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MG MGB Technical - When do you Walk Away ...?

I'll tell you when : when you've stripped and rust-proofed the inside and outside of the fuel tank; put new cotton reels on the temporarily accessible rear exhaust mount; wire-brushed inside the rear end and squeezed seam sealer into every rear orifice before applying new anti-chip rubberized paint; then strained every ligament in your newly-reconstructed shoulder to get the fuel tank located and screwed back in place ... THEN you remember the foam strips that you should have put back on top of the fuel tank before you fitted the f@*#*@# thing! Anyone hear me...? Regards, John.
J P Hall

JP - "...then strained every ligament in your newly-reconstructed shoulder to get the fuel tank located and screwed back in place ... THEN you remember the foam strips that you should have put back on top of the fuel tank before you fitted the f@*#*@# thing! Anyone hear me...?"
Having just had a shoulder replaced earlier this year, I hear you and can empathize with you. Unlike your experience, I stayed away from the cars and instead, unloaded 45 60 pound cement blocks from our pickup truck and shoveled 3 yards of compost on our planting areas. In the words of a song from the 60s "when will we ever learn" - I literally feel your pain brother :) Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

John,

Yes, I do feel for you. FWIW When I did my tank removal and reinstall I supported it (both down and back up) on a piece of composit board, just under the tank footprint in dimension, lowered and raised rested on my trolly jack. That took the best part of the load and left me only needing to fiddle with minor position adjustments and inserting the bolts and nut tightening.

Regards
Roger
R Taylor

There's nothing like doing the same job twice. I've been there and I'm sure many of us have.
A bad place, but it's only a temporary visit.
C E Muir

Argh.......I left out those foam strips when I put the new tank in. Not sure if they were there to start with. That was in 1994, and don't seem to have had any tank related ill effects.....so far. However, have had to attack most of everything else at sometime or another eg is it possible to run a B as a daily driver on UK roads without continually having to be around it with a paint pot and waxoil (and that's after having had the bottom six inches of the car between the wheels replaced)?
P A Allen

Had my shoulder overhauled two years ago. Just had to replace both electric fuel pumps in a '94 Ford F-150 pickup truck, due to bad fuel. Couldn't empty the first tank and had to lower it while full of fuel. What a PITA that was! The second tank came out and went in way too easy, but when it came time to fill it, it only took $.64 worth of fuel before the pump shut down! I had to drop it a second time to get one of the emission lines to line up properly. While underneath the truck, I had just loosened one of the tank supporting straps. I turned my head, to clean out my eyes, and the strap came crashing down like an anvil, just missing my face. God watches over fools and little children. RAY
rjm RAY

Thanks for your supportive comments folks - I don't feel so alone! Ray - I have to say you were lucky that day; I don't know how often, while under the car, I've had to make a quick sideways movement of the head to avoid the rust/dirt in the eye syndrome. Even with those semi-useless plastic glasses on, the grit still finds the gap.
Post Script: I dropped the tank again, made up new foam (non-absorbent) strips; refitted the tank and then patted myself on the back. Then, according to Sod's law, I remembered the 2 captive nuts that should have gone on the practically inaccessible rear lip of the tank. Being in no mood to again lower the tank, I fashioned a cunning hollow stick to fit up the narrow gap, and inserted nuts and bolts which will suffice for the next 25 years. By then the BGT will be owned by son number 1,2 or 3 - and it will be his problem! Regards, John.
J P Hall

John,

Well done and happy driving.

Regards
Roger
R Taylor

I plan on being buried in my B. Too many family members seem to be making claims on it lately. RAY
rjm RAY

I have everybody beat with my lovly 300,000 mile plus MGB. I have never done any maintenance, just replacement of nearly all major components except the head, which is totally original numbers matching. 300,000 miles, although rebuilt dozens of times, cuz I cant ever get it just right using the tools in my kitchen drawer. I come here from the other site to offer my brilliant insights into everything under the sun.


Ernie Yuck

Ernie, I feared that this would happen one day. Welcome! RAY
rjm RAY

So Ernie, how much are you offering for someone to take it away?

Herb
H J Adler

hah fumblestiks-
Doubtful you have the required assets for such a relief. Too much hard work invested. Besides it is matching numbers now. Everybody wants it. Besides I did get those headlights working along with the brake lights, finally. Hellow nightlife! Those stupid toothless lucas morons what junk. After my useless neighbor left his new Mercedes unlocked and parked in my spot last week he donated his 12v battery, (11mm combo wrench and a long phillips) so all electrics good now and no more starting by gravity. Those starter motors are damn useless without a battery. Dumbasses at lucas. stupid neighbor left his car unlocked in a new Mercedes, stupid or what? You do not need a good battery, ask me how I know. And the brake lights work now, too. Thinking about an oil change, it has been 170,ooo since last.
Ernie Yuck

I thought about walking away when all the paint came off in the rain. Now I knw about watercolor paint vs high quality automotive paint. That stuff is not worth the hassle. Just keep the car in the car port when it rains. Ride my bike, good for you.
R Cintas

This thread was discussed between 24/04/2016 and 01/05/2016

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