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So I spent three very fun/frustrating/draining years doing the mechanical restoration of the Tunebug. This was my first restoration ever, and there were many times that I felt like giving up and paying someone to take the pile of parts away. I even swore, when the job was done, that I would never do another restoration again (and I never even got into paint or bodywork). I really don't enjoy the restoration work as much as the driving and maintaining.
That said, the MGB has given me some insight into why someone would restore a car. I've done some work on both cars over the last few weeks -- basic test-and-tune stuff. I've come to realize that I really do know that little Bugeye like the back of my hand. I know the wiring is stock because I wired it myself. I know what's in the engine because I know the guy who built it (Hap) and I have all the specs. I really can see all the stuff that is normally hidden. X-ray vision.
With the MGB, while it's in great shape, I just don't have that same x-ray vision. I think the engine is stock, but really I have no idea. I was doing basic tuneup work today, and a big part of that was just familiarizing myself with how the car is set up, getting some baselines, and trying to see how everything is put together. Pull the wheels, check the brakes, crawl around under the car to see what's what. I'm sure now that if I keep the B long term I'll wind up tearing into it at some point, if for no other reason than to really *know* the car.
That said, the MGB has given me some insight into why someone would restore a car. I've done some work on both cars over the last few weeks -- basic test-and-tune stuff. I've come to realize that I really do know that little Bugeye like the back of my hand. I know the wiring is stock because I wired it myself. I know what's in the engine because I know the guy who built it (Hap) and I have all the specs. I really can see all the stuff that is normally hidden. X-ray vision.
With the MGB, while it's in great shape, I just don't have that same x-ray vision. I think the engine is stock, but really I have no idea. I was doing basic tuneup work today, and a big part of that was just familiarizing myself with how the car is set up, getting some baselines, and trying to see how everything is put together. Pull the wheels, check the brakes, crawl around under the car to see what's what. I'm sure now that if I keep the B long term I'll wind up tearing into it at some point, if for no other reason than to really *know* the car.