From dave at ranteer.com Sat Jun 13 23:12:16 2026 From: dave at ranteer.com (dave northrup) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2026 05:12:16 +0000 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe Message-ID: <5f1d724a6ffa480fa6b2133cd28d6080@ranteer.com> A friend just picked up a 57 coupe, not running, not doing much, been sitting for a long time. We are in Nevada, so shouldn't be too bad in terms of moisture/rust damage The steering wheel won't turn, even with the wheels in the air. We are trying to figure out where to even start on this. Could use some suggestions. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mvheim at sonic.net Sun Jun 14 00:08:23 2026 From: mvheim at sonic.net (Max Heim) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2026 23:08:23 -0700 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe In-Reply-To: <5f1d724a6ffa480fa6b2133cd28d6080@ranteer.com> References: <5f1d724a6ffa480fa6b2133cd28d6080@ranteer.com> Message-ID: I would suggest that the oil/grease in the steering rack has congealed. Possibly the kingpins are in similar straits. You could disconnect the tie rod ends to see if the rack moves independent of the wheels, or vice versa. -- Max Heim '66 MGB > On Jun 13, 2026, at 10:12?PM, dave northrup wrote: > > A friend just picked up a 57 coupe, not running, not doing much, been sitting for a long time. We are in Nevada, so shouldn?t be too bad in terms of moisture/rust damage > > The steering wheel won?t turn, even with the wheels in the air. > > We are trying to figure out where to even start on this. Could use some suggestions. > _______________________________________________ > > Mgs at autox.team.net > Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html > Suggested annual donation $12.75 > > Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive > > Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/mvheim at sonic.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dirtbeard at gmail.com Sun Jun 14 06:02:11 2026 From: dirtbeard at gmail.com (Douglas Shook) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:02:11 +0000 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe In-Reply-To: References: <5f1d724a6ffa480fa6b2133cd28d6080@ranteer.com> Message-ID: Hi Max, That sounds reasonable. One could check to see if there is any free play in the steering wheel/column first to ensure that the binding is not there. Then with the wheels in the air, check to see if there is a bit of lateral play at the wheels to ensure that the kingpins are not frozen. One or both of them could be frozen. If a bit of play exists at the steering column and at the wheels, it would help to narrow it down to the rack. Best, Doug ________________________________ From: Mgs on behalf of Max Heim Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2026 11:08 PM To: dave northrup Cc: mgs at autox.team.net Subject: Re: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe I would suggest that the oil/grease in the steering rack has congealed. Possibly the kingpins are in similar straits. You could disconnect the tie rod ends to see if the rack moves independent of the wheels, or vice versa. -- Max Heim '66 MGB On Jun 13, 2026, at 10:12?PM, dave northrup wrote: A friend just picked up a 57 coupe, not running, not doing much, been sitting for a long time. We are in Nevada, so shouldn?t be too bad in terms of moisture/rust damage The steering wheel won?t turn, even with the wheels in the air. We are trying to figure out where to even start on this. Could use some suggestions. _______________________________________________ Mgs at autox.team.net Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html Suggested annual donation $12.75 Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/mvheim at sonic.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dave at ranteer.com Sat Jun 20 15:44:34 2026 From: dave at ranteer.com (dave northrup) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2026 21:44:34 +0000 Subject: [Mgs] MGA radio Message-ID: <96184ecedcd24703869d6aa978cbcf21@ranteer.com> This is in a 57 MGA coupe which sat for many years in the Nevada desert. Anyone have any info on it? Anyone know anyone who could test/revive it? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PXL_20260616_153421477.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3766428 bytes Desc: PXL_20260616_153421477.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PXL_20260616_154459711.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 4354394 bytes Desc: PXL_20260616_154459711.jpg URL: From simon.d.matthews at gmail.com Wed Jun 24 18:10:12 2026 From: simon.d.matthews at gmail.com (Simon Matthews) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:10:12 -0400 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe In-Reply-To: References: <5f1d724a6ffa480fa6b2133cd28d6080@ranteer.com> Message-ID: A '57 MGA should have oil in the steering rack, not grease, although it's possible that a former owner looked at the zerk fitting and thought that it should be used to put grease in the rack. Simon On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 2:12?AM Max Heim wrote: > > I would suggest that the oil/grease in the steering rack has congealed. Possibly the kingpins are in similar straits. You could disconnect the tie rod ends to see if the rack moves independent of the wheels, or vice versa. > > -- > Max Heim > '66 MGB > > On Jun 13, 2026, at 10:12?PM, dave northrup wrote: > > A friend just picked up a 57 coupe, not running, not doing much, been sitting for a long time. We are in Nevada, so shouldn?t be too bad in terms of moisture/rust damage > > The steering wheel won?t turn, even with the wheels in the air. > > We are trying to figure out where to even start on this. Could use some suggestions. > _______________________________________________ > > Mgs at autox.team.net > Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html > Suggested annual donation $12.75 > > Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive > > Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/mvheim at sonic.net > > > _______________________________________________ > > Mgs at autox.team.net > Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html > Suggested annual donation $12.75 > > Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive > > Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/simon.d.matthews at gmail.com From mvheim at sonic.net Wed Jun 24 18:30:12 2026 From: mvheim at sonic.net (Max Heim) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:30:12 -0700 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe In-Reply-To: References: <5f1d724a6ffa480fa6b2133cd28d6080@ranteer.com>

Message-ID: <47FCB11B-0B4C-4BFA-A150-6CEDDCF8E0B4@sonic.net> Yes, that?s right. You are supposed to use oil, but you hear about POs that used grease, which would certainly solidify. -- Max Heim '66 MGB > On Jun 24, 2026, at 5:10?PM, Simon Matthews wrote: > > A '57 MGA should have oil in the steering rack, not grease, although > it's possible that a former owner looked at the zerk fitting and > thought that it should be used to put grease in the rack. > > Simon > > On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 2:12?AM Max Heim wrote: >> >> I would suggest that the oil/grease in the steering rack has congealed. Possibly the kingpins are in similar straits. You could disconnect the tie rod ends to see if the rack moves independent of the wheels, or vice versa. >> >> -- >> Max Heim >> '66 MGB >> >> On Jun 13, 2026, at 10:12?PM, dave northrup wrote: >> >> A friend just picked up a 57 coupe, not running, not doing much, been sitting for a long time. We are in Nevada, so shouldn?t be too bad in terms of moisture/rust damage >> >> The steering wheel won?t turn, even with the wheels in the air. >> >> We are trying to figure out where to even start on this. Could use some suggestions. >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Mgs at autox.team.net >> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html >> Suggested annual donation $12.75 >> >> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive >> >> Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/mvheim at sonic.net >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Mgs at autox.team.net >> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html >> Suggested annual donation $12.75 >> >> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive >> >> Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/simon.d.matthews at gmail.com > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From paulbhunt73 at gmail.com Thu Jun 25 02:34:52 2026 From: paulbhunt73 at gmail.com (Paul Hunt) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:34:52 +0100 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe In-Reply-To: <47FCB11B-0B4C-4BFA-A150-6CEDDCF8E0B4@sonic.net> References: <5f1d724a6ffa480fa6b2133cd28d6080@ranteer.com>

<47FCB11B-0B4C-4BFA-A150-6CEDDCF8E0B4@sonic.net> Message-ID: <817ef7f5-e2e0-451d-abb5-584fdb3fadb6@gmail.com> Grease is the new oil!? New racks come greased, and I've had a rebuilt the same.? It would have to be left a very long time to 'solidify', and given the gearing I can't imagine it would ever lock the rack solid - very stiff maybe.? Something else in this case, I suspect, a few minutes work to narrow it down. PaulH. On 25/06/2026 01:30, Max Heim wrote: > Yes, that?s right. You are supposed to use oil, but you hear about POs > that used grease, which would certainly solidify. From mgbobh at gmail.com Thu Jun 25 05:16:33 2026 From: mgbobh at gmail.com (B H) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:16:33 -0400 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <26630357-2CCD-4B77-B35C-27B0131F1ADC@gmail.com> Tech editor of NE MGT Register checked a number of TD racks that had been greased instead of oiled. We can reduce our worry?he saw no difference in wear. Still, the folks at Abingdon built some 500,000 MGBs, 20,000+ MGAs, and 13,000+ TDs. I believe they knew what they were doing, and they specified oil. > On Jun 25, 2026, at 12:12?am, Simon Matthews wrote: > > ?A '57 MGA should have oil in the steering rack, not grease, although > it's possible that a former owner looked at the zerk fitting and > thought that it should be used to put grease in the rack. > > Simon > >> On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 2:12?AM Max Heim wrote: >> >> I would suggest that the oil/grease in the steering rack has congealed. Possibly the kingpins are in similar straits. You could disconnect the tie rod ends to see if the rack moves independent of the wheels, or vice versa. >> >> -- >> Max Heim >> '66 MGB >> >> On Jun 13, 2026, at 10:12?PM, dave northrup wrote: >> >> A friend just picked up a 57 coupe, not running, not doing much, been sitting for a long time. We are in Nevada, so shouldn?t be too bad in terms of moisture/rust damage >> >> The steering wheel won?t turn, even with the wheels in the air. >> >> We are trying to figure out where to even start on this. Could use some suggestions. >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Mgs at autox.team.net >> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html >> Suggested annual donation $12.75 >> >> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive >> >> Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/mvheim at sonic.net >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Mgs at autox.team.net >> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html >> Suggested annual donation $12.75 >> >> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive >> >> Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/simon.d.matthews at gmail.com > _______________________________________________ > > Mgs at autox.team.net > Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html > Suggested annual donation $12.75 > > Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/mgs http://autox.team.net/archive > > Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/mgs/mgbobh at gmail.com From paulbhunt73 at gmail.com Thu Jun 25 06:00:13 2026 From: paulbhunt73 at gmail.com (Paul Hunt) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:00:13 +0100 Subject: [Mgs] 57 MGA Coupe In-Reply-To: <26630357-2CCD-4B77-B35C-27B0131F1ADC@gmail.com> References: <26630357-2CCD-4B77-B35C-27B0131F1ADC@gmail.com> Message-ID: They did - probably millions of just BMC/BL cars - but it leaks! It's a lot easier to use grease than fix those leaks. On 25/06/2026 12:16, B H wrote: > Still, the folks at Abingdon built some 500,000 MGBs, 20,000+ MGAs, and 13,000+ TDs. I believe they knew what they were doing, and they specified oil. >