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MG MGA - Years of experience?

A lot of businesses like to brag about the number of years of "experience" they have. Usually they add up the years that each staff member has been working and say "We have 50 years of experience" or whatever. A while ago I did a survey about owner age. People have talked about how long they've owned a car. But, what I want to know is, how long have you been WORKING on MGA's. And I mean turning wrenches. Taking 'em apart and puttin 'em together. I'd like to be able to tell the newbies that this Website has "XXXXXXX" years of experience. Wadda think? Are you with me?
OK, I'll go first......I have (no BS) 42 years experience WORKING on MGA's.

Bring it.....:)
GTF
G T Foster

I started working on my MGA 1500 in 1958 (50 years ago).
I then changed that for an mga twin cam. I am embarrassed to say this here, but I then moved to Triumphs in 1968, but never lost my enthusiasm for the MGA and take any opportunity to work on them.
I have mainly used outside assistance to line bore main bearing saddles, bore cylinders and grind crankshafts. Other machine work was done in house including camshaft lobe grinding, to transfer shapes from masters to blanks.

I have reached my "expiry date" for heavy mechanical work and now give advice to youngsters who have only ever tuned a car with a computer.


Mick
M F Anderson

Hey GT, does this count?


Mark J Michalak

40 years for me since my first car was an MGA in 1968, and I had to fix a dropped valve and broken piston after only two weeks. But I'm not old, I've just been 19 for 40 years now.
Barney Gaylord

A meagre 12 years for me on the MGA, but have tinkered with all my cars, motorcycles and mopeds since the early 60s - I guess 46 years in all.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I should think that 90% (at least)of people who use this site repair their own cars. The average age of users I estimate at 55, typical age when starting around 20 so that's an average of just over 30 years per person. Number of site users possibly 100 giving a grand total of over 3000 years! Now that's hard to beat. Mike
m.j. moore

Owned my first ('50) TD in 1958. Totally overhauled everything when I first got it. Then TDs, TFs, TC and now current MGA. I've always done all of the work on them that way I only have myself to blame if something doesn't work. I guess that means 50 years as well. Not bad for a forty year old, huh;-) Yeh right.

Joe
Joe Wiley

Oh yeh I forgot. (Old age I guess) I had another MGA from 1960 til 1965 while I was in the military.

Joe
Joe Wiley

37 years, my first MG was a 71 MGB

Cliff
Jones

My Dad bought our 'a in '58, we helped him wash and wax it until the paint was rubbed off. Dad and I did the first valve job in '62 and I have done all of the maintenance work since. I rebuilt the engine in '64 and re-painted it the original color while the engine was out. By this time I was working on other Sprites, TR3 & 4, XK150, Minis, Mustangs, 289 Cobra, GTO, neighborhood cars in shade tree mode. I bought the 'A from Dad in '64 and have driven it and maintained it since then. I slalomed in the SCCA then so did a stage 3 full rebuild, balanced, line bored, .030 over flat tops, mild cam, unshrouded the valves, pocketed the block, 0.090 milled off the head, shimmed the rocker stands, "B" jets and "B" exhaust manifold (modified for steering clearance) and downpipes through a Thrush muffler. It would only run right on Sunoco 260, but it was available then. I put TR6 wires on the car with Pirellis, Paeco shock oil all around and mild front sway bar. Had a great time in High School with it, but had to store it while I went overseas in the Air Force. By the time I got back to it, high octane gas was not easily available and it has gradually been de-tuned since then. Out kids and grandkids work on it with me now, and I expect to pass it on to one of them eventually. I guess about 42 or 3 years to answer the question.
GrandPaFuzz


Russ Carnes

4 years on my MGA, but I've been working on cars since I helped my dad back in 67 rebuild the power brakes, engine and transmission on our 62 Mercury.
mike parker

My first car was an MGB, which I got my senior year in high school. If Obama wins the election, I'll be older than the US President, which makes me "old".
David Breneman

Passed my "test" in '62 - 1st car in '64 a 1936 Morris 8 tourer. First MG in '68 (a '61 midget)followed by a '71 Midget , a '79 GT and now a '60 A - so that's 40 years of MGs . But my MGA experience is only 5 years.
Cam Cunningham

My first MGA mechanic experience was in the early 1970s. I went under my MK-II (it belonged to my sister then) to replace the clutch. Simple job, right? My first comment was "what idiot welded the crossmember in?" That's when I found out that things are done different on MGs. Never had to pull an engine to replace a clutch before that! Been tinkering with cars many years,(about 50) but only have about 10 years experience on MGs. Now it's about the only car that I can work on. The new stuff is too high tech for me.
Ed Bell

Mark,
I don't see a wremch but I'm sure there's a great story!
GTF
G T Foster

Ummmm, make that Wrench......or is it Wench?
GTF
G T Foster

I've been wrenching and driving (and wrenching and driving, and wrenching and driving, ...) my '62 MGA 1600 MkII since I was 16 in 1969, which was the last time the car was taken for repair to a professional garage. At 17 I had disassembled the car in our backyard and had everything except the rolling chassis and tub moved into the cellar (aka basement) of our home where I could assess and repair the components. I refurbished, reassembled, and had it back on the road in about 9 months - just in time to drive off to college. I refreshed it again in 1980 and 2007. I've probably disassembled/reassembled everything except the differential at least once. My favorite job is rebuilding the gearbox. The most recent work I've done on it was to rebuild/restore the front suspension (for the second time) last year. It speaks volumes about the robustness of the car that it's still a solid driver after having an amateur like me wrench it all these years. The MGA is a textbook car. Repairing it was never so much a chore, as it's always been such great fun to drive.
Steve K



Hi Everyone,

This is my first post on this site, It was recommended to me by my fellow club member, Peter Tilbury.

My first experience in working with M.G's was in 1957 when I aquired my first MG a 1932 J type.
I've been working on sports cars ever since.

Sunbeams, Triumphs, Lotus '7's, and am now back to MG's.

Currently I'm working on a 1600 MGA.
I also work on my 1970 MGB.

I have some experience with the 'Brit' Cars.

Close to 50 years.

I wish I still had my J type.

Regards. to everyone. Rod.
R.A. Gregg

My first car was an MG PA in 1955 when I was 16 (should have kept it!), have owned a number of MG's and other English cars ever since (and still do!).
Barry Bahnisch

I have been working on my MGA now for 16 years (and its still not finished - ha ha!!).
Before that I had a Spitfire for 3 years while at university, which I had to fully rebuild as it was full of rust.
That makes 19 years of working on my own cars. Before that I helped my dad tune the family mini, having smaller hands than him menat I was roped in from an early age.

Another interesting sum is the total number of years worth of cars you have in the garage, I am at 128 years between my MGA, Fiat500 and Jag E-type!!

Neil
Neil Purves

I rebuilt my first "motobike" (a Honda c100) thirty years ago; first MG (Midget) twenty six years ago and began work on my first (of four) MGAs thirteen years ago (and it's still not finished!) I have well over 200 years of cars (and bike) in my garage.

Neil
Neil McGurk

I have always played around with cars. It started with motorcycles in high school, moved on to Model A Fords, early Chevy PU's, MGBs, and now MGA's. I have always maintained our other vehicles. I guess that is about 45 plus years. Now that I am retired I drive the MGA almost daily year around and have another vice - sailboats. Car totals 50 years, sailboats 81.

Bill Haglan

41 years and still counting. Actually I think as long as I can get into my Coupe and get down underneath it for repairs ....I will always be turning a wrench on it.
Gordon Harrison

44
The Other MG Brother - Phil White

Hi Gerry. Working on my MGA (REALLY WORKING!) for the past 12 years. Prior to that, 15 years on an MGB and Jaguar. Before that, Corvettes, Malibu SS, Fords.....

Cheers, George

G Goeppner

Gerry,

I bought my first MGA in 1965 (it was my first car!) so I have about 43 years in and counting. I currently own a '59 roadster and a '59 coupe plus a derelict '75 MGB.

Randy
Randy Myers

I'm a newbie with only 28 years. Also did 1 year as a big Healey owner. I was remembering with a friend how we pulled and replaced the motor in one weekend and a case of beer. Went to school all greasy but we did it. 1971.
David Holmes

I have had the same MGA for 37 years. Starting to work on it in 1971 while I was still in high school.
JEFF BECKER

30 Years and counting on just MGA. Some earlier experience on other British cars (Spit and Sprite), and American iron.
C Schaefer

I've only had my MGA for about 5 years now and still working on it. I've been involved with mechanics and cars since I was a teenager. Grew up around my dad's Packard dealership and learning from the mechanics in the shop. I overhauled my first engine when I was 15 and first manual transmission when I was 16. I'm 61 now, so at least 46 years of automotive experience. Add to that 38 years in electronics professionally and I've got that end pretty well covered as well. I still don't have all the answers and the ones I had I'll soon forget at my age ;-)
Bill Young

My first MGA - a 62 MkII in 1970. Rebuilt the engine in '72 with a wrench and some sandpaper (honing the cylinder !!?). Blew the head gasket, broke the crank. Watched in shame as the body was hauled away for $60 and someone else's restoration.

Finally got it back (at least one like it) in 2002.

I can't believe how much easier it has been to keep it on the road, between this BBS, Moss, E-Bay, and oh yeah, a steady income.

-Chuck
Chuck Mosher

Purchased my first MG in November after it sat untouched for 15 years! Pretty much the first car I have seriously worked on with the help of all of you. 2000 miles and no trouble. Check out the picture of my girl(s).


Jeff Bennett

MGA-wise, I have about 6 years experience. Bought my first MGA in 1968 for $250. Bought a 1957 "parts car" about a year later for $75. Mounted the 58 body (after complete disassembly and new paint) on the 57 chassis for the wire wheels and hubs, traded one of the engines for a MKII engine and rebuilt. Still have SCCA racing trophies from the car and sold it for $250 in 1973 when I bought my first MGB, a 1970 that I drove daily for 15 years. I bought an 80 LE about 4 years ago after a long dry spell. I drove an MGC for a couple of years also back in the 70s.

I drool over MGAs on E-Bay, but never find the right one or it's clear across the continent from where I'm at (never find any in Missouri). There's something very special about that open feeling of an MGA with the top down. Lots of wonderful memories of summer nights. I still remember a St. Bernard that liked to chase cars and almost climbed in the front seat with me one summer night.
Rick Penland

Geez, I'm embarrassed! Mick and Barney, you guys must have been working on MGs since you were two years old, right? :-)

I started in 1970 (and still own my first MG), so that is 'only' 38 years.

I guess if we were a business this group could advertise about 900 years of MG experience.....
Bill Spohn

Rick,
"almost climbed in the front seat with me"

Your MGA had a back seat?......:)
GTF
G T Foster

OK, I'll add my 2 cents worth. I started working on MGAs with my first one in 1963 so I guess that makes 45 years! I'm now well into the restoration of my twin cam. It certainly is a different beast but a lot of fun!
Hiram Shepard

GT, I hadn't thought of "front seat" requiring "back seat" as an antonym. Thanks for catching that.

I miss the low cut doors of the MGA and the "cockpit-like" feel, but a wonderful drive down a country road at night with the top down and a St. Bernard in your face suddenly because he's high enough at the shoulders to almost climb in with you does tend to scare the "BJesus" out of you. I'm sure he thought this was more fun than chasing pickup trucks.
Rick Penland

I bought my first MGA in 1966. Wrecked it, repaired it, rebuilt the transmission, and wrecked it again. My third "A" I've owned since 1970, though there was a long period when I did no work on it. It's now a rolling restoration project with a rebuilt 1800, new seatbelts, and good brakes and tires. It still needs body and paint work, but it does go for a spin around the neighborhood occasionally. In the interim, I also owned and maintained a 1956 Metropolitan with essentially the same mechanicals, and a 1965 Datsun pickup with a cloned BMC "B" series engine and drive train. The fleet I currently maintain includes a 1965 Volvo, a 1973 Triumph, and a couple of Jeeps. (Jeep can claim some British DNA, since the original Jeep prototype was built by Bantam, an company building Austins in America before WWII.)

Ken
k v morton

Now 20 years on the MGA, 25 years since I started fiddling and fettling on cars generally. First was a Peugeot 504, then a Fiat 126 then through a long line of very varied breeds (Morris, BMW, Renault, Ford, Chrysler, GM, Audi etc.) till I only had the MGA for about 10 years. Now I have the MGA and a diesel Fiat, which averages 20 km/l (that's about 50 mpg for those in the USA) - on the modern cars I do/have done almost nothing. On the MGA I don't let anyone else near it except for bodywork.
dominic clancy

35 years on my 1600.
Don Carlberg

Guess I should add my years to this thread as well.

I've had my MGA for 14 years. I've done a rolling restoration in that time. I've just started my first major restoration.

Total time on cars in general, 22 years.

BTW -- my first car was a '66 MGB.

Cheers,
Christopher Wilson
Christopher Wilson

Bought my first A in 1975 a 58 coupe. Rebuilt engine and trans. Pulled fenders for a repaint. Sold it to get married( two mistakes at once) Have done 4 complete frame off rebuilds, a 57 a 58 a 60 and a 62 from 85 till now. The 57 is owned locally and the 60 is on Koens list as being in Europe. I am currently going back together on another 58 coupe. I also have a 60 project waiting in the wings. 33 years on MGAs. I have worked as a mechanic since high school and have owned and operated Japanese Specialists since 1981.
R J Brown

11 years on my 1500 '58 Coupe.
gerard hutchinson

35 years, buying my '73 MGB new in June of '73. I still own the car. I restored my '57 1500 roadster over a 10 year span finishing in 2003. I have friven the car sveral medium distances to NAMGAR GTs and one long distance to Whistler BC. In almost 200,000 miles of driving them only once in all this time has either of the cars not been able to make their destination - the MGB about 1 mile from home when the fan belt broke late at night. I decided it was too late to mess with it and walked the rest of the way home. They have needed a little coaxing a few times, though. My theory is to try to keep up with maintenance, but at the same time don't think too much, doing un-necessary work and actually sometimes causing problems. Drive them and enjoy life in them. They are truly unique cars with timeless appeal and durability.

Ralph
Ralph

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2008 and 09/09/2008

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