I have received so much great advice from all of you - and it has come
so hot and heavy, that I thought I'd take a moment to recapitulate and
present a clearer picture of my self and my various plights.
I first drove an MG on the streets of NYC in 1954 ( and I haven't a
clue which one it was except it had a beautiful straight up and down
radiator and could turn corners at 35 mph) and have wanted one ever
since.
In 2000 we moved to main and somehow or another I found a man who
wanted to sell his 1071 MGB ( his wife was ready to give birth with
their third child and there was no way he was going to ever drive the
MG again).
Now, I haven't worked on cars since my flathead Ford days ( 11.5/1
milled aluminum heads, dual two throat Stromberg, I believe carbs, 3/4
racing cam and it could beat 55 overhead Fords in the 1/4 Mile. As for
Chevys - Ha!) so I used the mechanic that everyone said did the work
for MG owners in Maine.
Over the last 5 years, I have poured ( a good word) almost 7 grand into
the car and it still doesn't work to my satisfaction.
Most specifically, this last year I (supposedly - I'm beginning to
think I've been screwed) I have had all four springs replaced - and the
car still is low on the left rear; a new clutch, new "street cam" (
supposedly runs a bit rough but has more ummmppphh); two "factory
rebuilt" carbs, new air filters, new oil cooler, two replacement Tachs
(the first went bad in two weeks) four "factory rebuilt" shocks, a new
driveshaft (make that two - the first one "blew" at around 80 mph two
weeks after installation, a new heater motor and a new heater control -
on the engine.
After all this work, the car as I first said when I cried out for help,
wouldn't go over 4500 rpm on the highway, ran hot, hot hot - pegged at
the "H" (with or without a thermostat), gave me maybe 14 mile to the
gallon and "dieseled" when I shut it off.
Now, it's been, what, maybe 40 years since I've been under the hood,
but I figured, I can't screw this car up anymore than it is, so I'm
ready to go. I just don't quite remember it all as well as I did.
But.
I've adjusted the points, and that made a huge difference. I do not
appear to have any timing mark, so I'm going to have to figure how to
set the timing. I'm at least ahead of the game in that the engine runs
and so all I need to do is fine tune the timing.
I did buy a new distributor from Moss and it doesn't have a vernier.
Now, it may be that the new "Made in China" ones don't have one, or it
may be that I have the wrong one. I guess I should call Moss and get
an answer to that question.
There is no vacuum hose to the distributor so I will add that piece.
Then I will take it out and see how all this monkeying with the
distributor has affected my heating problem. If it still runs hot then
I think I will change my water pump.
So. That's my story and that's where I'm trying to go. If any of you
have suggestions as to a specific course of action, I would be most
thankful to receive your words of wisdom.
My goal is to keep this baby going. It is my only and everyday car; I
drive it fast and I want it to be around for a while.
Thanks for all your past advice. I look forward to your future help.
Cordially,
Michael Torrusio, Jr.
Proud owner of that blur that just whizzed by you - Brit Green '71 and
zooming.
Paralegal
Manager
Research Associates, LLC
P. O. Box 18194
Portland, ME 04112
207.252.5787
researchassociatesllc.com
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