I have just answered my own question. And, my original note has
stirred up a bit more than I have anticipated. Here is what I also
have to say, and have said, but perhaps in a better way.
I have gone to many shows, and seen many places where people who
could fix MGs were put on a pedastal and people who as of yet
couldn't were told that they will never know aand that thier cars
should be "taken to a specialist". I was over at a friend's house
(for 8 weeks, but that's irrelelevant), and one of the family's good
friends who was an EXCELLENT mechanic and some how managed to pass
the old Chevy truck through inspection came by. I was introduced as
John, the kid who can fix MGs. My friend was Kurt, the kid going to
Lincoln Tech who has never heard of ignition timing... (doesn't the
box do that?)... Anyway, the look on the face of the mechanic was
almost in disbelief. Like I had sold my soul to the devil so I can
fix MGs or something. Nobody can fix MGs. In reality, nobody can
fix Fiats. My statement is that ANYONE (including any moron) can fix
an MG without selling his or her soul to Joesph Lucas- I mean the
devil.
Many of you have taken this as an ego blow. You think you are
special because your car runs. My MGBs both run very well. The '72
Tourer hasn't broken down in three years... after a rather rough
beginning of ownership. The '73 GT had a few kinks when I bought it,
but $50 later all the hydraulics work and I drive it daily about 40
miles. I have never taken a class is auto mechanics. I have a
Haynes manual, but only used it twice for the wiring diagram. The
simple fact is that the MG is a no brainer. It is one of the most
simple cars on the road.
Absolutely everything about this car could have been designed by
your grandmother.... It is all just pure logic. Every component's
purpose (until 1974) is easily recongnnizable, and how every part
works is obvious. These cars were designed so that they could be
built quickly by people who weren't too bright on an assembly line.
The fact that repairs are easy is NOT STARTLING!
People have also said that I don't understand because I'm 17...
don't have kids and a mortgage... la la la. AND that I am lacking in
MG spirit. I paid for the restoration of the convertible and the
purchase and restoration of the GT all with money from working for $4.
25 an hour at a supermarket. I work damn hard for that money so I
could have these cars that I LOVE VERY MUCH. If I didn't love MGs,
would I have spent $190 on Cecil Kimber's pocketwatch? NO, because
$190 is about 50 hours of work for me after taxes (yes, I pay taxes.
No, I can't vote. See the justice?) to get this watch our of un-
loving hands which were not deserving of it. DO not doubt that I am
infected with hte disease M-G-B. I just don't have something many
"MG Experts" have, a serious case of the E-G-O.
John
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