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Ansel Gandt, Columbia SC, MGA from 10-year sleep

running. This turned out to be a big project to make it roadable again. So, we ordered some parts, and a few days later got started in earnest with installing a new fuel tank and sender unit, fuel filler connector hose, seal on the boot floor, a new pipe from tank to fuel pump, getting the original fuel pump running, installing a new battery, and hold-downs and new round cable. By day's end we had it cranking over for a compression test (no pressure on #3 cylinder), but had leaky carburetors so no start-up yet, but a good first day. The carburetors were a mess, including broken mounting boss for the fast-idle cam, which I ultimately managed to restore with a large bolt to replace the missing material. It was run for ten years with no air filters? Really. Relocated the engine grounding strap and installed a new vacuum advance signal pipe (missing) and lots of linkage bits, complete rebuild of the carburetors (not shafts). Had to drill out a broken cable end from the mechanical tachometer drive spindle

In early April we finally broke down and bought a medium size aluminum floor jack (16-1/2-inch lift) and a pair of small jack stands. We had been procrastinating on this for a long time, wanting to build a cabinet to hold these things under the trailer. Finally gave in to priorities and put the new jack and stands inside the trailer, having to rearrange things to make it all fit, but soon got used to it.

Finally got Ansel's MGA to start up on April 6, installed a thermostat, replaced the radiator cap and a leaky hose or two. Bled the brakes, but no clutch yet. Lots of odds and ends, loose bolts, stripped threads, and apparently no lockwashers anywhere on the car. Next day installed a new slave cylinder to get the clutch working and took the car for a short trip around the block first time after 10 years in hibernation (running on 3-1/2 cylinders). Bad oil leak from timing cover. Ordered more parts. Spent a lot of time removing extraneous wires, correcting electrical bogies, and getting most electrical stuff working. New tail lights and license lamp and runner seals and a dozen new wires in back, seals and a new bulb in front lamps, new flasher unit, and finally all the lights were working.

With very low compression on #3, we removed the cylinder head to see what was amiss. Valves were actually okay, so the bad leak was past the piston rings in #3. Installed a new timing cover and seal. Rather that tear the whole engine apart, we thought it was worth a try to pour more solvent down #3 cylinder and put the thing back together to run it some more. After an oil and filter change and more running time it improved dramatically, finally recovering decent compression on all cylinders. After a good warm up, re-torqueing the cylinder head, resetting valve lash, and a final tune-up, it was running quite well (a very pleasant surprise).

Repairing the vintage temperature gauge

Installed a vent port in the alloy valve cover, installed new air cleaners, new engine mounts, tappet cover gaskets, new studs and gasket in bottom of exhaust manifold, a working temperature gauge, a new control box to restore charging function, reinstalled the ammeter (working) and vintage AM radio (not working), new seals on the steering rack, new brackets (missing) on the brake caliber hoses. Front suspension needs a complete rebuild, but maybe someone else will do that. After three weeks tinkering with this one, today we expect to install rear brake cylinders to stop the leaks and put it back on the road.

A week ago, Ansel's daily driver Jaguar engine crapped out, leaving him to drive his 1974 MGB. We did a quick inspection of that car to find non-functional rear brakes due to crushed hydraulic pipes on the rear axle, and a loud "clunk" in the rear due to worn thrust washers in the differential.

On the 20th we had a little natter 'n' noggin with a few friends at a local pub. Took a ride in a Miata to diagnose a loud resonant vibration at 4300 RPM, which must be a loose heat shield over the center muffler. Since then been dealing with a broken power cord on my computer charger, a smashed signal cord on my back-up hard drive, a bug in the server computer that was stopping FTP access for a few days, and it has been raining for a few days. Otherwise all is well.

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~~ Barney and Elliot Gaylord