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Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a garage?

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Moose33

Moose33

Jedi Hopeful
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It's obvious that we all have specific interests in the final outcome of our vehicles and we all share a common enthusiasm within the LBC community. From those of you that are doing the concour restorations, to those of us that are striving for structural integrity for our daily driver..

I guess my question is: (outside of routine maintance) who all has done, or currently does the majority of their MG work without the assistance of a "professional" shop (and deep pockets)?

I have absolutely nothing against anyone who chooses the shop over the garage, and I've seen some beautiful B's in this forum as a result of garage work and shop work.

I'm just curious as I'm helping a friend prep his 73 for sill repair in his garage and will decide if it is too big of a task to take on my 71 next fall.

Thanks
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

I do what I can in my own garage but my time and knowledge are both limited. So I leave the big jobs to the professionals.
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

well... I'm a do it myself kind of guy. Luckily, I haven't run into anything that requires the use of welding equipment, and hopefully I won't. I don't have any of that equipment. So, if I do run into needing that type of work done, I might end up in a shop. My driver's side door seems to sagging a minute amount, but hopefully that's a hinge alignment problem and not a sagging chassis problem.

More power to the guys that can pay a shop to do it for them. There's a lot less frustration in that route (assuming you have an excellent shop), and I know there have been a couple of times that I was ready to throw in the towel and pay someone else to make my 'B run the way it is running now.
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

My experience with commercial shops has been that there are very few that really know what they are doing on Old British Cars, & even less that really care. If I had to leave the car at a shop, I'd probably be a nervous wreck before the ordeal was over. If the car ever needs something that I can't handle, I will consider shipping it out of state to someone that knows what they are doing. I have seen several "restorations" done by local shops & the outcome was sad indeed. Maybe those who live in larger cities have more choices?
D
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

[ QUOTE ]
I guess my question is: (outside of routine maintance) who all has done, or currently does the majority of their MG work without the assistance of a "professional" shop (and deep pockets)?

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't restore my MG (it was done the "garage" way for the most part), but anything I've ever had to do to it I've done myself. In the future about the only things I think I'll ultimately farm-out is the engine and transmission rebuild should the need arise, but I'll pull them from the car myself.
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

I do all my own work because I find it enjoyable. If I don't have a tool, I buy it. I trust my work and can get the info I need to do a good job from books or here on the internet. Of course the fact that I'm a mechanical engineer and have been working on my own cars for the last 40 years helps too...
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

I plan on continuing to do everything myself, because, like CraigFL, I find it enjoyable. I know I will be doing sill and floor panel replacements, but I have enough welding experience to feel completely comfortable with it. 3 years ago I probably would have farmed that job out. I think it all comes down to what you're comfortable doing, what brings you enjoyment, and what you can afford. (Admittedly, there have been a couple of bloody-knuckle Sundays when I seriously considered pushing it to a specialist's garage, but luckily the feeling passed.)
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

We do all of our work(including paint, sometimes) Really it depends on how good a job you want done...If you've got REALLY deep pockets and want a concours job then make sure you find the best possible shop(around here thats legendary motor cars) but be prepared to pay for it...usually more than the car is worth!..Otherwise if you want a driver any reputable shop should be able to do the job...be prepared for some dissapointments. Currently my dad is doing a concours restoration on a 48 MGTC....most of the work has and will be done in the basement...we do plan on sending it out for paint, but are prepared to pay for the best possible paint job.In my time we've never ran into anything requiring welding but that wolud have to be sent out cause neither of us can weld. All maintence/repairs is done in the driveway... in my opinion anyone that owns a LBC has to be somewhat machanically inclined inb order to keep these cars running, unfortunatly some owners seam believe a 30+ year old car should be problem free and thats when cars begin to sit and rot away.
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

I can weld... haven't done it in a really long time, but I'm sure a few pratice runs on scrap metal would be enough to refresh my memory. My major problem is the lack of a welding rig... I suppose one of those mini arc welders that Moss sells would suffice, but i have to wonder about its durability... and then there's the oxy accetaline rigs... I have absolutely no place to store one of those... At anyrate, welding equipment isn't cheap and lack of storage space for a welding rig would probably have me running to a shop for anything that requires welding.
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

Hey Nunyas - I know there are industrial houses that will rent welding equipment. It might be worth looking into, and suit your immediate needs better than buying. Take a look in your area. Remember, too, that most welders need at a 240V recepticle (single- or 3-phase).
It's all part of the fun and satisfaction of being an LBC owner, right?! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

I've done 99.9% of the work on my MG in my garage. The only things I've farmed out is the U joints and of course the machine work on the engine during the rebuild. I went through my '70 B mechanically over the last year and half rebuilding every system. I had planed to strip it down and paint it this year, but found hidden rust in the sills, so I've stripped it to the shell and I'm in the midst of a full restoration. I was going to farm out the welding, but ended up buying a MIG, and so far I"m having a good time learning to weld. I will farm out the paint job. But for me, as much as I love to drive, the pleasure is in the tinkering and learning new stuff.
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

I'd probably do more myself, if I had a garage /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

This old house of mine has a "garage" in back, that my B might fit into, but you wouldn't be able to get out of the car /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'm pretty handy, but also have very little time off from work. Catering takes up a good 90 hours of my week.

So,..I've been having my work done. I've been very lucky to find a mechanic who specializes in LBC's,..and he's a perfectionist /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif, and the bodyshop I'm working with is doing a great job!


I'll do routine maintenance in the driveway, in the summer,..maybe /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Jerry
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

[ QUOTE ]
..as much as I love to drive, the pleasure is in the tinkering and learning new stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree 100%. I went through a motorcycle phase over the last 15 years (before I discovered the joy of an MG) and have always done my own work/repair, learning as I go and making a barrel full of mistakes here and there and then being able to correctly fix them... most of the time.

For me I feel that it's not only about the driving pleasure but it's also about finding out how things work or are put together or adding my own little something that just makes the vehicle that much more important (to me).
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

Here is my plan: I enjoy the hands on experience and the pride one feels in completing and learning a new task. Just so happens I'm using our current ('75 free'B'ie) as a teaching tool to pass down tool and mechanical skills to my excited 15-1/2 year old son. The father-son time is already well worth the lousy workmanship and mistakes. (recall ... it was a 'free' MGB)

The first thing I've learned is that the biggest mistake was mentioned above: Free'B'ie. For those of you that have taken one piece off with the assumption that it could be repaired, only to notice the 10 more failing parts in serious need of replacement underneath realize my free'B'ie error. So first advice - consider paying a few dollars up front and save a few more on the back end. The project and hours you'll put in will be worth the up front investment. (I'm particularly talking about 'rust')

On the plus side ... we've taken on a 'plan two' approach. It is amazing what you can learn in a very short time about these little cars. I'm considering this first father-son 'mistakes' Free'B'ie as a practice project and learning tool. (it could become my son's daily driver if he is not reading this) Of course dad will then hunt for something a bit more restoreable for project #2 and perhaps from the learning on Free'B'ie will know precisely what to do myself and what to hand over to a professional.

Short answer ... we're doing the current project ourselves ... and it will sort of look more like that. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

Unless its totaly beyond what I can do I do it at home if I cant do it I have a friend who has everything needed and loves working on cars that helps out. Unfortunately for him his wife has always wanted a MGB and gives him heck about not having one of her own ever time I come by with it.
 
I'm one of those that does ALL of his own work. There are
several reasons for this. First of all, its always a fun
and educational (sometimes frustrating) experience. I have seen the work so called 'experts' do, and have never been very impressed.If I screw up (yes, it happens) I have no one to blame but myself. I'd also rather have the extra money to buy more LBC's. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
 
Aloha Guy,

I'm in the do it yourself camp, if possible. I have engine machine work done by professionals, but do the remove and reinstall myself. I've hired people to spray paint my car, but did the prep work myself. Projects I'm a little unsure of, I've generally found that someone in my car club has experience and a willingness to help. Like Graig, I enjoy the work, the learning experience and no one cares more about the car than yourself.

The only big exception is that I had collision damage to my TR3A repaired in a shop because the other guy's insurance cover it. The shop did an excellent job.

Safety Fast,
Dave
 
I do all that I can myself. Should anything happen that I consider beyond my abilities I'll take it over to a local guy who works only on MGs. Lucky he's so close. If he wasn't the darn thing would break all the time, but since I have that resource, it doesn't. Murphy rules!
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

*LOL* Amen to that! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif
 
Re: Doing it in your garage, or taking it to a gar

Just remember someone will drive it and it should be safe so assess your own skills.I'm currently involved in both an Etype and Mini.I can do most of the mechanical but not the body.However suspension/steering/brakes will be checked by a professional
 
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