MGTD15470 » On Going Maintenance

email Dave Braun at dave@dbraun99.com (click here)

Tommy is mostly done. But things will come up where I have to change, fix or re-do something that I thought was completed.

Distributor Almost the first thing that developed a problem after the restoration was complete was the distributor. I had had it rebushed, but I wasn't happy with the performance, or the amount of oil which was forcing its way up the shaft into the bowl of the distributor, where it would film the points and cause a miss. (4 Images)	Valve Lash It seems to start with zero oil pressure reading for about three to four seconds, and then a single valve clicking away for another two minutes. It's exactly the way it started prior to being rebuilt. I do have to acknowledge that the rockers and shaft were not touched during rebuild. I reasoned it is easy enough to do at a later date. So I decided to try adjusting the valve lash again. (3 Images)	Luggage Rack The luggage rack is from Bob Figenskau, he found it several years ago and offered it to me when I finished my car. He made good on his offer, and today I picked it up during our weekly MG luncheon. It looks like it has been on a car for only a few weeks. Everything is there, including the special knurled nuts. This rack is different from the 'Runyon Rack' that Moss sells. Several members of our club have them, I'm not sure what brand or type it is. (29 Images)	Steering Rack Boots The steering rack boots looked fine when I reused them, but has been on the car for 25 years. The constant driving (yep, I drive Tommy a lot!) caused one to crack and fail. I replaced both... (3 Images)	Paint Touch Up The paint has needed on-going maintenance because of the thickness with which it was applied, and the excessive work needed to refit the doors. My friend Mike continues to help me rectify niggling problems, share a lunch or beer, and toss a few of his minor car problems my way to help even the score. I'm very much in debt for his expertise and comraderie. (9 Images)
Exhaust Maintenance I picked up an exhaust rattle that would go away after a minute or two. Crawling under the car revealed a separated Moss Hanger. I fixed that and it still rattled! I was surprised at what I found next. (7 Images)	Pedal Excluder The pedal excluder is part of the body rubber kit that I purchased in Nov of 2006. The excluder didn't actually get installed until August of 2008, it disintegrated over a year's use. (7 Images)	Adding Anti Sway Bar I couldn't keep up with the TB in turns. It has that flexible frame, and with the TB's new steering box, I was outclassed. Mike Speidel developed an anti-sway bar mount system using Chevy components and an MGB anti-sway bar. He built two sets of mounting hardware and links, and gave me a set. (25 Images)	Door hinge shims We had to do a bit of adjusting and re-shimming after the trip around the Great Lakes loosened a few of the adjusting shims under the door hinges. I was a bit nervous about peeling back the door panel, but all went well. (6 Images)	Fuel Pump After my fuel pump troubles on our trip around the Great Lakes, I finally learned how to adjust and repair electrical and diaphram difficulties on the SU fuel pump. Good enough for a shade tree mechanic, and it was fun. (15 Images)
Gearbox Repair I thought I was stopped when I made a sweeping reverse turn and into first on the Hare and Hound rally last August. But I must not have been because the whine in first and reverse became a repetitive growl. Draining the gearbox I found a tooth. (36 Images)	LED Tail Lights Tommy came from the factory with 1157 tail lights mounted very low on the fender. I venture on the interstate and drive around our little town some, and you can't always count on the other driver paying attention. BMC British Automobile offers these well made LED light kits in both positive and negative ground. The installation is detailed within. (22 Images)	Suspension Tune Up After 15,000 miles the rear axle bearings I probably shouldn't have reused were noisy; the right hand bearing carrier housing was leaking at the flange as I had installed them dry. The front suspension seals were rapidly falling apart and I didn't care for the way I installed the V-8 Bushings on the A-Arms. (17 Images)	Power Receptacle The power receptacle will provide charging power for smart phones, run a GPS, or other uses. Because the car is positive ground I can only allow completely shielded devices (i.e. devices which have plastic cases with no metal parts) to be attached and in the car. Otherwise the positive ground car will not play nicely with the negative ground device... and wires will burn. Luckily nearly all devices today are protected this way. (8 Images)	Lug-Centric Tire Balance I got my tires re-balanced lug-centric after the results from hub-centric were disappointing. Jed Miller at Twin Cities Tire & Auto Service in Eden Prairie, 952-829-8000 is young, but was taught by his father, an old-school tire man. (9 Images)

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