1973 MGB GT- It's back..again 16/6

[flyingphil]

Well done on the spring change Adam. Lowering the spring pan on a jack is a good idea, another trick is to substitute a couple of the shorter bolts with much longer bolts or studding to let the spring pan down on the threads.

[adam73bgt]

Aug 11, 2013 6:27:25 GMT flyingphil said:

Well done on the spring change Adam. Lowering the spring pan on a jack is a good idea, another trick is to substitute a couple of the shorter bolts with much longer bolts or studding to let the spring pan down on the threads.

Thanks Looking back, the jack wasn't overly necessary as the friction of the spring pan against the lower wishbone seemed to do a pretty good job of slowing down the release of energy from the spring



On to the next job then. Lately in the hotter weather, the car had been idling much faster than normal when hot, usually up to about 1500-1800 rpm when it should be 800 rpm. I think this is mostly due to the messed up throttle cable either sticking or being poorly adjusted but the SU HS4 carbs that the B has are known for suffering from throttle spindle wear which can cause an air leak affecting running.

I tried to test this by spraying carb cleaner at the ends of the spindles to see if any would get sucked in through the bushings and affect the running but I couldn't hear any effect. In the end I just decided to go for a proper carb service, especially as I didn't know when it was last done.

So we start with this



Four nuts later and removal of the heat shield leaves this



So I was left with a pair of grimy carbs



I started off by giving them a good clean and rinse (after emptying them of petrol and dashpot oil of course ) then I got to work dismantling them



And this is why I like SU's, they're so simple that it took less than half an hour to get the carb apart and tell which bits were which and which I'd be replacing so they're ideal for a novice like me (this is my first carb service)

Overall the carbs were in pretty good shape save for needing a bit of a clean up with some carb cleaner. But once I got the throttle spindles out it was clear that I'd be needing a few more parts..





The actual amount of 'wobble' I could feel in the shafts when they were in the carb wasn't overly severe but clearly there was a pretty well defined ridge on both throttle spindles so replacements were ordered. I decided just to go for standard size spindles rather than start messing around with oversize spindles as that would have meant reaming out the carb body and pressing in new bushes, which I certainly don't have time (or money) for at the moment

I also found why the idle speed screws were always a bit tricky to adjust...



They were both bent! though I already had replacements complete with springs which I'd bought ages ago and had never got round to fitting so that wasn't a huge issue

Soon enough a couple of nice packages arrived from Burlen



And I could start rebuilding up the carbs. Nice comparison of new and old throttle spindles here



So the carbs have now both had: new main jets, new needles, new needle valve things, new throttle spindles, a load of new gaskets and fittings and a really good clean. So now they're looking like this



Ready and waiting to go on the car and be set up, which will involve me using my gunson colourtune for the first time..

[adam73bgt]

Time for some pictures of the B back on the ground

Firstly the front wheels got a good clean



Probably the cleanest they've ever been... haha

And here it is, yes its not the lowest thing in the world, but it looks 'right' it looks more level and has lost that kind of boat-like reverse rake that was happening before







It may get a little bit lower once the springs settle properly and once the front bumper is back on, but either way, I'm happy with it

[flyingphil]

Looking very nice Adam!

[adam73bgt]

Aug 12, 2013 23:02:04 GMT flyingphil said:

Looking very nice Adam!

Cheers! i still haven't managed to get a decent picture of the front post-lowering, this is about all I've got at the moment



So the MG got to the gathering and back, was a bit of a shakedown run for the newly serviced carbs and newly adjusted throttle cable which has finally given me some proper travel on the accelerator pedal The car was pretty well behaved the for the whole journey, the only issue being the increased idle speed when warm was still present. If anyone saw the MG as I arrived, I may have looked a bit stressed trying to find the stand as the idle speed was up around 2000-2500 rpm and the temperature gauge was creeping up too

I think this increased idle when warm is due to a sticking throttle cable, even though I did lubricate the cable recently, I've bought a new one to fit when I fancy tackling it. Also got a new oil filler cap as the old one has been leaking after long drives.

I had wanted to get some riveted raised letters number plates but I can't quite afford them at the moment so I've bought some black plates for the time being



I also bought some black leatherette to finish off my refurbishment of my mountney steering wheel, two of the little corner pieces didnt have any covering on them when I bought the wheel so I got them off the wheel and got to work

This is what I started with



Using superglue I stuck the flattest, largest part of metal to the backing of the leatherette



Then I slowly went around the metal gently pulling the leatherette taut and gluing as I went, I didn't pull the leatherette too tight as I needed some stretchiness left in it to bend the metal clips back around the spokes of the wheel

So after some fiddling I was left with a couple of these





And fitted, they just bend around the spokes and seem to be held well in place just through a bit of clamping



And the finished article, the left one came out a bit better than the right one but I'm really happy with how the wheel has come out in the end, can't wait to get it fitted now



The steering wheel isn't the only thing I need to get fitted...





In less happy news though, I've got a little bit of clutch slip happening on hard gearshifts and when putting on overdrive on hard acceleration. So the clutch is going to have to be changed, currently looking out for prices to get it done, but if the clutch lasts until I get back to uni I may be able to borrow an engine crane and do it myself.

An extra expense I don't really need

[Clement]

Cool car Couldn't you just put the car on jack stands and push the gearbox out of the way? It's not the most comfy way but DIY-friendly!

[Rich]

Aug 24, 2013 16:31:50 GMT Clement said:

Cool car Couldn't you just put the car on jack stands and push the gearbox out of the way? It's not the most comfy way but DIY-friendly!

Not enough room to remove the gearbox in a b. you either remove the engine, or remove the whole lot and split it on the floor.

[Clement]

Ouch. I'll just shut it and wish you good luck then

[adam73bgt]

Yeah I was hoping that might be an option but its gonna be an engine out job If I do it myself I know there's going to be the temptation to start changing a few other engine parts while I'm there...

[adam73bgt]

After going through a list of potential replacements for the B of which I couldn't find anything I particularly liked, I went for a drive to try to improve relations

It didn't start well, the idle screws still need adjusting (my fault really) turns out the car doesn't like idling at 500 rpm from cold.. will do it when warm though

The suspension felt harsh and bumpy on country roads (to be expected I suppose after I'd just been driving across France on motorways in a modern Mondeo)

But as I carried on driving, I couldn't help but smile and even though it was raining and the wipers are all but useless, the car performed well. Apart from the slightly scary moment where I was confronted by a coach on a small country road and had to do a rather abrupt stop on a muddy and wet road.. some choice words were used

Anyway, while I was out I thought I'd attempt to take some photos of the car, they're not amazing and I was using that most professional of camera equipment (an iPhone) but its nice to just appreciate the lines of the car sometimes, without thinking about its mechanical issues











dat bent bumper..






and my favourite


Also found a random old dealership? looks abandoned but has a pair of old BMW's inside in good condition along with some motor bikes and a Riley mini variant under a tarp

[ChasR]

It's always great to see dealerships with some of the good old stuff in them. More often than not they are closer than you think .

The car is looking better on the new lowered platform it has to be said .

I still have the shelf for you . Let me know if you want it dropping off (I come to Coventry pretty much weekly) and I need to clear out the shed (make room for Pissat bits ).

[adam73bgt]

Indeed, though from some pictures I found on the internet, this dealership used to be in much better condition. I suppose the efforts have been concentrated on the stuff inside by the looks of things

Thanks, I'm liking it more now, feels a bit more level in corners too the ride is getting a little bit annoying now, maybe because I've been pootling about in modern stuff for a month, but maybe the dampers need a bit of a seeing to, I had considered getting uprated ones or buying the valves and uprating them myself..

Ah yes! I'll let you know when I'm back in Coventry, shall be heading back soon to start my masters, and I shall take that off your hands, I'll have to see how it fits in now that I've got the rear bench in as well

[carltonx]

cars looking cool , love the fog lamp  

[adam73bgt]

Sept 11, 2013 20:30:09 GMT carltonx said:

cars looking cool , love the fog lamp  

haha thanks took me ages to finally get round to fitting it

[bgt]

Nice pictures! I want mine to be that low.. but being (or having been) a rubber bumper model I can't do that without a little more modification.

Put some Rain-X on the windshield! Then the wipers will be less of an issue.

[adam73bgt]

Ah yeah it is a little trickier to get the later ones low, though most of the lowering on this is done by aged rear springs

Rain-x is a godsend, need to get some more of the stuff, its cheaper than shelling out for a new wiper motor at any rate lol

[task]

Looking really good, more inspiration to get mine moving along

[bstardchild]

Sept 11, 2013 0:28:00 GMT adam73bgt said:

Also found a random old dealership? looks abandoned but has a pair of old BMW's inside in good condition along with some motor bikes and a Riley mini variant under a tarp

That's my late uncles garage - no longer a working garage and more a shrine to his restoration abilities and passion

The BMW I did a thread on years ago I'll see if I can find it

Here you go

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/34665/norfolk-angel-inn-meets-2007?page=8

[adam73bgt]

Time for a little update..

A while back I bought a Mountney wood rim steering wheel as the standard wheel was a little big for my liking plus it was constantly annoying me on any slightly rough road as the jolts would shake the horn push off the wheel causing it to hit me in the plums as I'm driving. not good.

Anyway, the wheel was all refurbed so it was high time I fitted it. Heres what I started with



and the offending horn push... (yes I could have bent the tabs that secure it out a bit more to hold it on better but I fancied a change anyway )



I loosened the centre nut and heaved for a bit and the wheel came free (didnt remove the nut to save my face)



Pretty sure the cam/lug/whatever for the indicator cancellation is on the wrong side of the column.. would explain why my indicator self cancelling is a bit poo



Little and large



The horn push design of the new wheel meant that I had to do a little modifying to what was there before. The horn contact ring had to be transferred on to the new boss and then a wire soldered to it from the contact on the back of the horn push button like so





Though after fitting the horn doesnt work.. but while I've been sitting here writing this I relise I've been a bit of a plonker and haven't refitted the brass pencil which carries the current from the contact ring to the horn circuit so I'll sort that soon..

Anyway. All fitted up



It's different to drive with as its smaller diameter and also the offset of the boss is different but I'm getting used to it. It is better now that the wheel isn't hitting my legs and the horn push wont come out however

In other news, I got round to fitting the underbonnet insulation that I've had kicking around for a while (you can tell that I'm better at buying stuff than getting round to fitting it.. )

Started off by getting rid of the remnants of the old insulation



Then a couple of minutes with some contact adhesive later and I've gone from this



To this



Would have been a lot easier to do with the bonnet upside down but I couldn't be bothered to take it off, annoyingly however one of the pads has peeled off a bit so may need a bit more glue. Though I have recently been tempted by fibreglass MGC bonnets but thats another story

Lastly I got round to fitting the rocker shaft locating peg and retainer that oddly weren't fitted to the car. These stop the rocker shaft from turning but thankfully it looks as though the rocker shaft hasn't gone anywhere as I ran it with the rocker cover off and oil was flowing nicely from the holes in the rockers.



also had to pay some tax..



But hopefully this should be the last time anyone has to pay tax on this car as it should be free this April

[flyingphil]

Thanks for the update!