More wristache...

Yes, I resorted to a bit of sandpaper under a polisher today, and I've done the bonnet. However, the results again speak for themselves... Maybe another quick go with the 1500 will perfect everything, but it's looking pretty good as it is! I'm inspired to do the rest now.... It's a hell of a long way from being finished!

Peeling Oranges hurts the wrists!

The first thing I've done to the car since my exams finished on Friday is started to get rid of some of this blimmin' orange-peel effect on the paintwork. After receiving much assistance from a variety of sources (including here!), I set about very gingerly. The things I've used so far in the process:

-Wet 'n' Dry paper (1200 and 1500)
-a very strong cutting compound and Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine
-a hairdryer (to speed up the drying of the water!)

Anyway, I started by rubbing down a small hidden section with 1200 followed by 1500, and then cut and polished it out. This went very successfully, so I moved to the visible sections! The results speak for themselves:

Before:

During:

After!

She's Alive!

Result! After several hours of tinkering, she's alive! I spent this afternoon replacing batteries, draining fuel, sorting out a sticky solenoid, adjusting plug and point gaps, checking there was a spark for each cylinder, turning the engine by hand, singing 'MGB GT' by Richard Thompson very loudly and annoying the neighbours, and doing a variety of other bits and bobs.

However, for some reason, the engine was turning but just not managing to kick. I decided to give up, and came in for a 'cuppa. Went back a couple of hours later to lock up and decided to give it another bash. Hey presto! A running engine! It's running very ropily of course, but hey, it's going, and sounds beautiful! An update on the situation will follow soon!

You'll give me a 'grilling' for this...

You'll ridicule me when you find out that all I've done so far since she's got home is stick the new grille on.... However, the car looks much less of a 'project' now, and much more of a 'car'. I had to remove the overriders before being able to get the grille in, that went without any problems. Here's how she looks now:

Apologies for the bad photos, they won't get much better 'til she's mobile and out of the garage!

But that's not all that I've done... I've taken the batteries out and undersealed all around where they sit, I just have to buy some new ones, and we're getting close to having her running!

I've also cleaned half of the interior up a little; it's coming up a treat - I'll let you see once it's all done!

She's home!

She's almost ready to go on the trailer... notice the skidmarks!

Well, we went off to pick up the GT this morning. We arrived bright and early, about 8.30. We assessed what our plan of action for removal was to be. First of all, we tried dragging the car to see if the brakes would free off... this, however was not to be! We then went about jacking the car up to free off the brakes. The front ones moved with no problems, and after freeing off the adjuster on the rear ones, the car was moving!

Packed up and ready to go

We sorted through the spares that came with the car - I now have a complete gearbox, along with endless other spares - two grilles, 4 disc wheels and hubcaps, a set of Works headlamp cowls, side chrome trims, and various other assorted bits. After a bit of rolling backwards and forwards, we got the car just about in line with the trailer, and pushed it on.

We stopped on the way home to give her a quick powerwash down, and this got rid of some of the surface dirt to save her sitting in the garage at home until she was mobile.

Home sweet home... Who could ask for a better garage?

Just look at those spares! Those shelves were almost empty yesterday, never mind the floor!

The engine turns freely, and I've stuck some oil in the bores - I'll continue to do this for the next few days, and possibly we'll have her running by the end of next week! I'll have to get a couple of batteries sorted first, mind...

Time is Fleeting.....

Well, Megan's arrival is getting closer, which of course means that my GCSEs are coming to a close! Wahoo!

As I've already mentioned, the car is fitted with KN Minator Minilite replicas. However, I'm not a huge fan of these as every classic car seems to have them, so I plan to do a wire wheel conversion. I've been collecting bits and bobs to do this job. So far, I have:

• A wire wheel axle, as these differ from the normal bolt-on wheel axles - I've managed to find one free of charge: many thanks to Ian Helsby for supplying that!
• 4 Chrome wire wheels and tyres: many thanks to Ged West for his extreme generosity. They'll be winging their way towards here sometime in the next week.
• 4 Two-Eared Spinners, courtesy of eBay.
  

All I need now are the hubs (I can get a brand new set of four for around £150), and brake bits for the axle, along with any other bits and bobs that may be needed...

Mmmmmm.... Shiny!

I've also been on the lookout for something to play my groovy tunes on while in the car. Once again, a search on eBay revealed something to suit my needs perfectly. This is in the form of a Motorola Model 114 LW/MW Radio, with an auxhiliary input for an MP3 Player. This means I can have any tune I want at all, without having to worry about CDs, or radio reception. The style of the radio also fits in well as it's from the time of the car.

Also on my shopping list are:

1. A new set of hoses and bushes all round, as the ones on the car will no doubt have perished.
2. Brake parts, just to be on the safe side
3. Everything that will be needed for initial startup: these include Oil, Coolant, Petrol and more!
4. Side moulding clips, as there are some missing - however, the car comes with a brand new set of chrome side strips along with the grille.
5. Possibly a Carburettor service kit
6. A 6x4' Union Jack for the back seat, just so I can be like Chris (heheh!)
7. A small metal Union flag for the dash
8. Some engine paint, just to sort out a couple of rust issues!
9. An oil filler cap, as the other one was used as a substitute for something else a couple of months ago.

Oh I've got a little car, and she might go far...

Welcome to my new blog, all about my latest restoration project - a 1967 Mineral Blue MG BGT.

*Splutter* You thought I was exaggerating when I told you about the dust!

She's stood for 10 years after having a complete home restoration carried out (fully documented!).

She was MOT'd in around 1996 and has laid dormant until uncovered in early April.

Structurally, she's very solid and bodily the same. However, she does need some (!) fettling, as she hasn't run in the ten years she's sat.

Sadly the overdrive doesn't work - the wiring has all been replaced, and the gearbox oil level is apparently OK, so taking the engine out may be on the list to replace the Overdrive Unit!

Mmmmm.... Look at those battery terminals!

The previous owner of MEG13F (or Megan!), inherited the car from his brother who sadly passed away. He went about restoring it, and took the engine out, put a second hand Overdrive Gearbox in (as the original car didn't have O/D).

The car was then resprayed in its original Mineral Blue, and has had no end of new parts, including brand new Minilite replica wheels and tyres, a stainless steel exhaust, and new carpets and trim inside.

The interior should tidy up well.

Megan meets her flatmate of the future!

Mmmmm...Clean Engine Bay!

Renault Scenic, eat your heart out! Look at the back end on this one, then!

Anyway, that's all for now - she is being transported home from her current resting place in mid June - then the restoration begins!