'66 B

[gorms68]

One of my current projects is our 1966 MBG. It's an all original, rust free, BRG roadster that we inherited from my mother-in-law after my father-in-law passed away.

So far I have removed nearly 90% of the items from the car. The engine is being rebuilt and might be ready to pick up this week. It has been bored .40 over and machined a bit to improve performance, cooling, and most of all reliability. I have a new Stage 2 head from Peter Burgess to top this off. I still need to get my carbs rebuilt. I have seen some very nice jobs, but have not decided who will "get" to do the work. I also need to purchase a dizzy to match the cam I bought from England.

I have rebuilt the OD tranny that my wife and I found for the car over 15 years ago. Suspension and brakes are on the to do list.

We have most of the upholstery already for the car as my father-in-law had started acquiring parts for this project before he stopped the project in favor o a 1934 MGPA. Sure am glad he had a chance to finish that one before he passed.

Thankfully the body is in excellent shape. I plane to have it media blasted before we return it back to it's original BGR. Lots to do before the car is drivable. Then I can start working again on our "big" project a 1929 Chandler.

[Steve Simmons]

Wow Chris, you have your hands full! My '65 B engine has been apart for two years but I'm hoping to get it back from the builder soon. We'll have to have an engine installation party.

I don't suppose that Chandler is a "boat tail"? Hint: I was looking at the second photo.

[gorms68]

Naw that is my very first car, a 1968 Mustang poking it's head out of the garage. Here is a picture of my Chandler. It's a in-line 6 from the last year of Chandler production. Very interesting original car with vacuum boosted mechanical brakes. At the time of the picture I had just restored the wood wheels. The body will continue to wear its original paint as long as I can keep the underlying metal protected.

[Steve Simmons]

Oh man, that thing is cool!

Looks pretty solid, too. I didn't realize there were brake boosters in 1929. It must have been a rather advanced car at the time. Great project!

[gorms68]

The booster was made by Westinghouse. They borrowed from their technology building brake systems for trains! To bring this back to "all things british." This was also the same system that about 50 Springfield Rolls Royce cars used after Chandler ceased production in 1929. The unit was said to triple the force your foot produced. My unit is now restored and waiting for the rest of the car to be "road ready."

[Steve Simmons]

Put the MGB on hold. I want a ride in the Chandler!

[gorms68]

Put the MGB on hold. I want a ride in the Chandler!

You have a lot of company there! Without Moss and the like it is a little harder to get parts for this project.

Besides I should be in the garage working on either one of them anyway instead of playing on the internet!

[Steve Simmons]

You and me both, but I just spent enough time spilling 600-weight gear oil on myself. I'm done for the night!

[carlivar]

That Chandler is really cool. I've always wanted a Franklin myself. When I have more car storage/working space hopefully I can get one.

My current project is my 1 year old son! Not enough time for my '65 A-H 3000 I'm working on it though... verrrrry slowly.

[gorms68]

I have been spending the last two years or so restoring our 1966 MGB. Just got to the point where the wheels and tires are mounted on the car. Engine is done waiting for me to get to the stage that I have done everything around it that I am ready to put it back in. Here are some photos.

[Steve Simmons]

I love seeing your car on its own feet, Chris!

[Larry Kluss]

Chris, your B is looking great! Any ETA for completion???

[gorms68]

Larry having never done a restoration to this degree I have trouble giving an ETA when I might be done. Also the dates I had already picked have come and gone. If I am able to get the motor in and make the car drivable by the end of the year that will be great, then have the car done by spring.

[Larry Kluss]

Larry having never done a restoration to this degree I have trouble giving an ETA when I might be done. Also the dates I had already picked have come and gone. If I am able to get the motor in and make the car drivable by the end of the year that will be great, then have the car done by spring.

Chris, given the time it took to finish my B from about the point you're at now, I'd say that's a realistic goal. I look forward to seeing it, perhaps at the Queen's English meet in March???

[gorms68]

I have been making steady progress on my B. Here is a picture of the motor ready to be mated to the trany before it goes in the car. Just making sure everything that can and needs to be installed first is in.

[Steve Simmons]

Hey, no porn allowed!

Darn, your engine is prettier than my engine.

[gorms68]

If it runs as good as it looks I'll be a happy camper!

[Larry Kluss]

Ooooooo...that's pretty, Chris!

[gorms68]

Well this was a banner weekend for our family and our MGB.

Together, my wife, 10 year-old son, and I successfully mated the transmission and engine together. And with a little cooperation from the rain and MG spirits we put the whole assembly back into the car for the first time since we took the engine out over a year ago.

For the most part the project went pretty smoothly, just two bumps along the way. First was the challenge to find tiny parts that I have not needed in quite a while and now required to put it all together. They were either in the last box of the second search of the parts boxes or only able to be found after I gave up and asked my wife to look (she's really good at that). The second challenge was getting the transmission bracket under the car. A lift and an extra set of arms made it a lot easier, but why did they ever design it that way.

Here are a few pictures we took of the project. Now we can start to put the front assembly back together. And then the project I have been waiting for, rebuild the windshield!

[Steve Simmons]

Holy cow, only a year since you pulled the lump out? You're making me feel really inadequate! That car look so good that I hope you aren't afraid to drive it when you're done. Wow, really nice job.

[Jimmy]

Nice! And I can't believe you stabbed to motor back in with the header attached - with all that pristine paint around.

[gorms68]

Maybe we got real lucky, but we hardly chipped any paint. Boy what a tight fit though. Everything was very close with the carbs and header attached. The lift really came in handy as we could raise the back of the car pretty high with the front sitting on the driveway ready to take the engine and tranny. The O/D also added some extra length to the package. First time we have ever tackled such a project as a family. And we are all still talking.

Steve I really expected this to take a lot longer. But when you only focus on one car there really is no excuse. I have to get one of our cars on the road so I can join you guys on these fun rides. Don't worry this car will be driven. I have had quite a dry spell since I drove a pre-emissions car on a daily basis!

[Jimmy]

First time we have ever tackled such a project as a family. And we are all still talking.

That is a bigger feat than the installation itself, I think. Man, those extra hands come in handy, though.

[gorms68]

First time we have ever tackled such a project as a family. And we are all still talking.

That is a bigger feat than the installation itself, I think. Man, those extra hands come in handy, though.

Especially the little ones

Some day I'll be helping my son rebuild this car. Seems only fair as his mom and I are going to drive the wheels off it.

[Steve Simmons]

I used my lift the same way when I took my lump out. The front was on the ground and the rear on the lift. It made life so much simpler.