Relieved

It was certainly a good thing to be cautious on the way back when problems started. Like a couple times before, the clearance on multiple valves wasn’t correct anymore. I am uncertain what the root cause for this could be. The only thing I do now: that last three times it happened while – or right after driving long stretches on a motorway with speeds around 100 to 120km/h. After adjusting the valve clearance, a pressure test followed. To my relief all 4 cylinders had high readings around 180psi.

The test drive was good – when accelerating it initially felt a bit rough around 2200 and 2600 RPM – but above this it is fine. Before I will participate in a driver training next Sunday with the MG, I will do another check and service on Maggie.

Back in the garage it was time to assembly the dolly I built two weeks ago. This was not finished because I applied a few layers of paint. The dolly makes switching to and from the roll-over jig much easier – it just needs to be jacked up and on stands. This is helpful for the transport and handling at the body-shop.
The roll-over jig will get the same 20cm large castors soon.

After sorting all spare parts I brought over from the UK and a bit of clean up – I decided to clean-up the 18V engine from Mildred – the 1973 MGB GT. When I bought the car last summer was in a running state. Every couple weeks – usually when I clean up the garage – I turn over the engine by hand – just to make just it doesn’t seize.

My plan was to a “rattle-can plus” overhaul. This means removing everything attached to the engine – just leaving the cylinder head and timing chain in place. Most of the necessary parts for this were ordered along the line. One of the thermostat housing studs broke and it took a while to get this part off. Various wire brush attachments, degreaser, a lot of elbow grease and five hours later the block is almost ready for painting. But because the oil pan and time chain cover were really rusted – I decided to take them off too.

This was a good decision. In the oil pan I found quite a bit of metal shavings. A bit too much to ignore it. I will put it on an engine stand next and might consult an expert for this next….