
MGBGTV8 restoration time
David Smith launched a thread on the V8 Bulletin Board
on 29th March 2020 at the start of his restoration of an MGBGTV8.
He said in his first post that he was "documenting
the progress on his blog site" and gave the link to his blog.
Over the last four years David has posted further updates.
V8BB
thread
Alongside
are links to the major sections of the blog with his reports of the
progress on the restoration work.
Link
to David's MGBGTV8 restoration blog
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Progress
reports on the restoration blog
MGBGTV8 1973
The next project David Smith had in the pipeline was an MGBGTV8 in
Aconite with Autumn Leaf internal trim, but he felt it was not the
best combination colour but it was a genuine 55,000 odd mile car.
He mentioned on his blog that "it would be going to be a seller,
as I felt I could not keep it as much as I might want to, so it would
have to go at the end. But it will be a total restoration, bare metal
rotisserie jobbie, complete nut and bolt as soon as another restoration
of a GT6 is finished. The chap that owned it before was in the Army,
bought it in the 1980s as a runner, stripped it and started the restoration
and then as happens so often it got left under a cover and became
too much. The issue is now, keep it totally original with the Aconite
paint and Autumn Leaf interior and cloth seats. It even still has
the OE cast iron exhaust manifolds and full lobster clam inlet with
the tin work in fantastic condition. OE does appeal to many. But the
colour combo, although as it left the Factory was probably not the
most popular, so do I paint it and trim it so that it has the most
appeal, keeping it V8 colour spec but not as it left the Factory or
should I keep it totally as OE spec as it ran off the production line
- thats the dilemma?
See
the first report - MGBGTV8 1973
MG Body and Paintwork
David says on his blog "So I had to start somewhere, not sure
where really, so I decided to tackle the bits and repairs that had
been carried out before that I wasnt quite sure about. I havent
bothered to show all the stripping photos as they are about as exciting
as watching day time TV. However I took many as this car was an original
and it had never been apart in its life. So when it goes back together
and you get the usual it wasnt like that from the Factory
I can produce the photos as this one left the Factory, not that it
really matters".
"The chap that had started the repairs had done a good job but
one thing that didnt seem right was the sill to door alignment;
gap was tapered and just too tight. The castle, inner etc. had all
been replaced but as this was going to be a nut and bolt resto it
had to be right now, so the new sill had to come off. I also wanted
to see what sort of protection was on the insides. The back end to
the sill was a bit tatty so it gave me a chance to tidy it up, even
though it will be hidden behind the outer sill. The protection he
had done was great; however I gave it all another coat of epoxy sealer
and then some weld thru zinc primer on the welding faces, as a token
gesture".
See
the second report - MG Body and Paintwork
MG Fitting-up and Finishing
"First
few bits go on. The alloy bits have been vapour blasted, I built a
vapour blasting cabinet last year and the alloy bits will all get
this treatment. The relays have been stripped and re-plated along
with the oil pressure gauge pipe, I could have bought new but this
will keep the car almost OE and as it left the Factory. There will
be additional relays for lighting etc but these will be incorporated
into the loom and hidden from main view, this will be covered in the
fit-up later. Radiator fan motor brackets, horn brackets etc and all
of the small items have all been plated to add to the protection and
finish of all the painted items.
See
the third report - MG Fitting-up and Finishing
MG Mechanical and Engine
Finally it was time for the grubby bits. Any bits there were going
to be reused were degreased, wire brushed, shot blast cleaned and
generally taken back to bare metal. Some were treated with a phosphate
coating prior to all being treated to a coat of epoxy sealer. Even
the new items were keyed and epoxy painted first. Some items were
perfectly salvageable and could be reused but were pitted and in need
of a bit of poly spray filler, some will say not worth it, but just
makes that bit of difference, and makes it easier to keep clean".
See
fourth report - MG Mechanical and Engine
Further reports to follow |