The MGA With An Attitude
35-year SERVICE LOG for an MGA - CF-050B
1986-1998, 127,000 miles
 See four pages:
Part A = 1977-1986, Purchase and Restoration
Part B = 1986-1998, 127,000 miles to second restoration - (You are here)
Part C = 1998-2008, 90,000 miles to third restoration
Part D = 2008-2012, 31,000 miles more and still counting
Date Miles Description Cost
12/15/86 "18" cylinder head, gaskets, heater valve 349.85
5/26/87 New fuel pump & bits 63.41
9/15/87 Install timing cover with rubber seal, etc 75.75
3/18/88 Install spin-on adapter, new front bumper 146.45
3/28/88 1,524 Recondition speedo & tach 153.05
4/12/88 Front & rear sway bars installed 109.49
5/12/88 Michelin tires 319.83
11/11/88 New rear brake shoes 25.62
12/22/88 Oil cooler 147.75
12/23/88 Dimmer, o-filters, spare w-pump 94.80
12/29/88 Re-core radiator 155.77
12/30/88 Inverted spin-on adapter, exchange 52.71
5/9/89 8,500 S-visors & W-wings & antenna 123.70
5/20/89 Install radio and speakers 309.58
6/11/89 8,662 Start '89 tour
6/14/89 9,962 Pikes Peak
6/17/89 11,581 Seattle
6/19/89 12,220 Repair fuel tank, Oregon 25.00
6/26/89 13,944 Baja Mexico, Ensenada
6/27/89 14,460 Radiator tester, Gila Bend, AZ 75.74
6/28/89 14,712 Head gasket, Phoenix, AZ 28.52
6/29/89 15,088 Head Gasket, fiber, Flagstaff, AZ 31.60
7/1/89 15,565 Re-solder radiator 66.10
7/2/89 Fuel pump & bits 36.80
7/2/89 15,764 Head gaskets (2), oil 148.67
7/4/89 17,203 Coil 33.87
7/5/89 Labor, broken crankshaft 51.46
7/5/89 Cylinder head 422.52
7/7/89 Engine hoist rental 23.32
7/7/89 Bearings 81.45
7/8/89 17,381 Bearings & gaskets 71.58
7/13/89 Jim Sutorus for crankshaft 125.00
7/20/89 21,233 Broken rocker pedestals, borrow parts --.--
7/22/89 Poly front suspension bushings (spare) 14.95
7/23/89 Fuel pump (Chicago) 61.00
7/30/89 MGB rocker shaft ass'y, used 50.00
7/31/89 21,500 New gear lever & rocker bits 101.06
6/25/90 Mallory dual points distributor 129.00
(not installed until 7/22/92)
6/25/90 Crankshaft pulley & bits 180.35
7/6/90 Refurbish safety gauge 86.00
10/13/90 Batteries 92.77
12/31/90 22,700 (mileage est.)
5/24/91 Brake hose, front left 21.80
7/--/91 GT-16, Huntsville, AL
12/31/91 24,400 (mileage est.)
7/22/92 Installed Mallory dual points distributor
(which was purchased 6/25/90)
7/26/92 Broken crankshaft, major damage 836.00, (Starter fell out).
Note to self: Helicoil all threads in aluminum housings.
Sleeved #4 cylinder, installed a used crankshaft, used
camshaft, two used con-rods, used dizzy drive gear, and new
oil pump.
8/7/92 Mallory spares 57.97
9/7/92 #1 rod bearing failure - bad used crankshaft.
9/8/92 Another used crankshaft & regrind 110.00
9/8/92 Gearbox for parts 40.00
9/11/92 Crank bearings & bits 130.42
9/11/92 Trans mount & bits
12/31/92 29,400 (mileage est.)
3/3/93 Front wheel bearings (spares) 84.35
5/18/93 Trans spares 136.30
5/20/93 LH door lock 32.70
5/22/93 Re-solder radiator top tank 60.00
7/8/93 Bridgestone Potenza tires 456.43
7/19/93 Rod bearings 34.65
9/28/93 Trailer tire (1) 27.15
12/31/93 42,600 (mileage)
2/15/94 Race numbers, books, etc 169.80
2/15/94 Transmission parts, bits & clutch hose 70.55
2/19/94 Rally Computer ($989.00)
3/22/94 Synchro ring, fire extinguisher 70.80
3-28-94 (4) wheels, Brit auto, East Moline 140.00
4/4/94 Trans input bearing 32.65
5/18/94 MGB flywheel, p-plate, trans cover, t/o arm 125.00
5-20-94 43,300 Install rebuilt trans, early 1500 type
5-26-94 Bleed brakes
5-31-94 Competition pressure plate, engine mounts 211.33
6-3-94 Install HD Clutch, MGB flywheel, engine mounts
6-13-94 43,750 Valve job, Bronze guides 166.81
Engine rear seal parts installed
6/20/94 First set race tires 477.00
6-21-94 (2) street tires 136.64
6-25-94 Electric cooling fan 155.70
7-5-94 Trailer bearings
7-19-94 44,420 Coolant recovery system
7-29-94 47,193 Oil & Filter
8/5/94 47,436 Re-solder radiator (new top tank) 48.00
8/3/94 48,000 Rebuilt speedometer (broken ODO gear) 136.63
9-15-94 Trans parts, seat cushion 176.85
9-19-94 49,400 Re-core radiator, VT core 209.93
Trans repair, 3rd gear retaining washer
11-1-94 52,700 Oil & Filter
12/31/94 53,600 (mileage)
1-1-95 53,600 New rear wheel studs
3-18-95 Fuel Pressure regulator 22.04
5-27-95 57,731 Valve job, D.G.A.P. 52.00
Oil & Filter, Install front brake shoes
7-18-95 61,735 (2) Dunlop 165-15 tires
7-18-95 (4) race wheels, aluminum
7-19-95 61,761 Oil & Filter, A-arm bushings GT-type,
Urethane sway bar -124s, front
8-20-95 66,020 #1 rod bearing, Oil & Filter
9-9-95 66,280 Regrind .030, rod bearings, SiBz guides,
Stellite valves, Oil & Filter
10-28-95 70,012 Oil & Filter, right rack boot, front wheel studs
12-6-95 72,100 Generator LIFETIME, Rick's Car Quest
12-13-95 72,135 Regulator, Moss
1-1-96 72,509
2-20-96 purchase spare generator, Victoria British
3-22-96 72,600 Install rebuilt front shocks. Install rebuilt trans,
late 1500 model (original). Front suspension rubber, grease
4-10-96 73,944 Oil & Filter
4-20-96 74,935 Head gasket, #2 intake valve, New cruise control,
Rebuild spare drive shaft (for early trans)
4-30-96 Replace front shocks (2nd set)
5-21-96 78,005 Oil & Filter & grease
5/28/96 Replace 4" Si. Rear crankshaft seal
6-1-96 78,500 Regrind rod journals, new .040 bearings (#3 bad),
Replace 4" Silicone rear crankshaft seal, Oil & Filter
6-14-96 80,700 (4) Dunlop SP4n tires, 165SR15
6-30-96 82,614 Oil & Filter
7-24-96 84,615 Rear hub O-rings & gaskets, Rear brake shoes,
hand brake boots
8-1-96 Replace lower right trunnion bush & tube,
Replace front shocks (third set)
8-13-96 86,800 Oil & filter
10-12-96 Resurface & regrind crankshaft, new bearings R.000
10-26-96 Rod bearings, new oil pump & screen modification
Oil pump cavitating at 7000 rpm noted to be cause of failed
rod bearings (3 times). Later model oil pickup parts should
fix this problem.
10-27-96 90,886 Oil & Filter
11-4-96 92,892 Replace generator 21K (free Car quest unit, LIFETIME)
11-30-96 94,768 Change rear crankshaft seal to Viton, Oil & Filter
1-1-97 94,840
2-23-97 (1) new steel wheel
3-21-97 95,699 Lucas sport coil (2nd one), Driver side door latch
and striker, Front throttle arm & screws in butterfly
3-27-97 (1) used steel wheel, straighten & paint
4-3-97 97,181 Drill lap #3 intake valve (50psi -> 110 psi)
4-3-97 New engine rebuild complete (not installed).
4-17-97 97,610 Install new engine. Oil & filter.
4-27-97 98,772 Cook rod bearings (low oil) new engine, Peoria.
5-12-97 98,917 Install original engine, valve reface,
rear VITON seal, Oil & filter.
5-17-97 98,948 Install new rear springs, poly bushings in sway bar,
Check rear shocks. Clean rear brakes. Chassis lube.
5-17-97 Repair/paint LR fender. Make/install navigator's desk.
Driver's seat: repair back & install seat bun
5-18-97 Blow new clutch disk @ ICC, Peoria
5-24-97 99,260 Re-install new engine with 20/20 regrind,
Install another new clutch disk, Oil & Filter
5-27-97 99,500 Install (4) Dunlop SP20 tires
5-27-97 Passenger seat, install seat bun
5-29-97 00,840 Install radiator shroud @ San Antonio, TX
6-6-97 03,143 Oil & filter @ Choteau, MT
6-8-97 Replace broken aluminum water pump, Cache Creek BC
6-16-97 07,437 Oil & filter @ Fairbanks, AK
6-22-97 09,130 Install new fuel pump @ Anchorage, AK, 3:00-am
7-3-97 11,069 Oil & filter @ Fairbanks, AK
7-4-97 11,269 Install tie rod ends & driver door latch @ Central, AK
7-9-97 13,085 Wheel balancing. Kitwanga, BC. (Back on paved roads)
7-9-97 Replace broken positive battery cable terminal.
7-10-97 13,685 Replace distributor points (2 sets Mallory)
7-15-97 16,059 Oil & Filter, Leveland, TX
7-15-97 16,305 Main odometer stopped working
(keep records with trip odo)
8-31-97 19,550 Install rebuilt front shocks, #8 & #9
9-25-97 20,042 Fresh Bearings, Mains & Rods, Timing seal (new engine)
9-25-97 20,042 Oil & Filter
9-27-97 Disconnect rear anti-sway bar
10-1-97 21,674 Repair Speedometer (main ODO gear), miles corrected.
10-11-97 Install new tail bushing, early gearbox
10-11-97 22,975 Replace Generator brushes, 30K mi (Car Quest on car)
10-20-97 23,113 Replace speedometer cable (lost 173 miles)
10-22-97 23,145 New engine & original gearbox & drive shaft out.
Replace front u-joint original drive shaft & paint
10-26-97 23,145 Early #3 gearbox & drive shaft & original engine in,
new t/o bearing, original heater valve, hone & repack clutch slave
cylinder, 10W40 oil & filter, 20W50 gear oil, 269 mile Champaign
trip, no oil use, no drips.
11-8-97 23,414 Install 190d thermostat
11-15-97 Paint 2 wheels (rusty from under trailer)
11-17-97 Bought wheel balancer
11-17-97 23,806 Coolant recovery bottle & tire valves 10.86
11-17-97 2 SP4n tires on front, balance 4 wheels
12-12-97 Installed new 0.010 O/S Throttle Shafts
12-13-97 23,980 Rebuild carbs, new jets & Teflon jet seals
4-1-98 to 6/15/98 Held hostage in paint shop.
6/15/98 24,037 Truck home from shop, paint incomplete.
7-16-98 24,037 Install new rear brake hose, bleed brakes
7-17-98 24,037 Finished new paint job & reassembly 878.00
Windshield, plating, f-bumper, misc 601.54
Top, tonneau cover, carpet (not installed) 576.00
There is an interesting cost fact that comes out of this. I track costs in two classes. "Operating Expenses" include oil changes, tires and brake linings, as well as fuel and minor repairs when traveling. Sum total and division by miles traveled can yield daily operating cost in pennies per mile. "Repairs and Restoration" includes major repairs like engine and gearbox overhaul, replacement of rag top and interior materials, and general restoration and repainting. Sum total and division by calendar months or years can yield a figure related to what it costs to keep the car on the road indefinitely rather than scrapping it and buying a new car when it might become too decrepit for continued service.
Total of Repairs and Restoration expenses from end of first restoration in late 1986 through end of repairs and repaint in early 1998 came to $7,200 in 124,000 miles over 12 years (144 months). Conclusion is that $50 per month (5.8 cents per mile) seems to be enough to keep this car serviceable indefinitely (hopefully forever). There will be a follow up on this issue ten years later.
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