First "LBC Wave"

[Moseso]

First "LBC Wave"

Minnesota TR3 Update.5:
Since I put the car on the road, Oct. 10, I've been happily driving it every day that it hasn't rained -- which has only been two or three days! Smiles and waves and, "What year is that MG?" everywhere.

It wasn't until this morning, however, that I actually got to wave to another LBC driver -- there don't seem to be too many of 'em on the road in the Twin Cities. I did a little freeway leapfrog with a guy in an MG Midget on my way to work this morning. He had the top up. Wimp! It was at <span style="font-style: italic">least</span> 40 degrees!

Engine performance: Thrilling!
Handling: Best handling TR3 I've ever had! Steers tight, corners fine and I haven't made the rear-end "hop" yet.
Oil consumption: Negligible. Just a growing collection of one-or-two-drop spots on the garage floor.
Fuel consumption: Not all I had hoped for. But, the engine and transmission are both new and tight. It's already improving...
Fuel economy is certainly not being aided by the fact that the new aluminum fuel tank, bought from an eBay purveyor of LBC fuel tanks who-shall-remain-nameless until this is resolved, seeps fuel. Not enough to create puddles anywhere, but enough to stink-up the garage and keep the under-tank pad damp, under the right end of the tank.

So, the fun is over for the season, I think. Tomorrow, I drain and remove the fuel tank to pinpoint the nature and location of the leak. I probably won't have a functioning fuel tank again until after the salt season has begun. But I WILL be ready for Spring, when it happens!

To-do this winter: Recover all the cockpit trim pieces. That's all!!! Then, when it's warm enough to work in the garage again, I'll be able to lay carpet - install interior panels and trim - install cockpit capping and all the lift-dot studs - fit top and tonneau --- and then --- drive it and do the maintenance!!!!!!! Oh yeah... And wave at all the other LBC drivers from my own!

 

[Don Elliott]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

What color is your "MG" ?

It sure is thrilling to drive something you have accomplished yourself. Yesterday, I drove my 1958 TR3A about 50 miles for the last time this season. After that drive, I called my insurance company to cancel the insurance for the winter. I'll get a refund in the spring. But I have them leave the coverage for the "fire & theft" for the winter.

Then I went to the local office for the licence plate and got a refund of $126.00 for the winter it will be off the road. But I'll keep the same plate I've had since 1990 when I finished my total body-off restoration.

 

[Brosky]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

Do you have any recent pictures of this "alleged MG"?

 

[TRDejaVu]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

After that drive, I called my insurance company to cancel the insurance for the winter. I'll get a refund in the spring. But I have them leave the coverage for the "fire & theft" for the winter.

Then I went to the local office for the licence plate and got a refund of $126.00 for the winter it will be off the road. But I'll keep the same plate I've had since 1990 when I finished my total body-off restoration.

Don, I used to live in Ontario pre-LBC days. Do they not do historical plates and special insurance like they do south of the border?

 

[Moseso]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

This is the most recent picture of the Powder Blue "MG." I haven't taken any more, as it's still a bit raw looking, what with no interior panels, carpet, cockpit trim or fuel gauge -- and nothing about it has changed since Oct. 10 except the mileage on the odometer. It's too big a production to get someone to take a picture of me in it, driving by with an insane grin on my face -- but if I can get it done, it will be posted here first!

 

[Don Elliott]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

Ian - Ontario has "vanity" plates. A friend in Ontarrio has a primrose yellow TR3A and his plate reads [59 TR3 EH].

In Quebec we don't have vanity plates. But in 1990, just before I had to get a plate for my TR3A, I noticed my neighbour had a new plate that read QSB 895 (or something like that) and I decided if I went the following week, I might get "QSC - something. I thought that QSC might stand for "Quebec Sports Car". I week later and I was off to get my plate. The person in line in front of me got QSC 433. I was pleased that I would get a plate starting with QSC. When I got to the counter, the lady asked me for all the papers about the mechanical inspection, etc. I had taken the car off the road in 1972 and here it was 18 years later. I showed her all the papers and a photo of my just-restored TR3A.

The plate she gave me was QSC 500. It was obviosly out of sequence and she said that she would deny doing this if it created any problem. She said that a car like this deserves a special plate and added, "Didn't Jacques Villeneuve just win the Indy 500 ?"

It's nice to find nice people in government offices.

Buty since we don't have a plate on the front in Quebec, I can put whatever I want on the front. Some people have a plate that reads "I love my wife". etc. etc.

So I bought a plate in England for the front.

 

[Hatman]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

Minnesota TR3 Update.5:
Fuel economy is certainly not being aided by the fact that the new aluminum fuel tank, bought from an eBay purveyor of LBC fuel tanks who-shall-remain-nameless until this is resolved, seeps fuel. Not enough to create puddles anywhere, but enough to stink-up the garage and keep the under-tank pad damp, under the right end of the tank.

Please keep us updated on the tank. I've been considering buying one of his aluminum tanks (assuming we're talking about the same eBay seller) and would like to hear the outcome of your issues first.

 

[Brosky]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]most recent picture of the Powder Blue "MG."[/QUOTE]


Looking good. Glad to see that's it's a TR3. But why does that car and picture look so familiar?

 

[Tinster]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]most recent picture of the Powder Blue "MG."

Looking good. Glad to see that's it's a TR3.
But why does that car and picture look so familiar? [/QUOTE]

<span style="color: #990000">It's not the car that looks familiar, Paul.
It is the van!! That Maroon van belongs to <span style="font-size: 12pt">DPO Pedro.</span>
The powder blue will now require complete replacement of every part.

d</span>

 

[Moseso]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

Gas tank update -- lest I besmirch anyone's reputation. There's only one outfit we could be talking about, Hatman...

I removed the tank. The padding under the rear, lowest part of the tank was damp, and had been damp and stinky for a couple of weeks. This was old re-used padding -- carpet actually -- whose dampness and stinkiness had led me to buy a new tank in the first place. Upon removal of the tank, I could find NO external sign of leakage. So I took it to my shop, taped closed all the small holes, wrapped a rag around my compressed-air gun and had my helper blow air into the fill hole while I swabbed the entire outside of the tank with soapy water. NO BUBBLES! I can't find any leak! Therefore I have to assume that the tank is sound and whatever gas escaped was due to user error. I'm still not sure what that error was, but the tank appears sound.

It's too cold to want to play with metal things in the garage now, so It will probably be March before I reinstall the tank. I have new felt padding, and TWO new gaskets for the gauge sender. Everything will be cleaned and deodorized, so if it leaks again, I'll know where and why. At least, I hope so.

I DID use the nylon sender gasket he sent with the tank, but don't recommend it. I defin itely had seepage there, when the tank was full -- but only for the first week or so, that I ran the car. I replaced that gasket with a cork one, and saw no more gas stains on the outside of the tank after that. After three more weeks, however, the dampness under the pad and the odor had not gone away, leading me to believe that there was another leak. Since I didn't find any other leak, I've got to figure that my problem was this initial seepage, and be more careful when I reinstall the tank.

I DID send this vendor one email <span style="font-style: italic">suggesting</span> (not insisting) that the tank was leaky. This was before I had pressure tested it. There was no response.

Bottom line: I have an inkling that the guy could be hard to deal with in the unlikely event there's trouble with his product. I see no indication that he has a higher reject rate than anybody else.

My advice: Don't order the tank far in advance of your installation need. Be ready to install it when it arrives -- then it's a fresh transaction, with more recourse through eBay & Paypal available to you, if you need it. One other caveat -- he charged me $90 to CRATE and ship the aluminum tank -- something which was not evident until I had committed to buy the tank. Steel tanks are just wrapped in cardboard and ship cheaper.

 

[Hatman]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

Thanks, that's good information to have. I've been eyeing his aluminum tanks -- seems like a good, permanent alternative to trying to salvage a rusty stock tank. As you suggested, I'll wait until I'm ready to use the tank, and will test it prior to installing.

Other than the untraceable leakage/seepage, what do you think of the quality of the tank?

 

[prb51]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

I have a consistant issue with tightening the clamps on the rubber filler neck that leads to the tank.
If I smell gas that's the usual culprit.
Unless I'm working under the car by the vent...that always gets me...I smell gas start looking around and 'oh yea' I'm under the open vent.

 

[6TTR3A]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

Moses,
I live in San Diego and have purchased two tanks from him, a steel one for me & an aluminum one for a friend. Both were installed immediately & neither were defective. That was two years ago.
Altho I was impressed with the quality of workmanship, I'm not sure how easy follow-up would be. All I got was a cell phone contact. He insisted we rendezvous in a parking lot about 5 miles from the Mexican border (Tijuana) I inspected both tanks before payment. He accepted my personal check with only a glance at my driver's license. He had several tanks and numerous Jaguar parts in the back of his van. He said he was on his way to UPS to set up some shipments. He had California plates on his van. (As opposed to Mexican plates.) Even if they were made in Mexico, that doesn't imply poor quality, and I knew that from past experience. I asked him what sort of guarantee he provided. He said call him and he would make good on any defective workmanship. My guess is (and this is ONLY a guess)he has the stuff made in Mexico & hauls them across the border in the back of his van as a private citizen to avoid duty. (There is nothing free about the North American Free Trade Agreement!)

Another couple of notes about fuel tank installation: Avoid RTV or any other type of silicone gasket sealer on the tank sending unit. That stuff has the same specific gravity as gasoline--the little globs that you might drop into the tank (thru the screw holes for instance) will swim around until they find their way to the fuel line and clog it immediately. Good old Aviation form-a-gasket is the answer.
If you have done a good job of padding your tank & lines to avoid rattles & undue stress, it is NOT grounded. The fuel gauge won't work properly until you run a separate ground wire from the sender case to chassis ground.
After I've sold a restored facia & gauges, quite often I'll gt a call "My fuel gauge doesn't work!" Making sure it's a TR3 sending unit & grounding solves
the problem.
FRank

 

[Moseso]

Re: First "LBC Wave" [Now: gas tank discussion]

Other than the untraceable leakage/seepage, what do you think of the quality of the tank?

It seems like a fine tank. I was afraid a welded seam was leaking, or it had a pin-hole -- that's all I could think would cause the symptoms I had -- but, as I said, I couldn't find any problems when I pressure tested it. It was enough taller than the stock tank, that I had to cut a bit off both the tank filler neck, and the tube that runs from the cap, in order to squeeze it in. I don't think that's any special lack of quality. LOTS of parts for these cars require tweaking to fit.

 

[toysrrus]

Re: First "LBC Wave"

Minnesota TR3 Update.5:
Since I put the car on the road, Oct. 10, I've been happily driving it every day that it hasn't rained -- which has only been two or three days! Smiles and waves and, "What year is that MG?" everywhere.

It wasn't until this morning, however, that I actually got to wave to another LBC driver -- there don't seem to be too many of 'em on the road in the Twin Cities. I did a little freeway leapfrog with a guy in an MG Midget on my way to work this morning. He had the top up. Wimp! It was at <span style="font-style: italic">least</span> 40 degrees!

Engine performance: Thrilling!
Handling: Best handling TR3 I've ever had! Steers tight, corners fine and I haven't made the rear-end "hop" yet.
Oil consumption: Negligible. Just a growing collection of one-or-two-drop spots on the garage floor.
Fuel consumption: Not all I had hoped for. But, the engine and transmission are both new and tight. It's already improving...
Fuel economy is certainly not being aided by the fact that the new aluminum fuel tank, bought from an eBay purveyor of LBC fuel tanks who-shall-remain-nameless until this is resolved, seeps fuel. Not enough to create puddles anywhere, but enough to stink-up the garage and keep the under-tank pad damp, under the right end of the tank.

So, the fun is over for the season, I think. Tomorrow, I drain and remove the fuel tank to pinpoint the nature and location of the leak. I probably won't have a functioning fuel tank again until after the salt season has begun. But I WILL be ready for Spring, when it happens!

To-do this winter: Recover all the cockpit trim pieces. That's all!!! Then, when it's warm enough to work in the garage again, I'll be able to lay carpet - install interior panels and trim - install cockpit capping and all the lift-dot studs - fit top and tonneau --- and then --- drive it and do the maintenance!!!!!!! Oh yeah... And wave at all the other LBC drivers from my own!

Hi Moseso,

I like your signature: "Speak softly and wear a loud shirt".

Check out the T-Shirt I have on this pic. I`m the guy in the middle holding a Bud in front of my "Ex" `66 TR4A-IRS.

Russ