Any interest in old MGs? (I mean old....1955 to be precise)
Discussion
If so, then it may be of interest that I'm currently working on a 1955 MG Magnette ZA with my Grandfather.
What the end product is supposed to look like (ours is not that far along):
Whilst I may have started 20 years ago (aged 5) as a not so helpful assistant, this year we've restarted work again, and I dare say I'm (probably) a bit more use. It has come on a massive amount over those years, albeit rather slowly as Grandad has felt able to do bits on it.
What prompted the thread today? Well, last weekend we put water in the cooling system, we put oil in the engine, oil in the gearbox and this weekend the water is still in the cooling system, the engine oil is still in the engine and the gearbox oil is (mostly) still in the gearbox (we might have a slight leak).
This week it was time for the brakes, clutch and electrics. The bleeding of the clutch and the brakes went (reasonably) smoothly, so it was time for the electrics. After finding that it really helps to put the fuses in, and it helps even more if your earthing points haven't been painted (well, it stops them rusting!) we got it turning over. Rather a relief!
Job tomorrow is to see if we can get it started - we have yet to put fuel in, and we need to clean up the various earthing points so we can actually get power to stuff (this car runs a dynamo and so runs a positive earth rather than a negative as with modern cars), and fingers crossed it should fire! Nan already has the fire extinguisher bought and ready at the thought.....I'm not sure whether that is a sign of confidence or a dose of reality that it has been a few years (30) since it last ran
I'll dig out the old photos of how it arrived, but in the mean time I'll see if I can grab a few shots of how it currently stands.
What the end product is supposed to look like (ours is not that far along):
Whilst I may have started 20 years ago (aged 5) as a not so helpful assistant, this year we've restarted work again, and I dare say I'm (probably) a bit more use. It has come on a massive amount over those years, albeit rather slowly as Grandad has felt able to do bits on it.
What prompted the thread today? Well, last weekend we put water in the cooling system, we put oil in the engine, oil in the gearbox and this weekend the water is still in the cooling system, the engine oil is still in the engine and the gearbox oil is (mostly) still in the gearbox (we might have a slight leak).
This week it was time for the brakes, clutch and electrics. The bleeding of the clutch and the brakes went (reasonably) smoothly, so it was time for the electrics. After finding that it really helps to put the fuses in, and it helps even more if your earthing points haven't been painted (well, it stops them rusting!) we got it turning over. Rather a relief!
Job tomorrow is to see if we can get it started - we have yet to put fuel in, and we need to clean up the various earthing points so we can actually get power to stuff (this car runs a dynamo and so runs a positive earth rather than a negative as with modern cars), and fingers crossed it should fire! Nan already has the fire extinguisher bought and ready at the thought.....I'm not sure whether that is a sign of confidence or a dose of reality that it has been a few years (30) since it last ran
I'll dig out the old photos of how it arrived, but in the mean time I'll see if I can grab a few shots of how it currently stands.
Fingers crossed on the starting front - should know later today/tomorrow. Thanks for all the kind comments.
A few pictures of how it stands currently (the one in the opening post is what it should look like!):
The front of the car as it currently stands:
The interior with the dash in:
and the headlining:
As the engine has been the focus of this weekend's work, another shot:
1500cc of BMC's finest pushing out 60hp (well, once it starts!)
A few pictures of how it stands currently (the one in the opening post is what it should look like!):
The front of the car as it currently stands:
The interior with the dash in:
and the headlining:
As the engine has been the focus of this weekend's work, another shot:
1500cc of BMC's finest pushing out 60hp (well, once it starts!)
mudster said:
And did it start? We need to know! 
After cleaning each of the earth points on the body, we now have a long list of working electrics, but the fuel pump wasn't one of them, sadly. Removal, disassembly and a good clean and it started making the right sounds. So we refitted it, but it still wasn't going to play ball.So new one to be ordered and hopefully once fitted it will fire up
My Grandad has a bit of form with MGs - both of these were restored by him for each of my Uncles:
and the MGB:
On display at Lakeside shopping centre if I've remembered correctly - with the MG Owners Club.
He's got a few photos of them being restored if they are of any interest. Sadly both have long since changed hands, so it would also be interesting to know if they are still around/running.
and the MGB:
On display at Lakeside shopping centre if I've remembered correctly - with the MG Owners Club.
He's got a few photos of them being restored if they are of any interest. Sadly both have long since changed hands, so it would also be interesting to know if they are still around/running.
Sadly work has kept me busy, but I have managed to go through a few more photos of the car.
The strip down began,
It then got rolled into the garage to be stripped down further:
One of the mounts for the front suspension (on the otherside) had snapped/snapped in the process of removing the suspension. Needed a new one made so I was taught how to draw technical diagrams (I think I've got a picture of a young me making the drawing..) so that a new part could be made!
Some of the bits that came off the car. They don't look in terrible condition, the wings were in pretty good condition all things considered, but still required a fair bit of work!
The strip down began,
It then got rolled into the garage to be stripped down further:
One of the mounts for the front suspension (on the otherside) had snapped/snapped in the process of removing the suspension. Needed a new one made so I was taught how to draw technical diagrams (I think I've got a picture of a young me making the drawing..) so that a new part could be made!
Some of the bits that came off the car. They don't look in terrible condition, the wings were in pretty good condition all things considered, but still required a fair bit of work!
Edited by dave87 on Sunday 21st July 16:26
Bit of a compare and contrast:
vs
Kinda puts it into perspective!
All the bits you need to get to are always in the most inaccessible places:
The inside cleared of everything:
However it was still a bit of a wreck:
It was time for it to come out:
Yes, that's (a young) me hanging on to the end of engine crane. I think Grandad thought I was heavier than I was - I'm trying not to fall off the end of it!
It always was a family project:
Chloe (our Golden Retriever) lending a helping hand!
Once the engine was out it could be sent back outside for dis-assembly to continue. Onwards with the strip down:
vs
Kinda puts it into perspective!
All the bits you need to get to are always in the most inaccessible places:
The inside cleared of everything:
However it was still a bit of a wreck:
It was time for it to come out:
Yes, that's (a young) me hanging on to the end of engine crane. I think Grandad thought I was heavier than I was - I'm trying not to fall off the end of it!
It always was a family project:
Chloe (our Golden Retriever) lending a helping hand!
Once the engine was out it could be sent back outside for dis-assembly to continue. Onwards with the strip down:
Once the bits were off the car they could be repaired and repainted.
The wings were rubbed down, repaired and painted in rust proofing:
Doors had some decent chunks of rust - so they were duly repaired (not quite sure what Grandad did, but they took a fair bit of work:
I believe he made the lower part:
The spray booth (being his garage) was duly commissioned:
and turned out some good results:
The wings were rubbed down, repaired and painted in rust proofing:
Doors had some decent chunks of rust - so they were duly repaired (not quite sure what Grandad did, but they took a fair bit of work:
I believe he made the lower part:
The spray booth (being his garage) was duly commissioned:
and turned out some good results:
That's a cracking job you're doing there. I have an affection for the MG Magnette. My first car was a 1955 ZA which I sold to buy an MGA after a year or so but I have very happy memories of the ZA. My brother also had a ZB Varitone so I've spent some time in these cars. I think I paid £65 for my one back in1973
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