27 replies to this topic

[LukeH]

Update - 03/12/14

I picked up a full set of wheels including practically new tyres for £50. Got to love Gumtree.

[LukeH]

I managed to get stuck into this over the last couple of days.

I started by jacking the car up on axle stands and then attempted to take the rear wheels off but they wouldn't budge. Alloy and steel doesn't mix well. I bit of persuasion with a dead blow hammer got them off.



The wheels being stuck was the sign of things to come. I stated removing the ht leads so I can turn the engine over for the next job (water pump and cambelt change) only to find plug hole 1 full up with oil!

I feared the worse but after a bit of googling it would appear that the old camshaft cover gasket was reused or is damaged. £15 to replace so nothing to worry about.



Next job was stripping the car down so I could access the water pump and cambelt. It took about 2 hours all-in to get the hood released, engine cover off and arch liner out.

Day 2

Cam cover off, timing marks aligned, 5th gear selected and handbrake on, I was in a position to remove the camshaft pulley. My 50 litre compressor didn't budge it so I resorted to a long extension bar and my foot.

Cams locked off next and belt tensioner removed. Off came the old cambelt. I had to release the engine mount and drop the engine a little to gain access.

The water pump was next thing to remove but it was stuck. An hour of wrestling with it finally got it off.

New water pump on and cambelt eased into position followed by 2 hours of trying to get the belt tensioner on. I finally managed it by torch light after the sun had set.

Next up is tensioning the belt, turning the engine by hand to check all OK then alternator belt on, coolant in and fire it up.

More tomorrow.....

Edited by LukeH, 02 January 2015 - 08:54 PM.

[LukeH]

Success! All done and started first turn of the key. Very pleased with it but got very cold and slightly wet finishing it off

[Black.Ghost]

At least you had the patience to stick with it. If I come across things like that, I get bored and switch to something else. And there was no way I was going out in the cold and rain today to do anything, so points to you there as well! 

 

What's next on the list to do?

[LukeH]

I need to bleed the cooling system again to be sure the air is out. I've still got to change the front wheels and then its just a good clean and replace tatty stuff in the interior e.g. heater knobs and broken speaker grille.

[henri1972]

 ^{my wife has just bought me a TF cool blue in silver}  

Edited by henri1972, 07 January 2015 - 10:09 PM.

[LukeH]

 ^{my wife has just bought me a TF cool blue in silver}  

Nice present! Happy with it?

[henri1972]

Very happy with if it is dry it is down with the hood hat on and away I go and it has the upgraded engine in it so It should be ok

[LukeH]

Well a few things going on with this including it going up for sale soon!

 

I have purchased a replacement speaker grille to fit the damaged passenger one and I have ordered a replacement rear screen as the current one has a tear in it. I also have a new bonnet release cable to replace the one the previous owner cut through due to being seized/corroded. 

 

I am hoping to put this through the MOT in a couple of weeks time so I will be spending a bit of time on it to get all the little bits and pieces sorted. I have a clay bar on the way so I can give it a proper clean and hopefully get it looking really nice.

 

Despite all the work I have done and plan to do in the next few weeks, I think I am going to sell it. I originally purchased this on a whim because it was cheap and I wanted a convertible to use in the summer with my fiancée. Well my fiancée (hate the word fiancée, it's a bit pretentious) has just ordered a Mini Cooper D highgate convertible so we don't need two and the cash tied up in the MG would be better spent on my yamaha r1 conversion I'm doing to my Cooper - anyone want to buy it? 

[LukeH]

I got a lot done on the mg today ready for the MOT and hopefully a sale at some point.

I removed the front bumper because I wasn't happy with the alignment around the headlights. I sorted the isdu by adding some big washer behind the bumper brackets to push it out a bit which resulted in it lifting the whole bumper up slightly.

I also spent most of the day scrubbing the interior and giving it a good clean.

I also had the rear windscreen replaced due to a tear. I used a trimmer on eBay. Great service and very fast turnaround.

[LukeH]

Oh and I replaced the bonnet release cable, passenger speaker grille and I fitted a cage to the stereo that didn't have one causing it to rattle

[LukeH]

One more picture showing a shiny clean car

[LukeH]

Finally got the airlock out of the heater matrix today. The bleed valve was fine but some gunk was blocking the pipe so I used some welding wire to poke down the hole and get the air moving.

MOT is happening next week so fingers crossed it'll pass.