MGA Restoration/Build

[mac53]

Hi Patrick That sounds like a honeymoon to remember do you have any photos of the car ?
Thanks Nick things are going to get interesting soon when we start to fit the A and B post see if I can get a lot more photos its remembering to take them before hand

 

[Matchless]

there was not room in the car for a camera! tent, sleeping bags, double gas ring, gas bottle, clothes, spare tyre and a few tools, spare fuel pump (needed on a return trip in 1977) no spare wheel, filled the middle of the tyre with bits and pieces, no door pockets so we could fill the whole of the doors with clothes etc. still have the car, and the wife, car is easier to start these days! needs another complete restoration, and the car, bought some used steel wings from the USA around 10 years ago, waiting it's turn to get done,

 

[mac53]

Hi Patrick read that four times now what a fantastic story! space is a problem in the "A" but it sounds like you worked outside the box never thought of filling the doors with clothes, they are great cars.
The only space saving trick I have done with mine is convert to single 12v battery and fit a tool box in the spare space

 

[Cobbler]

The “A” I had, one of the batteries jumped out of the carrier & was dragged along the tarmac by the cable.

 

[Matchless]

I even had something cable tied up under the dash, cannot remember what now, the car still has a Greek ferry sticker on the rear bumper, and a Greek 8 track tape somewhere in it, used it as a daily driver for 20 years, unused for the last 20 years, batteries may be flat!

 

[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.....

 

[Matchless]

when I bought my A for £100.00 in 1973 a mate, a fellow greenbelt motor club member, bought a twin cam for £200.00, around 10 years ago at a swop meet in Johannesburg a guy in front of me made a comment about something he had just found on a stall, I thought he has an Essex accent, I said something and he turned round and said Hello Pat, he still has the twin cam in Capetown, if you are wondering what I was doing in Joburg, I had just ridden the DJ, a one and a half day run / rally for pre 1935 motorcycles from Durban to Joburg on the old roads,

 

[malcolm]

Work is looking good on the project. Rusty one you have there. Nice job on the rear valence - the shape looks simple but is impossibly complicated but fortunately mostly hidden by the bumper and number plate.

I bought one from a scrapyard in Texas back in 1992. It was only rusty around the edges. Mine was just a rolling shell so I used MGB running gear and instruments etc. Some pictures and mods on http://www.vord.net/cars/helga/mga.html

Still got it somewhere. Needs a paint job now.

 

[mac53]

Hi Cobbler you must bolt those battery's in if you can find any decent metal !
Patrick sounds like you like to travel and not just in a car like the collection you have
Malcolm I remember looking at your site when I built my "A" very impressive
Must dash er indoors wants the lounge decorated

 

[Cobbler]

Hi Cobbler you must bolt those battery's in if you can find any decent metal !

I don’t think mine had any decent metal anywhere, let alone the battery carrier!

 

[Matchless]

My blue 1929 RHD Dodge DA came from Durban, found it when out there for the motorcycle rally,

 

[mac53]

Hi Patrick that dodge looks to be in good nick the weather in Durban must be pretty good for cars and bikes, would have been some ride
The longest ride I've done was on this a few years ago to the BSA inter in Italy fantastic over the alps and down to Rome,
the only trouble i had was a battery connector snapping and that was an after market crimp !

 

[mac53]

Hi all been in lockdown like everyone so been unable to get to the A for a while, also had a bit bother with the spot welder but sorted now, was a handy job for lockdown
Moved on to the B post area more rust or no rust depends on how you look at it



patch fitted it was a little tricky getting it in one.
looking at the lower panel it had been repaired in the past with a galvanized plate and over plated on the lower dog leg, so I had to make a repair panel


Oop's cut the inner panel a bit short, this is the panel with captive nuts for the hood support

One more bit to do on the rear end, the nearside battery rear shelf is missing
so made another former and in the press


This photo is better upside down but the snickers would be the wrong way then!

Panel fitted and happy with that.

got my pall on the shrinker and the wheel good exercise

Now for the A & B post should be easy as its all fitted as an F post with the lower sill fitted, only one problem the B post is for a coupe!
Well that's up to date hope to get along again soon and will keep this post updated

 

[Springerdinger]

Really enjoyed reading through your thread. Lovely work a pleasure to see

 

[mac53]

Hi Springerdinger thanks pleased your enjoying it , Its all things I have picked up on watching sites like this one.

Pall got the inner arch fitted
It helps when you have a few more tools than the average Diy workshop the shrinker stretcher is the biggest time saver
Had some bad news the other day the landlord may be developing the garages, looks like houses going up! will wait and see