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MG MGA - How should I proceed from this point?

I have put a lot of my A back together - its now a rolling car with shocks, the brake and fuel lines run, steering in place, gas peddle installed, etc. but the motor is not ready (and who knows when my "mechanic" will be done). Not sure what to do next.

I pretty much cleaned things up as I went along so they are ready to go on, and the body is in primer. The body is not on, and I have not put in the wood floors, trans, motor of trans tunnel.

Can I please get some suggestions on what to do to keep the project on moving along while waiting for the motor?

Should I put the trans tunnel and floors in before the trans and motor? What else should I consider doing while waiting? Does it make sense to put the body on now and make sure everything fits, then take it off and paint if while waiting for the motor?

Thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Tom
Tom Going

Delay the tunnel and related floor boards until the motor and gearbox are in, and prop shaft installed. Much easier access.
How have you run the brake pipes without the body on? The M/C and pedal box fit over the body!
Art Pearse

You have no end of things you can work on. Go ahead and install the gearbox, prop shaft, tunnel, hand brake, and floor. It is easy enough to install the engine later, even after the body is on. For my first restoration the engine and radiator were the last things to be done, and as soon as they were installed I drove it away.

If the body had substantial reconstruction work before primer, then it is a good idea to test fit the body before final painting. Be sure all the bolt locations line up. When you know it fits, then go ahead and paint the body. The body needs to be installed before carpet and wiring.

If you can get the dash panel painted you can assemble all of the instruments and the dash wiring harness. If you haven't done it yet you can rebuild the seats, install coverings on the cockpit rails, rebuild the windscreen and test fit it to the body. When the doors are test fit you can also test fit side curtains and top frame. If you get that far you can even install the convertible top. (You would have to remove it before painting the body, but its only six bolts and some little chrome fasteners).

The idea of test driving the bare chassis without body is a bit of a whim that may boost your ego and enthusiasm. Otherwise it takes extra time to fabricate brackets for steering columns and radiator, put it together, and take some of it apart again (including master cylinder and hydraulic lines) before the body can be installed.
Barney Gaylord

If you are going to use 3-point seat belts, instal the anchor points before painting the body.
David Werblow

Thanks for the great suggestions. I think I am going to go ahead and follow Barney's suggestions as I still need to do all but the windscreen rebuild and cockpit rails. I guess I thought installing the trans and engine as one unit was best, but if it is the collective wisdome that that's not necessarily the case, then I am going to go ahead and install the trans, floor, tunnel, etc., and put the engine in when it is finally done.

Art, I have not yet installed the master cyclinder and understand I need to wait for the body.

Thanks again all.

Tom
Tom Going

This thread was discussed between 15/09/2013 and 16/09/2013

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