Thread: 51 MG restoration.

That oil looks like paint. If people don't want to maintain a car wouldn't it at least be better to drain the oil or use something else that will keep the engine from seizing up?

Originally Posted by outback

The movie was called...SLINGBLADE
with Billy Bob Thornton. Loved it, mmmhmm.

Dwight Yoakam was unrecognizable in that movie as an abusive drunk.

Carl is asking how to call the police.

What the hell you doing with that lawnmower blade?

Carl: I aim to kill you with it.

Some of you were probably thinking how much sharper you could have gotten that lawnmower blade for the job than he did with that file!!

That is likely from condensation if it has been sitting outside for years, Mike!
Brake hoses.....Master cylinder!

Think I found the master cylinders, and the hydraulic reservoir. An old tin can reservoir at that.

Funny, or odd thing is there is a third of these master cylinders under the car as well. Not sure which is which yet..clutch,brake, brakes?
And the vacuum plenum.. can’t wait to leak check that bad boy..

First order of parts may be here by the weekend..
Hope it warms up again.
Cheers..

Man! A master for the front brakes and one for the rear? A master for the clutch?
Does it have a remote vacuum booster? Follow the lines and linkages, I reckon.
Could be a crazy remote brake booster setup. Some 'modernization' might be in order.
Join an MG club!
Never been there!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Man! A master for the front brakes and one for the rear? A master for the clutch?
Does it have a remote vacuum booster? Follow the lines and linkages, I reckon.
Could be a crazy remote brake booster setup. Some 'modernization' might be in order.
Join an MG club!
Never been there!

It does not have vacuum assisted brakes!! I think the first MG to have vacuum assisted brakes was the 1974 MGB.

In 51, I did not think so!
So what is that vacuum reservoir for? Looks like a check-valve there...

That's the damn heater core, isn't it?

Looks like a 7127 GM alternator conversion. Cool!

Maybey a clutch slave cylinder under the car?
Looks like those masters.
The outboard master will have a pipe running down to the slave on the tranny. Betcha that's it?

Seems the master on the left, or inside is for the brakes, the outside one, as well as the one underneath are both tied to the clutch peddle.. no idea why yet, or what whacky design this system follows.
I haven’t chased the lines yet, as I lost the light, but at least I now know the master I need. Wasn’t sure if it was the MG, or triumph model rebuild kit I required.
What fun to unravel the quirks of the car. Not everything is as obvious as I assumed..

Master for the clutch and the slave underneath?

I have run a milker off the vacuum of a truck.....

The original 51 had the reservoir location as the jack and lug wrench tool storage box location, you can still see it in the outer frame of the area the reservoir now sits in.
I presume the 57 tr3 from which the engine came had a lot more vacuum reliance than the 51 MG originally did.
Even the SU carbs appear to have a vacuum line running to them under the bodies, or at least the one carb seems to, for acceleration boost I believe.
Here’s an image of the inside cover of the Haines book capturing some of the mods the previous owner did.

Good call on the alternator conversion Tom, it’s in the notes, hehe.

Is the tin can the fluid reservoir going to the clutch and brake masters?
Seems that should be above the masters...
Buy new cylinders, Mike. Don't be wasting time and money kitting them. No telling how bad the bores in those are. Just me....
Spend dough on the brakes first. That alone will protect your investment as well as yourself!