MGB GT Restoration

[Epicyclic]

Interesting about the back axle, I'll look out for that.

I think my mate got one of the apprentices with small hands to do the bulb now you mention it. I think car designers should be made to do these silly jobs as a penance before they design the next one!

 

[Springerdinger]

Just a small update on the rear chassis member.
Two sides welded up and the metal replaced under the spring hangers

 

[Springerdinger]

A bit of upside down welding - I have the burn mark on my chest to prove it

I'm going to grind this down, as the weld looks a little high in places. That should reveal any dodgy bit that need re-doing

 

[Springerdinger]

A quick snapshop of what lies ahead -
1. Roof skin, abandoning the idea refurbing the webasto
I did say the roof was shot
2. Rear window
3. Inner rear quarter- Repair or replace. Having seen people on the forum
making their own panels parts so well, I think its worth having a go.

I can always buy one after I mess it up.

 

[Tupers]

Looks like you've got a healthy amount of Leyland rust there, nice work on the repairs.

 

[Springerdinger]

Thanks Tupers -
I have kept all the rusty stuff thats come off the car for a final photo one day, despite the local scrap mans best effort to prise it from me

I might take it all to the birdingbury festival and label the buckets as a "1974 MGB GT"

Cheers

Chris

 

[Chickenjohn]

Nice work springerdinger! I'm sure you can repair the inside of that rear 1/4 and the roof.

BTW, I wouldn't take too much notice of how Mark Evans restored his MGB, he overlapped several repair panels on the rear wheel arches holding them together with spot welds. Mark Evans- terrible weak bodge and rust trap. Repair panels should be butt welded as you correctly are doing and only spot/ plug welded where the car body was originally spot welded.

Good work, keep it up and keep the updates coming!

 

[Springerdinger]

Thanks Chickenjohn -
I have learnt so much from the people on this friendly forum.

Cheers
Chris

 

[moose]

Hi Springerdinger, any chance so info from your neighbour re the Range Rover 6wheeler please.......

 

[Springerdinger]

Hi Moose.
He has recently finished rebuilding the range rover, It was in quite a state when he got it. He has fabricated cage, backdoor and cover on the back. I can't remember if all six wheels are driving but I think there are plans to make that happen.

If you need any specifics let me know and I can find out. He is working on a couple of beach buggys at the moment. One of which is to accompany the Range rover in Military colours and probably some display weapons for festivals.

Cheers Chris

 

[Springerdinger]

What a great weekend for a bit of car restoration.
I have decided my hobby is not the MGB or the welding or the car restoration.
In fact my hobby is "Angle Grinding" - - well sometimes it seems like it.

A bit more on that rear valance.
Take note of the crease in the body panel above the valance -

 

[Springerdinger]

The crease in the Panel was a rotten join from the old valance. This I though would be a slight patch to a small fracture. As it happened th emetal was thin and just kept blowing through.

Unable to fix the fracture I cut out an L shaped section of the panel and added fresh metal. A bit of a gamble as I wasn't sure I could shape the curves of the panel. I forgot to take a picture of the hole but heres the fix part way through

Still some work to do on finishing. This off but its a warts an all pic

first picture shows the crease. This is still fill with lead and filler when the photo was taken

 

[Springerdinger]

Having read the chopped mini thread on this forum ( RKDE)
I decided to test the electrolyte tank.

3 bags of washing soda and connected to my Sealy super charger 12v& 24v
About 40 litres of r.o water which I make at home for the fish tank - :fish This was the result of the test after 1 hour.
I need to make the positve electrode wrap around the work piece a bit better as this was done in two halves

The green house will be doubling up as a surface treatment plant this year.

I didn't rub down the wheel hub at all for the purpose of the test - so for a quick test a nice result - I will run the other hub tommorow night for a bit longer hopefully

See what you think - (Yes its the top one )

 

[MG David]

40L is a lot of water for that job. Is this a test for something much larger.

I have used this method. Much less noise than an angle grinder and it works while I am asleep.

 

[Springerdinger]

Hi David

It is to get some larger items in there
I did mover the component closer to the electrode to see the effect
I have been involved in electrophoresis for DNA sampling for donkey's years and this never crossed my mind.

Your spot on about not having to angle grind things and get filthy.
Cant wait to play with it again with a better electrode

 

[Chickenjohn]

It hasn't worked! (I don't see how soda electrolysis could remove rust chemically).

If you want to remove all the rust from those drums, get some citric acid from Ebay (rom a brewing or cosmetics supplier etc), make a 5% solution in an old washing bowl and leave to soak overnight- all rust gone!

Then rinse with water and to prevent flash rusting, brush the surface with 5 - 10% phosphoric acid solution.

Certainly do not buy any powders or solutions from well known manufacturers that I'm not allowed to mention on this forum. These are just citric and oxalic acid sold in a bottle with a fancy label.

 

[Ducky]

I've used this stuff before with great results, not sure about it containing any sort of acid as mentioned above though.

Deox-C

 

[iwoo]

Have a look here for some soda electrolysis

http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp

 

[Springerdinger]

Hi Chicken John

The washing soda works really well - My test was only for an hour with lots of chopping and changing. If you look at the two parts one has the crusty rust all over it. the top drum does not.

The positive electrode is covered in rust - I think if I left if for several hours the result will be very nice

I will post more pics when I run it again for longer

I will get some of the top auction site solutions as well, that also sounds like a nice idea -cheers

Chris

 

[Angusdog]

Electrolysis does work really well and it's cheap. You may need proportionally bigger anodes etc, but I got great results. And no nasty or expensive chemicals. It's main drawback is being 'line of sight' but it should work well with those hubs.