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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - V8 meet, maybe not

With only a month to go it looks like I may not have the paint on in time for the meet. That'll be a disappointment, but this project was starting to make me crazy. Too much anxiety about delays, pressure to cut corners, shortchanging my family and obsessing about getting it done, while being frustrated by events beyond my control was making my life an unhappy place, so I made an executive decision. If it gets done we'll be at the V8 meet in Michigan. If not we won't. Simple enough really, I'm just not planning on getting it done in time. That way I'm under no pressure to cut any corners, and I can spend enough time with family to enjoy the rest of the summer. That's what it's really all about anyway. I want to drive the MG but I don't need to be in that big of a hurry.

On a positive note, the TwEECer tuning package for the Ford EEC-IV computer has come in and I have the software loaded on my laptop. Presently there is a firmware issue to be resolved, but it has been identified and corrected and I hope to know within a day or so how it will be remedied.

I finished stripping the old paint last week and should finish the rust repair in a day or so, then go to work with the bondo. I figure a couple weeks to get that right is reasonably optimistic, but I'm no bodyman. The restoration specialist I had look at it quoted me about $14,000 to finish the job, I could see spending 5-10% of that on materials. Anyway, maybe 3-4 days to paint, and then a week to get everything put back together (not counting the loss of about a week's time finding everything) and I need more time than there is left. Not counting tuning the engine. So if things go as expected, I'll see y'all next year. If not, we may surprise you.

Jim
Jim Blackwood

Hi Jim,
If you can't make it to Grand Rapids, maybe Steve Carrick will have to arrange a fast caravan down to your place and back to G.R. on Friday nightand call it an MG V-8 endurance rally.I have heard of a lot of interest in your car! (Not to put pressure on you or anything!)Sure hope you can make it.
Kurt Schley

Jim....Come on up to Grand Rapids anyway! My conversion is not done either, with parts residing in both Illinois and Missouri at the moment....but I will be there with my family to enjoy the comaradarie and hopefully increase my learning curve!....Cheers!
Rick Ingram
1974.5 MGB/GT V8
1969 MGC Tourer
1978 MGB Tourer
Rick Ingram

Jim,
You should try and make it car or no car. My bride and I will be there with our car running but unfinished. She ain't pretty but she runs (the car not my bride)!
James Johanski

No promises at this point. Anyone who wants to stop by, I'll do all I can to make you welcome.

I did finish up the essential sheet metal work today, with the exceptions of a couple of small holes in the front of the sills in a non-critical area, and one biggie: the right side leaf spring front hanger. It's toast. Bad rust in the support structure and serious wear. I'm going back down later to plan a remedy, anyone who knows a good method to reinforce that area, I'm all ears.
Jim Blackwood

Jim,
We understand that these cars cannot come before our families!!! BUT, If at all possible, come to the show with or without the car

Steve
Steve Carrick

Jim,

I'm sure most of us would love to check out your car even if it's only wearing primer. I won't be driving all the way to Michigan to look at paint jobs!

My MGBV8 is in serious need of fresh paint, but I'm driving it up anyway.
Carl

I may not even have the primer on by then. Today I finished up the spring hanger and reinforcements. I added a light channel section running up to the cross member and a sort of omega shaped piece out to the sill, and a heavy washer welded to each side. It should be plenty strong there now. In the morning I'll do some patching in the front of the sill, touch up anything else I notice, apply corroless and let that side back down. Then raise the driver's side and see how much needs done there, it isn't in as bad of shape but I may still add the channel section, I really haven't decided yet. That mount is not as critical as the other side so I may put that part off until the next sill rebuild. Regardless I won't start with the bondo for a couple of days yet and who knows how long that will take? If it has primer on it I'll probably bring it. If not, I may still bring up a bunch of photos. We shall see, it's not nearly as fun without a car. But at least the spring mount is done.
Jim Blackwood

Just an update for anyone who's watching. Yesterday I painted the back side of everything that was left, both primer and color coats, so that leaves all the external panels to do. I started applying putty to the door skins today, will sand later this afternoon, and possibly do touch up tonight. If all goes well I'll move on to the trunk lid tomorrow. No telling if I can continue this pace but we're not quite out of it yet if I put off the wet sanding until after the meet.
Jim Blackwood

This thread was discussed between 17/07/2002 and 30/07/2002

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