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tubular header, and paint on the new engine and fresh gaskets and seals in the gearbox. The silver MGB was back getting carburetors adjusted. One of those was stuck and would not idle, which was going to be put off for another week. Late in the day my MGA finally got an oil change and lube job. I also took a shot at installing new paper air cleaners, but the things were a bit too large and ended up in the dust bin (must note that issue on a tech web page). A UPS delivery didn't show up, so some things would be rescheduled for next week.

Next day a pretty blue MGB was up and running, and heading off to a new home. Tubular headers went back on the Spridget, and a resident Honda Element with VTEC engine (variable valve timing) was getting a small rubber gasket transplant to cure a serious oil leak. In midafternoon the UPS truck showed up, on a Saturday no less, making extra rounds to deliver holiday packages. Good for me, as my Moss parts order came in, and at an opportune moment. A new set of HT spark wires (with correct right-angle terminals on both ends), a couple new heater control cables, and new #6 fuel metering needles for the SU carburetors (about 25 years overdue). Also new wing nuts and threaded stud mounting plates for the side curtains, as 30 years in service had worn out the threads on the old parts. The 60-year-old original inertia starter with half a million miles has been getting slow with worn bushings, and I take this opportunity to have a test run with a new gear reduction high torque starter motor (only a small pain to adapt to the MGA).

During the next week I had time to post a few new tech pages for parts interchange lists for differential input bearings and seals, MGA Coupe door handles, a new page on repairing an electric tachometer, another article on assembling front suspension (and a laundry day). Also uploading a magazine article "MG MGA, A true 100-mph sports car" from Car and Driver magazine January 1957.

Dec 22, back at Tech Central, the silver MGB finally had the rear carburetor off to adjust position of the throttle plate to stop it sticking, then back together and tuned up. Then a red MGB needing valve lash adjustment, which was a good opportunity to demonstrate to several people how to do it without needing a feeler gauge (and definitely not a Click-Adjust tool). Then it was time for a club holiday dinner with turkey and dressing and lots of trimmings and deserts, and a good time was had by all. When most people had left we had time to check out a Mazda Miata that was being reassembled from boxes of parts. Next day a lot more of that, identifying parts and getting them installed. This car is by now fairly close to getting back on the road. I noticed a lot of plastic bits, many so thin that I have no idea how they can survive a bumpy road without breaking up. Being a career machine design engineer, maybe I just don't understand modern consumer product, or the philosophy of making everything cheap rather than durable. Makes me appreciate MGs.

Laying low during Christmas week I managed to post a new web page for another mysteriously unknown MGA hardtop, while a different one graduated from unknown to now manufacturer identified. And another web page with design of a shoulder belt mounting bracket for MGA.

Last week end of the year, back at Tech Central one more time on Friday. A chartreuse MGB needed to change one of those 3-way molded and vulcanized rubber coolant hose. We were also repairing rusted, broken studs and stripped threads in a couple of MGB exhaust manifolds, installed a digital volt meter and aligning door hinges and latch on an MGB. Did some work installing wheel bearings and disc brake parts on a Toyota race car, a little time cleaning out a Jaguar XJ6 that hadn't run for several years, and a good start on rebuilding brake calipers for an Alfa Romero.

Next day I did a quick fix on my MGA for a loose connection on the turn signal flasher unit, followed by installing a new ignition switch (and steering lock) in a late model MGB. More Alfa Romeo brake parts getting cleaned and painted. Much of late afternoon was consumed by a committee trying to figure out how to disconnect "quick connect" fittings for pipe connections on the Jag XJ6 fuel tank so the fuel pump could be changed. I think it was not achieved, save that for another day.

So now we have killed all of December, and after a day to catch up notes and write this report, tomorrow will begin another year. Meanwhile, follow our follies at: http://MGAguru.com/mobile

~~ Barney and Elliot Gaylord