Thread: 51 MG restoration.

Gettin real close now. Tunnel’s done, and finally get to install the new steering wheel.

The shifter works, and with that Willie boot, looks way better than the last one.

Test drive this weekend!
Happy Canada day!!!

Outstanding Mike!

Yup...Outstanding!
Happy Canada Day, Mike. Enjoy and wishing a perfect road trial.


Looking at your pics, could the radio plate be moved forward and angled as the dash is?. just a bit of carpet between it and the boot would visually set it off as does the drop on the rear of the boot. I bet it's comfy!

Well, first run, 80% there. Need to increase the clutch stroke a wee as 3/4 is not quite released. Timing seems off, but I’m going easy first few hundred clicks so hard to tell yet..
All in all though, like the new feel of her.
Course now it’s raining up here so time for a breath.
And I like the suggestion to match the angles of the dash and the add on Tom. Will think on it.
And yes, the new cockpit feels cosy. Shifter presents near perfect arms length and the clutch and shift pattern tight!




Cheers lads.

A successful test drive, or 2. My timing was a wee over advanced, dialed her down and she’s happy.
Lots more smooth acceleration now, and love the 5th gear although won’t be in it much I reckon.
And although the tranny seemed quite tight, I think the 3-4 synchro’s might be worn as she makes a little gear grind going into 3, or 4 if you don’t pause in neutral. Downshifting more noticeable and I find it quite hard to get into 3rd from 4th, less so shifting up.
I’m running 75W90 synth in the W58 and may try other lubes before I decide. Will live with and drive her as such this season, but may end up dropping the tranny again next winter for the 1-4 synchro gears.
Looks like it’s gonna be sunny up here today so may get out on a windy road and shoot a quick vid.
Have a good day, and week lads.
I’m on vacation this week and looking for hairpins with the wife.
Cheers.

Lots to read on fluids, Mike. Royal Purple synchomax? GM synchromesh is also recommended. Clutches on synchros might be sticking?
I remember some tranny shops say a quart of ATF added works great......

Well, tranny is settling in. With slower transitions she is quiet shifting up now, so maybe a flush with a new fluid might get me over the sticking spot.
More concerning is a new tapping in the Vv’s that I have been investigating. Seems #2 exhaust Vv is no longer returning to fully closed state and there is more clearance between my rocker and valve than there should be.
Compression test proves I’m losing 25 psi and When I removed the springs it feels like the valve still travels in and out of the head smoothly and feels like it’s fully closed, even though visually it now sits lower than the other 7.
Have a boroscope camera on order that arrives today so I can peek in through the plug hole and see how the valve face presents.
I am ‘hopeful’ there is some crap on the valve seat preventing closing, and will use the boroscope as a last chance to avoid pulling the cylinder head.
If not crud the only other thought is bent valve stem, but smooth vertical travel makes me think not.
Replacement valves run around $15-30 per depending on hardening and I can pull the head while the engine is still in the car, I think.
Figure if I order 1 I will replace all the valves as a matter of course, but they all ‘checked out’ dimensionally when i did the rebuild this winter or I would have done them then.
False savings not replacing them then I suppose, butit was like, if it aint broke don’t fix it.
Maybe the few backfires at initial setting up bent something, more to follow once I get inside, as it were.
Hope y’all had a nice holiday gents.
She DID drive and handle really well, and aside from the identified issues on #2, runs peppier and smoother than she did. I just can’t ignore it..
Cheers.

I hope you find the solution to be just an adjustment. This is such a let down and I don't even own the car!

Didn’t take long to find the issue with the right tool.

$20 well spent.
Good valve closed.


Seems I’ve pulled the exhaust valve seat out of the head somehow?



No choice but to pull the head now and maybe send it out for a Vv job unless I can figure out why it pulled out the seat and how to prevent it in the future.
As per the net, they sell hardened exhaust seats for leaded engines in an unleaded fuel world, but I didn’t expect this.
Shitty but that’s the way it goes with old car projects.
Back into her.
Cheers gents.

Sucks but at least the answer was easy to find. Good call on the scope. I love inspection optics. I don't use mine much but there's no (good) substitute when you need it.