Funny you should ask. I just got through a DIY sprucing up of my 75
MGB. My wife and I both though it would be nice to improve the looks
of the B for Indy (next week). So back in March we started and this
Tuesday we finished. It was bigger than we thought. But I did learn
alot in the process, so I will pass it on to you.
1. I did all the body work myself. I'm not bragging, because it only
had very minor dings. I did not use my air tools (or compressor) for
this part. Electric drill with a sanding disk is perfect for cutting
through the paint to bare metal. Use either a hammer & dolly or a
dent puller to remove as much of the dent as possible. Fill with your
favorite body putty. Hand sand with a sanding block or the Bondo
flexible sander (I believe its 10") from Pep Boys, using long diagonal
strokes (kind-of like a fishbone pattern.
2. Painting is costly. I painted mine 4 times (three of which were
screw-ups, all for different reasons), the final being a clear coat
polyurethane. Clear coat covers up many sins and makes is look great.
But let me give you the cost of the raw material to do the job
1Gal of Acrylic Enamel with hardner and thinner - $135
1Qt mix of Polyurethane clear coat(actually 2 Qt) - $50
As a rule of thumb, It takes 1qt of the mixed paint to put one wet
coat on the outside of an MGB.
Your BEST alternative is to prep the car as much as you can - body
work, hardware removal and surface sanding. Use spray can of primer
to cover any bare metal. Remember primer is not completely
waterproof. Mask anything you don't want painted and take the car
(even by a Flat Bed) to Maaco and get the best possible job from them
you can afford (they will have it done in a day vs the 2 weeks it took
me). I have been told that the Polyurethane is about $350. If they
screw up a panel they will redo it at your insistance.
You don't need to buy a compressor ($350) or a paint gun ($50 -cheap
one) and a respirator ( $30).
Good luck
Marty Schlining
57 MGA Coupe
75 MGB
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Subject: Desparate to "FINISH"
Author: MGBCHRIS@aol.com at BALT.SMTP
Date: 6/20/96 11:22 AM
Looking for some feedback from all you lbc'ers. My problem is the completion
of the restoration of my '77B. I purchased the car three years ago. While I
was not interested in a body-off resoration (I know, there is no separate
frame, but what else do you call it), or a show quality car, I wanted a car
that would look good, and drive good. I started with a fairly solid, but
tired car. My work completed to date includes: rebuilt engine, fitted with
Weber, and header, Crane Ignition; rebuilt front suspension; complete
overhaul of braking system; replacement of the off-side sill (driver's side
is solid), and both floorboards; new carpeting, and upholstery, and a good
replacement dash from a donor car.
What's left - the body of course. This car is extremely weathered, and bears
the traces of several very minor scrapes, door dings, etc. Paint is the
worst, with the paint being pitted in many areas. I am no body and paint
man, so I have had the car looked at by a few pros, and the consensus is that
the car needs to be stripped.
Now the problem: Money. What with a new home, new baby, and new job that as
always doesn't pay enough, I am struggling to figure out how to arrive at a
respectable looking "10-footer". Has anyone out there approached things this
way? I have considered a DIY approach (as has been done with 90% of the
aforementioned work), but at present I lack a compressor, spray gun, DA
Sander, etc. Purchase of this equipment would of course add up to a major
protions of the savings I would realize if I did it myself, and I don't know
if I could obtain respectable looking results. Outfits like MAACO are out
there, but I question the quality of work I would end up with. Bottom line
is that a $2000-$4000 paint job is out of the question. Any
suggestions/comments would be appreciated.
Regards,
MGBChris@aol.com
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