The MG is on the ground!

Big milestone just passed last week with my friends Kevin Lewis and Chris Wade (thanks guys!). The MGB is now on the ground, rolling, braking and steering. No engine yet, but this is still a big milestone. Check out some of the pics from the day it made it to the ground.

After we got it on the ground we pushed it up and down the street fred flintstone style

My Redneck spring compressor:
  
Chris Wade (the Supervisor)

and Kevin Lewis (the detail man)

Hey look - it all fits together:

And now, the car is on the ground - yeah !!

The MG is close to getting on the ground

It doesn't have an engine or an electrical system yet, and the interior is practically empty... but, I should have the MG off the rack and rolling on four tires soon. This means I'll have the rear axle and brakes installed and working, the front suspension installed and working (steering, rolling, braking). and thats it. So, I will be able to push it around the block with the help of some friends. Hopefully, that will happen in a couple of weeks. Here are some pictures of the current progress. After I get the MG on the ground, it will be time to start in on the engine! Scott

MG update - working on the front suspension

Moving along on the MG.  Now working on the front suspension.  I'm waiting for some parts from Motorhead to start putting the suspension together and on the car.

I will be rebuilding the front hub after everything is on the car at a later date.  For now I mostly cleaned everything up, painted it and am replacing a few broken bolts, bushings and so on.

Here are some pics of the front-end.

MG gets a rear axle

The axle isn't completely on yet (awaiting a couple of bolts I had to hacksaw during the demolition phase). Here are some pictures of the rear axle mostly in place - with the brakes assembled and the fuel lines complete under the car.

The MG is entering the "build" phase

My Orange 1973 MGB is coming back to life slowly.
After a long sleep, we stripped it down completely last year and I got a new body painted this past spring.
Now, I have started the building phase.  That means I am beginning to put some pieces back on it.

Here are a few pictures of my progress.  In these you will see we have the gas tank installed, the gas and vapor lines run, the brake lines and wiring loom under the car.
I am waiting on the fuel pump.

I should be getting to the rear axle and rear suspension in the next couple of weeks.  I'll post more then.

The overall plan is to complete the restoration by June 2014.  This will mark the 30th anniversary of my ownership of this fun little car and my 15th anniversary with my wife, Vanessa.  On our wedding day, we drove in the MG with the top down from the church (Alexandria) to the reception (Clifton) - what a fun ride.  I hope to repeat it next June!

Pics of the MG

It will be headed home in about a week.  They still have some undercoating to do, but the finish looks fantastic!

The MGB has been painted!

Just got the call from the body shop - the MG has been painted and is ready for me to come visit.  So, I'm planning a quick trip out there next Monday to see the car.  I'm very excited about that!  Then we schedule delivery.... and then... the reconstruction begins in earnest.
I'll post some pictures when I get them.

The Orange MG will ride again

Just got some photos back from http://www.yourcollisionexperts.com/
They are doing a great job with the new body and I hope to have it home soon to begin the re-assembly of my old MG.

The End of an Era

The old MGB Body is going to the great steel heap in the sky today.  Just the body though!  Over the last 2 years, I have carefully extracted every bolt, screw, component, spring, bushing and everything else from the car and stored it dutifully in my attic.

Now begins the next chapter in the project.... building the new one ground up.  More to come...

Look ma, no dashboard!

I made some more progress on the MG destruction project. I think
removing a dashboard requires more flexibility and awkward upside-down
positions than any other car work. I'm glad I don't have to put it
back together right away.

Also, I put in a photo of the engine before anything has been done to
it - a reference point of sorts.

Back to life now,
Scott

Destruction of the MG interior

The destruction continues. I am making my way through the interior
now. The doors were a bit difficult, but I'm looking forward to
removing the dashboard! Anyone know a place that would pick up an old
rusty body for scrap ... For free?