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Oh! My aching back

28/4/2012

I thought I'd seen the last of pulling engines, but I thought wrong.

It didn't take long, just under an hour and a half. Everything came apart easily despite having been there for 12 years. The hardest part was actually seperating the engine from the gearbox. The engine is on the ground now and it's time to source and order the parts needed. While I'm waiting for the parts, there is plenty of parts cleaning to do.

Hopefully, if all the parts arrive quickly enough, it may be going back in next weekend.

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Oh! Shoot, it's going to be an engine out job.

24/4/2012

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I finally got chance to investigate the knocking that developed on Sunday.

This is what it sounds like.

This is the cause. A break in the crankshaft web between the front main and No 1 big end. I have another crank but haven't got a micrometer to see if there is enough on it to grind again.

Looks like some serious work ahead.

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MG Car Club Tyne Tees Centre Cobweb Run

22/4/2012

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Our signing on duties meant an early start to the day and it was cool but dry as we set off. We had a good run to Brockbushes Farm near Corbridge and arrived with enough time to get set up for the entrants to sign in. A nice warm location inside the coffee shop, and a good cup of coffee was a good start.

The run took us over some great roads, all kinds of surfaces, some even organic as we ran through farmyards. A few gated roads meant that Pam was kept active. Beautiful scenery when the sun was out, which did happen a couple of times. We also saw rain and hail across the hilltops.

The first part of the run was 39 miles to tea rooms where quite a few stopped for a cuppa and bit to eat. The last part took us 50 miles back to Brockbushes, where we had a cream scone and a cuppa and a chance to have a chat to others on the run.

It was a great run and even the changeable weather couldn't dampen our spirits.

We set off for the 61 mile run home in heavy rain, which cleared later and all was going well until about halfway home there was a tremendous clattering from the engine room. A quick stop was in order and luckily we found a safe spot. Investigation revealed nothing amiss externally, so it was obvious that Numbum wasn't going to make it home under it's own steam. Gutted is an understatement.

Thanks to those who stopped to offer help while we were waiting. You know who you are and we're thankful for your offers.

A call to the RAC produced a flatbed about two hours after we first called them and we arrived home later than expected, tired cold and hungry.

Once Numbum was safely locked away, I popped round to the takeaway for supper. Further investigation of the knocking will have to wait.

Despite the problems, we had a great day, and our thanks go to Lyn & Peter Ebdon for the planning of the route, and all those who helped the day go so well.

As you can tell from this video, the car was running really well all day with no indication that problems were lurking.

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2012 Flying Scotsman Rally

21/4/2012

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The bright warm sunshine was great as we set off in the 71 MGB GT to Helmsley to see the contestants in this superb three day event for pre war cars. It's a grueling 600 miles from Duxford to Edinburgh over some of the most obscure roads in the country. Timed driving tests and regularity road sections keep the drivers and navigators on their toes.

This is an international event with drivers and cars from all over the Continent, some of whom have driven thousands of miles before they even started and then have to drive back home again.

The sunshine lasted until just after the first cars turned up at the Black Swan Hotel for the lunch break. It was obvious that some had seen the rain before we did.

Parking was tight in the small car park and one car got a bit too close for comfort.

A few willing hands and a trolley jack managed to move this surprisingly heavy car just enough to the left to get it through the gap.

Here is a slideshow of the cars at Helmesley.

As the cars started to leave, we decided to head for their next stop, The Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge, where there was a checkpoint. Hoping to find a good spot to video the cars in action on the road, we followed the route. Unfortunately we couldn't find anywhere as good as the spot we found on last years run, so did the best we could.

It was great to see these old cars being driven like they were built to be and not sat in museums somewhere. The crews we spoke to were enjoying themselves despite the weather and we have to thank them for giving us so much pleasure.

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Would you call this reliable?

19/4/2012

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I've owned the 71 MGB GT since 2 November 2009. When I bought it I knew it had some issues and expected some more to rear their heads.

The overdrive only worked when it felt like it. Fixed by replacing the switch.
It burnt oil at a great rate due to breather routing by the previous owner. Fixed.
It dumped it's oil all over the engine bay due to a leak in the oil cooler hose caused by it rubbing on the steering column UJ. It was badly routed when I bought the car and I didn't spot it when checking things out. This was the only fault that needed a recovery truck.
A short in some of the previous owners creative wiring burnt out and took out the column switch. Replaced the switch.

These all happened in the first few months of ownership. Since then I've replaced the propshaft UJs, replaced the rubber bushes on the fan mounting, replaced a faulty alternator regulator, replaced a worn rear spring bush, fixed a faulty fuel pump and refurbed the brake master cylinder.

I've had a couple of welding jobs done, an occupational hazard of all year driving in the UK. Apart from service items I haven't done any more to it mechanically.

Not too shabby for nearly two & a half years of driving a well used 41 year old car.

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A Pleasant Morning

11/4/2012

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I took the morning off from work to to take the 71 GT and meet a group of car nuts and chew the fat over coffee & cake.

It was a grey damp morning which kept some cars at home but a few brave souls brought them out.

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Oh! My aching back

Oh! Shoot, it's going to be an engine out job.

MG Car Club Tyne Tees Centre Cobweb Run

2012 Flying Scotsman Rally

Would you call this reliable?

A Pleasant Morning

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