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MG MGA - MGA job preferences

I have been working on my 56 resto on and off for a while now. I am doing what might be called a bit of backwards resto. I have the body done, complete,ready for final paint, many many hours of work. I must say very gratifying,I love that part.Here's my question,It's now greasy wrench time.I much prefer the body work part,I am not to fond of turning wrenches,but I have to.Which side of the fence do the rest of you guys come down on.
wc wolcott

I love the mechanical work...despise body work and will have nothing to do with it. I guess I like what I do well and avoid the pain of what I don't like. Perhaps we should form a partnership building cars!

Paul Hanley

Sandblasting!!
Art

Art....you lie...:)~

Actually, I like it all. But the bit I like best is washing and waxing!

GTF
G T Foster

Driving!!!!
Bobby

Hi Folks. While Mechanical work is greasy, it is generally pretty straightorward. Bodywork and paint are more of an art, and are not near as straightforward. I enjoy learning new things, and learning to do decent bodywork and paint has been a trial and error process for me, with more error than I would sometimes like to admit. However, when the bodywork is finally straight and smooth, and you start applying the paint, satisfaction begins to build. With each pass of the spray gun, a more beautiful and finished appearance occurs. Finally the paint is all on, and the beautiful high gloss finish makes all the hours of dewaxing, welding, grinding, filling, sanding, priming, painting, and redoing errors all worthwhile! It constantly amazes me how long and how much prep work goes into a decent body and paint job. But when an enthusiast tackles and completes jobs like this, it creates a stronger bond between owner and machine! I try to do, and have done pretty much everything on my 1500, except recover the seats. I had an upholstery shop make and install new seat covers, since I am NOT good with a sewing machine. Other than that, I rebuilt, or played a major role in overhauling the rest of my MGA. I found every aspect of restoration to be a learning experience, and a challenge. Cheers! GLenn
Glenn

For some reason, I have an aversion to transmission work. The only time you'll see me smiling wide is when the work is done. I want to learn to use a mig welder and get good at metal shaping. I hate having crap fall in my eyes, especially. Oil dripping on my forehead is endurable, but not pleasant. That moment when you know if the wrench slips you will bleed, is strangely invigorating. And still, I laugh occasionally at the way I look after some of the "dirty jobs".
Tom

I'm with Glen, everything is enjoyable once you've mastered it and that takes time.

I sometimes look at my MGB GT and want to do some of the work again as I have got so much better over the years (restoration 12 years ago).

Still working on the 59 1500 and with the help of you guys (and a special thank you to GLen for his great web site, especially the electics) she's now going very well mechanicaly. I now need to start on the body...

Unlike Glen I have learnt to use a sewing machine but there not normaly strong enough for car material.

Restoring the cars is my escape....


Garreth
Garreth

While I do all the work of restoring my cars I do the body work and paint due to the cost of having it done, I get excellent results, but spend lots of hours doing it. If I have a choice, put a wrench in my hand and grease under my finger nails.
John H

I actually prefer working with the Hydraulics and electrics. Mechanical stuff isn't too bad, altho a bit dirty. Bodywork is at the bottom of my list of fun stuff.
R. L Carleen

I prefer by far the metal fabrication, welding and prep part of bodywork. Priming and painting less so. Assembling all the newly restored elements is also cool. The least enjoyable for me is disassembly and cleaning. Wren-Ching is theraputic. ;)
Doug
D Sjostrom

Mechanical gets done first most enjoyable to me. Rust panel replacement- the rough body work, Quick easy and fun. Final body and paint sits untill I can hire it out. My body work is not up to my standards, probably because I don't like doing it. Final assembly both fun and rewarding. Like Bobby said the best of all is driving.
Randy
R J Brown

Garreth

I totally redid the interion of my YT (some 30 years ago) using an old foot treadle sewing machine that was my grandmother's. No problems with making it work properly. Definitely "stronger" than a modern home electric machine.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

I just love sorting out the many and varied problems that frequently occur on these cars. Nothing is more satisfying than identifying an obscure squeak or rattle, tuning out a misfire or renovating an old bit of 'leccy'equipment.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I know the part I hate the most...."ELECTRICAL". I don't care how much time you take to explain it, tell me how simple it is.....draw pictures on paper, my mind has not yet achieved the ability do digest the principal of it. If it had not been for the colouring book description (in the Namgar Tech book) I never would have gotten my wiring harness installed. As is the wires are there ...I got the car started (there is no smoke or flames) but many of the electrical functions still don't work. Give me mechanical or body work anytime.
Gordon Harrison

I'll go along with washing and then polishing followed by a long drive in the sunshine. Don't mind weilding the spanners as long it is not so cold that your skin adheres to the metal(my garage is too small to work on the car - can just about get the car in and then squeeze out the door!). Best fun is tinkering during the warm summer months - simple tuning and fettling before a run or going to a show. I just wish that I was good at spraying and bodywork. Cheers Cam
C Cunningham

Actually ..as my eyes are getting worse,my body/paint work gets better. I try to ignore others comments as infidels.
wc wolcott

Anything that brings more POWER, Mr Toad.......
dominic clancy

This thread was discussed between 10/01/2006 and 12/01/2006

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