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RichardC

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Hello to all. First let me say that how happy I am to have found this forum. I look forward to discussions and good information.
Here's my story....I just came into a 73 MGB from a friend whos health is failing. It has rusted out floor pans and probably more rust that I will find. Car has not been running for several years, but is under covering.
No doubt it will require a major rebuild and complete going over. Where do I start?
All the catalog parts houses seem to be about the same. Any suggestions? and is there anything about the 73 that I should be particularly aware of? Any help and advice is appreciated.

Thanks
 
welcome to the forum and it sounds like you have quite a project there. If the floors are really gone you may need sills (structural) also. this is doable and can get pretty expensive really quickly, depending upon your welding skills. All the major suppliers are mostly about the same, with the exception of some specialty items like wiring harnesses.
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[ 05-09-2003: Message edited by: Chuck Cougill ]

[ 05-09-2003: Message edited by: Chuck Cougill ]</p>
 
Yup, most B's in this state of decay will require castle rails and inner and outer rockers to be done.
Expensive to have done by someone else. My brother did it on his '74 B. He took an evening hours autobody course to learn how to do it, and painted the car himself. Looks fantastic!
Average quotes I used to get on any of my rusty B's was about $1500 or so to do both sides, not including pans...
My first LBC was a '73 B. Loved that car. had 5 B's altogether..
Good luck with the project and keep us posted.
 
Yup!! Welcome aboard!! I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but you may have inherited a parts car!! I just restored a '66 that I shouldn't have!! Make sure you look at it real closely, as to whether it is worth it or not!!
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Shhh, Gary, don't let her hear you say that! I'm sure now that you've got all the bugs worked out of her that she was well worth resurrecting.

(And think how much you learned.... No, no, don't give a thought to how much money you spent!)
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I think rot is dependent upon where the car comes from. Here, the most common rot is in the passenger dogleg, probably induced by dust collection that holds moisture. The second most common is floors, usually from master cylinders going bad, leaking, then water pooling up for years of rain and snow.
I just had sills, floorpans, and doglegs replaced on a 66, along with dings taken out, speaker holes filled, area above the tail pipe cut out and spliced in, and painted for $3500 plus parts. You can see it at <https://www.oregontrail.net/~roopsmg>, listed under "Restoration".
 
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