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MGB 1980 MGB Roadster . . . Restoration Progress

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Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

& when you get that engine out go ahead & pull the transmission....its gonna be much easier to put them back in if they're bolted together.
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

I got the engine out last night, finally. I plan on taking the transmission out as you suggest, I can tell it will be a lot easier to put them back in together. Plus I need to go ahead and replace come leaky seal on the transmission too.

Pictures of the engine being pulled on on my site.
 
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Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

Yank that radiator & fan assembly - send the radiator to the shop to be boiled, cleaned..& don't put it back in until after the motor is setting on its mounts! That also will make it easier!
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

We're on the same page Tony, I pulled it today before even reading that post :smile: What does it usually cost to have a radiator boiled?
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

I pay around $50 here.
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

OK that is what I wanted to know, I called a place here and they said 150 to do it and that seemed a little high so I'll call a couple other places. Thanks.
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

Hi Justin...When I did mine , I got it pressure tested , it failed needless to say and i got the guy at the rad shop to re-core the radiator, he used the existing tanks that were there(top and bottom) and replaced the fin/tube section, it came to about $$ 180.00 canadian..plus tax of course, i thought it was worth it.You could compare what it would cost to do the same to your family minivan or whatever your wife drives and I'll bet it would be a TAD more for that...might help justify it to yourself if nothing else..Mabey i got a real deal and didn't know it.Now i have a brand new rad with the original tanks. good luck Mark
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

Good to know, I would probably try do that if it turns out my radiator is bad, however I don't know if it is or not, but since I am redoing the engine and cylinder head, plus dropping the transmission, fixing some bad wiring, and doing a full major clean up I might as well make sure the rad. is good too, better safe than sorry. If mine is bad, I'd rather have it rebuilt too, the way I see it, the more parts I can keep original, the better.
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

"the more parts I can keep original, the better."

Good thought, however it is fine to replace parts that wear out. After all think 40 years maybe.
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

Justin, Unless your memory is far better than most people I know, when pulling the dash apart, tag all the wires. Even if you have a good memory, tag them anyway! It will save you a lot of grief when you start putting things back together. This harness was pulled from the car and completely unwrapped after this photo, all wires checked and cleaned, then re wrapped. The tagging sure saved me a lot of headaches.

mgbdashbar.jpg
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

That i do wish I would have done, I think I'm going to having a lot of that greif
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

UPDATE:

I have started to degrease, clean and wax parts of the engine compartment. I also took some pieces out and repainted them. This is a start of a major clean up to get 30 years of grease, road dirt and grime off this car. Pictures will be up in the next day or so.
 
Re: 1980 MGB Roadster . . . New to the MG world

So it's been a while since I posted, the engine is rebuilt, painted and waiting to go back in. I put a double row timing chain and rebuilt the SU's. I can't wait to get it all back in the car and take it out. I have had a hard time shuffling Work, School, the MG, and my newest toy, a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500. The 500 is mainly in need of cosmetic work though, it runs strong.
 
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