So glad to hear!!!!!!! Today's problems are most often tomorrow's
smiles.
Becky
69 MGB - STILL just a dash away!!!!
Bill Eastman wrote:
>
> The saga continues! Friday night I got home with the A and started to work
> on the stuck bonnet. Normally I wouldn't have worried about it but with a
> little over 100 miles on the rebuild and 150 mile planned for the next day,
> I wanted to check fluids and connections prior to hitting the road. When
> I pulled the release the bonnet came up about an inch. this left a less
> than 1/2 inch gap between the bonnet frame and the front shroud through
> which I had to diagnose and, hopefully, fix whatever was stopping the
> bonnet from opening. After about 20 minutes of fiddling with a mirror and
> a small flashlight on sticks, I saw that the sheet metal "latch guide
> plate" had been caught by the mushroom on the end of the latch pin. My
> previous frustration driven brute force attempts to open the bonnet had
> bent this plate up and it now formed a Chines Handcuffs of sorts for the
> latch pin. After another half hour or so using assorted small tools to
> loosen its grip with no success, I went over to neighbor Mike's garage for
> a gander at his car to see if there was any other way to approach this
> problem. After some serious deliberation, we decided to cut the latch pin
> off with a hack saw. This would not have been an option- I needed the car
> to drive- except Mike generously offered the latch pin from his A project
> to me until such time as I can procure a replacement. 10 minutes with a
> small hacksaw and the deed was done. I removed the offending guide plate,
> put washers on the latch attachment screws in its place, and put a large
> round metal part- a bushing from a lawnmower blade or something like that-
> on the bottom of the latch pin spring. This was to stop the spring from
> falling through the crossmember hole and fouling the latch mechanism. It
> all works so well that I just may leave it this way once I get the new
> bonnet. I don't know what the guide plate guided but it works fine without
> it.
>
> During this process, the reason for my misfortune was discovered. There is
> a large spring under the left fender that pulls the latch linkage home
> after operation. This spring had fallen off- upset no doubt during the
> removal/replacement/tweaking of the motor. No spring, no latch close,
> bonnet opens. I must have been unconsciencely pushing the linkage
> partially home up until the fateful trip. Why the safety catch failed is
> beyond me. Maybe the air under the bonnet bent it enough at 60 mph to pull
> the safety catch free. Any way, mystery solved, I believe.
>
> The A was about 1.5 quarts low on oil. I filled it up. I also filled the
> radiator even though I knew that the extra would just be blown out on the
> tarmac as soon as it warmed up. Took off the next day for a softball
> tournament- girls fastpitch for oldest daughter Lindsay. We got a few
> miles down the road and my side of the windscreen started to get wet. I
> tasted it and it was antifreeze. I figured that the air pressure was
> pushing the overflow from under the car up through the newly acquired fresh
> air ducts along the bonnet edges. The next time I looked at the engine,
> however, I found the real reason. I had forgotten to install the radiator
> cap after the top off.
>
> Anyway, 400 miles after rebuild now. I have changed the oil and filter.
> Upon recommendation, I have changed to Valvoline in an attempt to help hot
> oil pressure. After the oil change I now have a new oil leak in the
> vicinity of the oil filter (new spin on adapter from Moss). I will try to
> fix this tonight. Three great days in a row so far this week after last
> week's rains. However, we are supposed to have low 90 F with frequent
> thunderstorm weather for the rest of the week so the weather gear will have
> to come back out. I know this make me a sissy but it is generally frowned
> upon at work to go to meetings smelling like a wet dog. Two more weeks at
> least of MGA daily driving since it looks like some parts for the daily
> driver are on backorder.
>
> I have a couple of leads on another bonnet. Thanks to everyone who
> responded with offers of parts, help, or sympathy. I am feeling much
> better now. The A is wrinkled but not defeated and is still my favorite
> car on earth.
>
> Regards,
> Bill Eastman
> 61 MGA getting plenty of exercise and looking for some "wrinkle cream"
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