MGB Your thoughts are requested.MGB restoration

[DrEntropy]

It ain't a concerted effort to undermine original engineering, rather a desire to profit from (ignorant) effort. Again: No RESPECT for th' marque.

 

[tony barnhill]

Yep..profit over quality. &, Bob, you're correct: that appraiser needs to know as does the body that licenses him!

 

[198686d]

Add to fray...

I'm one those guys who "had one (a Midget) in college" and 40 years later (3 years ago)regained my youth by buying a Bugeye. After 3 years and about $10K later, she drives the way she should.

If this MGB situation happened to me, I would be in trouble. Not nearly as experienced and knowlegable as most of you are.
It wouldn't be humorous: it would be a major problem, especially for my wife.

This type of deception isn't very different to me than outright stealing. I hope what goes around, comes around.

scootafan

 

[bob67bgt]

I guess the lesson here (and the reason for the post to start with) is have someone that knows the kind of car you are looking to pruchase do a proper pre inspection. More things i found wrong are as follows. Both sets of rear brake shoes on wrong,the driveshaft in backwards, rear steel brake line not attached to the diff-vibrates,rear felx line in a bind. wrong end tightened first,rear brakes not adjusted!,rear lights plugged together wrong. Why would someone plug a red wire into a green one and then plug a green one into a red one? Alot of this stuff is just basic. Many people like these cars because thay are so simple. WE have to remember that what is simple for one is not for the next. When i post a answer to a question i normally try to go into detail with a explanation just in case its better for the person asking the question.My cars are not perfect but i do try to get them as nice as i can and make them SAFE. I will list the items fixed when i finally get happy with the mechanicals. I am not trying to bash the builder. I would hope he did the best he could. In this case it just is not nearly good enough or safe to drive! I have not heard how the blue 72 is doing on its 2000 mile run to Canada. I hope thats a good thing! Bob

 

[tony barnhill]

How did he put the drivershaft in backwards?

 

[bob67bgt]

Slip joint at the diff instead of at the trans end. Bob

 

[PAUL161]

Slip joint at the diff instead of at the trans end. Bob

Never heard of that one before.

 

[tony barnhill]

Slip joint at the diff instead of at the trans end. Bob

Never heard of that one before.

That's what I was envisioning - but, I still can't picture it.

 

[JPSmit]

Add to fray..

This type of deception isn't very different to me than outright stealing. I hope what goes around, comes around.

scootafan

do wonder if it is deception. Not so much to defend anyone (I have no idea) but the work here sounds much more clueless than malicious. almost as though it was reassembled by memory. There's very little in the description that was done cheaply or with short cuts - just plain backwards and wrong

 

[bob67bgt]

There was a ton of $$$ spent on the restoration. The new weber,full peco exhaust, new king pins,new dash assembly,trunk rack, chrome, molded carpet set,braded oil cooler lines,new seat covers,top,larger front sway bar, interior and exterior mirrors,moss rebuilt calipers. The list goes on! The builder was not being cheap. I think he just did not know what he was doing and definately is not a professional body man. The car does look pretty good from 10 feet and there is a lot of detail work. The thing about a restoration is you need a good base to put all the parts onto. If you get a car back from the painter and its not up to your standards then do it again. Once the body and paint are acceptable then you can start throwing $$$ at the shiney bits. I try to complete one part of the job at a time. When i walk away from a task i normally do not need to go back and button up anything. The fuel line was touching the rear shock arm. There is a stud to attach it to just a couple of inches away. If you do not finish up then write it on a stickey and that way things will not get overlooked. The only thing i feel is real deception at this point is when the seller told me that the car did not leak oil when he sold it. The engine had zero breathing. The side cover was plugged and the new valve cover was a non vented type. It had to blow oil out the way it was set up. I guess the add was also very misleading. The purchaser had someone look at it and they really dropped the ball. Bob

 

[tony barnhill]

I'm with you, Bob...the guy who built it just didn't know what he was doing....but, the appraiser is another thing altogether.....he needs to be told what a lousy job he did & his accrediting organiation also needs to be told! IMO!

 

[Hap Waldrop]

This example of a restored car probably speaks for a large percentage of the hobby, Bob you are professional restorer, thats not who the majority of restorations in this hobby are done by, they are done by the DIYer, first timer. When we read these board we see guys asking , "what the best welder to buy", "what kind of primer should I use", bottom line for most of these guys it's their first attempt at many aspects of the restoration, and for sure are not going to get everything or even a majority of everyhting back to gether the way it supposed to be. Now mind you some will vary because it a better way, that's the path I mostly decide to go (I rarely follow the factory in anything), then others will vary out of not knowing and just muddling along the best way thay know how. Bob out car club and these very forums are full of these folks, heck many of you have posted here in this very thread, fall under the first time DIYer on many jobs. I don't doubt for a moment a pro like you can't pick someone else's work apart, and you are 100% correct in your thoughts on this car, maybe I'm just surprised, you are surprised, hey DIYer amatuer approaches to solutions is why I don't professional work on these cars, just bench rebuild, it's also the same reason I work alone

 

[DrEntropy]

I'll give the DIY guys a pat on th' back: usually the guys who acquire these cars with intent to keep 'em spend INORDINATE amounts of time and money to make 'em ~right~. Attention to detail. Some of the best examples I've seen have come out of the garages of folks who WANT to own the cars, want them safe and correct. They're generally dedicated to the beasts. Two guys here in this thread are examples of THAT kind of DIYer: JP and Paul.

It's the hack who thinks he can make a quick buck and slaps one together without any research; who assembles things without regard to consequence.

...and I agree the "inspector" needs sackin' too.

I'm surprised Bob hasn't found the rear backplates on upside-down!

 

[bob67bgt]

The list continues to grow. I understand people changing things and making a few mistakes along the way. When a car is not safe then its another story. And this car was one that i would not even attempt to have driven home. I am waiting for a shift bushing and some odd parts and then i think this will make someone a nice driver. I will be parting with this one very reasonable when its finally ready for a new home. I hope i have addressed all the safety issues and some of the cosmetics. Other than some body ripples and some alignment issues its gonna live to see the road again! Bob

 

[bob67bgt]

Hap, I have seen pleanty of home restorations i would be proud to say were mine. Its all about trying and seeking assistance when you are in trouble. Norm and Dave from the metrolina MG club are perfect examples of a home job done correct. If you try for a 80 point car you will probably get a 50 point car. Go for 100 and your 90 point machine will be something to be proud of. Its not that hard to open a book. Bob

 

[tony barnhill]

I agree....DIYer's are the salt of our hobby....one of my friends owns an MGB & really doesn't know a lot about wrenching; but, he's willing to try & is a quick learner...his B is a '76 w/o anti-sway bars & he wanted one on the front....so, we ordered all new parts & he came out & we slid up under one of my old parts GT's & I walked him through taking the sway bar off that car...when he goes home with his new bushings, A arms & sway bar arms and his used bar & brackets, he'll put it together correctly....& will be able to teach somebody else how to do it to theirs.....that's what we have to have for the cars to live beyond us old codgers....folks who love the car & aren't afraid to ask questions in order to do things correctly.

But, the guy who just throws it together for a quick ebay sale....or the appraiser who hasn't a clue....nah, we don't want them around!

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Hap, I have seen pleanty of home restorations i would be proud to say were mine. Its all about trying and seeking assistance when you are in trouble. Norm and Dave from the metrolina MG club are perfect examples of a home job done correct. If you try for a 80 point car you will probably get a 50 point car. Go for 100 and your 90 point machine will be something to be proud of. Its not that hard to open a book. Bob

Oh I agree with you 100%, but I think you knew what I meant, In our clubs a d at thes shows I see alot of questionable stuff, especially under the skin so to speak, I also see show winners, I shocked that even run, knowing the people. Most of these folk in these hobby, are just having fun and trying their best, but their best leaves a lot of room for improvment, in fact I'm not impressed by most, I seen some real scary stuff done by so-called experts too. This stuff is verty multi layer, and not many of us can be good at all of it, thats why I only do engine and carbs, I don't have the patience for restoration. I feel your pain though, I get kinda fed up at giving tech sessions, everyone is standing around chit-chatting, I feel like I giving these people my life's work, and it falling on deaf ears.