NEW WHEELS AND TIRES

A new set of wheels and tires make any car look better.  Feast your eyes on these babies.  I chose  Yokohama AVS ES 100 ultra high performance tires. After some research, I found the 195/60R15 was the perfect size for my "B".  I will post pictures of them on the car tomorrow.

See you then,

Tom McCurry

STRIPPED DOWN DASH

The gauges looked pretty good at a glance, but after a closer inspection, I found them to be unusable.  After the gauges were unfastened and discarded, I began to remove the vinyl upholstery material and foam backing.  Both ends of the dash were rusted out, from years of sitting outside without a cover.  

I am considering repairing the dash with metal patch panels welded in place.  It is a bit time consuming, but I have checked eBay and there are none up for auction.  I was planning to redesign the dash with fiberglass, so I guess a little welding is not that much of an issue.  Challenging.

Later,

Tom McCurry

FUEL TANK MOUNTED IN PLACE

This afternoon, I installed the fuel tank we restored yesterday.  It fit perfectly in the pre-drilled mounting holes in the new trunk floor pan.  That is one of the benefits of using OEM parts made in the UK.  

Pictured to the left is the old dash out of the "B".  What a mess.  The vinyl cover is brittle and cracked and the metal structure is rusted around both ends. 

I plan to remove the vinyl and foam covering and repair the rusted areas with new metal.  I may at that point, use the metal structure as a base for a custom fiberglass instrument panel...still in the design stage.

Stay tuned,

Tom McCurry

REPAINTING THE FUEL TANK

It has been on the shelf for months.  While I was applying epoxy primer to Tim's car, Don sanded and cleaned the old fuel tank.  I sprayed it with primer at the end of the day.  Hopefully, I will have time to install it tomorrow evening.  

This morning, I filled both master cylinders with brake fluid.  The "trickle-down effect" will help fill the brake lines and wheel cylinders and allow some of the air to move to the master cylinders overnight.  It may shorten the time required to bleed the hydraulic systems.  I'll let you know if it helped.

I love my MgB,

Tom McCurry

PREPARED TO BLEED THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

I devoted two hours this evening to checking suspension, universal joint and hydraulic line connections.  The brake and clutch pedals have been installed, the clutch slave cylinder has been connected and the system is ready to be "bled".  "Bleeding" is a term that refers to the removal of air from a hydraulic system.  There are several techniques to accomplish this.  

I simply pour brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir.  Using the brake pedal, I pump it to an open bleeder valve at the wheel cylinder that is located furthermost from the master cylinder.  A vinyl hose is connected to the bleeder valve and empties into an open container of brake fluid.  Maintaining a sufficient level of fluid in the master cylinder as the pedal is pumped insures the removal of air from the system.  When the brake fluid discharging through the vinyl hose is free of air bubbles, close the bleeder valve while the brake pedal is depressed.  Now, relocate the vinyl hose and cup to the next closest wheel cylinder and repeat the process.  When all the wheel cylinders have been bled, the system should be free of air.  If, after a short period of time, the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor when depressed, there is still air in the system.  Do it again.
Repeat the process for the clutch system.  With only one outlet at the slave cylinder, the process should require only a few minutes.
If you have a better way...post a comment.  I'm always learning.

Tom McCurry

REAR BRAKE LINES AND HAND BRAKE CABLES INSTALLED

Actually, this phase of the restoration was not that difficult.  Sure, some of the brake lines were a bit stubborn to form, but aside from that...

The hand brake cables fit perfectly.  I also connected the drive shaft while I was under the car.  Tomorrow evening, after I complete the painting on Tim's car, I will connect the clutch slave cylinder.  Then I will re-tighten all the fasteners underneath the car.  

Next comes the wiring.

Stay tuned...

Tom McCurry

HANGING THE DOORS

This evening, my friend Robert and I mounted the doors.  The door latch assemblies are being restored and will probably be ready for installation in the next couple of days.  With the doors mounted, the latch assemblies can be properly aligned and their location marked so that the final installation can be accomplished without damaging the new paint.  

Just thought you might want to see how the "Killer B" looks with the doors on.  Pretty bad...

It's coming together...

Tom McCurry

INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ARE INSTALLED

After hours today, I installed the intake and exhaust manifolds.  The exhaust manifold clearance at the frame is ample however, there is an issue with the brake lines.  They are a bit too close to the exhaust manifold.  A heat shield will be installed between the manifold and brake lines.  

The weight of the engine lowered the car another inch.  Just what I wanted.  This is going to look great.

Check us out again soon,

Tom McCurry

INSTALLING THE ENGINE AND GEARBOX

This evening, we installed the engine and gearbox.  There were a few problems with the new engine mounts.  They seemed to be a bit thicker that the original...Taiwan strikes again.  

All the problems aside, the engine and gearbox are now in place.  Tomorrow, the intake and exhaust manifolds will be installed.  

It's beginning to look like a sports car again.

Later,

Tom McCurry