Quietly Alive!

So, after putting everything back together I got her to run a few months ago. Turns out I didn't connect the exhaust properly so it's been louder than a chopper down the highway. I ordered new gaskets for the exhaust header/exhaust joint and after several months I finally installed them the other day. Wow, much quieter. It's awesome now, to the point where when I approach a stop sign I'm worried the car died because I can't hear it. I'm still having intermittent electrical problems so I can't always see that it's idling and that's the only real problem I'm having.

To Work!

I took the B to work today. It's amazing just how much more fun a car can be when it's not sputtering or failing. Now all I need to do is order new exhaust doughnuts and replace those and maybe I won't sound like a racing car.

Death to the MGB!

Alright, so. I did the COMPLETE tune-up. Valves, point gap, carbs, fuel mix, timing, etc. You name it, I probably did it. Idles fine, revs fine. I took it out for a test drive and made it about 2-3 miles before it began to sputter, misfire, and finally die. After a few minutes checking under the hood I tried to start her up again. Fires right up, until I give it gas. Once I put a load on the engine it begins misfiring, sputters, the whole nine yards. I managed to get it home and play a bit more with the engine and gave it one more try. This time I only made it about 100 yards before I couldn't make it anymore.

I suspect it's the gapping in the points for the distributor. I wasn't really sure if I was doing it right and I think I half-assed it. I'm going to pull the distributor tomorrow and re-gap it properly. I also just got my colortune in the mail so I'm going to use that to get the fuel mix right. I may pull the carbs and ensure the floats are properly leveled so I can get the fuel mix proper.

First Day on the Road

Well, today’s the first day I’ll be driving the B in to work since last year. I adjusted my fast idle, topped off the dashpots, put RainX on the windows, and Armor All’d the top and dash. I’m hoping she’ll actually start this time and not embarrass me like it did last week.

This weekend begins the “Stuff I need that won’t help the car work better” inspection. I’m looking for seals, covers, parts, etc that need to be replaced due to damage or age they don’t actually affect the performance of the car but will help make it look better. Once I get all that stuff done I can see about sending the Distributor in to get it Schlemmerized or even shifting over to an Electronic Distributor. Then it’s just a new wiring harness, and a complete paint job and I may just have a complete new car except for the engine and tranny.

It never ends

So, went to start my car to get to work after gassing her up. Won't start. Goody.

After work I checked it out, checked the floats, etc. Turns out my front carb float was leaking. I ordered a new one and just got it in yesterday. So, I can add new float to my list of parts I've put into the B. I also went ahead and ordered new idle screw springs in addition to the gasket that goes around the fuel pump. For some reason I don't have one.

She hates me

So, I took the B out to get gas for the first time in 8-9 months. When I pulled into the gas station my idle was sitting around 3500. Then to make matters work when I went to start it after filling up, it wouldn't start. So, not only was my original idle problem back, I can't even drive home, and since it was a test drive I have no tools (yeah, I'm smart).

I ended up pushing myself away from the pump so I can troubleshoot it and another patron there came over to see if he could help. Turns out he has a '77. After playing with it for a minute we figured out the fuel pump wasn't pumping so he went to move his car. While he was moving it I literally ripped the fuel line off the front carb since I didn't have a screwdriver and some fuel came out so I knew fuel was getting there. After pushing it back on I tried the ignition again and the fuel pump started working again. Go figure. It started right up before he could even get out of his car. My idle was also really high so I fiddled with the idle adjustment screw some. Turns out my rear carb's idle screw doesn't have the spring that keeps tension on it. So, every time I give the car gas, the screw slowly screws itself in, raising my idle. I lowered the nut that was on the screw some to hold it from going down any more and hopefully that'll fix it until I can get replacement springs. Turns out I didn't have to tear the engine apart last year to fix the idle problem. It was a stupid screw.

Turns out he's a member of the local MG club that I was looking at. I never went to any of their meetings because I thought it was an inactive club. Turns out it's still active and they do stuff every month. I gotta find out when their next thing is and check them out. If nothing else to meet the other local MGs in the area.

She's Alive!

Ok, so it's been awhile since I posted. Since the last time I've managed to get her running with new points and condenser, had to tighten the heating valve since it was leaking, put the plug in the engine plate (btw, need a new one now), discovered my ground strap had corroded from lack of use, AND finally got her running.

I somehow managed to break my timing light so I had to buy another one yesterday. Then I discovered I was simply plugging it in the wrong fuse holder so I now have two timing lights. I also got a unisyn to balance the carbs. Lastly I tuned everything, got it all running and I'm hoping to back her out of the garage this afternoon when I get home from work.

This weekend's goal is a wash wax. I may take her to a local U-Wash-It so I can spray out the transmission since I couldn't do that while cleaning the engine. I also need to look into new tires since the ones on the car are 10 years old in the front and I believe 2 years old in the back. Yeah, not safe.