Thread: 51 MG restoration.

Been injured all week so slow progress.
Evidently swinging 2 3.5 lb sledge hammers against each other last weekend really stretched the tendons and stuff in my right wrist. That’s the one they rebuilt years back from that car accident. Anyway, sore as hell, so working around it.
Focus on the front dumb irons and I’ve got them trued up and strong enough for the bumper, as well as the sway bar underneath now.
Added the strengthener like used on the rear frame. Great old racking pieces of the perfect thickness.

Stitched in place and the new plasma cutter made short work of the steering rack hole.

Easily cleaned up with the angle flap disk.
Doesn’t need to be pretty, as both the front wing, the rad, and the front valance encapsulate all this, but it did need to be straight on the outside, bottom, and top for those three items to connect too.


Ready to clean prep and paint after a bit more sanding.
Cheers gents.

Sorry to hear about the aggravation from the previous injury. While not severe, the results of a head on collision and a roll over incident during the time of my youth gives me problems also.

Things are looking good. I trust that the weather is staying where you can get your rust containment and then paint on without any worries.

Thanks for keeping us up to speed on the project.

Small enough area to paint I think the heaters will keep me above 10c, the temp I need to maintain for it to cure.
Supposed to be nicer again later in the week, so I’ll be playing the weather lotto and be ready if it does.
After this, brake lines and such, then wait for my mounts to arrive. Will move the front suspension goodies inside so I can paint them at my leisure in comfort..
Then get the whole suspension back where it should be, on the frame.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Small enough area to paint I think the heaters will keep me above 10c, the temp I need to maintain for it to cure.
Supposed to be nicer again later in the week, so I’ll be playing the weather lotto and be ready if it does.
After this, brake lines and such, then wait for my mounts to arrive. Will move the front suspension goodies inside so I can paint them at my leisure in comfort..
Then get the whole suspension back where it should be, on the frame.

Are you talking about getting the front suspension back into the 'Garage' or inside the 'Home'? I know that using the oven while the lovely bride was asleep ended up 'interesting'.

I can see having the parts quite warm from being inside the home and then brought out to a slightly heated shop to finish up on.

Just wondering

The spring pans and A arms, as well as spindle shaftS, disk brake units, etc are all small enough to go into the basement to be detailed inside. I’ll bring them to work to press in new urethane where needed and then assemble them in the garage.
Nothing going in the oven this time so the missez should be ok with it..

Originally Posted by MikeB52

The spring pans and A arms, as well as spindle shaftS, disk brake units, etc are all small enough to go into the basement to be detailed inside. I’ll bring them to work to press in new urethane where needed and then assemble them in the garage.
Nothing going in the oven this time so the missez should be ok with it..

....

Go Mike Go! You lost me when to took a running car and well, took it apart. However, you know best! Love your photo's but have no clue as to what you are doing....

All these pictures will help me in case I forget where I’m at John, glad they are being enjoyed..
Prolly should have posted this thread on a British car forum, but I’m a simple dude that can only support one forum, maybe two at a time,, limited attention span and all, hehe.
Gave up calling this my ‘last order’ for the restoration so will say here’s the most recent shopping list..

And the cad file for my conversion plates needed to adapt my front wheels to 4 bolt hubs.

Going to have my local machine shop tackle that job for me. Same shop that’ll be hopefully making me a new driveshaft for the new engine stance as well.

Good plan on sending that out. The slightest amount of off can be a bad thing. Looking good Mike.

Got the front girling dampeners off safely without breaking any bolts, and decided these are worth sending out for proper overhaul.
Shop down in Wisconsin still specialize in these and I figure with all I’m doing to the front end, I’d like the shocks a little stiffer on the downstroke than stock and these folks can modify the valve settings. new seals all around as well as fresh fluid can never be a bad investment either.