Thread: 51 MG restoration.

Yup, it was converted to the ac delco alt and neg ground before my ownership and since I’m starting from scratch it will still be negative ground, just easier for everything.
From a layout perspective and initial cable pulling this schematic is great as it won’t matter till I terminate things what’s positive or negative.

I could never wrap my head around +gnd. It just seems unnatural.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

I could never wrap my head around +gnd. It just seems unnatural.

I agree.

These days with the engine management systems being 5v, connecting jump leads the wrong way round, won't just pop a fuse, it'll kill the computerized components and cost a lot, lot LOT to replace. A person really needs to know if their positive or negative ground.

Expensive cure for a flat battery if you forgot to check eh!

Saying that, I've never owned a Posi ground car, ever, not even seen one.

glad it was changed. It would have been an accident waiting to happen.

The argument, I believe, was that positive ground was the truer representation of current flow, which is what they considered the relevant measurement in electrical loads, not voltage. To me it’s tomatoe tomato as I consider electrical in both measures anyway, depending on task at hand.

Been trying to get a few more switches ordered from eBay just as this cold snap hits. Good time to avoid people anyway till this new variant runs it’s course.
Cheers gents..

Well maybe a more compelling reason is that in the automotive realm currently (no pun intended) everything else is negative ground. Maybe think of it like a lock out/tag out idea. For situations where a mistake could be so critical you'd almost have to make the mistake on purpose. Maybe it makes no difference to you but if for whatever reason someone else were to have occasion to fiddle with it being counterintuitive is just inviting trouble.

Well pulled the trigger on what I hope to be the second last order of goodies for the restore last night!!
Lotsofclassicbits, on eBay out of UK , run by a gent names Chris had all sorts of bits I was thinking on.
Namely a set of Lucas points and condenser, few more switches for inside the dash area, as well as a set of front wheel shims to take out the slight play still in the front hubs.
Good supplier of all things British auto and willing to combine shipping!
Cheers gents, damn frosty out there this am!

Tested out the 60 year old heater that was I the car but never used during my time.
88 ohms across the windings and three steps on the ole ceramic rheostat so no shorts or opens, a good sign.
Pressure tested the core and it held 60 psi overnight without a loss.

Connected it to the battery for a test today and after having to open it up to line and balance the fan blades, she works a treat again!


Only part you will actually see is the bottoms for the louver doors. The rest will be up in behind the dash.
Will be the most comfy she’s been in decades when the temp falls.
Happy the old box still works as it’s authentic…
Cheers..

very cool, Mike. Is the motor somewhat quiet? I mean, being as old as it is I think I"d see about adding a drop of oil to the bearing caps of that motor just to help it live a bit longer.

Get the motor so you can dribble some 5/30 synthetic to ooze down the shaft to the bearings, applying a few drops for a few days, flip it and do the other side.
I often drill a tiny hole in the bottom center of the motor to do this.