Author Topic: My non-motorcycle project (Read 2614 times)

Bankerdanny · « **on:** May 12, 2015, 07:44:31 PM »

A few members saw my '72 MGB-GT a couple years back when I drove it up to Rockerbox in Milwaukee. This Winter I finally tore into the long needed body work.

So far I have replaced the left outer rocker panel, membrane (a vertical stiffener piece that runs between the outer rocker and inner sill), and a big chunk of the left rear fender.

Last weekend I tore into the right side, which is in worse shape than the left. I will end up replacing the outer rocker, membrane, part of what is called the castle rail (part of the unibody that connects the inner sill and outer rocker with the membrane sandwiched in between), and a small part of the right side floor and inner sill.

I will also need to replace the bottom of both fenders behind the wheel well, but that will wait until the sill repairs are done.

Here are some befores:

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2015, 07:50:14 PM »

Looks nice doesn't it, what work could it possibly need?

Well here is the right side castle rail and the bottom of the left rear fender

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2015, 07:53:30 PM »

This was what the front left side rocker (the part hidden behind the fender between the wheel well and the door pillar) looked like.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2015, 07:58:19 PM »

Here is the left side with the door and fender off. The next picture is of the membrane. The third is the full rocker and membrane removed

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:06:17 PM »

The the rear fender. Initially I didn't intend to replace as much of that as I did, but my first attempt at welding in new steel was so pathetic I cut it out and started over. the second time I used an actually piece of a fender from a '67 GT that I found in a local bone yard.

The second shot is the 'dog leg' area between the door and rear wheel well. You can see the back part of the new rocker panel welded in place. The third shot is my poor welding on attempt 1

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:21:37 PM »

Installed membrane (this membrane is home made, I bought a repop for the right side) rockers

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:24:08 PM »

rear fender and dog leg welded in.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:26:34 PM »

The filler commences

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:30:02 PM »

Sanded and primed. Still needs more work before it is paint ready, but it was enough to move on to the right side.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:34:09 PM »

On to the right side. I got about 80% of the bad metal cut out last weekend. I hope to have the rest out next weekend and some of the new welded in place.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:35:42 PM »

Unlike the driver's side, the castle rail on the PS is in very poor shape and the entire front half will have to be replaced.

ofreen · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2015, 04:22:05 AM »

Nice project. I hate salt.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #12 on:** May 13, 2015, 06:57:15 AM »

I am having to do more than I would have if I had started sooner. I knew there was already damage and drove it through two winters anyway.

Duanob · « **Reply #13 on:** May 13, 2015, 03:28:11 PM »

Nice project. I'm glad I never had body work or rust issues on my 1973 Triumph GT-6 Mk3. It already came with all the other issues that come along with an old english sports car.

Wiring, rubber, etc. Fun car to drive though.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2015, 08:36:42 PM »

I have always loved the GT6. I looked at one before I found my B, but it was out of my price range.

My dad had a couple Spitfires when I was growing up, including a very early (#1008) 1963. He also restored a '69 B roadster when I was in college.

Duanob · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:50:05 AM »

I always thought the ultimate little sports car would be to take a GT-6 and put the 3.5L rover alum. V8 in it. Same engine the Triump TR8 came with. But my days messing with english sports cars are long gone. Got too many other things going on. House projects, japanese bike projects, boat projects, etc, etc, etc.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2015, 01:52:34 PM »

MG did build a factory V8 version of my car using the Rover engine in the later rubber bumper (74.5-80) car. It was never sold officially in the US, but because they did it converting a late model B to a Rover powered car is not that difficult. The alloy V8 is also about 70 lighter than the original iron 4 cyl, so it has no impact on the B's excellent nearly 50/50 weight distribution.

I would love to do the conversion the Rover engine and the B are a great match.

Check out the British V8 photo gallery for various Brit sports cars converted to V8. There are several Rover powered cars, but also Ford 5.0, various small block Chevy's, a Taurus SHO V6, and a B with a Buick 455 in it.

http://www.britishv8.org/Photos-MG-Conversions.htm

faux fiddy · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2015, 03:31:38 PM »

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2015, 07:41:18 PM »

Tiger, awesome! I remember when those were affordable.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2015, 08:09:52 PM »

British stuff I know of one spitfire that was in the junk locally and it disappeared since winter. Boxy 60's bens remains. Rusted out pans on a lot of the ones I know of, they're all spitfires I think. Funny, I could see them on the way to Hallet this weekend.

74cb750 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2015, 06:02:10 AM »

nice looking restoration work.
keep going.

can i have a ride in the back seat when you are done?

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #21 on:** May 15, 2015, 02:46:34 PM »

Possibly, are you 3 feet tall or legless?

faux fiddy · « **Reply #22 on:** May 16, 2015, 07:07:49 AM »

A friend of mine has a midget he is trying to sell , too. I've ridden in it but I believe it is disabled now. They're getting to be fewer and fewer of all those things, surprised you find anything in a Junkyard for patching what you drive. I guess it has a few years less road salt.

6adan · « **Reply #23 on:** May 16, 2015, 07:25:27 AM »

I have been told that Rover V8 is the same as the 60s Oldsmobile aluminum V8. Do you know if that is true or not?

faux fiddy · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2015, 07:45:53 AM »

Not sure of the rover, but we had a Buick Special that had a small aluminum v-8, I think it was a 235 cid.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2015, 01:14:58 PM »

Yes, they are the same engine. Rover bought the tooling from GM in the 60's when GM gave up on the engine.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #26 on:** May 17, 2015, 08:09:21 PM »

I saw the cars I described, still there of you want another. Several midgets and a MGB coup. Search Google maps 106 E 1st St, Oilton OK, and when you get a street view, pan around and click between the two houses boarded up. Talk about invaision of privacy, all his cars are right there,

Don R · « **Reply #27 on:** May 18, 2015, 10:08:14 PM »

I know a guy that built a mini rod pulling tractor with 2 inline olds aluminum V8's. They had a minimum weight and it went under. It was finally defeated by the rulemakers.

Bailgang · « **Reply #28 on:** May 19, 2015, 01:55:03 AM »

Quote from: Bankerdanny on May 17, 2015, 01:14:58 PM

Yes, they are the same engine. Rover bought the tooling from GM in the 60's when GM gave up on the engine.

I don't know how interchangeable the Olds and Rover engines were after Rover got the tooling especially as years went by and the engine evolved but the general story is right. I hardly know anything about them and have only seen one and the one I saw was highly modified.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #29 on:** May 19, 2015, 08:36:10 AM »

My understanding from the MG V8 swap guys is that compatibility is high through the 4.6L version.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #30 on:** May 19, 2015, 10:50:35 AM »

Great job on that roadster!

faux fiddy · « **Reply #31 on:** May 23, 2015, 12:33:31 AM »

I will go back through Oilton on the way to races at hallet again in September if anyone wants to inquire on theat hard top.
For some reason I doubt anything will happen to it in the mean time. It's been there since before I ever saw it 15 years ago.

As for the midgets, there is another one that is better, but still dead.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #32 on:** May 23, 2015, 10:06:45 AM »

I'm actually too tall to drive, or even sit in, a midget. A friend of mine had a Sprite (same car, British badge engineering), even in high school I couldn't wedge myself into the driver's seat.

I fit just fine however in Spitfires. My dad restored a '63 Spitfire when I was in grade school.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #33 on:** May 23, 2015, 06:01:54 PM »

I used to fit a midget, I rode in one not too long ago and it wasn't too bad. I rode in a Miata, too, but I didn't fit. It would have been a real challenge to do it with the top down.

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Author Topic: My non-motorcycle project (Read 2614 times)