MGB Paint first or install mechanics

Hi to the MG group. I have been active over the years in the big Healey and Sprite groups, but now I have been given a stalled project of a 1966 MGB. The car has been stripped of interior, mechanics and most of the trim. What is left is a shell with the wheels and steering gear left on the car. My question is this. Should I get the body work and paint done while it is stripped, or should I put the mechanics in to save the possibility of scratching a new paint job. I am tending to the paint first, but my wife thinks I should not.
Thanks for input!

Charlie
Oriental, NC

Hi, Charlie -

My preference would be to paint while as much as can be is out of the car. Scratches can always be addressed later (and they're gonna happen, regardless!) - you'll get a better paint job with less "stuff" in the way.


Mickey

Others with way more experience than me will comment, but I'd sure think bodywork and repaint should be done with as much as possible out of the way.

And of course, wait for the new paint to harden before putting things back in place.

Tom M.

Hey Charlie. I agree with those above. Finish the bodywork and paint now while the car is nearly stripped. Put something like moving blankets on the car when you are putting the pieces back in place.

Yes, I think that's the way to go. Just needed to get some good advice. Doug, pictures are coming your way tomorrow. Also, I plan on being at the Raleigh British car show at North Hills. I'll be with Ed in his Aston Martin. The B will take quite awhile before it will be able to travel.

Charlie

I approached my bugeye project (full ground-up restoration) the way others here have suggested: strip the car, bodywork first, then mechanicals. I gave the body shop a rolling shell which they easily put on a rotissery. This is the most efficient plan, as you only have to install things once.

There are plenty of days, however, where I wish I had done it the other way.

Motivation is the reason. The car came to me a tired runner, and in hindsight I would have been better off sorting out and rebuilding the mechanicals first so that I could enjoy the driving while working on the car. Once all the mechanicals were done, it would have been simple enough to strip down for paint and then reassemble when done. Had I gone this route I would not now be staring at a beautiful body shell and a pile of need-to-restore parts. I'm still years from completion.

That said, you already have a bare shell so doing that first does make sense. If you are farming out the bodywork you can be working on the mechanical systems while the shell is out, so you'll have parts ready to go back on once the shell is back.

Eitherd way, sounds like a fun project. Good luck, and keep posting about your progress.

Bodywork/paint first. We've done many cars, MG's to Mercedes. Partial rebuilds to full restorations. Always easier to paint a stripped body. Masking off a bunch of finished mechanical and-or interior areas is nothing short of a PITA. And inevitably you will find overspray someplace... and usually it's on something it can't easily be removed from. Being careful with reinstalling engine and driveline is a much easier job. As Doug suggests, use blankets and masking of the finished coachwork, pay attention and take your time.

I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been covered...good advice all.
Rut

I tend to restore cars the same order in which they where built. Worked for them and will for me. Have been gifted many jobs and was told....make it nice, but don't remove the engine/trans. Makes for more hours of work, but the customer always knows best......

Thanks for all the replies! I have already sent pictures to my body and paint guy for early quotes. I'll get back with progress as it happens.
Love the forum and all those that give such good advice.
Charlie

Mechanics can wait till after the paint job is done however it's best if you can wait for the final cut and polish till that's completed. Also it will cost a little bit but it's not a bad idea to have the body shop install any trim. That way if any scratches happen and they can happen it's on the shop to fix it.