07 January 2006

1974 TR6 (PR)

This maroon 1974 TR6 came with disc wheels came to us just about the same time as the other 1974 maroon TR6 (RB). The (PR) is from the St Joe/Benton Harbor area; the (RB) is from the greater Detroit area.

The (PR) TR6 underwent a complete lubrication during which we found most of the suspension bushings faulty. Those have nearly all been changed. Additionally, the owner wanted a little body work completed. This list will detail some of our experiences with this TR6!

12/27/05



Curt works on the right front suspension

12/28/05



It looks like he hasn't moved from the right side, but in the meantime he's completed most of the work on the left front!

12/29/05



The rear end comes apart in several large pieces.


Even this trailing arm was removed and replaced!

12/30/06


But eventually the rear axle was successfully reassembled!

01/02/06


Suspension all reassembled, brakes bled, and just waiting for a toe in adjustment -- plus a full tune-up by John.

01/06/06



Here Mark Schellenberger works with a two foot long scratch on the left front fender while his collegiate son watches.

posted by John Twist  # 1/07/2006 04:05:00 pm 

1957 MGA (CB)

This MGA has come to use from New York State for engine and gearbox repairs, as well as some other little items -- such as the dent in the bodywork to the rear of the left rear wheel as shown below.







But first we went through the "Complete Lubrication." Here it is on the hoist while its cousins have had to suffer a cold day in the Michigan out-of-doors.

12/27/05

Soon we had the engine out





And then had the engine disassembled.

01/03/06



Oooh! What horrid cam followers! The rest of the engine did not look so bad -- but it is ALL apart and now at CD machine shop for a bore, if necessary, crankshaft grinding, align boring, camshaft bearings fitted. block cleaning, and a complete re-do of the cylinder head.

01/04/06



Disassembly of the gearbox yielded parts as badly worn as those in the engine! Here the first gear shows off it's unsightly teeth!



This gearbox is early enough not to have a front seal -- just a scroll thread which may have worked satisfactorily "then" but with the damage to the thread and the years of wear -- well, we'll fit a standard rubber seal front cover!

01/06/06



Curt got everything cleaned up, Lisa got the new parts, and it's nearly all back together. On Monday we'll surface and grind the selectors which we had to weld up to account for pretty dramatic wear.

posted by John Twist  # 1/07/2006 02:53:00 pm 

05 January 2006

1956 MGA (MS)

30 December 2005
This is a very, very early MGA. I rebuilt the engine in 1982 or 1983, the owner had the body repaired and painted at about the same time. Then it sat -- sat for nearly 25 years. He hauled it up here about three months ago. We first got the chassis operational. Then we began on the body. The goal is to make the body nearly 100% complete with fenders and doors before fitting it to the chassis.


Here, Casey assembles the windscreen.


And here, Casey works with the RH side of the firewall.

MONDAY 01/02/06



We've begun with the chassis-frame on one side and the body on the other. Then, with the assistance from everyone in the shop ->



We lifted the body from the sawhorses to the frame.


Then, Casey began to connect the various engine controls.



Here, the stiffner tubes are gone and it's beginning to look a little more like a real MGA.

TUESDAY 01/03/06



The body is now mounted to the chassis



And the engine controls, radiator, and associated wiring and cables are in place.

WEDNESDAY 01/05/06

All day...All day... and the picture looks not much different than the day before -- but all day long little things have been getting fitted, connected, and by the end of the day the tach, speedo, remaining gauges, clutch, throttle -- all worked and the car reached speeds of 60 mph on the hoist!

THURSDAY 01/05/06

What a difference one day can make. Yesterday were all the little things, mostly "unseen." Today -- well -- today Casey hung the fenders.

And fit the fender welting. My what a difference one day makes!

FRIDAY 01/06/06

The fender welting (or piping) is fitted left and right, fore and aft.

The rear taillamps are now fitted

As well as the front lamps

And some small error in the switch wiring corrected. And now the lamps all work! Mark Kenworthy has the bonnet and boot hinges, as well as the splash panels and the door hinges. The car should be finished this week!

Now the lights illuminate. So -- the nervous system is beginning to work!

We had to take a break on this project, but Casey was back on it with a fever pitch. Here the cockpit trim is going on.

Soon Casey had the whole interior in place

And then the door shut plates, and then the doors fitted and closing

And then the bumpers. Gosh is this close!!

posted by John Twist  # 1/05/2006 09:19:00 pm 

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