Thread: 51 MG restoration.

Ain’t that the truth Roy, and I prolly don’t need the help, hehe.
But you’ve been a lot more than just a spend consultant Tom, and I appreciate the help you’ve offered along the rebuild.
You and everyone else as well. Kept me goin at a couple points, and had me maintain my own high standards a couple times, when I was tempted to shortcut. I just knew you’d call me on it, like you lads did!

So Mike - I'm not that good with cars, please bear with me. These badges must represent car clubs I think? Or are they just cool looking and are classified as eye candy?

Car clubs have their own badges yes, and I think it was very popular back when to sport their badge on either the bar or grill of your ride.
In my case, they are eye candy and a nod to nostalgia, as I’m not a member of any clubs.
Always had a St Christoper medallion on the visor of my car since my nasty wreck, and since Noddy doesn’t have visors, thought that one was needed. The mg one is more car specific than club and the RAC, that one I just liked the look of, very British.

So how is the break pedal nowadays? Have you a high-hard one or is it still a little spongy?

Brakes are good, disks bedded in and levels holding true. Solid feel, and full brakes at mid pedal travel.
Hay with them fir sure.

Had a call with the last owner last night to let them know the cars back on the road.
Filled him in on all the work done and mentioned I was pulling the engine again next winter for the 5 spd and was thinking of having the engine overhauled at that time.
He shared that the engine work done in the 70s was not just the tr3 swap, it was the tr3 2.0l engine was bored out to accommodate tr4 pistons, and the head was shaved to increase compression with a tr4 performance cam by crane installed, and that is why she seems so torquey at the low end..
All done by some performance shop in Toronto.
So it actually is a 2.2 liter now and highly modified already.

What a frankencar she is now, and I love her. Definitely 1 of a kind and probably one of the quicker of her breed still on the road. Think the supercharged originals still only put out 95hp..

How many miles on the engine since the rebuild in the 70"s?

From your description I would not be in a hurry to touch it if it doesn't have issues.

It is good to know the history.

I have a 1948 Indian motorcycle that I got from my cousin after my uncle passed away. A freind of my uncle told me that he used Studabaker truck pistons in it for a rebuild. I did a lot of work on it but I am not going to touch the engine unless I have to!

I would estimate less than 30k since rebuild and the only engine issues are the stray drips. Can deal with them without digging into her while the tranny is out but based on his story last night, I don’t intend to do anything invasive now.
Was a nice conversation.

Oil drips have never bothered me. I will say an oil leak is much more than a drip!

I have read how the police know drug houses by the oil stains one the street.

I noticed the other day the oil stains at the local Walgreens drive through. (the local pharmacy.)

But they have been really slow lately and for one customer I idled over 10 minutes waiting!

Originally Posted by 32t

Oil drips have never bothered me. I will say an oil leak is much more than a drip!

I have read how the police know drug houses by the oil stains one the street.

I noticed the other day the oil stains at the local Walgreens drive through. (the local pharmacy.)

But they have been really slow lately and for one customer I idled over 10 minutes waiting!

Back in the days of the gas crunch (1973) I believe that it was Shell Oil Company that did some research and had found that it took less gas to shut off the motor and then restart than to let it idle for 1 minute.

Just a thought----

Its hot and I am old with enough money to afford it.

It took me around 37 minutes to get ahead of 5 cars I didn't idle the whole time.

I have ben resisting but am leaning towards mail order drugs.