[Zmagnette] Your humble servant...

Steve Hanegan steve at betterwitnesses.com
Fri Feb 21 22:14:45 MST 2014


I dunno... maybe black was cheaper in synthetic? Maybe differed by color? Maybe they just wanted to mess with us 50 odd years down the road? :-)

Steve H.


Steve H.

On Feb 21, 2014, at 8:55 PM, Allen Bachelder <bachldrs at comcast.net> wrote:

> And why do you suppose they used more than one type of paint?  Did cellulose (the predominant one, I presume) not work well in some colors? This has got to go a little deeper than the old Abingdon "what ever is in the bin" thing if they made a big enough deal of it to actually indicate it in the chassis number.  ... Don't tell me...  was there one type of paint for what would have been 47 states back then plus Canada, and another for California? This reminds me of the California border fruit inspections - I went through them in 1958. Anybody else old enough to remember those? Maybe some Magnette colors were based on organic dyes that would have been stopped at the border?  ;-)
> 
> Allen
> ****************************************************************
> Allen & Florrie Bachelder       =iii=<
> Spring Creek Home for Wayward MGs
> '57 ZB, '65 B, '69 C/GT, '73 B/GT
> North Street, MI 48049, USA
> http://www.mgexperience.net/member/bachldrs
> ****************************************************************
> 
> On Feb 21, 2014, at 8:55 PM, Steve Hanegan wrote:
> 
>> Mine is KAA41/35361
>> 
>> Steve H. - blast that synthetic paint anyway...!
>> 
>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 4:54 PM, Allen Bachelder <bachldrs at comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> Has anybody seen a North American market Magnette where the first two numbers were NOT "43/".  My monotone varitone is KATT43/22988. 
>>> 
>>> I have seen cars titled/registered with 8-digit "VIN" numbers because the "/" was erroneously read as a "1". Hence my car would be registered as "KATT43122988".  I believe that mistake occurred in registering "Nettie", my previous Magnette.  In my present car, the "TT" refers to a Varitone model where the upper color was the same as the lower - in this case "light green" over "light green".  I won't repeat my old mistake of calling it "sea foam green".   ' Guess it's "Island Green" over "Island Green".
>>> 
>>> Cheers,
>>> Allen
>>> ****************************************************************
>>> Allen & Florrie Bachelder       =iii=<
>>> Spring Creek Home for Wayward MGs
>>> '57 ZB, '65 B, '69 C/GT, '73 B/GT
>>> North Street, MI 48049, USA
>>> http://www.mgexperience.net/member/bachldrs
>>> ****************************************************************
>>> 
>>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 5:13 PM, Steve Hanegan wrote:
>>> 
>>>> depends on where the slash mark is... KAB4_/36080 would be very nearly the last of the line ZBs (the underscore would be a missing paint code digit) and KAB43/6080 would be an early ZA. The Code is: K for MG, A = 4 door saloon, B = in light grey, 4 = North American Export, 3 = Cellulose paint. If the final numerals are complete and correct, it would indicate that this is the 6080th car off the line. from the register records, this would be a ZA with a tin-top dash, built in late '54 or early '55. Some characteristics to look for would be a dished steering wheel ( dished = ZB, flat = ZA) and the presence of an underdash storage tray )tray = ZB, no tray = ZA) if it does indeed have a tin-top dash, then it is unquestionably an early ZA. If it is KAB4?/36080, it would be one of the last 1000 built in 1958.
>>>> 
>>>> For details, see the Z Magnette Register website:
>>>> 
>>>> http://magnette.org/
>>>> 
>>>> follow the links to "Tech Tips", for the VIN decoder and to the gallery (in this case, page 2) to see where the individual car number falls. Car 6048 is an very original English ZA and car 6175 is the next listed and is a Danish ZA
>>>> 
>>>> Steve H.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 1:30 PM, John Marcell <mg1948 at verizon.net> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Have a question, I'm out of town, this no reference material
>>>>> 
>>>>> Guy called I wants to know what Magnette he has. Couldn't tell from all the questions I ask him. Said the car # is KAB 436080.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Can you help me on ZA or ZB & year?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> 
>>>>> Phil
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 3:21 PM, michael mitchell <mdmzoila at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>>  Hi ALL,  I Believe I've Addressed this Before, But I Have a  BMC Series ZA ZB Magnette Parts Service List also The ZA ZB Repair Manual, if Anyone Need'z a Picture of a Certain Part or ??, etc.
>>>>>> Michael.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> From: skirby210 at cox.net
>>>>>> To: zmagnette at autox.team.net
>>>>>> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:26:15 -0800
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Your humble servant...
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> priceless.  Two Earl Scheib stories from back in the day:  1)  Painted the spare tire in the trunk  2) Guy had a For Sale sign taped to his door.  Do I need to finish that one ?????
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: John Perkins
>>>>>> To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 1:14 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Your humble servant...
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Reminds me of my shop manager at the MG-Jaguar dealership I worked at:  Jim was an excellent mechanic and machinist, so when he decided to 'fix up' his Beetle he built up a 2200cc VW with an Okrasa crank, Isky cam and a pair of Weber IDFs.  He did all the body work in metal using only a little lead to hide the deep file marks, I told him he should clear coat it and call it done it was absolutely stunning in metal.  He decided to drive the car to a shop that could 'squirt it cheap' - they painted over a butterfly that was plastered on the hood on the drive over.
>>>>>>     Perkins
>>>>>> On 2/20/2014 2:58 PM, Steve Kirby wrote:
>>>>>> I dunno about some of these so-called professionals.  I think the difference between a lot of folks on this group, is that we are willing to admit we are amateur/novices/hobbyists . . . whatever.  We are very willing to learn and listen, however. 
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> This morning, I was trying to help a relatively new Club member with the horrid mess he has gotten into having his MGB body work and painting done.  In short, one shop (Tim's), a normally very good shop . . . .show cars, etc., did the body work.  They probably get upwards of $10K for a paint job, after bodywork, etc.  So, they sent him across the street, to a M__co shop, previously owned by a "Bob".  Apparently, at one time, Bob and Tim had a good "working" realationship . . . I do this, you do that . . . no words spoken.  So, off it went to M__co, now under the ownership of a Dennis (unbeknownest to our Club member).  My only involvement at this point was transporting the car to and fro.  When I helped pick up the "painted" car, I immediately saw a zillion issues, but didn't say anything.  Eventually, the new member started asking pretty pointed questions to me, and finally I pointed out (beyond the painted dents and dings and  . . . .. ) a lot of other horrid things . . . no prep, other than maybe 36 grit on a DA sander,  no color sanding below the belt line (which he paid for), waves and rolls in fendes, filler not blocked at all, welds not ground down, drips and sags all over creation, but then a general lack of paint in most places.  A really @#$^& mess.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> Long story short, it becomes a "He said, She said" deal.  Each shop claims the mess is the other's responsibility.  As of today, it is being done over again, after much negotiating, etc.  Investment so far is about $4500sih.  I can't believe M__co could paint over all this stuff, and simply say "We assumed the car was ready to paint, when it came from Tim."  It's like if a dog turd was sitting on the hood, they would have just painted right over it.  I think even Uncle Earl did better than that.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> So much for professionals.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> #2SteveK 
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: Allen Bachelder
>>>>>> To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 12:33 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Your humble servant...
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Given my current geriatric state of mind, plus the fact that I'm working so slowly I'll forget by the time I even correct this side, let alone get to the other side, hey it could end up SPACERS 4, ALLEN 0. I'll try to remember to report if I happen to get it right.  And all of this after being so careful to get the shims perfect before packing the bearings.  What, oh WHAT was I thinking????
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> But isn't this part of the fun?  Aren't these moments the reason why we prefer to screw these things up ourselves rather than hire some expert to get it right the first time - and in about one-fourth the time anyway?  We don't have to tell lies when we kick tires together - the truth is good enough.  And, at least at my age, we can re-use these same stories year after year and they'll be just as good because nobody will remember anyway...  Next Easter, I'm going to hide my own eggs.  
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Allen
>>>>>> ****************************************************************
>>>>>> Allen & Florrie Bachelder       =iii=<
>>>>>> Spring Creek Home for Wayward MGs
>>>>>> '57 ZB, '65 B, '69 C/GT, '73 B/GT
>>>>>> North Street, MI 48049, USA
>>>>>> http://www.mgexperience.net/member/bachldrs
>>>>>> ****************************************************************
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Feb 20, 2014, at 3:01 PM, Steve Kirby wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> actually, since there are two sides:  Spacers 2 . . . . Allen 0.  But, maybe Allen caught on faster than I did, so it really IS 1 to 0
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: Steve Christiansen
>>>>>> To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 6:57 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Your humble servant...
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Spacer 1
>>>>>> Allen 0
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Feb 19, 2014, at 7:44 PM, Allen Bachelder <bachldrs at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> reassembling his MGB...  
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> "Nonsense," said Allen, "first the distance piece, and THEN the inner bearing and seal."
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ' Guess that's what those spare FWB seals are for...
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ****************************************************************
>>>>>> Allen & Florrie Bachelder       =iii=<
>>>>>> Spring Creek Home for Wayward MGs
>>>>>> '57 ZB, '65 B, '69 C/GT, '73 B/GT
>>>>>> North Street, MI 48049, USA
>>>>>> http://www.mgexperience.net/member/bachldrs
>>>>>> ****************************************************************
>>>>>> 
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