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Greg G.

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Hi all, I am a new member of this forum. I have a 79 MGB that I have owned for 8 years and am finally starting a resoration on. I spent the last two weekends stripping the parts off of the body. There was lots of rusty parts and lots of gooey under coat soaked with oil, but surprisingly everything came off the car faily easily.

I looked into this forum to find information on the current bumper replacements for the B. I found some great information from an earlier string. Still, if anyone has thoughts or info on shocks, seats, fuel tanks, or the supercharger, I plan on seeking information about these things in the future.

I look forward to chatting with you all.
 
Hi Greg, Welcome to the party. Glad to have you on board!


PC.
cheers.gif
 
Greg....welcome...1st thing to do is make a plan for the entire car: its use: show car, daily driver, stock, or modified? then decide on what power? what level of performance? $$$'sto spend? after you've decided what you want the final product to look/perform like, then we'll be able to steer you in the right direction....remeber, however, the old adage:

"Speed costs, son, how fast you wanna go?"
 
I have formulated a plan (sort of). My vision for the car is a driver. I'm having the body sand blasted, new panels welded in and repainted, but not to show standards. The car drives so poorly now (infact dangerously), that going back to totally stock would be a huge improvement. But the car is very far from stock and has salvage title, so I don't mind using more modern replacements where ever feasable, as long as it is actually an improvement. I have other cars that are fast enough so this one I just want it to be solid, reliable, and fun.

My plan as of today:
For the shocks I was planning on having the lever shock rebuilt, with a little added damping. I was going to lower the front with the shorter springs. I was going to (possibly) put the supercharger on it, for the added power, driveability, and (from what I've heard so far) the reliability. The seats, I have no idea, I like the origional ones, but I would really like to use a small sport seat if there is one that fits. And of course a set of mini lites.
 
Fiero seats can be modified to bolt in original seat holes
 
Thanks, I'll check out the Fiero seats.

What are the options for rebuilt shocks?

Moss, Apple Hydraulics, any others?
 
Dick at MG Limited in Greenfield, Wisconsin
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Greg G.:
Thanks, I'll check out the Fiero seats.
What are the options for rebuilt shocks?
Moss, Apple Hydraulics, any others?<hr></blockquote>

Greg,

Im my opinion the very best lever shocks come from here. Available as rebuilt or outright.
WW auto parts shock rebuild - Peter Caldwell
https://www.mailbag.com/users/nosimport/
Email nosimport@mailbag.com
See this link for more info;
https://hometown.aol.com/bgahc/myhomepage/index.html
D

[ 10-27-2003: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
 
That is some great information. Thanks! I noticed that in the How to Test Shocks section the author advises against the stiffening upgrade. Is it really too stiff?
 
Dick at MG Limited that Tony mentioned.....

He can be reached at (414) 529-3200. His address is not published....in fact, if you don't know where he is you will never find him. But his prices are reasonable and he knows his subject.
 
Dick's the guy who made the modified stub axles for my V8 car....modified to lower the front end to chrome height while maintaining the rubber bumper crossmember & not affecting front suspension geometry....we're gonna be visiting him on our way home from Alaska en route to chuck's....great guy (both chuck & Dick)!
 
Steve...will do...it'll be later in the year, 2004 that is...
 
you are gonna give me adequate warning aren't you Tony, I know itenerarys change and I want to have the shotgun, er, beer ready
savewave.gif
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Greg G.:
the author advises against the stiffening upgrade. Is it really too stiff?<hr></blockquote>

The real purpose of shocks is to control spring bounce/oscillation. People DO use them to overcome all kinds of other suspension problems.

Shocks which are too stiff simply paralyze the spring action.

If a person feels that stiff shocks are the in thing & will do more harm than good by all means do it. Especially if you don't mind wheel hop on stutter bumps & a generally rougher ride.
D
 
MGs already have very high spring rates for their weight, and the stock levers are completely up to the task. Just get the stock ones, I'd say.

Lowering a RB is the best thing you can do for your handling.
I maintain the best way is to put a chrome bumper crossmember and steering rack (or modified RB rack), although the modified stub axle route also seems like it would be very effective with no side effects I can think of. Just putting in lowered springs (which are usually even stiffer) is a distant third, to be done only when cost is the only concern.
 
I replaced all the bushings on my cb with poly and went with the heavy duty's that Apple sells. The ride is not as hard as I was afraid or as some other cars I've worked on but I'm not certain of the effect on a lowered rb car.
 
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