MGA Restoration/Build

[Greeves246]

Friend of mine has one which he fitted with a Honda S2000 engine. Looks original from outside but goes very well, handles and is extremely reliable. Not a single problem on a trip to Portugal. Greeves246

 

[mac53]

Hi Greeves that sounds like a good engine for the "A" bet it goes well ! any photos?
will have to keep the b series motor for now until its registered but i think he might go for something bigger later
Ian

 

[mm289]

Some very nice panel work there, are you using a swager as well as the power hammer? Power hammer looks cool, would be interested in a few pics of how you made it when you get a chance. Looked at making a compressed air one using an air hammer but electirc looks much better/easier/more manoueverable round the shop
Cheers,
MM

 

[slim_boy_fat]

as you can see the boot floor ribs are a bit wavy

They look pretty good to me.

 

[Greeves246]

Afraid not. Will ask next time I see him if he can email me a few.

 

[mac53]

Hi MM yes my pal has a deep throught swager and a large English wheel
The power hammer is ok but lacks the Bang! at the bottom of the stroke also needs to be stiffer still lots of flex on the frame might try filling the frame with cement/concrete? but it will make it heavier.
I did try and make some shrinking dies for it but it just made lots of twisted steel! the dies need to be securely fixed so there is no movement left or right
also made a concaved die to make the dome on the boot section that worked well to get a shape , so it stretches well but shrinking still just not good enough
the stroke of the hammer is adjustable from 1mm to 5mm approx with two eccentric shafts I don't think I have any build photos as it was just made for fun
Thanks for the likes
my pals been busy on the front of the car with the outer edges I havn't been taking as many photos of his work :9)


Merry Christmas
Ian

 

[500e]

Did a twin cam about 40 years ago they were rusty beasts then. (dark blue)
Our Wallace made a Lot of panels for it including 2 wings, he was a real metal artist.
Nice motor if the corrosion had not got to the cylinder head

 

[stuvy]

Did a twin cam about 40 years ago they were rusty beasts then. (dark blue)
Our Wallace made a Lot of panels for it including 2 wings, he was a real metal artist.
Nice motor if the corrosion had not got to the head

The chap I replaced was 72 and I wish I’d met him 5 years ago as I’d i have learned so much off him

He’s still building cars at home, he has an ex Stirling Moss tvr special and a few others too from Sebring

 

[500e]

Wally did his time with a coach building Co.
Both partners worked for Mulliner and built from chassis up.
We were lucky to have him I personally learnt a lot from him.

 

[mac53]

Some clever people out there always something to learn , I've got something to follow but building from a chassis up that's something else! hats off to you guys that can do that

 

[mac53]

Got a bit more done over Christmas but its getting to the small jobs that take time and are unseen
The boot lid temperately fitted to fit the boot lock and release mech and as usual no lock or connections


the lock is operated by a rod and bell crank

and yes had to make the lock as no longer available

that's all i got done, down with a cold now or man flue !
More shots of what my palls getting done

lower rad duct panel in place holding the shape of the car its not welded in yet we need to dress the weld under that front shroud, just leaving it screwed in place at the moment may need access to cross brace when the inner wings are attached

lots of rust to cut out here

Bit of a learning curve how much to cut out before you loose the shape and trying not to get to much distortion
on first look at this section thought it would be a quick patch but the rust had got hold behind the stiffener so was best to remove

when that lower panel gets fixed theirs a closing strip on the inside to be fitted to seal the body to the chassis
Also got the bolting strip in place for the front wing

Think he had to take this air duct out

fiddly one with a drain
Well that's it from me but its starting to take shape gives you that bit lift to see progress rather than just rust

 

[mac53]

Hi got a bit more done to the boot body ,
using an old top section of a boot gutter for the lower gutter thought it would fit straight in , no chance!had to cut into sections and patch
you can just see the old corner section at the bottom below one of the patches !


made the rear valance up on the wheel bit of a learning curve getting the bow and curve rear

Got the filler hole cut in and all welded up




not very good at this grinding finishing of
But that's it will get more done when i can lots of patches to do now on the B post area see you later

 

[stuvy]

Hi got a bit more done to the boot body ,
using an old top section of a boot gutter for the lower gutter thought it would fit straight in , no chance!had to cut into sections and patch
you can just see the old corner section at the bottom below one of the patches !
View attachment 210194
View attachment 210193
made the rear valance up on the wheel bit of a learning curve getting the bow and curve rear
View attachment 210197
Got the filler hole cut in and all welded up



View attachment 210182
not very good at this grinding finishing of View attachment 210204
But that's it will get more done when i can lots of patches to do now on the B post area see you later

Will upload a picture of the work finished after the weekend, it had a mountain of filler inside it

 

[mac53]

Hi Stuvy Nice A more photos please what are the wheels off not mga? and what happend?

 

[500e]

Tidy work love it

 

[stuvy]

Hi Stuvy Nice A more photos please what are the wheels off not mga? and what happend?

it was a racing incident at the end of last year I’m not too sure I will ask when I’m back on Monday morning

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@mac53 Coming along very nicely!

 

[Matchless]

I bought a 1960 1600 mk1 for £100.00 in 1973, was quite rusty, could only get GRP wings so bought a set, one at a time, was a mere youth, fitted a B engine with a mild cam, three synchro O/D gearbox, plus an MGB automatic diff, it would cruise at 90-100mph, drove it to Greece for my honeymoon 3 days after getting it on the road! those were the days.....

 

[Nick DV]

Great work and skill Mac53. Gonna enjoy following this

 

[stuvy]

Hi Stuvy Nice A more photos please what are the wheels off not mga? and what happend?

I asked the boss and he said they are mga wheels just not sure what year