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MG MGA - 200 miles

The 57 1500 just ticked over 200 miles. I did an oil change (I know, its a little early) and am glad I did. I was surprised by how dirty it was. I flushed the cooling system and all is well. My 16 year old daughter then volunteered to drive me down to blockbusters to rent a movie. She was 2 when I brought the basket case home. Well, she's still learning how to drive this 50 year old car with only 200 miles on it. We peeled out once and it was very exciting. I drove us back home after we successfully navigated the parking lot. "It's not you honey, it's me." "Did I make you nervous Dad?"
She's been learning on my 1600 and has been doing very well. Yesterday, on our way to the sea center where she volunteers she said, "I like driving this car better than mom's camry. It's more fun and you can see better."
Tonight she pronounced that the 1500 sounded sick compared to the 1600 and that the 1500 doesn't have the same power. hmmmm. Wish me luck.
Next up is a visit to the highway patrol on Thursday so they can verify that the car is the car I claim it to be. The numbers match and I removed the paint on the crossmember so it will be easy for them to see. BTW.. I Saw on EBAY a 1500 that is only 1 number off from my #32590 ---- #32591 is for sale.
David Holmes

Make sure your vin plate and numbers match. I had to do what you did and they screwed on two new plates with numbers, one in the open and one hidden.
JEFF BECKER

Glad to hear it's up and running and that your daughter enjoys it. You've done a good job raising her, she already wants more power from the engine, do I sense an 1800 in the future? I'll drink a toast tonight to your success,
Bill
Bill Young

Driving the 1500 is noticeably different. It just feels more crude. Heavier feeling. Power differences mostly noticed on acceleration. Steering feels heavier but that could be radial tyres or the smaller moto-lita rim. My 1600 has bias plys and they track every groove of the roadway. The radials just stick. Very fun especially considering what this car looked like in the beginning. Third gear required double clutching at first but now hardly ever. Just as an early road and track article noted. Their test car shifted hard into third for the first 100 miles then seemed to be fine after 200. Mine too. Cheers back to you Bill.
David Holmes

The easy way to get rid of the "heavy" feeling on a 1500 is to use a lightened flywheel, or a B flywheel and clutch.

This transforms the way the engine responds to throttle.
dominic clancy

Thanks Dominic... but, I'm not likely to replace the flywheel any time soon. Cool solution though. The
California Highway Patrol verified that my numbers match on the 1500 today. It took about 90 minutes for them to complete the process. I had cleaned off the frame crossmember to make it easier to read the VIN number stamped there. The officer in charge would not reveal what they were doing for the 90 minutes I had to wait. I can only assume that they did some sort of CHP title search on the vehicle. Any way, I was able to get the car registered at DMV and ordered new plates. To that end, it was a successful day and on the daughter's driving lessons ... well. we're still learning. Today we practiced stopping on a hill and getting started without stalling. By George I think she got it.
David Holmes

David, she'll be off to Laguna Seca before you know it!
Amazing how fast a young mind can master a machine when it's as good looking red sports car, especially a MGA. She can probably pull the steering wheel fully out on it's slide and still clear it also. ;-)
Bill Young

Hey, don't get personal. As a friend of mine is fond of saying, You picked a terrible car to get old in. Just getting my legs in is a work out. Much less dealing with steering wheel belly rub.
David Holmes

This thread was discussed between 03/04/2007 and 06/04/2007

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