Journal Entry

The 72 MG-Werks has begun.

I have ripped out the entire front disc brake system. Rotors, hubs, calipers, the whole nine yards. I've taken out the brake box and have replace the brake and clutch master cylinders.

I had ordered a complete brake tube kit from Moss, but upon inspection the front brake tubing is in remarkably good shape! That saves me a "hobunchawerk". :)

The brake and clutch pedals have been removed, cleaned up, painted and ready to go back in today. The pedals were nearly rusted stuck on the pivot bolt. The bolt has been cleaned up and will be lubricated when re-installed. New return strings and pedal pads have been installed on the refurbished pedals.

Going to pack the front wheel bearings today and start reinstalling front brakes. I had thought about spiffing up the roadster and using caliper paint. But I reconsidered. Then yesterday, while at the parts house getting parts to fix the daughters Jeep, I saw two cans of Krylon "Farm Implement Green". The cap color was very close to the OD green on MG engines so I thought, what the hell. I bought them and now the calipers are green! Hahaha, we'll see if that farm implement paint holds up to the rigors of an MG roadster. :) I thought that green would be different that the yellow and red seen on many cars. And through the wires, it may sorta-kinda be cool looking.

Anyway, it's off to the "Open Aire MG Garage" and back to work......

Updated .... 06.30.08

Weekend well done. I'm happy!

Well, between this weekends thunder storms, power outages and honey-do's, The 72 RWA Project has finally seen some action. At one point, I even had to pull out the Coleman propane camping stove to make coffee!

My main goal with RWA is to get it mechanically sound, safe and road worthy. This is not, nor will it be a show car. It will be a daily or at least, an every other day-ly driver.

This weekend I have installed all new front disc brakes. Everything went together well. The only real snag I hit was the banjo bolt on the drivers side caliper was munged up at bit. Taking no chances of wasting a caliper, I've already ordered a replacement. The other concern I have is I retained the original front hub wheel bearings. I'm not happy with the grease packing I did, so I'll wind up yanking them back off and doing it again. Sure wish those hubs had a grease fitting. Oh well. :)

I pulled the entire brake box and pedal assembly out. I replaced the brake and clutch master cylinders. That was a trick. Not much room in that pedal box for fat fingers! The pedals have what looks like a babbit insert and both pedals were corroded up on the pivot bolt. After getting the pedals out and off, I found the pivot bolt fairly well pitted. I've ordered a new one as well.

After getting to stopping points on the brake system, I took the pressure sprayer and cleaned the rear brakes and axle housing. Is that an aluminum pumpkin? Sure looks like it. All nice and shiny now! :) Nothing except cleaning took place on the rear brakes.

I know the RWA has some electrical issues so I played with that a while. A PO somewhere along the line got into it and I'm finding the ever popular "OOPS'es and WTF's?". And some DPO found it necessary to paint every freaking wire so now I have to clean paint to see whats what. I hate when that happens.

I do have a question RE: electrical....

The vast majority of electrical connections are done with bullet connectors. The factory bullets are made of a nice rubber. Any idea where I can cop these nice connectors? Anyway, as I work my way through the wiring, I'm using lacquer thinner to clean what the PO painted.

Well, that's the first weekend report on the 72 RWA report.