MGB V8 Roadster restoration project Report 63

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Emily Smith
5 years ago
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Stanley knife they will fit on the wing and bulkhead lips and hold the bonnet at the

Yet another card template for a closing panel between the front valance and the front

1 5th August One thing I left out of my last report was a useful tip when trying a bonnet or boot lid for fit. If you cut some short lengths of rubber hose and cut through them lengthways with a Stanley knife they will fit on the wing and bulkhead lips and hold the bonnet at the correct height. Yet another card template for a closing panel between the front valance and the front of the bodyshell. Temporary rubber tube spacer used to support the bonnet. Viewed from the top. Deciding where the cut the card for the valance. Fit of the alloy bonnet between the right hand wing and the bulkhead panels, V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-63 1

Marking the outer edge of the front glass fibre valance.

It cuts out about 1/8 of metal and will follow the curve that you want to cut.

I needed to make the card fit the edge of the front valance so that the valance could

2 Marking the outer edge of the front glass fibre valance. This is the electric nibbler that I wrote about in one of my earlier reports. It cuts out about 1/8 of metal and will follow the curve that you want to cut. It is a lot heavier than air operated ones that are available. I needed to make the card fit the edge of the front valance so that the valance could be screwed or bolted to, what will be the closing panel between the bodyshell and the valance. When I was happy with the fit of the cardboard template I could move on to making it in metal. The panel cut to shape ready to weld to the bodyshell. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-63 2

Using the temporary pin clamps to hold the metal panel in the correct

I lied in my last report about not having a photo of levelling the

You can see the yellow spirit level and the green tape measure.

This is where my fit problems have started from.

3 Using the temporary pin clamps to hold the metal panel in the correct place. I lied in my last report about not having a photo of levelling the bodyshell and measuring the heights. I happened upon this photo. You can see the yellow spirit level and the green tape measure. Checking the glass fibre valance lines up with the new panel. This is where my fit problems have started from. The horizontal panel been originally spot welded at least 10mm too low to the inner wing! V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-63 3

I decided at this point to make new front spit brackets to make

Showing where I need to cut the spot welded joint at the front of

4 This is a photo of the other side. It was then time to try the new grille, valence and wings for fit. I decided at this point to make new front spit brackets to make life easier. Showing where I need to cut the spot welded joint at the front of the inner wing to get the left hand side to match the right hand side of the bodyshell. Then weld up the joint in the correct place. Now I will be able to try the valance and new grille together. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-63 4

The new panel with the welds ground off and ready to etch prime.

welded the two panels together. I welded the panels from the other side.

With the apertures for the indicators I decided to weld a plate in the original hole,

5 The new panel with the welds ground off and ready to etch prime. When I was happy with the fit of the new panel I made it was time to weld it in place. The new panel welded in place. You can also see where I have moved the original horizontal panel 10mm further up and welded the two panels together. I welded the panels from the other side. You can just see the weld penetration on this side. With the apertures for the indicators I decided to weld a plate in the original hole, weld a lip at the bottom for fixing the front valance to. When this is completed I will make the cut out for the indicator/side lamp. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-63 5

The plates for the indicators fixed in position. I shall have to wait now until the Hydrovane compressor comes back from repair.

Do I really want to go to the bother of using paint stripper and the mule skinner for removing the paint?

To get a good fit with the old front grille I had to cut the front wings to give a reasonable gap between the wing and the front grille.

aperture. O-what-joy! Now I can see why so many restoration projects stop and then get sold on ebay as a project car.

6 The plates for the indicators fixed in position. I shall have to wait now until the Hydrovane compressor comes back from repair. As at present I cannot blast the paint off the repair panels. With having the blasting cabinet it has made me lazy! Do I really want to go to the bother of using paint stripper and the mule skinner for removing the paint? Now comes yet another problem to overcome. The replacement front grille. To get a good fit with the old front grille I had to cut the front wings to give a reasonable gap between the wing and the front grille. The new replacement front grille is larger than the original front grille that I have been using as a pattern for the front grille aperture. O-what-joy! Now I can see why so many restoration projects stop and then get sold on ebay as a project car. Luckily, in my present state of mind, I take it as a challenge. If you have any comments, suggestions, or useful tips I can pass on you can me at: mikemacartney@btconnect.com 6th August V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-63 6

B V8 Roadster restoration project Report 68

B V8 Roadster restoration project Report 68 23rd August 2016. I ve packed up early today. I have been rubbing down the bodyshell for the last couple of days. The temperature this afternoon, in the workshop, was 30 degrees, too hot for an old git