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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Jamaican Running

Went for the first drive in the Jamaican yesterday after having it inspected for safety to get it licensed in BC (it came from WA).

Had to explain that yes, it was a 1957 MG, no it doesn't need seatbelts, or more than the rear view mirror on the dash (I have another one but have it off for painting), yes, the floors were wood stock, no, they (probably) won't catch on fire, please don't try to twist off the ignition key as no matter how hard to turn it won't start the car, etc., etc.

Got it through the check and decided to drive it home - for the first time. Short list of things that don't work - tachometer (Dann knows why and is working on getting me a fix), speedometer (who knows - bad sender or wiring), defroster (because I didn't install a heater).

Two bits of excitement - when they installed the Fiberfab body on the MGA chassis they just cut off the MG steel firewall and lapped the fibreglass one down past it, leaving a bit of a gap. When driving in rainy weather, and you finally hit 220 deg., the fan DOES cut in (good), but thewarm moist air blows back into the cockpit, and you may recall the absence of a defroster. Instant greenhouse effect but fortunately all the glass is close enough to wipe. Probably would have been less exciting if the old wiper arms actually had enough tension in the springs to keep the wipers ON the windshield, but hey, can't get too picky.

Other bit of excitement - car runs, car drives, car dies at stop sign 3 blocks later. Sound of cranking but no sound of lighting up. Push to side of road (rain has stopped, and car is probably even lighter than MGA so no big deal. Decide might as well call wrecker, and given that, doesn't matter if I run the battery down so crank it a couple more times, and thing lights up again! WTF? Injected engines usually either run or don't run, they don't intermittently run.

No problem for the rest of the way home. Get many strange looks, then remember I'm in a strange looking car. Only take 2 divots out of scalp going over bumps - must remember to pad roof (or head). Seats (Miata) amazingly comfortable especially considering that they ar elaid way back (for reason see scalp, divots).

Goose accelerator. Oops - forgot I have 4.5" wires with 30 year old Michelin ZX and road is wet. Don't do that again. Runs well, bit of a lope to the idle (Crane 272 cam), and exhaust is amazingly civil (2 1/2" system through Magnaflow straight through muffler and twin tip resonator - no rap at all.

Part way home squeal starts up. Diagnose later - belt related, only when run revs up a bit. Maybe slipping belt?

Back into garage. Can't see b___r all out the back. Have to back and fill a couple of times with nose pointed straight at wife's MGC. Nose of Jamaican much longer than nose of MGA. Jamaican decided to savage MGC, takes chunk of paint out, puts dent in front fender of MGC. Crap! Wife out of town. Ethical dilemma. Must tell wife but should I wait until Spring when MGC uncovered (Damn - how did that get there...no, how about Don't you remember getting that last Fall....)

Roll window down so I can see backing in. Window drops to bottom of door with a clunk. Get out. Head for single malt. Long day.

Bill Spohn

But still...a great day, right Bill!

Kudos on nearing completion!

rick
rick ingram

Oh yeah!

Still much to be done - fix windows, do interior, set toe, paint car, explain dent to wife....but all in all a nice point to reach for sure.
Bill S.

Glad to hear its up and running.

The reason it died probably had something to do with a wire that is making and breaking or fuel issues. Those two items will cause the carburetted motor effect that you mention.

Belt might squeal if tensioner is old and spring is not functioning properly or bearing is catching slightly at those angles or if the alternator is out of alignment. I have seen plenty of out of alignment alternators.

Great to hear!

-BMC.
BMC Brian McCullough


Great news Bill, glad to hear it's alive. Did you use a different fuse block or a Lucas unit? I had a similar problem wiht my V6 conversion just quitting and finally traced the problem to a poor connection between one of the spade terminals and the fuse holder in a Lucas block. I highly recommend soldering these connections on any used or new Lucas fuse holder to avoid such problems.
Bill Young

Bill. I used a new fuse block with modern spade connector plug-in fuses.

Maybe the car was just showing me who was boss.

Now have the window regulator mechanisms rebuilt (out of a Karmann Ghia, so parts no longer common)
Bill Spohn

This thread was discussed between 26/11/2006 and 05/12/2006

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