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MG MGA - Wish me luck fellas

I just started my first restoration after owning my MGA for 14 years now. I've been a member of this board for some time but do not post much...that is about to change I'm sure.

I have to tell you all it was very nerve racking to take apart a perfectly good (running anyway) car and put parts in boxes not to be seen for awhile.

So wish me luck and my apologies in advance for the loads of questions that I will no doubt be asking.

Regards,
Christopher Wilson
Christopher Wilson

OK Chris...Good Luck!
One more thing, if it's not too late...make very careful records, lable everything and make a database of where the parts are stored (box and shelf number) and purchase/repair notes. You WILL NOT remember where you put stuff, let alone or where it goes or how it should be installed. Yes, parts manuals and restoration books are VERY helpful, but they don't show everything and they aren't always right.
Ask me how I know.....:)

GTF
G T Foster

GTF,

You are so right about this. I helped a friend with a '63 Avanti and he didn't keep great records and it was a real mess at times.

I bought a digital camera just for the garage as well as a used laptop and I can pickup the wireless from the house.

Researching online is that much easier when you can do it right next to the car.

I've also got a setup like Barney's garage, with pegboard holding larger parts and labeled rubbermaid containers for the smaller bits. Everything is in a bag and labeled.

I plan to put printed .xls files on the outside of the containers.

Thanks,
Christopher

Christopher Wilson

Good luck Chris - don't forget to post photos of your progress - how about one now to show the start off point - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Cam,

Here is the last picture I have of the car before I started taking her apart.

Cheers,
Christopher


Christopher Wilson

And here as she looks now.




Christopher Wilson

And, no interior...


Christopher Wilson

Christopher it looks better than some of my cars now. Bob
B WALKER

Chris,

Where are you in NC. I may have something to contribute to your efforts. I have done this full dis-assembly and re-assembly thing. If the body is coming off, I have a body dolly if you need it among other helpful homemade tools.

I am ~50 miles north of Charlotte.

Jim


Jim Ferguson

Wow - it looks pretty good before the start - should be brilliant when you finish - good luck again.
Cam Cunningham

Jim,

That would be great!

I'm in Greensboro, my parents are down in Charlotte (Matthews actually) so I would really like to catch up with you, especially since you've done this before.

I'm in uncharted waters but it is time to address several things that just made more since to do a complete restoration while taking care of them.

My email should appear in the thread, drop me a line and I'll get you my phone information and such.

Cheers,
Christopher
Christopher Wilson

Cam,

It looks pretty good, yeah, but underneath there are issues.

Front and rear suspension needs rebuilding. All the rubber on the car could really stand to be replaced. The paint is not so great and was done by the previous owner, but only part way. The car was originally OEW and while the PO did an OK job there are some areas completely unaddressed like the engine bay. It is showing a little rust as are the floorboard mounts on the frame and battery boxes. Earlier this year the rockers and sills were replaced as were the doglegs on the rear fenders.

The car was wrecked in the early 70's and the driver's side front fender was poorly repaired with fiber glass in the bottom. This will be cut out and replaced with metal. Also during the wreck the "A" piller was bent pretty bad. This was also cut out and replaced earlier this year.

I've driven this car almost everyday for 14 years and have only taken care of mechanical things in all that time. It is time for a total, proper, quality repaint, rechroming of a lot of parts, new clutch, new rubber, body work, wiring, etc...enough in my mind to justify taking it down to the frame and addressing all those issues as well and using some POR15 to properly protect the frame for at least my lifetime.

I don't know if I'll be doing a "total" restoration as I plan on retaining as many original parts as possible and these days I'm not sure what counts as a total restoration, but it will go down to the frame and every part will be cleaned, serviced, and painted or replaced.

I'm sure glad this board is here.

Cheers,
Christopher
Christopher Wilson

It just shows that photos do sometimes tell lies!
Cam Cunningham

I've been temped many times to re-do mine, maybe your progress will give me the courage to do so! Best of luck!
Fuzz
Russ Carnes

Chris, Best of luck to you. I too am getting ready to start the restoration of my A. I have only had the car one year but am planning on taking the body off. Was wondering what everyones thoughts are on POR 15 vs. powder coating the frame. The estimates that I have gotten show that the powder coating is really not that much more expensive. Here is my starting picture, and again the picture makes things look a little better than they are.
Thanks......Don P.


D.S. Prince

This thread was discussed between 08/09/2008 and 12/09/2008

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