Jason Plank's Journal

95% Complete, Driveable

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:55:30 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

I've got the B almost compleatly done. I just have a few interior pieces to clean up and install. I'm waiting on some back ordered parts and I have to install the new top. Then, unless something else breaks, my 1977 MGB will be done. (of course we all know thier never really done...)

I will be getting collector car insurance in the next few days and will then get Morris inspected and registered. Oh yeah - he needs an alignment.

Just wanted to post a few pics of him now that he has his new suit. Looking good!!!

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Posted 2007-04-01 20:55:30 by Brutus Locartes

Photos Of Transmission Parts

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:31:42 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

Photos of teeth on slider hubs and layshaft thrust washers.

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Posted 2006-08-22 19:31:42 by Brutus Locartes

If It's Not One Thing....it's About 10 Or So More

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 19:58:01 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

I have the OD in as I reported in my last journal. However due to my not paying attention during the install the wire from the solenoid was ripped off. I made a repair to it but it's not holding. So...ordered a new one from VB along with a new clutch slave cylinder and a few other little items.

To add to the frustration...The fender and boot lid I ordered from Tony came in. The fender is pretty good shape except for an antenna hole that someone cut in it, I dont need to antennas...and the car has be hit in the front right so the fit is a little off although it's better than the cobbed together POS that was on it. The boot lid isn't so nice. First off it's rusty along the rear edge. I specifically asked for one that didn't have rust. If you don't have one to sell then tell me so, I'm cool with that. But the big issue with it is that FedEx cruched it while shipping. The packaging was adequate and still intact but there are two good sized dents on opposite side of the lid. Like it was crunched between to other things. So, I let tony know this evening as asked him to file a claim with FedEx. I've never had to do this before, it's probally not a smooth process. And I will probally end up loosing my money witch really pisses me off big time. .

Other that junk like that it's goint very well. The carb rebuild was a great sucess and the header wrap I installed on the intake and exhaust manifolds appears to keep temps down and will hopefull prevent most of the heat soak to the intake manifold.
The OD works well and is really cool. I'm thinking about where I want to mount the switch. I don't have a turn signal stalk switch and don't want to spend the money on one. There are opening on the side of the steering cowl and in the dash above the fan switch. I hope to find a lighted switch that looks kinda "period correct".
The lowering spring I installed sure did lower it. They are the 480# 1" lowering springs from Moss. It seems to have lowered it more than an inch. I checked the suspension height thread on the forum and my measurments are pretty normal. It does look cool, but my concern is that the front suspension looks to be almost 1/2 way thru it's travel just sitting there. There is only like, 2 1/2" between the lower a-arm and the lower bump stop. We'll see how he rides when I get him all put back together.

Well thats it for now. Se ya!

<bend on front edge>

<bend on back edge>

Posted 2006-08-19 19:58:01 by Brutus Locartes

Body Parts

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:34:41 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

Now that the trans is awaiting installation, it's off to the next project. The body.

I need a hood, and right front wind, and a bonnet and boot lid.
Based on what the good recomendations on this site I ordered a used wind and boot lid from Tony the autoist. I should be getting them soon. He didn't have a hood in stock so the search still continues.

I thought about ordering a new repo hood from VB or Moss but have heard mixed reviews. There is a guy in Dallas that has 2 factory hoods listed on craigs list for $50 but thats 4 hours north of here. Still for a good factory hood- it may not be bad.

I also located a reportedly good windshield on craigslist here in Houston and hope to complete the negotiations for it soon.

The last couple of days I have been working on an ATV and a little dirtbike I bought with the MG fund money. My plan it to fix them up and sell for a tidy profit. They are both running very well, just doing cosmetic stuff to the ATV then they will be getting sold. Yeah, more MGB money. Gotta love it!

<atv before work>

<Jr50 ready to rock and roll>

Posted 2006-08-10 19:34:41 by Brutus Locartes

OD Works

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:23:30 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

The trans and OD unit appears to be a great sucess.
I got the trans back together 2 weeks ago with only minimal swearing. And thanks to the wisdom on this forum I was able to test the OD and it works like it should as far as I can tell.

My questions and the responses are in a thread called "Bench test and OD transmission". I got a couple great replies and was able to utilize the "big drill method"
The entire trans tested out just fine. So now it's time to install it into the car. I'm still a little unsure about the wiring. I guess both non-od and od equiped cars had the same wiring harness so it might just be a plug and play install. We'll see. If not I can make a simple circut with a relay and fuse to operate it.

Next step is to install it all, and make it work.
My goal is to have the car back on the road by November 18th.

Posted 2006-08-10 19:23:30 by Brutus Locartes

Moving Too Slowly

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:10:33 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

Today on my way to inspect some boats I stopped by a junk yard/ repair facility that only handled British cars. I had noticed a while ago that they had shut down and wanted to check things out. I did a little snooping around and found 2 very nice chrome seat levers. I have one good one and one thats pretty pitted. So now i have two that are very nice.

I also ordered the parts I'll need to get my OD trans back together (i think) I ordered all the lock washers on Monday from Moss they should be here tomorrow (Friday). Next week some time I'll go over to my Fathers shop and press the bearings onto the shafts and hopefull get it back together soon after. I checked everything that I could and I think it's going to work out very well. The OD is in good shape, I'm going to rebuild it with new O-rings and gaskets. I checked my solenoid and it seems to be working. Although it pulls it's plunger in when it has power and I always thought it was supposed to push out. Oh well, I guess we'll see.

Posted 2006-07-13 16:10:33 by Brutus Locartes

Overdrive!!!

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:36:15 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

Well tonight was a productive night. I bought a lake model overdrive transmission from a guy here localy. Well, it would be more accurate to say I bought a lot of parts, yeah it's in a box. But it is all bagged up and labled. The gears and synchros actually look really good and it came will all new bearings, seals and gaskets. The OD unit looks good but is apart as well.
For Fathers day I got the MG is Born series. I keep replaying the transmission/OD episode in my head. I just wish they had shown a more detailed rebuild.
While I was out there I also picked up a complete engine and 4-speed from a 77 B. The 4-speed is pratically worthless from what I can tell, but I may be able to make a little off the engine. I'll tear into it and see whats good.
Soooo, it looks like I need a Bently manual and some time to get this thing back to gether.

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Posted 2006-06-30 20:36:15 by Brutus Locartes

Introduction

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 07:41:53 -0500

Jason Plank's Journal --

I was given a 77 MGB in Feb of 2002. It has sat in a Houston area garage since 1981. The origional owner parked it there after having her second child. It has 44,XXX miles and I was able to get it to fire up pretty easily. A carb clean and a starter rebuild got it up and running. Of course as you fellow MGB owners know other issues creep up once you get going.

The fuel tank was found to be very rusty and there was some very "creative" wiring that had been done.
All in all the car is in pretty good shape with very little rust. Floorboards, fenders, rear quarter panels, trumpets, frame rails, all rust free. There 2 small bubbles in the doglegs on each side. I have since replaced both doglegs.

Since getting the car I we've had 2 kids and moved. I've towed the car every where I went. I'm forced to work slowly as time and money have allowed but I'm gettting it done. I replaced the ZS carb with a pair of HS-4's i rebuilt. Then sold those and replaced with a Weber DGV. At the time I didn't know about the conical shaped K&N's, otherwise I would have kept the SU's...oh well it runs well with the weber. Iv'e replaced the clutch and cleaned up the engine and bay while I have it all appart. Not really show worthy but much, much better than it was. It looks like I'll be pulling the eingine again as I am determined to get a OD transor 5-speed conversion. Here in Houston there aren't a lot of "MG friendly" roads - there are a lot of freeways. In the little bit I have driven the car I can tell that it would be very annoying buzzing along at freeway speeds all the time.

The interior was mostly complete but in pretty rough shape. The lady had removed the passenger seat to make room for her then 2 kids to play while she was driving. Yeah...I know...before seat belt laws I guess. (The lady's crazy anway) The seat got lost in her attic during a remodel, so ebay to the rescue.
I'll need a carpet kit and really some seat covers to make it good. I was able to remove the vinyl panels and re glue them and they turned out pretty good. I also took the guages apart, cleaned the faces and glass and replaced the plastic spedo lens. (another ebay find)

For tunes I have a factory toyota radio that fits nicely and sounds good. I have purschased a small factory toyota 6-disk changer that is controlled by the radio and can be mounted inconspicously under the dash. I have a set of 4" Kenwood components in the door that I was able to adapt the orignal speaker grills to and I bought a set of Pioneer surface mount speakers that will mount behind the seats. Due to their shape it looks like they can be mounted in such a way that they will point towards the opposite front side of the passenger compartment. The whole point of the stero was to make it look farily plain and dull as not to attract theives while providing pretty good sound and volume.

Right now the car is stripped down awaiting the OD trans swap and then paint. Once painted, I'll need to get a new top, new windshield/gaskets and possibly redo the seats. Then it's time to ride.

Posted 2006-06-23 07:41:53 by Brutus Locartes