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MG MGB Technical - While I'm under there...

Well, I've put the B up on blocks for a couple of weeks while I tend to the "safety" portion of safety-fast. I've already ordered all of the brake components to replace, as well as the wheel bearings. Also bought the suspension kits for front and rear from Brit-Tek. So I've got a lot of work to be doing while I'm under the car. Anyone think of anything else that may be worthwhile to do while I'm scraping my back on the floor? Just trying to think of a few other things I should order up before I start tearing things apart.

Once this summer is over, the mechanical work will finally be complete (it is ever really complete?), and the cosmetics will be refreshed. Overall, I'm suprised by the little car. After hearing the horror stories of MGs and their uncanny ability to be unreliable, I haven't had any major problems with the car (I have rebuilt the engine though, so I don't expect any engine troubles!) Tends to run a little warm in the high altitude heat, but nothing too bad. Has yet to leave me stranded anywhere, and it's replaced the Yukon as my daily driver.





T Hughes

Check out your propshaft ujoints for play. The drivetrain guys said to leave it out of gear and handbrake off in order for the slop to be evident. If there's any play, why not replace them now, as they aren't that expensive.
Joe
Joe Ullman

umm, how are the king pins and front and rear suspension bushings?..probably worth a check over to see how they are..
EJW Willis

Take a good look at your brake lines and your wiring harness. Both are relatively easy to replace, especially while you've got portions of the rear suspension disconnected. It might also be a good opportunity to drop the gas tank and see how much rust you've got on the top. Replacing the tank is another relatively easy job and makes the rear suspension work less of a hassle as there is a lot more room to work.

If you do everything that's been mentioned, you won't need to get under the car for another 10 years!
Brian LaVoie

What part of Colorado are you in? If it's the northern half, try this garage: www.motorwayltd.com You can get all kinds of great advice there.
Ken Thompson

Take a hard look at the accordian bellows on the steering rack. If they're showing signs of cracking, it won't be long before the oil in the steering rack ends up on the road. Check the condition of the parking brake cables and either lubricate or replace them. Inspectthe hydraulic clutch hose for signs of swelling or cracking and the clutch slave cylinder for signs of leakage. Check the calipers and the rear slave cylinders for this as well. This is also the perfect time to refill the dampers and check for signs of leakage. Check the bottom of the bellhousing for signs of your rear main seal or transmission front seal leaking. Check the rear axle seals and dust covers, too. Remove and clean the rear axle breather. Inspect the axle straps while you're at it. Put some very soapy water on the exhaust pipe joints, fire up the engine, and look for bubbles that will reveal exhaust leaks. Make sure that the ground for your radio antenna isn't corroded. Take a hard look at the condition of the wiring for the turn signals and headlights. Oh, yeah, check the whole underside of the car for rust while you're down there. Scrap and sand it all off, repaint it, and Waxoyl the underside of the car. Consider installing a Panhard rod. When you get done with all this, get back to us and we'll think of something more for you to do.
Steve S.

Pretty comprehensive list there. I'd like to add -
check your rubber fuel lines for aging. Replace them if you see the smallest crack. Might consider installing a filter between the gas tank and fuel pump if there's any chance of rust in your tank. Grease the hand brake line while you're back there.

Matt Kulka

Take small wire and go around to all of those "drains" on the floor pans and along the bottom edge of the rocker boxes and clean them out if they need it. It they get clogged with crap or even waxoyl, then they can't do their job of allowing ventilation and drainage. And, you might want to check out the drain from the fresh air plenum in front of the windshield, it too gets clogged and sometimes becomes so hard that it can no longer drain as it should, causing rain/wash water backups that rot the heater box and your interior floors.

While down there, look for anomalies in the bodywork. What I mean are things like finding one rear frame member bent more than the other. While stuff is off, you have a good chance to measure the body for consistency, side to side, front to back. It is also a good time to check out all those important weld points and sheet metal suspension anchor points for wear, cracking, fatigue, tears, etc. and get them fixed or replaced with new.

And you could check out all those bumper and other mountings that you never see from the top side. Have fun, there is plenty to do! ;-)
Bob Muenchausen

Very cool. Thanks for all the suggestions. Some of the stuff I've already done (replaced the slave without even thinking about the hose, which was also blown out, grrr. Put on a stainless line for that), but a great deal of things I have not. Most of the rubber hoses have been replaced, as I had already had a couple that were looking pretty tired, so I figured I may as well do the whole car.

Overall, I've still got lots of things to do. I'm obviously not doing a frame-off resto, but I'm slowly making my way through various parts of the car. Engine bay was first (although still have a couple of minor things to deal with there), the underbelly is underway, and who knows where I'll go after that. I'll keep y'all posted.
T Hughes

Check the condition of the axle rebound straps and replace if bad. Also while checking the top of the gas tank, check the bottom of the trunk compartment. I found a rust line around the spare tire mount that was allowing fumes into the trunk and into the passenger compartment from there. I fixed it with fiberglass.
kids1

Starting to sound like a bare-metal rebuild.
Hell, do I have a stack of work to do!
Surfer

This thread was discussed between 04/06/2002 and 06/06/2002

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