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MG MGA - After 7 years

After 7 years of restoration, my MGA moved under its own power Saturday 10-16 and went around the block Sunday 10-17. This car appears to have been off the road since the early 1970s. It sputtered and ran like crap, but it made it.

Still to solve:

*Significant oil leak -- appears to be the front of the pan.

*Generator light does not go out -- appears to be bad regulator out of the box.

*Mixture and carb sync -- I haven't spent a lot of time with this yet, but will require some learning.

I still need to fill the steering rack, install bonnet and grille, obtain and install hood and weather equipment, spare tire clamp, jack and tools.

It is much more a car now and much less a collection of parts.



John Greenlee

Another pic

John Greenlee

and another...

John Greenlee

and the day I brought it home. BTW, the model is now 14 and asking about her learner's permit

John Greenlee

Nice one John

your charging problem could just be a simple matter of flashing the dynamo to polarise it. Have you tried that?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Congratulations John, you have just run a marathon! What a feeling! Looks great.
Barry.
Barry Gannon

A very nice car John. I think I can count the number of Dove Grey (presuming your car is Dove Grey!) MGAs I have seen on one hand, but it is such a classy colour. Get it finished and let's see some more!

P.S. Hope it didn't take 24 hours to get round the block, that really would be running like crap!
Lindsay Sampford

Robert,

I have tried flashing the dynamo as you say. I jumped from the hot post on the starter switch to the field connection. I did not notice anything happening. Nothing changed.

I have not yet tried cleaning contacts in the control box. I will try that next. However, I have heard stories of a high 'bad' rate about these new regulators. I personally experienced those sort of problems with a series of regulators for my 66 MGB.

Thanks all for the kind words.
John Greenlee

Lindsay,

Thanks for the compliment. The car is Dove Grey. Almost every MGA you see is red so you have to do something different to make the car stand out.

It was originally Alamo Beige. I went as far as having a sample mixed up, but was put off by the idea of the local rednecks saying something like "Why'd ya paint it pink?"

John Greenlee

Love the car! Your "before" picture looks a lot like my "after" though - very jealous!

The dove gray is beautiful. More pics as you get it all together!

Thanks for sharing.


JIM in NH
AJ Mail

Now Alamo Beige really is rare (I have only seen one in the flesh), but it is not hard to understand why!
Lindsay Sampford

I cleaned the voltage regulator points a few times but "cure" did not last so finished up buying a new one (made in India?). They are practically identical to the original ones but cap is slightly different so I used my original one (bit of filing, etc necessary).
Barry Bahnisch

Hi John did it not spark when you flashed it?
Bob Turbo Midget England

Bob,

There might have been a little sparkle to show I had power on it. No zap or blue spark.

John Greenlee





Here is a gentlman that makes solid state regulators.


His name is Bob Jeffers

Wilton Auto Electric
10 Stoney Brook Drive
Wilton, NH 03086

e-mail: wiltonae@comcast.net

The cost is about $ 80. and turn around time was less than 1 week.

Mine works like a charm.

Cheers.

Larry
York, Maine

Lmazoway

This thread was discussed between 18/10/2010 and 19/10/2010

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