Still working on the MG

[billcu]

I'm happy to say the Mark VIII's are running so good, I finally have some time to work on the MG.:thumbsup:

I'm going through the front end replacing "perished" bushings as they call them. I pulled off the lower control arms and I'm cleaning them up with my new sandblasting box that they were throwing away at work. The gloves are gone, but they had duct tape that actually works ok with a pair of regular rubber gloves.

The parts weren't horribly rusted, I just wanted to clean them up and rattle can them to make it nicer for reassembly.

Here's a couple photos of the control arms, the blast box, and the MG in one of my favorite old photos, when I only had one Mark VIII.:err-what?:

 

[Mad1stGen]

Man, that trio shot is great.

Blaster is working good too I see. Can't beat free

 

[beerdog]

when was the last time those cars were moved? Especially the Tempest.

 

[tixer]

the MG is cute and all, but I need to know more about that Tempest. I didn't know you had one. My old man owned a Tempest Sprint at one time. It seems to be the one he regrets selling the most.

 

[steve]

I like the Pontiac

 

[Mad1stGen]

I believe that's a LeMans. Why do you guys call it Tempest ? Then again, I know ZERO about Pontiacs in general. lol.

 

[tixer]

Here's the problem. it seems to be a "base, better, best" kind of thing...

 

[billcu]

Thanks guys!

Yes, mine is the Le Mans. The Tempest was the cheaper model, that one Tixer showed is even a post body style, common on the Tempest but that was available in the Le Mans and GTO also. That Le Mans and Tempest have a GTO hood too.

I'm slowly working on my Le Mans, it has a bad frame, I've got the engine, trans, front clip, and most of the interior out of it, I still need to take the roof and doors off before I can pull the body off the frame.

The MG runs fine, I'm just freshening up the front end.

 

[tixer]

I'm slowly working on my Le Mans, it has a bad frame, I've got the engine, trans, front clip, and most of the interior out of it, I still need to take the roof and doors off before I can pull the body off the frame.

Sounds like a lot of work. please keep us posted!

The MG runs fine, I'm just freshening up the front end.

Next stop: Autocross..

 

[billcu]

The Le Mans has been a slow moving, low priority project for a few years now, I'm hoping to at least get the top and doors off this season.

Here's a shot I did years ago and posted here, when I pulled the engine out.

I stuck Jeremi's "Pullied" engine in it.:laugh:

 

[Slowmkviii]

That 4.6 looks awesome in there
I like the variety of your collection.

 

[beerdog]

The 4.6 looks soo huge in that engine bay.

 

[billcu]

The 4.6 looks soo huge in that engine bay.

Yes, I remember when I copied and pasted that engine in there, I had to leave it a bit big, out of scale, to fit in the engine bay photo.:laugh:

But I think it looks cool.

 

[95blklsc]

The Le Mans has been a slow moving, low priority project for a few years now, I'm hoping to at least get the top and doors off this season.

Here's a shot I did years ago and posted here, when I pulled the engine out.

I stuck Jeremi's "Pullied" engine in it.:laugh:

Ha that engine looks familiar!

 

[billcu]

Back to the MG work.

I wish the Mark VIII lower control arm was this easy and cheap to rebuild. About 20 bucks worth of bushings, seals, and hardware per side. No pressing needed, and all fine thread bolts and castle nuts with cotter pins holding the inner and outer control arm mounts.

You have to take the control arm apart like shown, so you can slide the inner control arm bushings on the studs, then, bolt the control arm back together.:laugh:

The outer connection to the bottom of the kingpin (no balljoints) is a grease able metal sleeve, no rubber there.

 

[beerdog]

nice. Can't wait for a drive.

 

[billcu]

I put one of the control arms in today.

Here's where the Mark VIII would be easier, with the airsprings.

I borrowed a spring compressor from a friend, it was just a bit too big. I used floor jacks to bring the control arm up. It was a little scary, lining up the outer bolt and seals, but it worked out fine.

It's not done yet, I need to connect the stabilizer link, torque things down, and put the cotter pins in.:laugh:

 

[tixer]

Looks good Bill!

 

[billcu]

I finished this up today. I used some old band clamps to compress the spring a bit, just to make it easier to get the jack under the control arm. I borrowed a friends spring compressor, but it was too big for the tiny springs.

I cleaned it up and took it for a quick test drive, it's running great.:cool-blue:

 

[redn8]

Looks great!