Hi Scott,
Yes the funny thing is a typical MG shock.
The fluid level should be checked regulary and can be filled with motorcycle
front suspension fluid.
Not self centering might indicate greasing is needed or worse wear on
kingpins exists.
New sills is quite a difficult job and needs expert like skills.
Wings are bolted on - see Porter & Haynes manuals.
I have 185/70 tyres, but these are on chrome wired wheels...
Good luck.
Cheers,
Hans
-----Original Message-----
From: scott beavis [mailto:sbeavis@solartronanalytical.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 10:11 AM
To: MGs (E-mail)
Subject: Pre-MOT checking and a few questions
The MoT runs out on our 78 BGT in about a week or so, so this weekend I gave
the car a good check over. I jacked up the front and gave the wheels a good
pull around and then removed them and inspected the brakes etc. I was quite
suprised to not find play in things like the track-rod ends. The steering
has always been a bit stiff and sometimes needs physically correcting
instead of self-centering itself so I thought there would be play somewhere
but everything was solid as houses. The suspension arms etc has some surface
rust so I gave the whole area and the inner wings a good dose of waxoyl.
A couple of questions...
- First thing I noticed when pulling the wheel off was no shock absober.
Then I spied the weird 'thing' on the upper arm. I assume this is some sort
of shock. Is it something which wears out and needs replacing or is it a
special re-fillable shock? Never seen anything like it before.
- Are the wings etc bolted on? The car has just been valued by the MGOC at
4k, and this was mostly attributable to the fact that the PO spent 2.5k on
new sills just before selling it. Two and a half grand for bolting on some
new panels??? I notice that up in the rear corner of the inner/outer wings
(sort of below the windscreen corner) there is a hole ~2x1". It is hard to
tell if it is a rust hole or not as it is identical on both sides. Is this
normal? I just sprayed a ton of waxyol in there anyway.
- The car needs two new tyres. The wheels are the black and silver steel
type. I need to check the tyre sizes, but I think they are 70 profile
(165/70R14?). They are Dunlop Sports or something. Anyone know if I need
specialist tyres or are these a common size and I could just go up the local
tyre place for some Michelins or something. Want middle of the range tyres,
hopefully not too much more than 50 quid each. I know that with my mini I
get tyres from the mini specialists (at ~half the price) and then get the
tyre place to fit them for a fiver or so. Also the mini is 10x6" wheels so
most tyre places don't stock them that small/wide.
I'm just hoping nothing serious turns up in the MoT. This is the first test
since buying the car so who knows what could be found. The engine is running
like a dream now. New head is going well. Still need to find that over-drive
sump thing as it still takes a while to come in. What I *really* need is an
inspection pit!
Cheers
Scott
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