The MGA With An Attitude
MGA Guru Is GOING MOBILE - (February 16 - February 28, 2019)
Saturday February 16, 2019:
Breakfast in Norcross, GA, then drove a couple hours north to visit Edward Wesson a few thousand feet up in the mountains in Hiawassee, GA, almost on the northern state line. Love the 2-1/2 car garage with te huge loft, and the 3 car garage behind with the lift. One step inside, and oh, oh, immediate distraction.
The "Snoopy Special" was completely hand built. First attraction is the cut-down MG TD grill surround carrying the Jaguar cat (kudos to the Brits) and a Honda GoldWing emblem.
Powered by a Honda GoldWing 1000cc opposed 4-cylinder engine. Man, that's a wide engine. I recon you would wear leather boots on the bike to prevent cooking your ankles on the valve covers. Good that the propshaft is off center, giving the driver a bit more foot room. Hand clutch on the shift lever for one-hand operation. Sequential slam shifter I suppose. Might be an MG fly-off hand brake. Love the aviation helmet. The car has been driven around a parking lot, but not on the road yet.
The main attraction today was the MGA that had been running bad for a while. Reported to start and idle okay, but couldn't drive it under power without severe backfiring. Running very rich at idle, we were fiddling with the carbs for a while to determine that the fuel jets and needles were worn from rubbing when not properly centered, passing too much fuel, so those parts need to be replaced. We moved the needles down slightly and turned the jets full up to get a reasonable idle mixture, then went to look at the ignition side.
We found the distributor cap was a misfit and didn't seat properly on the distributor body. Measurement revealed
the pilot diameter on the cap to be about 0.040" larger than the pilot diameter in the distributor, and the cap had been seriously damaged trying to jam it on to make it work. The car had recently been sent to a pro shop to install a 5-speed gearbox, and in the process it was reported to get new HT spark wires. Maybe it also got a new distributor cap that didn't fit.
 Edward had another new side-entry cap recently procured from Moss Motors, but that didn't fit either. I pulled a good used one out of the magic trailer, and mine didn't fit either, even though it was previously used on the Lucas distributor in my car. So then I pulled the top-entry distributor cap off of my car and installed in on Edward's car, and it fits and works perfectly. Go figure. This is the first time I ever noticed that the caps were not entirely interchangeable. The later model cap being slightly smaller does fit and work on the earlier distributor, but not the other way around. Learn something new every day. Running a bit better, we found ignition timing too far advanced, so we set that back to normal and reset idle speed.
We then took it for a test drive to see if the carburetor adjustments helped, and apparently it did as it ran better but still had an occasional backfire under throttle, so back to the garage. While we sat in the garage chatting about it for a minute, Edward asked, "Do you smell something"? Well yes, not like burning wires but something vaguely hot electrical. Switch on ignition, no power for anything. Get the test light, no power on the main battery cable, so remove the battery cover. Negative ground battery connections with dual 6-volt batteries. No power from positive to chassis. Yes power across the right side battery. No power across the left side battery, completely dead, open circuit.
Okay, pull the failed battery out and get it to the bench for inspection. Manufacturing date is less than two years old. No power across the posts. With external cell jumper bars we can test individual cells, and guess what, all three cells test good at 2-volts. Say what?
This is when we found a damaged jumper bar on top, blown out like a burned fuse. Now that requires a LOT of amperage, like a direct short across the battery terminals. Got brave and made connection across the blown gap, and the battery tested good at 6-volts. Then laying plans to reconnect the blown lead connector bar to salvage the battery.
Now while I am posting these photos and notes I see in the picture the cause of this problem. The center cross-over battery cable was obviously dragging on the propshaft rear flange, which rubbed through the insulation to short the cable to ground on the propshaft. The replacement cable was too long. Gotta learn to tie those things up on the chassis cross bar. That put an end of work for the day.
Sunday February 17, 2019:
Found ourselves not far away in Murphy, NC today. We will soon be heading north to Indianapolis, IN, but not today (too cold up there). Having a couple days to kill we get to sit still and catch up the travel log photos and notes, and some BBS and e-mail tech questions. Spent some time updating a tech page with new pictures for the optional MGA radiator blind. Message from a friend in Texas to say he had solved a clutch bleeding problem and had his MGA back on the road again (good news is always nice).
Monday February 18, 2019:
A bit of bad news today. A sister-in-law (older bother's wife) passed away peacefully in sleep, but two weeks ago, and just hearing about it now. Also one daughter's boy friend's aunt and grandmother died together "while holding each other up" (whatever that means). The grandmother fell off a ladder while reaching into a high kitchen cabinet. Don't know the rest of the details. Since I bought my first MGA in late 1968, I've been 19 for 50 years now, but getting tougher to maintain that story.
Reviewing a 70-page tech article on Lucas Distributors, a bit too generic painted with a broad stroke, not specifically about MGs or British cars, so I won't be posting any link there. Catching up trip notes and some email. Heading north again late night. Goodbye North Carolina, hello Tennessee.
Tuesday February 19, 2019:
Woke up in Sweetwater, TN, having just dipped into frost this morning, getting colder as we go north. Start the day with a question about the fuel gauge, easy peasy, just refer to the right preexisting tech pages. Got an overdose of updating the CMGC web site for changes and additions to upcoming events. Headed north in the evening, slogging through two hours of heavy rain, fighting our way past the heavy spray of semi trucks, through "gentle" mountain 3rd gear hills. Goodbye Tennessee, hello Kentucky before midnight.
Wednesday February 20, 2019:
Starting the day in Williambsurg, KY, lighter rain for now. Another contact from Australia this morning, just checking. Anticipating arrival Indianapolis, Indiana this evening (where we think it is not going to freeze again until small hours of the morning), so off we go. Driving in almost continuous rain, but keep going. One fuel stop mid day, arrival Indianapolis mid afternoon, cold and drizzly. Start setting up and testing the web cam. This is going to be a very long night.
Thursday February 21, 2019:
Definitely going to be short on sleep today, no sleep before morning. Have a 3:30-AM appointment connecting and testing web cams for video conference with MG Car Club Victoria, MGA Register, Nunawading, Victoria, Australia. That would be 7:30-PM down under, setting up for 8:00-PM club meeting.
Meeting began on schedule with 50 to 60 MGA enthusiasts in house. After introductions they wanted to know what the MGA Guru has been up to. Someone brought a North American map where they had been drawing a red line to follow our travels for the past 4-3/4 years, which made for a colorful display. I gave them about 45 minutes song and dance on the history of The MGA With An Attitude since 1968, restoration of the car, SCCA autocross racing and TSD rally in the 90's, evolution of the the MGAguru.com web site over the past 18 years, and some fun details about our recent travels, 300+ club visits, assistance with service of 500+ British cars, and visits to 860 shops that service the cars, supply parts or rebuild components.
This was followed by some tech questions about cooling, generators and alternators, tune-ups and general maintenance, and they wanted to know what was in the trailer (mostly tools and parts these days). As the meeting was mostly done, and they were waiting for their catered Pizza dinner, I got to chat with a few individuals, not so much tech, but I think they mostly wanted to thank me for the web site which was helping to save a bunch of cars down there. As they all ran off to eat we killed the web cam connection, and I was finally going to get some sleep, like most of the day until we had to get cranking for the evening appointment.
Thursday evening was meet and greet with a number of members of British Motor Trade Association at Hilton Garden Inn (Airport), Indianapolis, IN. This was arrival and check-in day with a little social in the evening, most of us had informal dinner and chat in the hotel bar area. I made a point of capturing Kelvin Dodd of Moss Motors for serious mention of too-small dysfunctional brake shoes and ill fitting door panel stiffener brackets. Late night when everyone else had crashed I got to catch up with email and BBS into the small hours of the morning, and going to be short on sleep again.
Friday February 22, 2019:
First full day of the BMTA convention, 60 people crunched into a conference room, beginning by
passing the microphone around the room for each to introduce themselves and their business involvement with vintage British cars. I have been a member of BMTA for two years. Last time I attended their convention was in Charlotte, NC in 2017. At that time I had visited maybe 1/4 of these businesses at best, but have since been busy traveling to visit about 85 percent of the known shops in North America (860 so far). When I asked who might remember me visiting their shop, most of the hands went up all around the room, so we must be doing something right.
Following was a seminar on opening a business, buying, selling, growing a business, and possibly transitioning a business to a new owner to keep it going when you retire. All interesting stuff among people with common interests and common problems. Then a fairly quick buffet lunch before hopping on a bus for our first tour of the afternoon.
We were off to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. I was here before in late 1989, but now the place is bigger with another 29-1/2 years of history and lots more race cars on display. Looking at historical race cars, it was interesting to notice some major transitions, like when they changed from roadsters to rear engine cars, introduction of wide low profile slick tires, when they first got wings, the first turbine engine cars, the (failed) attempt to re-introduce naturally aspirated engines, recent introduction of side bump bars to reduce wheel overlap and launch accidents, and ever more streamlining of body shell around those big slick tires.
Since modern Indy cars don't look much like real cars you could buy for street use, my interest is drawn farther back. My favorite car was the AJ Foyt racer from 1961 with cigar body, tall narrow tires and that wonderfully loud supercharged Offenhauser engine. I was 12 years old listening to the radio the day AJ set the first 150 MPH qualifying lap at Indy.
Our second afternoon stop was a visit to Dallara IndyCar Factory. This place now builds most of the new cars that race at Indy these days. I got a few pictures up front, but not allowed any pictures aft of the show room. It was interesting to see graphite composite body tubs being a driver's safety cocoon with attachment points for structural engines and break-away suspension parts.
There were also some driving simulators to play with. I'm so far never much impressed with these machines, as there is never enough tactile feedback in seat of the pants, so you never know when you might be losing grip until you hit the wall. Nice video game, but not realistic (yet). We had dinner at a choice of restaurants in downtown Speedway where a number of us chose a nice Irish pub and grille. With a bit of time to spare we also had a short visit to a nearby micro brewery before hopping the bus back to the main hotel.
Kicking around the hotel bar and lounge area for a few more hours I got some more intimate chat with several of the BMTA folks. Some of it was business, maybe more of it BS and history. Had a long chat with Bruce Woodson from Mercer and Woodson Automotive, Inc in Richmond, VA. Have known him at least since he was a past Chairman of NAMGAR 2011-2015 (and likely some technical encounters a little earlier). Had a brief chat with Tom Medeen, the new Chairman of NAMGAR. Another longer chat with Scott Dougherty of Minnesota MG Vintage Racers, the primary hosts for the NAMGAR GT-44 coming up in July in Dubuque, Iowa. Chat for a bit with Glenn Lenhard of Glenn's MG Service in St Petersburg, Florida who have built up a couple MG cylinder heads for me in past years. One rather obvious theme here is that the larger Brit car service shops are going Gung Ho with a substantial backlog of work as competition has been thinning out over the years. So you can still get your vintage British car serviced, but it might involve some time and transportation issues.
Saturday February 23, 2019:
Second full day of activities for the BMTA convention began with a morning discussion session on shop opportunities, issues and trends, followed by more discussion about adapting business to changing times and conditions. This stuff may sound somewhat cut and dried to Brit car owners and consumers, but we should at least appreciate the idea that these guys are helping each other and cooperating to keep the service shops in business and parts supplies flowing. Short buffet lunch before hopping the bus again, this time to visit the Skillman Collection. Maybe I should just let the pictures tell the story here.
We should all recognize the Ford GT40. Otherwise I'm always looking for the odd balls for entertainment. The red car is a Kurtis 500.
This one is a Kaiser Darrin. Notice the sliding door. We had a few neat cars when American companies were dabbling in sports cars in the 50's.
Several people were wondering how the Midget 1500 got here, but it had a sale sign, so maybe it really didn't belong. The E-type was in the shop area. The TD was really pretty (even with the retrofit wire wheels).
This is one of the Indy turbine cars, likely the only one in a private collection. Notice the Lotus badge on the nose. This one is rear engine. A couple of them were side engine with turbine on the left and driver on the right.
For late afternoon the bus was off for a visit to Bentley Zionsville. The public face of the business is up front where you can buy a new Bentley. I was surprised to find that Bentley has been making an SUV since 2016. But I seem to prefer the older models, so off to the service shop for more entertainment.
The place has more expansion than space, so lots of things are stowed up high. The parts department is on the second floor with standing room only, and not everybody at once please.
Parts for older cars, mostly good used parts, are stored in a "barn" across the street (a fairly recent acquisition). This is a three deck affair with full basement and a loft, and all of it is stuffed to the gunnels. Some machine tools have been moved to the basement here to free up space in the service shop.
After 5-pm catch the bus back to the BMTA meet hotel for happy hour, dinner on our own, and late night social, intended departure in the morning. As much fun as this is, I didn't stay long this time, because I had things to do (and wanted to get some sleep for a change). On the way out I noticed the magic trailer had a broken leaf spring (left side). Oh well, with 291,000 miles on the trailer, I can't fault it. After a quick appraisal of the situation, I carefully drove it 12 miles back to our hotel, and made it without incident (really). Measured the spring for appropriate dimensions and started shopping for new trailer springs, hoping we can find them somewhere in Indianapolis (big city). Bad timing makes it Saturday night, and not likely to find the parts before Monday, so we extended out hotel stay for one additional day (can use a day off anyway).
Sunday February 24, 2019:
Slept in (ahhhh). Catching up photos an notes for the past few days. at 6:30-pm decided to take a picture(s) of the broken trailer spring, and that's when we got a very unwelcome surprise that was about to eat several hours of our time. Discovered the trailer had been broken into, and some significant stuff was missing. Then spent three hours looking at surveillance video, found plenty of incriminating evidence on the intruders (happened between 4-5 am), and called the police to make a police report. Then picked up half a cubic foot of wet paper "stuff" off the ground other side of the building, and spent the next couple hours sorting that out for what little it may be worth. Pretty sure this is going to eat more time later.
Monday February 25, 2019:
Got a better look at the broken spring by daylight. Made some phone calls, found new trailer springs, but need to be shipped in. Could arrive Tuesday evening, but for a small additional shipping fee get next day delivery before noon. Trailer shop is just a few miles away. Book the hotel room for one more day.
Finally caught up on sleep, email, BBS, and whipped up my monthly trip report for the Chicago club. Reviewing a current list of books and videos in the CMGC library with lots of discrepancies. Looks like nearly 60 missing books and videos, and 70 new items that have never been listed on the web site. This will eat up a lot of hours for reconciliation and update of web pages. Ran out of day.
Tuesday February 26, 2019:
Packing up at checkout time, got the anticipated phone call, the new trailer spring are in. Just a few miles down the road to pick up the new springs. Needing to replace the missing floor jack, might as well do it now so we can use it, so off the the nearest Harbor Freight. Not in stock there, but they found one at another HF several miles away, so off we went. Bought the same part number 2-ton "racing" jack, medium size aluminum floor jack with 18-1/2-inch lift height and quick pump pre-lift, unpacked it an put it to immediate use right there in the HF parking lot. Nice day to work, sunny, dry, light breeze, not too cold.
Had a very difficult time loosening the left side lug nuts, thanks to the prior tire shop with over zealous impact wrench, but finally prevailed (after one broken wrench socket). A little concerned about spring to axle U-bolts that hadn't been touched since 1999, but generous use of penetrating oil and patience got everything disassembled with no broken fasteners.
Looking at the removed parts reminded me of prior maintenance when I found that MGA front suspension lower A-arm inner pivot bushings (original rubber type) were a perfect fit in the front eye of the trailer springs. At the time it seemed like a decent use of bushings that I no longer use on the car. In retrospect, not so good, as the rubber bushings were shot and the trunnion bolt was badly worn. Good that I am now using MGB GT V8 bushings in my MGA since 1999 (and still good in service).
Next picture shows the broken spring with the unbroken but worn one. Also show are two lower leaves
that I removed from the new springs. Reason here is because the new springs are much heavier that the originals (actually incorrect parts for the application). Original spring leaf thickness was 0.230-in. New spring leaf thickness is 0.350-in, and they are rated for 1000 pounds load capacity. Since leaf spring load capacity and spring rate vary as square of the leaf thickness, it stands to reason the the new springs are about 2.3 times stiffer that the old ones. From published load capacity of the trailer (when new), I think the original springs were about 500 pounds capacity (each). I already knew this, but couldn't find new springs with same spec's as the old ones on short notice, so I bought what was available. Best I could do with the new springs was to remove the shorter lower leaf, and I recon the new single leaf springs are still stronger and stiffer than the original springs.
This is a picture of the surviving original spring intending to show the wear point where the end of the owner leaf rubs on the upper leaf. You may be able to see the notch in the upper leaf, which is where the failed spring broke. There is a difference in spring eye diameter and bushing with the new springs. The new spring eye is smaller (11/16-in) and carries a thin nylon bushing with clearance for a 9/16-in bolt. That makes the nylon bushing only 1/16-in thick, and it is not perfectly round (due to imperfect forming of the spring eye). I could drill out the carrier bracket to accept a 9/16 bolt, but I don't like the nylon bushing, so for now I have reassembled it with original 1/2-in bolts. If I decide to keep these springs I will look for a suitable bronze bushing.
I installed the nearly new rear bolts in front (1/2 bolts inside of 9/16 bushings for now) and the worn bolts in back with worn side down and good side up toward the slider end of the spring. I had to find some 1/8-in thick flat washers for side packing in the front trunnions.
In the end I made the mistake of winding the bolts up tight, which results
in perfectly stiff and non-rotating trunnion joint, making the springs even stiffer. I jumped on the trailer tongue at front of the trailer box, and the car bounced while the trailer didn't. I need to loosen the trunnion bolts for free motion, but will leave it as is for now, just anxious to get moving again (and marginally tired as well). Considering looking for a 1/2-in bronze sleeve bearing and bronze thrust washers (always like upgrade from OEM).
Not much daylight left, so we took the rest of the day off, but still didn't catch up on web work. Drove a half hour farther south late night.
Wednesday February 27, 2019:
Slept in a little, then sitting in Seymore, Indiana today. Catch up day. Posting a new Faulty Parts web page for bad radiator hoses (more than one type). At least the travel photos and notes are up to date. Daylight went away again, time flies. WiFi sucks here (dead for a few hours by now), so will move a bit farther south and try again at dinner time. Scottsburg, IN for dinner. Time revising CMGC web site for the latest in driving events for the new season.
Thursday February 28, 2019:
Memphis, IN in the morning, but WiFI sucks here, so move on. Moved south into KY, around the south side of Louisville to Shepherdsville, KY. Weather still reasonable. Finally had to call the bank to report stolen checkbook, stop payment on some checks. Also find and fill out and mail the paper forms for stolen passports, good to have that done. Tech questions about radiators (same old stuff), temperature signal line routing (same old stuff), and special linings for brake shoes. Received a follow up report on the bad running MGA in Haiwassee, GA (on the 16th). Replaced fuel jets, then found the distributor was falling apart internally and needs to be rebuilt. Bit of work on CMGC web site, rearranging for space to post reports from annual business meetings. Goodbye February. CMGC March newsletter came in so I suppose that will kill all of tomorrow posting it to the club web site.
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