It's not a Rover build thread, MGB with Ford 302 power :D
Got it back up and running. Even added a little something to the front. Just need to decide if I'm putting the bumpers back on now.
Ok so for now I decided no bumper for the front.
Then my little helper helped me peel the dip off of the MG to start the prep for a color change.
Most of it peeled pretty well there were a few spots that required some goo gone and a pressure washer to clean off. All in all I am really happy with the ability to remove it and the protection it gave the body.
I then took off to my Dad's place for the final strip down.
We then set to work putting down the new color. First a Vintage Gold base coat.
Then it was time for the Saturn Yellow Pearl top coat.
And finally a bit of reassembly.
Ok so for now I decided no bumper for the front.
Then my little helper helped me peel the dip off of the MG to start the prep for a color change.
Most of it peeled pretty well there were a few spots that required some goo gone and a pressure washer to clean off. All in all I am really happy with the ability to remove it and the protection it gave the body.
I then took off to my Dad's place for the final strip down.
We then set to work putting down the new color. First a Vintage Gold base coat.
Then it was time for the Saturn Yellow Pearl top coat.
And finally a bit of reassembly.
Done with the body. I did some mechanical work today. I upgraded the 30 amp lucas alternator, with a 70ish amp RRC alternator. Dropped right in and now I can run the headlights and wipers and the same time 
It is he bought her new back in late 71 off the showroom floor, it's been a member of the family longer than I have. The best part for me was growing up working on it with my dad. It's probably to blame for my love of cars and british cars in particular. It was there for my ride home from the hospital when I was born. The first car I drove when I turned 16 even took my driver's test with her. She took me to Prom, took me to and from my first duty station, to visit friends in Virginia and my first real date with my wife.
My Dad and I spent countless hours in the garage back in the mid 80's working on her together. It is probably the reason my Dad is my best friend and I hope it will eventually have the same effect on my daughter and I.
She won't come out and work on it with me yet, but she loves to ride in it. She is always asking if I can take her to gymnastics in it and to car shows. Her appreciation of old cars and respect for the love and work that goes into them is growing with every trip. For a 7 year old her interest of old cars their styling and features is amazing. My wife has done a wonderful job raising her with me constantly being away, I didn't even have to explain to her why we don't touch cars at a car show, she knew.
The downside is she has informed me when she turns 16 she expects the MGB to be her first car. I'm not looking forward to giving the MG up, but it makes me so happy to know my daughter wants to continue the family tradition of MG ownership.
On the work front on thursday I had a loud bang followed by a nasty lower intensity banging noise any time it hit the slightest bump from the front left corner. I limped her home 40 miles like that, praying she wouldn't loose a tire or something. I had pulled off and couldn't see anything off hand that looked out of place so she and I Soldiered on towards home.
Got home and got it up on jack stands pulled both front tires and started inspecting. To my surprise it was pretty obvious once I looked what was wrong. The caliper bolts had rattled loose. One had fallen out and the other was 3/4 of the way out. Picked up a new bolt and some lock tight, topped off the oil in the shocks and put her back together. I'm glad to say that fixed the issue.
So the MG is continuing her daily driver duties in grand style. 12,000 miles so far since I put her on the road earlier this year.
My Dad and I spent countless hours in the garage back in the mid 80's working on her together. It is probably the reason my Dad is my best friend and I hope it will eventually have the same effect on my daughter and I.
She won't come out and work on it with me yet, but she loves to ride in it. She is always asking if I can take her to gymnastics in it and to car shows. Her appreciation of old cars and respect for the love and work that goes into them is growing with every trip. For a 7 year old her interest of old cars their styling and features is amazing. My wife has done a wonderful job raising her with me constantly being away, I didn't even have to explain to her why we don't touch cars at a car show, she knew.
The downside is she has informed me when she turns 16 she expects the MGB to be her first car. I'm not looking forward to giving the MG up, but it makes me so happy to know my daughter wants to continue the family tradition of MG ownership.
On the work front on thursday I had a loud bang followed by a nasty lower intensity banging noise any time it hit the slightest bump from the front left corner. I limped her home 40 miles like that, praying she wouldn't loose a tire or something. I had pulled off and couldn't see anything off hand that looked out of place so she and I Soldiered on towards home.
Got home and got it up on jack stands pulled both front tires and started inspecting. To my surprise it was pretty obvious once I looked what was wrong. The caliper bolts had rattled loose. One had fallen out and the other was 3/4 of the way out. Picked up a new bolt and some lock tight, topped off the oil in the shocks and put her back together. I'm glad to say that fixed the issue.
So the MG is continuing her daily driver duties in grand style. 12,000 miles so far since I put her on the road earlier this year.
Well I've been enjoying the hell out of the MG this summer. I took it to Columbus OH and back last week, on the way back the 42 year old starter packed it in finally. No biggie stopped at my Dad's place as I was nearby and swapped it out for one of his extra cars ordered the starter and finished the last 1.5 hours to home.
Well the starter showed up and my Dad was feeling frisky so he put it in for me. I went to pick it up on Saturday and I was going to look at the exhaust since I had a leak. When I was about 45 min out my Dad decided to put the MG on ramps for me so I could just jump right into the work.
I pull up and my Dad is coming to meet me at the curb which is a bit odd. Then the bad news hits, as he was jacking it up using the jack point he didn't seat it fully and the MG slide right off the floor jack. It crushed the rocker panel tearing steel and taking out the fresh dip job.
As I type it's at a body shop, sitting on a frame machine seeing if they can pull it back out and save the rocker. :'(
Well the starter showed up and my Dad was feeling frisky so he put it in for me. I went to pick it up on Saturday and I was going to look at the exhaust since I had a leak. When I was about 45 min out my Dad decided to put the MG on ramps for me so I could just jump right into the work.
I pull up and my Dad is coming to meet me at the curb which is a bit odd. Then the bad news hits, as he was jacking it up using the jack point he didn't seat it fully and the MG slide right off the floor jack. It crushed the rocker panel tearing steel and taking out the fresh dip job.
As I type it's at a body shop, sitting on a frame machine seeing if they can pull it back out and save the rocker. :'(
