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MG MGA - MGA RESTORATION MANUAL

My MG in a box arrived last night. It is a 1960 1600 which was dismanteled for a restoration back in the early 70s. The frame was rebuilt and repainted but the project ended there. All the fenders are off the car. The body is sitting loosly on the frame.
Lots of rust in the sills and pillars but dosen't look as bad as some of the MGA pictures I have seen on MGA restoration sites.
I have no idea how the body is assembled. I seem to have all the inner pieces but am not sure if their shape is accurate.
The Haynes manual and a restoration guide by Robert Vitrikas came with the car.
Can anyone recommend a restoration guide that will detail the body.
Thanks
Morris
M. E. WADDS

A handy book to have is "Original MGA" by Anders Ditlev Clausager. If you're in the lower mainland, you might want to stop by Wilkinson's Automobilia just off Broadway on Ontario Street -- they have quite a selection of books (www.eautomobilia.com). Good luck!
Bobby

Morris. I, too, would like some manual dealing only with the MGA body restoration. The "MGA Restoration Guide" by Malcolm Green might be a good addition to your books, along with the factory workshop manual and the Service Parts List. I find I use all of the various manuals and would like to have even a few more. Something subject specific which would be very nice. One book on the body and body work in general, one book on engine/drive line, etc. all well documented with pictures and written at a hobbyist level rather than for a factory trained mechanic.

Les
Les Bengtson

Ditto re the Malcom Green book. It has good info on sill and pillar restoration, especially as it relates to maintianing the critical dimensions of the door opening.
There's a Haynes (I think) book on British sports car restoration that might be good too, though I've only seen it in bookstores.
You will probably find that, if the frame is straight, mounting the body on the frame is the first step in doing any sill work. Getting the door closure right is going to be your chief objective. It's a bad idea to sever the front half of the body tub from the back half while it's off the frame.
Check the archives for this list for more details and feel free to post questions as lots of guys here have done what you're about to.
John V.
John Vallely

Thanks for the advice on the Original MGA book. I have just ordered it on line from eautomobilia. Nice to see a local supplier.
I once waited 10 1/2 weeks for a Zenith Stromberg carb manual that I bought through Adebooks from a supplier in England. By the time it arrived I had dismanteled & rebuilt the carb 5 times and it was running very nicely.
Cheers
Morris
Morris Wadds

With my MGA boxcar the one book that I found really useful was the factory parts book. Not sure where you find one but it has every nut and washer bolt and widget layed out in exploded view. Found it very helpful in putting things back together that I did not take apart. Almost done. School is starting soon so my garage time is lost to preparation for a new year. Hope to see it run by September though.
David Holmes

You have to spend a lot of time on Barney Gaylord's website www.mgaguru.com Essential reading for anyone working on an MGA. Also the Michigan Rowdies produced a book :A-Antics Tech Tips. I understand it has many useful articles. Unfortunately it is out of print and I have been unable to get a copy. If you find a source pleae email me.
Dan

Dan Barton

You might find some of the pictures on this site helpful.

http://www.vintagerestorationsltd.com/galleries.html

Regards,

Joe
Joe Cook

As I recall, you should find some nice info here at Frank Graham's site as well, http://www.homestead.com/safetyfast/home.html From what I have been given to understand and just the photos at his site, he is a meticulous craftsman, so no shortcuts here. Sill Repair was well covered, I remember.
Bob Muenchausen

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2005 and 19/08/2005

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