Thread: 51 MG restoration.

Back to the moving the engine forward topic: why wouldn't the original installer have done the same thing? Looks easier than moving the fire wall etc?

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

Wait, I'm confused here (Imagine that!) Wasn't this car running and weren't you driving it Mike?

It was and I was, and you may still be John, hehe.
Was unrunning when I bought it at the start of the thread, then I got it running and had some fun a few years, now I’ve decided to rebuild her as she deserves it based on those intiial years of running.
Just didn’t realize I’d have to take it all the way down to fix the areas needing fixing.

Originally Posted by tintin

Back to the moving the engine forward topic: why wouldn't the original installer have done the same thing? Looks easier than moving the fire wall etc?

Million dollar question is why, Tin.
He must have figured the carb clearance and steering column issues posed enough challenge as well as the cost of modifying the drive shaft that he took the easy way out with tin snips and galvanized roofing materials.
Held together for 50 years since he did the work, but I just would never have accepted the loss of leg room, pedal alignment etc..
Different motivations for him than me I guess.
If I meet up with him again, I will be asking him though for sure..

Winter time bodywork up on a frame. That's smart. Not as much bending over. My dad did only one style of car. The 59 Chevy Impala convertable and he made a frame for the car body's. It was like a BBQ rosisory. He could turn the body up on its side if he wanted to do the sanding while standing up. Spin it upside down if he needed to get underneath.

But the frame you made Mike sure will make is smart. It's fun watching this come apart.

Exhaust header got a cleaning and triple coat of ceramic aluminum high heat manifold paint for a fresh fight against age.


Only problem was the wrath that ensued when the wife smelled this curing in the oven at 600’, hehe.

My friend, I would have thought that you'd have learned years ago about 'Timing'. Such as you 'time' your use of the oven when the lovely bride is going to be away long enough for the curing to be done and the house aired out. Perhaps even some baking going on to help hide any evidence---

Note the time stamp last night. Thought I was safe but the bloodhound woke up.
There will be baked atonement today, hehehe.
Our oven has a temp limit of 550’, for cooking, but if you flip on the self cleaning function, goes up over 650’
Baked the coating right proper, and was the only (correct) way to achieve the finish I wanted..
At least the above was my justification.
Lol, on the good side, Ruth is really not up to arguing when half asleep.

As long as they don’t taste like paint, hopefully these erase the smells from midnight.

Not quite the oven spring I usually hope for, but should be nice and crusty.
Tried to get harvest fancy with the scoring blade, so so results.

They look good, I do hope the taste is of bread and not aluminum coating.

You know--I never would have thought we'd be seeing pictures of fresh baked bread in this '51 MG Restoration Thread--- The things men will do to keep peace in the family--

Never know what you’ll find in this thread..
Look here, a different kinda carpentry.
Down, dirty, and utilitarian 16x8’ extended shelter that will allow for isolated sand blasting, a cleanable area for painting, and only need survive one CDN winter..

Shall be clad in thick ply white poly sheeting from work and hopefully look not too ugly to the neighbors.
Sides and support bracing still to be added but losing the light.
Cheers.