pop to ma in laws for wifey's soldering iron ( Don't ask )

So, a fantastic piece of inspiration saw me buy 3 x cleaning sponges for 32p each , one "tuff" sponge for £1.35 and 4 x jubilee clips for 64p total . Grand Total = £ 2.95. Some careful cutting with a very sharp craft knife and the heater was almost sorted. A coat of gloss black on the front face ( used wifey's Black gloss Acrylic spray from one of her thousands of arty stores, .i.e plastic carrier bags, secreted in hiding places around the house)

See the finished attempt below.

This pleased me enormously as I must have saved a fortune in overpriced foam seals from the MGOC. And And. I remember the heater was very very difficult to remove due to the "toughness" of the two pipe special sponge, so it should all go back together much more easily.

Another good piece of progress was the fuel tank. It had been sort of covered up by the side of the shed for a few years and I expected it to be beyond repair and full of pinholes.

No way............It had been undercoated from new and after a good clean up with the electric wire brush it looked almost new. Only one tiny pinhole on the top surface near the filler spout. I remedied this with a good spot of Araldite and a complete coating of red lead plus the remainder of the Black acrylic spray liberated from wifey's store.

Now its stopped raining I'm hoping to fit all this lot in readiness for buying a battery next week. Fill up with the correct oil, add water, connect fuel line and bingo...fun time starts.

Yipee, its my Birthday treat so then I may actually get to fire her up. I think that is where the title of the blog comes from since this part may be the most frustrating.

More soon.

p.s forgot to add I cleaned up bonnet ( top and bottom) and sprayed it and RH doorskin + RH wing ( again) with grey primer

Much to tell.................but later today !! Watch these first whilst I'm busy

Meanwhile............................here's the sexiest thing to have ever been invented.............!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vk4RiEMLY8


.............................................................And the funniest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dpZ4BPsLZI

More very soon

Hello Strangers

Again not much has happened MG wise as I've been very busy and ill again over the festive period.

I did manage to send the thermostat housing and other bits back to the MGOC with covering letter for replacement. However, being so busy I've not had time to phone and place my order/pay. Its almost the end of jan and I hope they have not thrown it away.
As soon as the weather improves my intention is to refurb the heater and get it in place, fit aforementioned housing and hoses, fill with oil and water then fire it up. Ohh errr it sounds easy to say, but bet the reality takes a few more months and lots of cursing.
I am looking forward to the break from placement come easter and hopefully I will not be ill this time. Since we are well and truly skint I can put lots of time into the MG doing things I've put off last summer.
Next week is the households official payday ( happens every two months/ don't ask, its to do with bursary payments and child benefit) so i may visit the pub for the first time this year and see feckless mate Chris for a laugh and giggle and swap rude jokes.

Just for Matt and chums

Matt

Cannot say too much as the site is linked to the radiography Blog.
Since I'm now an "Elth proffffffesshunal" my identity must remain annony-mouse. ( Just in case I say/let slip something I should not)

So send me your e-mail address ya dolt, then we may converse properly like.

Regards LostSock

Some Non news

Well folks I thought I'd post, post about nothing really.

The MG has not moved or gone any rustier I think. I did spend some time attaching a thick clear polythene to the front window and side windows in preparation for the cold winter.
Normally the two large Blue poly covers are usually enough to keep out the water, however on the last few excursions under the cover I have seen a large puddle of water collecting in one of the many poly boxes storing stuff inside.
It serves me right, I should not have removed the windscreen before I was ready to.
Still, it gave me good exercise since I had done a clear out of the shed and outhouse.
Thus finding Duck tape and thick clear poly sheet.

I have a Job..............................................a butchers dog/gopher

Since the big change in my circumstances, then even bigger shock with good old Tax office ( Don't get me started...................................Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)
I decided to help our Christmas be less bleak and earn some dosh.
Hopefully some MG type goodies wend their way my way or at least I can afford to save for some suspension bushes.
Hope I get the time to post as I'm going to be rather busy up to the festive period.

p.s comments are welcome as they usually cheer me up !!!

Its getting there, their, they're

Had a good couple of good sessions the last few weeks under the bonnet.

Things MG wise have taken a bit of a back seat, obviously. 

Prior to the big decision I did manage to visit another MG part retailer "darn sarf" and bought some oil cooler pipes and petrol pipe unions ( might as well have been Onions......see later ) 

+ second hand heat shield for carbs. 

 Retailer- ere, this ull fit...... ( When asked if they have said heatshield)  

Me - It looks a lot different... ?

Retailer - naw, they all fit, just slightly redesigned....  

Me - how do you undo the oil cooler nut when its sheared on the cooler matrix thread ?  

Retailer - Need a torch guv, an plenny of eat...

Me - Won't that melt the ( rubber) pipes ( within 1" of union )

Retailer - scuttles away to answer some unheard cry from out back

Retailer # 2 , That'll be £22.55 please

Anyways, that lot of bits stayed hidden in my desk drawer till wifey came to do the dreaded receipts and finances ( she now knows where to look to find the receipts..........my eyes !!!!)

Since all the ancillaries had been cleaned during summer, I had the relevant gaskets ( bought months ago from Mechspec via good ole E-bay) and now I had all the parts.....whopeee

So, fitted the gaskets x 4, spacer x 2, more gaskets under heatshield, heatshield ( after good cleanup with wire brush in drill)  Bracket onto heatshield to hold carb throttle union, 3 lower springs and the two carbs. It took a bit of working out on how to fit the two mechanical linkages

and some flicking through the photos and books, but job done.

I should say at this point the previous "good session" I had fitted the inlet manifold, exhaust manifold + gasket, cleaned up the mounting studs and attached with liberal coatings of copper grease.

The fuel union recently purchased was crap. It fits between each carb. It looks good, being braided steel outer, with SS jubilee clips at each end but......................it was too short !!!!!

So I cleaned up the old one and re-used the existing springy clips.....they look as good as new.

This was the only ( union) thing I was sure would be O.K from " darn sarf"  so an ONION would have been as good.

The heatshield did fit fine though, so the trip and cash was not wasted.

I still have to get another thermostat housing from the MG owners club as the last one purchased is still not the correct one.

What makes this difficult is I'm not trolling up and down this fair isle anymore so it will have to be good ole Mr Postman. And a top water hose is also required and an oil pressure pipe union (x2) which sheared on undoing. 

The oil cooler and hoses are in place and finished, the fuel overflow pipes also.

So, soon I will be able to refit the fuel tank, re-connect electric sender unit, fill with lifefluids and try starting her up......................................................perhaps.

I'll have to give some time and effort in to what I think I might have forgot.

I have a feeling that I may have to re-fit the dashboard first which means connecting the heater vents which means fitting the heater which means re-furb to heater which means finding lost vent trim and so on.

Who said it was going to be easy. 

At least i have ALL of next week off................more then, possibly.

Above are the Heatshields...........are they the same ?  ( yes they both fit !!!)

All Change.................slow,slow ,stop.

Well its finally come to pass.
Yes I bit the bullet and handed in my notice.
Not shared with you on the blog was my restlessness to do something different, to help people and to sleep in my own bed every night.
So three years ago I embarked on an access course at the local college with the aim of applying for a place on a Radiography course. I never thought I would be offered a place. The courses are very over subscribed and its not your usual "student life". Being medical the course is very tough with 3 years academic study and 3 years on placement all crammed into 3 years !!
I thoroughly enjoyed the access course and would reccomend it to anyone, even if its just for fun.
I ended up with the equivalent of 3- 1/2 A levels ( I added extra units to enhance my chances of selection) The people were like me ( older) all had busy lives and jobs and we all had collective whinges, fun and a great sense of camarardarie ( spelling!!)

It was a tough decision to make when I discovered I had been offered a place. It involved all the family and everyone has had to make sacrifices. I must admit this was very tough for the wife as she's the worrying type and was at her wits end over the decision.
However, I will do all I can not to let anyone down over the next three years.

So the restoration will go even slower now. Finances are stretched to breaking point so I may have to resort to begging and borrowing.....................I'm good at this though.

I will miss my friends and associates from work, the company car, laptop ( now replaced with new one with a FULL KEYBOARD- note KL) expense account, mobile phone, whining customers, hours of e-mails ( replaced with hours of essays) motorway traffic jams, M25, A14, M1, A12, A405, Slough , Jedburgh and last but not least all the comfortable little offices I had dotted around the UK ( Motorway service stations to the un-initiated )
I will reallly miss the large Wild bean cafe Latte's that kept me sane.

Another positive note is I've stopped smoking at last, and kept the alcohol units under 15 for most of the last few weeks........................here's to a healthy lifestyle.
Well I could hardly be let loose in hospitals as an Oliver Reed apprentice could I .

So expect in the coming months some restoration fun, a few stories of acadedmic life and other hospital related tales from a student radiographer.
Please note that since I'm now a professional in the health service I'm expected to behave like one. Back to the old lifestyle then ??????? I'll let you know.

Restoration wise I'm afraid I have left a little gap in proceedings.
What is done is as follows :-
All of bodywork, except :- Rear inner wing repair section, sanding of F- RH lower wing repair section, Bonnet clean up, Rear tailgate clean up, chop off front chassis ends to accomodate chrome bumper mounts. Weld in captive nuts.

Engine :- Fit carbs & manifold. Buy two new hoses for cooling system. Fit oil cooler hoses + gauge pipe ( broken when removing former) refurb and fit heater box.

Suspension :- Inspect, clean, rebush, fit lower springs ( got on e-bay) Front & Back

Well you get the picture, its coming along nicely. But so is winter !!!

Any donations gratefully recieved.

Back to Black..........hopefully not

Well, technically black is not a colour, but it is for the purposes of my vehicles previous owner is must have been a very attractive and desirable colour.
I say this because I spent the best part of four hours removing some/most of the stuff liberally covering anything remotely not chrome plated in the engine bay.

Lets start at the beginning of this topic though.
The cylinder head is on and looks, well..............not like it did before.
Before everything in the engine bay was either dark oily greasy black or covered in "horsehair" fluff from the shedding of the under bonnet lid protection.
Actually everything was covered in both. So thats why the cylinder head now looks like a cylinder head. Albeit still has some small corners still holding onto the black paint applied at some stage. The Ally intake manifold was the same. This however could take a lot more aggresion being lighter than the C.H.

The carbs were next on the list for re-furb. They looked awfully dark and "fluffy".
Trouble was meths,white spirit, petrol & thinners didn't touch them.
A trip to the local boy racers heaven ( Motor Factors, full of wheels,graphic equilisers, polish and LED lights ) and a large spray can of "Carb Cleaner" purchased, together with spray on engine de-greaser.

Well they both worked a treat and did exactly what they said on the tin.
The carbs look .................well again almost new. I enjoyed cleaning the carbs. I sat down the drive under the shade of a tree, jacksy parked on nice plastic chair with all stuff laid our before me on old pinic table. What joys !.
I even managed to find an old battery powered toothbrush for the fiddly corners of the carb.
The engine de-greaser was a little scary as it stated rinse off with water.
I'd just covered the entire LH side of the engine and chassis frame.
However, I bit the bullit and sprayed with high powered cold water and guess what, it works. No more smelly, oily, fluffy engine.
To prove a point on the progress here's a before and after .........look up

( for some reason I still can't reposition the photos where i want them...come on Blogger, sort it!!!! )
Lots of the ancillaries have been cleaned too. My point about the black is that at some stage in its early life the car had had a good and thorough ( mild understatement) respray from white to black. This included the inside of all the boot,door, bonnet, sills, engine bay and ancillaries including THE WIRING.
So it took me four hours of back breaking cleaning the wires with thinners to reveal the colour before I could connect up the various ancillaries. Plus the sticky and grimy black electrical tape binding so many wires.

What lets the whole thing down is the area where the large smiths heater sits. It looks a little rusty and still white in parts. I didn't think they would remove this when converting the colour since it took me best part of 2 days to remove.

Next post will reveal what I found hiding in the car from Mr Bodgit & Scarper, or was it Mulder from the X-files ? .................more soon !

Now I've published the post the pictures don't do it justice. I'll try to give a better before and after of the carbs..............promise. And, And ,And what colour should I spray it ?

My feelings say Carmine Red, wifey wants old English white ( Original colour) kids say pearlescent light Blue...........................tell me what you think !!!!!!!!!!!!!!please