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More info on Spot!

To: <mgs@autox.team.net>, <mgtrcars@cyberlink.com>
Subject: More info on Spot!
From: <SRegel@dpra.com> (Scott Regel)
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 14:30:57 EST
Well I looked at Spot this weekend.  I started to replace the spark plugs 
hoping for an easy fix.  When I got to #2 the old plug was heavily fouled.  
The rest were fine.  I replaced them all and started old Spot up.  Still the 
same problem.  I think Barney might be on the right track about a bad valve 
or maybe the head gasket finally did give out.  So I think instead of just 
buying another head I'm going to get the engine rebuild due to the major oil 
leak, bad head and the desire to change the weber to SU's.  This will be a 
good time to get Spot's sills fixed and get her painted.  Now if Santa would 
just send a bag of money for the Holidays!  I'm planning on going to Bangkok 
in mid December so I may have to wait until January.

So now the decision is to buy a rebuilt or do it myself.  I haven't rebuilt 
an engine since the end of high school...a 440.  Does anyone remember where 
you can get that rebuild video?!  I guess I will also replace the bushings on 
the front end....boy once you get started, these things can consume you!  
Thanks to all who responded.  If I do the rebuild myself I know I have the 
great support of this list and the Washington DC Center MG Club's help.  Oh I 
went holiday shopping this weekend and picked up all the Johnny Lightning 
British Invasion series car's...I need something to play with while Spot is 
down this winter!

Thanks

Scott
76 B 
---------- Original Text ----------

From: "Mark and kathy LaPierre" <mgtrcars@cyberlink.com>, on 11/11/2000 7:29 
PM:

Hi Scott,
    Sounds like you have covered most areas. My experiences with my 76 with
your problem is to go back to the spark plugs and change them out.  My
Zenith tends to saturate my plugs for whatever reason and it starts to miss
badly.   Usually from just pulling  the car in and out of  the drive and not
running the car enough to dry out the  plugs.  This has happened several
times to me over the years and I start with the plugs instead of ending
there.  I always keep a spare set of  N9Ys on hand, at least until I can
change over to my rebuilt SUs.   Good Luck,   Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Regel <SRegel@dpra.com>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 9:57 AM
Subject: Spot!


> It was above 50 degrees out this morning so I decided to take "Spot" to
work
> this morning with the top down.  Remember from earlier e-mails that Spot
is a
> 76 B with a cracked head and a major oil leak.  As I pulled out on the
> expressway (370 in Maryland), Spot was running great until I got up to
about
> 50.  Then it seemed like Spot lost her energy and it took alittle while to
> obtain 60.  I just thought it was the hill I was climing.  But as I
continued
> on to 270, Spot started to sound like an old VW Bug!  She was definitely
only
> running on 2-3 cylinders.  So I pulled off at the Shady Grove exit and
Spot
> was running rough...but no smoke or anything like that.  It ran rough but
> still got me home with no problem..idled at 10K, oil pressure at 50-55.
When
> I got home I turned Spot off and then back on.  Spot started right up, but
> was still running rough and making noises like a VW Bug.  I look at her
this
> weekend.  I took a quick look under the hood and didn't see any loose
plugs,
> coil or distributor wires.  I have the ilumination electronic ignition.
Any
> insights...plugs just changed 2,000 miles ago with new plug wires.  I'm
> trying to get Spot an engine rebuild this winter...I'm hoping to hold out
and
> still enjoy the last bit of good weather.  Any advice is appreciated.  Oh,
> Spot is also making a cyclical metallic noise lately when I go around a
right
> handed curve...noise from the rear.  I would appreciate any insight on
that
> too...not tires rubbing...definitely metallic.
>
> TIA
>
> Scott
> 76 B

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