Discussion
I'm normally on the Jag, Mini and Honda sections but recently found a slightly forlorn 93 MGR V8. It was only used until 1999 and then put into a showroom for about 14 years then moved on and badly stored - I found it outside in crap weather with 2 flat tyres and green mould on the roof and wet carpets. Why do folk do that to cars? Anyway, it's now back in the dry and since I got it last Wednesday evening it's had a really good clean, a good clay and wax and after charging the battery is now up and running - what a great sound!
I'll go through it, changing all fluids and strip and rebuild the brakes - which actually work quite well. I'm sure I'll be asking for advice around here as work progresses.
d
As first seen, more to come
Ian
Oh, needless to say - it was cheap!!
I'll go through it, changing all fluids and strip and rebuild the brakes - which actually work quite well. I'm sure I'll be asking for advice around here as work progresses.
dAs first seen, more to come
Ian
Oh, needless to say - it was cheap!!
Edited by Orcadian on Saturday 14th October 20:48
Hi,
Yes, an early VIN - you probably know that the first production car was 251, this car is only 50 or so on from there, so still has many of the early features like the LT box. I've just fired the body build number off to Heritage for build data.
I don't want to strip it to nothing for full restoration but will gradually bring it to a good standard this winter and use it next spring for a season to see what problems it might have.
An interesting project but I'm 69 next birthday so it needs enjoying now rather than just have me working on it every day. If some purist wants to get it to concours, then they can do that when I've gone! I will have done my bit in ensuring it will live to fight another day. We never really own any of these things do we? We are just (hopefully) looking after them until the next guy comes along. Are you also an owner of one of these lovely cars?
I'll post a few more pics later.
Ian
Yes, an early VIN - you probably know that the first production car was 251, this car is only 50 or so on from there, so still has many of the early features like the LT box. I've just fired the body build number off to Heritage for build data.
I don't want to strip it to nothing for full restoration but will gradually bring it to a good standard this winter and use it next spring for a season to see what problems it might have.
An interesting project but I'm 69 next birthday so it needs enjoying now rather than just have me working on it every day. If some purist wants to get it to concours, then they can do that when I've gone! I will have done my bit in ensuring it will live to fight another day. We never really own any of these things do we? We are just (hopefully) looking after them until the next guy comes along. Are you also an owner of one of these lovely cars?
I'll post a few more pics later.
Ian
Yes the sound is wonderful, it even impressed my Wife! I also have a Daimler Super V8 but you would never know it even had 8 pots, let alone a blower - I wouldn't want to spoil such a gentleman's carriage with a loud exhaust - it already has 370 very willing horses. I can be a part time vandal with this MG though!! It has half the horses but also half the weight and is reportedly only fractional slower to 60 than the Daimler.
Still cleaning and lubricating - probably for a while yet! More pics if the weather improves - autumn in Orkney!
Ian
Still cleaning and lubricating - probably for a while yet! More pics if the weather improves - autumn in Orkney!
Ian
A few more pics and some progress
The weather came good later today and I was able to put it outside for a few pics after I'd been claying more of the bodywork and also fettled one of the worst wheels - only one more grotty one to do - the osr still has most of its lacquer on so will not be as bad as the others. I use Garryflex blocks starting rough and finishing smooth and follow that with Solvol. Eventually when I go for tyres next spring I'll finish off around the valve hole and put back those dummy split rim studs. I might go for button headed Allen screws in stainless with a barrier paste to prevent galvanic corrosion, rather than the original pressed in, difficult to clean little swines.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/X0B3IKet[/url
][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/8OnkJ0k9[/url
Interior might be next!
Ian]
The weather came good later today and I was able to put it outside for a few pics after I'd been claying more of the bodywork and also fettled one of the worst wheels - only one more grotty one to do - the osr still has most of its lacquer on so will not be as bad as the others. I use Garryflex blocks starting rough and finishing smooth and follow that with Solvol. Eventually when I go for tyres next spring I'll finish off around the valve hole and put back those dummy split rim studs. I might go for button headed Allen screws in stainless with a barrier paste to prevent galvanic corrosion, rather than the original pressed in, difficult to clean little swines.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/X0B3IKet[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/8OnkJ0k9[/urlInterior might be next!
Ian]
Edited by Orcadian on Sunday 15th October 18:14
Thanks Phil,
Yes it's coming along well really, sometimes we can see the finished article under the years of neglect and this was one of those cars but I think if it had been left much longer it might have ended up a breaker. I will definitely be leaving the stock cam in and not really altering anything - it might spoil it. I'd like to use as much as possible of the original and not just replace dull stuff with copies just because they are shiny. I can do a lot of plating and painting of detail original parts at home over this winter. Apparently these cars were painted by a dedicated man in overalls rather than having a quick blow over by a robot controlled by an accountant and the way the paint has responded to claying and polishing seems to bear this out.
Still enthusiastic about continual improvement.
Ian
Yes it's coming along well really, sometimes we can see the finished article under the years of neglect and this was one of those cars but I think if it had been left much longer it might have ended up a breaker. I will definitely be leaving the stock cam in and not really altering anything - it might spoil it. I'd like to use as much as possible of the original and not just replace dull stuff with copies just because they are shiny. I can do a lot of plating and painting of detail original parts at home over this winter. Apparently these cars were painted by a dedicated man in overalls rather than having a quick blow over by a robot controlled by an accountant and the way the paint has responded to claying and polishing seems to bear this out.
Still enthusiastic about continual improvement.
Ian
Edited by Orcadian on Wednesday 18th October 08:30
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