Thread: 51 MG restoration.

That’s a clever idea to force flush actually.
I’ve had success with those tank sealing systems caswell sells. When I’m ready to do the proper tear down for paint, I intend to remove the tank anyway.
Will do a proper reseal of the tank then.

Did a full tank drain and fill when I bought her, but I guess there were a fair number of impurities already trapped maybe.
At $15 per filter, I will change them out yearly if I need to without losing any sleep. One of the easier components of the car to change. Takes like 10 minutes.

My two cents worth: bite the bullet and remove the tank, give it a proper clean out, splash a tank sealer around in it. Then you know crud from inside the tank
won't strand you in some inconvenient place. During the time you won't be using the car often (winter) add some Stabil to the fuel.

I remember taking the tank out of a 49 ford pickup, dropping a 15ft piece of tow chain in it and rattling it around for 10 min. Rince and repeat.

Sealed it when dry. Never had an issue aftercthat and replacing all the rubber hoses. Rubbers were half way collapsed so it was starving for fuel.

Third oil change on the car this am.
Remaining clean now, so I believe I’ve shaken loose most of the debris from the years of storage.

Fiddled with the gas peddle linkage some and have been able to bring the peddle down another inch closer to the plane of the clutch and brake which is making driving more pleasurable.

Now I need heat shield! Foot wells get damn hot over long distance driving. Crappy AstroTurf carpet doesn’t cut it for proper firewall insulation. Engine sits at around 185’ steady, but the heat saturates the wooden body members over time I surmise.
Maybe stock the felt padding was more effective, but another thing to add to the winter hit list.

Set myself a new top speed and distance record with her since ownership this week as well
175 km road trip, each way(roughly 220 mile round trip) and a briefly maintained flat road cruising speed of 130 km’s/hr (80mph) officially exceeding the top speed posted when the car was stock and new of 78 mph.
Yes it was shaky and windy, and noisy, and awesome all at the same time.
Nice to know what the top is so I can judge my driving and passing capabilities.

Had almost as many people say don’t paint her as I have had say go full restore over this first summer of ownership. Some like the battle scarred aged look, but since I know she was repainted badly in the 70s I’m still planning the full monty.

Here was one rest spot last week. Poor light with the setting sun.

Surprised Ruth with a fine dinner in a country hole in the wall..

For obvious reasons, shared in other threads, I’m still making the effort to be spontaneously charming to my bride.
Gets easier with repeated practice actually men.. and frankly, makes the memories we refer back to at the end of the line.

Have a great weekend all, time to go outside and demolish a defunct hot tub. Maybe score a couple of extra motors for the shop out of the pile.

Beautiful Mike, and the weather, aside from hot and humid, sounds like it would be fantastic weather to take the beauty out and about.

Love those, "hole in the wall" restaurants around the Province, some fantastic cuisine in postcard locations. Been doing some touring out the area, how easy it is to forget how gorgeous Ontario is. 30 minutes outside the GTA and it's a paradise.

Good on the spontaneous dates with the wife, something I should do more of, but these days with kids sticking around, it does get harder and harder to get some time alone....

The MG is looking spectacular....

Two words regarding the kids,,
Leftovers,, hehe.
Thanks Andrew..beauty watches you are sporting of late my friend.. love the Russian one, very eclectic.

Ounce of prevention on this hot Sunday
Belt started to slip for the third time since I got the car and I decided to take a closer look as to why.

They aren’t supposed to stretch indefinitely so I’m happy I looked a little deeper than just tightening it up more.
Happy motoring again.

Good thinking Mike! Probably saved you some frustration and towing funds!

I take it that we can see the new belt in the background. My dad ALWAYS had spare belts (Fan and Power Steering) hidden in the grill area Just In Case! Not that he always had tools in the car to change them with

Good that you looked closer. Stuck on the side of the road is never a good place for a car like that. Ive always used the Green Striped Belts. (Gates) Just better made and last longer. Although by now they too might be made in China. Ha.

That car is a beauty!
Also, it's easy to forget.. thank you for the reminder/suggestion.. I'll be taking my wife out tonight on a spontaneous night without kids. It's not something that I would naturally think about. But it's necessary.

Good choice in my opinion... I would also strip that car down to paint, especially if it was already repainted poorly. My experience working in a body shop made me want to hunt rust down and destroy it mercilessly! No quarter! Hehehe