[Mgs] since we need traffic

[Richard Lindsay]

Thank you Dave. If we take only one point to heart from our recent posts
its simply this: Cars don't like to sit unused.

This is true of our MGs, Triumphs and Jaguars, but its equally true of
Italian cars! Carbs gum up, fuel gets old and stinky, oil seals dry and
shrink, coolant decays, evaporates and leaves antifreeze crystals
everywhere, and owner fun diminishes appreciably! And it happens to all
cars, indepent of their country of origin.

Before I appear to climb too far up on my high-horse, let me state: I too
am horrible about keeping my cars driven. Okay, my TD is a project and its
not drivable, but that beautifully restored XPAG engine hasn't run in over
a year! That's not good. And in fact, the SU jets are stuck in place, glued
there with old fuel gum. They are soon to get re-rebuilt - just as I
recently did to the SUs on my old Triumph.

Let me leave you with these words, to maybe make you feel better about your
car repairs. I just took one of my exotics for its 30k mile 'major
service'. It too had been setting un-driven for over a year. The work
includes two new cam belts, all hoses and ancillary belts, waterpump, spark
plugs, a flush and new coolant, new synthetic oil and filters (yes, two of
them), A/C recharge, and valve clearances checked and corrected, as
required. That's 48 valves, by the way! And the service requires 40 hours
of labor since its an engine-out service. And the cost of this work at the
Ferrari dealership is more than a nicely presented MGB might fetch!
Fortunately, there are qualified and dependable independent shops that will
do this work for about half what the dealer charges. Yea, don't let your
exotic sit untouched either!

Best regards to all,

-rick
PS: The Testarossa's service cost is being funded by the sale of another
car. Sad, really. :-(


On Dec 6, 2016 12:05 AM, "dave n via Mgs" <mgs at autox.team.net> wrote:

first of all, hello to Richard Lindsay.  good to see you posting again.

after my MGA sat neglected for a few months (LCOS??) the carbs leaked
badly.  I took them apart, cleaned them, and was going to do the rebuild
myself, except we could not get the throttle shaft bushings in right.  so I
sent them off, and eventually they returned.

while I was there, replaced the freeze plugs/casting seals in the side of
the engine.  that took 3 tries to get right!  also replaced the oil
filter.  this is a 56.  it has the unique “side draft” oil filter
container.  I couldn’t bear to replace it with a spin on; its too cool.
but it is truly awful to change the filter.  first time I cranked up the
engine oil went everywhere as I hadn’t tightened that bottom nut
sufficiently.  second time there was still some seepage.  third time seemed
good.  drove the car around the block, taking a few extra blocks in the
process.  life is good!!!

a few days later I took it out again.  this time I noticed there was oil
everywhere, in the ally, in the driveway, on the garage floor.  oh dear!!

now its waiting its turn on the lift as I finish another car.  1967 Datsun
Roadster.  for those of you who know the cars, its an early low windshield
car.  had to redo the rear brakes, and realized just how dirty etc., the
rear axle and suspension were.  they all came out!  I’ve finished up the
cleaning, wire wheeling, power washing, and painting.  the rear end and
most of the suspension is back in.  just have to finish up one shock, the
hand brake, and bleed.  thank goodness I have speed bleeders!
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