My one year anniversary........

[terriphill]

In 5 days I will be passing my 1 year anniversary as a LBC parent. TO quote one of my favorite bands..."What a long strange trip its been"
In short, ( or as short as I can be...)
Bought a 1977 MG Midget on E-bay (Car runs but needs battery and clutch slave is what I recall from its ad.)
Thought it was a good choice to "cut my teeth on" since I knew the basic mechanics 101 but had never really worked on my own car before. (Seller forgot to mention the key is broken in half and doesn't work on any of the locks. So step one, find locks and ignition, have keys made) Now on to the mechanical.

Step 1: Pull the motor, drain the fluids, clean er up, buy a battery. Buy new clutch and pressure plate. Get it started. (Nope) Now the fun begins....diagnose, buy new parts keep trying..read lots of manuals...keep plugging away. After a new coil, solenoid, starter, finally got it to turn Yeehah! Took it around the block (The only time last year) Carburetor cuts out, barely get it home. What was that noise?

Step 2- New carb (chose a Weber downdraft) Easy to adjust and I think this is best for my level of expertise.

Step 3- Start er up. Clatter,clatter, clank...Oh that's what the noise is...the sound I now know as a bad bearing.) Call around to find someone to rebuild...WOW! that much? Bought a rebuilt motor on e-bay.

Step 4- Leave on a Friday to drive 700 miles to pick up rebuilt motor. Nice weekend outing for Hubby and me.

Step 5- Arrive home, begin the motor swap. Cool, ready to go. CANNOT get it the carb adjusted. I thought this was easy. Way too much air in..Oh you have to grind off part of the exhaust manifold so the aftermarket intake will go down flush on the head. (Must have missed that page in the manual) Around this time I find BCF.. a godsend by the way!

Step 6- Finally! Timed and running (What's that noise? I've heard that before.... NOOOOOO!!!!!) Fine, pull the motor take it to the experts. Find the $$ to have it rebuilt. (Thrush washers? what are those, you mean the guy who rebuilt it didn't put them in. Oh, that's what the noise was...damage? No, didn't run it enough.) O.K. New piston rings, seals, turn the crank, new bearings, cam and lifters

Step 7- Motor's ready! Pick it up. While installing screw up the radiator have to buy a new one. Converted starter to and electronic starter.

Step 8- Can't get it to turn. Frozen Solid. OK. Pull it, take it in. They don't see a problem.

Step 9- return home, drop it in again. THis time cannot get it timed. You think after the fourth time, I should be able to do this by now. Finally admit defeat and turn to the pros. (Who have been helping, tutoring and grinning at my adventures) Told me they'd ehlp me time it and we would have it running in an hour. That was five days ago and they still have it.
By the way they have named him---Little Satan.
They have taken it completely apart (again, replaced, measured and adjusted all bearings, cranks, pistons and it still is not pumping oil through the rockers. This gives it a little bearing clatter but now it has a new noise.
Dropped by this afternoon...its running but that's a new clatter,clatter,clank isn't it? Yep, that's a valve. What's next?
Step 10- A head job.

Now, why spend this much time telling this story? Well, the teacher in me says there is a lesson here. What have I learned? I love this little car. The more it pushes, the more I learn. I've learned more about the mechanics and inner workings of a motor than I ever dreamed. Simple design doesn't mean easy? Anyway you look at it...I am having fun /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hammer.gif

 

[drooartz]

Congrats on your 1 year anniversary (we apparently bought our LBCs about the same time). You've sure been through a bunch in your first year. As long as you keep having fun, then it's all worth it.

 

[jlaird]

Man, we having fun now. Good on ya. You going to be an expert for sure.

 

[regularman]

Well , you are certainly learning and once you learn one you basically have learned the motors for a lot of British cars. Anything with an austin engine like a mini (same motor only sideways) and the rest of the 4 cylinder austin line an some 4 cyinder rovers as well.

 

[zimmy]

sounds like me u and droo have come a looong way this past year in understanding LBCs! its been fun, and im driving mine, so i cant complain! ...........zimmy

 

[drooartz]

I've certainly come a long way in my year. At least now I can understand the questions that need to be asked, though I'm still working on understanding the answers!

 

[kcbugeye1275]

The path of life is not always a straight line, and boy, you really have had some curves thrown your way. We all have and it does make our ownership(I guess the real question is do we own them or do they own us) of these lbcs more precious.

 

[jlaird]

I think it is not a matter of owning it is a matter of bonding. Especialy after you have done a restoration with your own hands, every nut bolt and screw.

 

[DrEntropy]

Jumping into this stuff "later in life" (as opposed to having been exposed to it while growing up) always impresses me. I s'pose it's primarily due to curiosity and desire to challenge personal boundaries...

Whatever it is, I've always held that it should be encouraged. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

Personally it's a Need to Know. Can't take much for granted and feel if you own something, you are responsible for knowing how and why it works: Then nobody can bamboozle you if you contract out a repair, service, etc. Usually the work is done best if you do it yourself, too.