See the photo record of this rebuild

	Stripping and cleaning the underside of the V8. View this set
	V8 mounted on a roll-over rig, stripped, new parts fitted and primed. View this set
	V8 receives the undercoat and first coats of the final colour, Bracken. View this set
	This V8 returns in sparkling form repainted. View this set

Maintenance notes

Items renewed in 2008
Two 6v batteries, 11 plate
Two cooling fan motors
Radiator
Clutch and thrust race
Water pump
Starter motor
Brake pads
Steering rack housing and rubber boots

Items renewed in 2007
Brake shoes
Rear oil seals
Wiper blades
Seat belts (original specification)
Front brake hoses
Front seat covers

Items fitted in 2006
Electronic ignition (Ignitor - USA)

Particular items on the car
Aluminium bonnet
Chrome grille surround
Original engine has not been rebored
> New cam and followers in 2002
> Gearbox overhauled 2002
> New overdrive 2002

Rear shock absorbers drop links have 5/8 AF flats filed on to release from bottom spring plate.

Bare metal body restoration in 2002 when sills and doors were renewed.

Petrol pump installed with original breather pipes (important).

Top of petrol tanks Krusted, painted with Hammerite and covered with Denso tape.

Items needing attention
> Rear axle - the differential requires rebuilding.
> Headlamp bowls need replacing.
> Wing seams - already Krusted.
> Repair to offside front wing.
> Engine uses a pint of oil in 750 miles - new +20 pistons supplied.
> Anti roll bar drop links supplied.
> Front crossmember plated underneath - new one supplied with car.
> Bumpers (original blades) need rechroming.
> Sump - rusted on the outside, Krusted in 2008.

Bryan Ditchman's rebuild of Bracken 1012 with the bodyshop Moonface in North Hampshire and PJ Wood in Buckinghamshire is an interesting case study. This Factory MGBGTV8 has been Bryan's everyday transport for many years and is a well maintained high mileage car averaging around 10,000 miles a year over its life.

What did he have done during the period June 2001 to October 2002?

Strip the car of trim and brightwork and windows, but not the windscreen. At this stage the car was still legal for the road. Time taken 8 hours

Transfer to Moonface where the car was stripped down to a basic bodyshell and mounted on a roll-over jig after steam cleaning at a local firm, Rawlings. Time taken 30 hours

Engine, gearbox and back axle to PJ Wood for bead blasting of all nuts, bolts, brackets, clips etc. Time taken 30 hours

Cleaning the underfloor, removing all underseal. Time taken 40 hours

Stripping front wings. Time taken 13 hours

Stripping tailgate. Time taken 12 hours

Moonface bodywork

New diaphragms/castle rails, jack points, sills and crossmember, both doors, rear half wings (but only lower parts used to retain original arches and curvatures), battery boxes repaired at lower corners, rear inner wing wells renewed together with outer platework to rear chassis legs in the way of the shackles. Parts £500 and labour £2,000.

Stripping paint off the bodyshell. Labour £750.

Brake drums blasted and black powder coated. £25.

Rear axle overhauled by PJ Wood, new shims, packings and seal. Gearbox overhauled with new seals, bearings, third speed gear, layshaft and overdrive clutch. Parts and labour £740.

Engine overhauled by PJ Wood at 245,000 miles: standard bores, new rings, standard crank, new shell (USA spec), new timing chain (Duplex) and sprockets, new cam and followers and new rocker shafts (August 2000). All ports matched and new cast iron manifolds fitted. Total £648.

Original cooling fan motors overhauled.

Original loom throughout. Dedicated earth wires to the side light units.

New windscreen rubbers and chrome inserts. £150.

New king pin assemblies £60.

Original rear springs with new rubbers wrapped in Denso tape. All shockers overhauled by Stevson. £90.

Original front brake calipers with new pistons fitted by PJ Wood in 1999.

New fuel tank with drain plug transferred and top sealed with Denso tape.

Bodywork resprayed in Bracken by Moonface - stone chipped under floor and wheel arches, then finally shultzed and waxoiled after assembly. £3,000

Carpet replaced on rear wheel arches otherwise trim and carpets are original.

Brake servo unit overhauled with new seals, diaphragm and filter unit. £50.

Bryan is offering this car for sale with some regret - see his advert on the MGV8s for Sale webpage on the V8 website. More

Posted: 7.5.08