From gunnellj at tds.net Sun Jan 6 20:22:20 2013 From: gunnellj at tds.net (gunnellj tds.net) Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2013 21:22:20 -0600 Subject: [Mailman] Reactivated Message-ID: I don't think I've ever really been off the list, but I have not been really active in a while. Some of you may be aware of my "Tales of 3 MGs" articles in AUTO RESTORER magazine and are probably wondering what happened. The answer is two things. Last June I developed A-fib and had to deal with that heart condition. In October I was shocked (literally) and things are fine so far. The second problem is that the magazine publisher got in a financial crunch about midyear and stopped paying for articles. They always treated me fine and I had no big problem with their temporary switch to old stories and reader submissions and just this week I've been informed that everything is back on track for 2013. So, i'm assuming the MG series will pick up where it left off. The idea behind the series of stories is the restoration of three T Series cars in three different ways: frame up, rolling restoration and hot rod. The '52 TD is all apart and we're having minor panel fit issues after rebuilding the wood body framing. The TF was supposed to be "just fixed up" without disassembly, but I found out the rear lateral wood support is just about gone, so we are going to have to do at least a "body lift." Should be interesting to see if we can fix it without total "lift off." As for the hot rod, my son is working part-time at the shop now and that's going to be his project. The low-bucks hot rod is getting pricier than planned as well. It was $1800 to repair the rotted frame and $3,300 for a built Ford V8-60. The chassis will be re-assembled first. Then we have all the front sheet metal and a cowl section, doors, rear fenders and a gas tank. The body tub disintegrated when the car was stripped. In September I went to Bonneville and crewed for a car backed by Fox Valley Technical College in Apleton, Wis. Now I have "Salt Fever" and I'm thinking of finishing the hot rod with a "Bonneville" look. I don't think i really want to spend the money to build a car you could actually race there, but it would be fun to take it to Utah and drive it around on the Salt Flats. What do you think? Any ideas will be appreciated. I also have my '57 MG Magnette apart and we have a Daimler SP250 in the shop that we're doing for a customer. About a month or so ago, Jay Leno got an SP250. I had a chance to talk to him today about the car and put him on the "Dart" guru John Carey in Ipswich, Mass. and to the SP250 newsletter done by Laurence Jones in England. The two cars are actually in about the same state of restoration right now, but I think Leno will soon be out in front of us. We're moving slow so our customer can keep things on a budget. Well, I'm glad to be back on the list. i had some specific questions, but John Seim already answered them. -- "Gunner" John Gunnell PO Box 87 Iola, WI 54945 Ph: 715-445-4262 Cell: 715-281-5925 LIVIN' THE DREAM Please visit Gunner's Great Garage Restoration Shop - Automotive Book Shop - Art Gallery E6110 Fuhs Rd, Manawa, WI 54949 Cell: 715-281-5925 (anytime) Take A Slide Show Tour of the Shop at www.gunnersgreatgarage.com Check my blog Gunner's Garage at www.oldcarsweekly.com Publications and Websites I Contribute To: Old Cars Weekly, Old Cars Restoration Guide, For Vettes Only, Amos Auto Enthusiast Weekly (digital), Auto Enthusiast (print), Towing & Recovery Footnotes, Auto Restorer, Vintage Truck, Vette Vues, Free Riders Press, Second Chance Garage, Garage Style, Ol Skool Rodz, Car Kulture Deluxe, Gunner's Great Garage News (blog), Gunner's Garage (blog), Super Chevy, Muscle Car Review, Smoke Signals, Pontiac Registry (Website), Classic Motorsports, Gearhead News, Keith Lasrsen Show Newstalk 1110 / WBLT Radio Charlotte, N.C., Muzzy Broadcasting System's Legends of Country B-104.9 Stevens Point WI & Occasional Others. From gunnellj at tds.net Mon Jan 14 18:28:19 2013 From: gunnellj at tds.net (gunnellj tds.net) Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:28:19 -0600 Subject: [Mailman] 16-bolt fix-up Message-ID: A number of years ago a friend of mine had a nice MG TF and over one winter he freshened the car. He told me that he took the body off to clean and paint the chassis, touch up the engine, etc. I asked how he did this so quickly and he told me "I only had to remove about 16 bolts and lift the body off." Now I have taken a few TDs apart since then, but not a TF. It seems like the process of body removal takes a bit more work than removing 16 bolts. Also, based on what I know and the fact that the TF hood sides are stationary, it would seem to me that it might be harder to lift the body off a TF. The reason I ask these questions is that my TF 1250 really needs at least two body "timbers" replaced. The rear bottom rail (Moss 449-130) has worn so thin I'm surprised it hasn't snapped in two yet. The tank backboard (Moss 449-125) has been mushy since I first got the car. You can push your fingers into it. So, i am looking for the "16-bolt" way to remove the body and replace these two parts. Am I dreaming? John Gunnell -- "Gunner" John Gunnell PO Box 87 Iola, WI 54945 Ph: 715-445-4262 Cell: 715-281-5925 LIVIN' THE DREAM Please visit Gunner's Great Garage Restoration Shop - Automotive Book Shop - Art Gallery E6110 Fuhs Rd, Manawa, WI 54949 Cell: 715-281-5925 (anytime) Take A Slide Show Tour of the Shop at www.gunnersgreatgarage.com Check my blog Gunner's Garage at www.oldcarsweekly.com Publications and Websites I Contribute To: Old Cars Weekly, Old Cars Restoration Guide, For Vettes Only, Amos Auto Enthusiast Weekly (digital), Auto Enthusiast (print), Towing & Recovery Footnotes, Auto Restorer, Vintage Truck, Vette Vues, Free Riders Press, Second Chance Garage, Garage Style, Ol Skool Rodz, Car Kulture Deluxe, Gunner's Great Garage News (blog), Gunner's Garage (blog), Super Chevy, Muscle Car Review, Smoke Signals, Pontiac Registry (Website), Classic Motorsports, Gearhead News, Keith Lasrsen Show Newstalk 1110 / WBLT Radio Charlotte, N.C., Muzzy Broadcasting System's Legends of Country B-104.9 Stevens Point WI & Occasional Others. From gunnellj at tds.net Sat Jan 19 13:23:30 2013 From: gunnellj at tds.net (gunnellj tds.net) Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:23:30 -0600 Subject: [Mailman] TF Body Removal Message-ID: I should know the answer to this but I don't. Some years ago a member of Fox Cities British Car Club told me he took the body off his MG TF over the winter. It was a nice car but he wanted to freshen the running gear. He told me it was esy to do and said he only had to take out 16 bolts to remove the body. Was he making it easier than it sounds? The reason I ask is that I am writing a series of articles about fixing up my three T Series cars. The TF was supposed to ge a "rolling restoration" like people did years ago. But in the fall of 2011 I discovered that the rear body support was cracked (the same as the one shown in the photos you sent) and also the board in front of the gas tank is rotted so soft you can push your fingers into it. If I can I am looking for the fastest, easiest way to fix these without taking the car totally apart. I have removed two TD bodies and thought it was somewhat difficult. I don't think that doing a TF is any easier. What's your opiion? -- "Gunner" John Gunnell PO Box 87 Iola, WI 54945 Ph: 715-445-4262 Cell: 715-281-5925 LIVIN' THE DREAM Please visit Gunner's Great Garage Restoration Shop - Automotive Book Shop - Art Gallery E6110 Fuhs Rd, Manawa, WI 54949 Cell: 715-281-5925 (anytime) Take A Slide Show Tour of the Shop at www.gunnersgreatgarage.com Check my blog Gunner's Garage at www.oldcarsweekly.com Publications and Websites I Contribute To: Old Cars Weekly, Old Cars Restoration Guide, For Vettes Only, Amos Auto Enthusiast Weekly (digital), Auto Enthusiast (print), Towing & Recovery Footnotes, Auto Restorer, Vintage Truck, Vette Vues, Free Riders Press, Second Chance Garage, Garage Style, Ol Skool Rodz, Car Kulture Deluxe, Gunner's Great Garage News (blog), Gunner's Garage (blog), Super Chevy, Muscle Car Review, Smoke Signals, Pontiac Registry (Website), Classic Motorsports, Gearhead News, Keith Lasrsen Show Newstalk 1110 / WBLT Radio Charlotte, N.C., Muzzy Broadcasting System's Legends of Country B-104.9 Stevens Point WI & Occasional Others.