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Strip and polish ALL the things!

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M

MGNoir

Jedi Hopeful
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This seems to be my motto as of late in my grand plans to bring MG Noir back out on the road. It's been sitting idle over 4 years after being a daily driver in San Antonio.

A few pictures to share, starting with some before pictures. Not BAD bad mind you, but pretty filthy, and the PO just loved to put paint on everything it seems...

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First up was the cheap thrills of wire brushing & sanding off the paint (and rust) on a few items. I definitely am liking that shiny look, and contemplating some POR15 clear coating on the thermostat housing, water pump and radiator lower tube. The intake manifold (not pictured) also got the works so it's also a candidate. For one thing, it's a lot easier to see stuff down there when it's shiny & contrasts with the black interior! New gaskets and stainless hardware for everything that I can as I go as well.

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Here's a bit that needs some help. I removed the heater valve and polished it up. I also lapped (if you'd call it that) the bottom of the valve flat on a file, which ought to stop the leaking. It was a bit high on the center and I can see how it would have leaked.

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Also the battery tray needed some help. Not horrible, but still not perfect. Here's the sequence, including original, cleaned up, and a new replacement tray in place. I forgot to take a picture of it, but I put some pop rivets in to hold it in place.

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Here's what's coming up. I picked up both a front suspension rebuild kit as well as a front brake kit, so this will all be purdy some day...

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I probably oughta get that engine back together first though so I don't forget what went where :smile:
 
Careful with "all things" as that's the quickest way to turn a car into a pile of parts.
 
kellysguy said:
Careful with "all things" as that's the quickest way to turn a car into a pile of parts.
Click to expand...

Not that I've ever done that... recently... at least it was intentional... :grin:

It does feel nice to clean things up, and you're making nice progress. Just make sure to finish each bit before moving onto the next or you will wind up with your car stored in boxes somewhere.
 
Good advice! I have been using lots of baggies with labels, boxes, etc. Also placing orders for new gaskets, temp gauge (broken off at engine), etc. in bunches as I go. Plus remaking various brackets and rusty bits at the metal shop at work.

It's been a really good learning experience I must say. Much more confidence and understanding of how the car goes together and all the various parts.
 
Was the original color on a '74 1275 engine red as in your photos? For some reason I thought BMC engines were painted green. Just curious because I'll be picking up a '74 Midget soon.

Jeff
 
I'm not sure actually. This one was originally green, but got painted black at some point. It wasn't a great paint job, and no trim, etc. was removed first. You can lift up the rubber seals here and there and see the green underneath. Except for wires, most everything under the hood got painted black, and same for the engine. (all red).

I've been eyeing the POR15 engine painting kit (Austin Healey Green) for a future project. It would look nice. I'd love to repaint the car back to original green as well, but then I'd need a new license plate ("MG NOIR")
 
Just a note and funny comment on engine paint color. I think that the engine paint color changed over the years. On my '71 Midget, I painted the engine incorrect-for-the-year green; and in my bright red car, it prompted a friend to comment "it's the opposite of a pimento in an olive!". Still makes me chuckle.

So, I don't know the correct color for your car, as it's roughly dependent on the year; but I think the green was discontinued prior to 1971. Consult Horler; let me know if you don't have access to a copy (and of course, I'd need to know the year of your car! Your engine compartment appears similar to mine).

Phil
 
1974 would have had a black engine block originally.
 
MGNoir said:
Dear God no - black engine in a black engine bay? I'd never find anything!
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I'm not particularly a fan of the black engine block, or engine bay for that matter. Paint the engine any color you'd like. :smile:

Is your car black? Engine bay should be the same color as the exterior paint. They often got repainted in black by later owners but should be the normal car color.
 
In my youth I painted engine bays black. I learned....now a light color. Light grey looks good to me or body color if its light.

Kurt.
 
The car is black as is the bay. It's helped immensely just for me to clean/replace all the painted over clips and screws holding things down. Just replacing all the sheet metal screws with nice stainless does wonders. I'm also going to just gently take the paint off the brake lines which are also lost in the darkness.
 
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