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LBC things could be worse - I suppose...

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RickB

RickB

Yoda
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Right now I have 3 LBC's none of which are drivable.
I was going out to work on the B this morning when I glanced under the Midget and saw a wet patch on the road.

Popped the hood & found water leaking from the bottom of the water pump.
We took it out on an MG club run yesterday - I noticed there wasn't any heat coming out from the heater but thought it was just cold out so no biggie & the water temp never rose above 180F.
I called NAPA and ordered a new pump, it will be here tomorrow they say.

The B had leaked several quarts of oil the last time my wife took it out so its been grounded since, waiting for me to take a look at it.
The leak as it turns out was due to the small hose going to the oil pressure sensor. I removed it and took it in to NAPA but they couldn't come up with a replacement and said I should bring in the fixture it hooks up to or the piece off the block where it connects.

I go back home and take the piece off the side of the block and decided to go across the street to True Value and see if they had anything. They did have a plug, so I got that and some tape to seal the threads. The thought was I could plug the hole until I could find the right thing for the job.

So I plugged it up and then got in to drive it out to NAPA...

NO CLUTCH!!!

I had been having to add a little fluid to the clutch master for the past few months, but today it was low again and the pedal goes right to the floor.

Where is all the fluid going?? It's not around the master or dripping through to the drivers side floor, so where is it.

I jacked up the car and looked at the slave. The rubber seal on the end looks a bit bulgy and everything is drenched with oil, so much so that I can't tell if any brake fluid has been escaping.
I'd bet on it being a slave cylinder problem at this point, but it's pretty hard to tell.

All in all not such a great LBC day here.
 
I wish I had some words of wisdom, but I don't. The days do get better; at least that's what they tell me.

I guess that's the advantage of only one LBC -- there's only one car to cause trouble. :smile:
 
Thanks Drew, my theory was if I had two driver LBC's then I'd always have one that was running.
oops!
 
We went for a nice ride yesterday and when we got back Erica told me I have no brake lights. I wondered whya she was hanging back so far. Anyway, R&R the switch and we've got lights. The problems may have the cars out of commission but at least they are easy fixes.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]The problems may have the cars out of commission but at least they are easy fixes.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Chris, yes compared to a blown head gasket or a broken rod fixing clutch hydraulics will be easy.
I just have to keep it all in perspective.

Does anyone think I might get away with a slave rebuild kit?

The water pump for the Midget will be here today, I suppose I will get the old one removed while and everything ready for it.
 
If the bore isn't pitted it should be rebuildable. I have an MGB transmission that came with a Midget parts car (don't ask) that still has the slave attached. I can look at it tonight and send it to you so you can have a good core to rebuild. I'm sure the one you have in the car just leaked down a little too far. Bleed it, run it, and top it off for a while. I know it is not the proper thing to do but....
 
Good point Chris, then at least I'd have a driver while I replace that water pump on the Midget :wink:
 
RickB said:
Thanks Drew, my theory was if I had two driver LBC's then I'd always have one that was running.
oops!
Click to expand...
That's why I bought a new Triumph Bonneville -- to be my backup. Then it was out of commission for 6 weeks with a brake leak. It is British, after all. Some days you just can't win, so you go inside, have another beer, and start again in the morning. :smile:
 
NAPA says my water pump will be here today.
I just called them to ask about a clutch slave rebuild kit (for the 70 GT) and they say "1 inch or 1.25 inch?" Geeze I dunno, which one do I have?
 
Turns out NAPA has them in the catalog but when they try to order it comes back "Obsolete". I can get a repair kit from Pat's MG on Ebay.
 
I found a solution for that little hose that goes from the block to the metal tube on the gauge. Went to a hobby shop where they sell radio controlled planes. They sell a green tubing there that is oil resistant, meaning it won't break down over time. They showed me a neat way to clamp it on since you cannot find clamps that small.

before slidding on each end cut off about an 1/4 to 1/8" piece. You now have a very small rubber band. Take a pair of curved needle nose and insert into the little band and strech it open. Slip your tube through the opening and attach to the metal pipe then with your pliers still open slide the band down past the neck and remove the pliers with the band now over top the tube and the pipe. The memory of the tubing will be enough to put a nice tight seal on there not coming off or leaking. It may take a couple tries as the tubing wants to strech back. It looks good too.

Mark
 
Thanks Mark, I spent about a half hour at NAPA seeing if they could make a hose - the compression fittings they have are all opposite of what's on the car.

It looks like Vicky Brit has it here #29 (bottom part of page) but its hard to be sure.

https://www.victoriabritish.com/ICATALOG/MG/full.aspx?Page=68

Aha - here it is again #24 at bottom of page:

https://www.victoriabritish.com/ICATALOG/MG/full.aspx?Page=64

Seems to be only about $20. It would be nicer to get a good used one from somebody here tho...
 
I put the new water pump on the engine, really great install job if I do say so myself... Permatex on both sides of the gasket, everything all torqued down.

Then I noticed the fan pulley doesn't fit. Too small to go over the center and the bolt pattern is too narrow.

What can I do now? I guess getting a different fan pulley to fit is out of the question?

(remember, this is the Nissan A15 in my Midget)
 
I went back to NAPA and they looked it up and found the right one based on the center - center distance of the bolt holes. They said just bring the other one back for an exchange, I exlained that I really am very fond of permatex and it shows but they said No Problem.
I love my local NAPA store. :wink:
 
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