You know my MGB, the convertible, the "good" one? The one that
went for a $15 inspection and got $900 in work done? Well, that
ain't nothing yet.
It had been smoking rather heavily lately after having never
smoked before. I put in some Barhdahl and forgot about it. Then it
started eating oil like Ivana Trump eats cavier. On the way home
from UNH, when the car spent a week outside in the rain and being
used for daily transportation smoking along the way... smoke starts
coming from under the dash!
Well, since we feel like we were screwed by the first garage, we
decided that our MGs should go to the bodyshop where not only was my
MGB-GT fixed masterfully, the carburettors were re-built and the car
STARTS NOW! IN THE RAIN EVEN! Anyway, back to the subject, we had it
brought there.
Between welding up the battery boxes, discovering that there was
an arc somewhere with the windshield wipers (ah, so that's why they
ddin't work), and practically re-wiring the entire dash (which,
according to the bodyman, was totally fouled up), the bill now stands
at $490. That ain't the half of it, because when it was done, my
father asked the bodyman to do to this car's carbs what he did to the
carbs on the MGB-GT. Whatever he did, the car runs like it's new,
very smooth, quiet, faster, and better gas mileage. So, why not have
both MGBs run like that?
Well, for starters there was no compression in cylinder one. The
bodyman calls, what should I do? He takes off the valve cover, no
troubles under there. He calls my father, and off comes the head.
Where has all that smoke been coming from? Well, me think's that
hole in piston one would do it.
So, this is how it stands: The notoriously un-reliable MGB-GT
from hell is running like a new car. The MG Magnette Mk. III, which
Mike Ash of "MGA!" once called "The all-time dog," is runnin glike a
champ. The MGB, our darling, with the new interior, absolutely no
faults, not a single trouble for THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS, now has a
hole in the piston, nearly deadly electrical gremlins, and enough bad
attitude to be a First Lady. Do you think it's jealous? Is there a
law against owning three MGs and having them all running at the same
time? I know I once had them ALL running at the same time, only to
have all three become undriveable in some way on the same day... So
far my car repair bills in the last 2 months..
$900- repairs to convertible (brakes, etc)
$70- new generator for Magnette (wasn't the regulator)
$1400- bodywork, carb, and brake work on MGB-GT
$490- electrical gremlins on MGB
$_____ - New rings, new pistons, and whatever else on MGB
When does it end? BTW, I just got a "Ford/Citibank Visa". Don't
think I'm selling out or anything... All the money spent goes
towards bonuses that can be used for a Jaguar. And there is a
certain convertible model I have my eye on...
John, about $70,000 short of a new JAG!
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