[Mgs] Long time, no type...

[Richard Lindsay]

Hello friends,
   I haven't written to anyone here for ages. But I'm sitting at an airport
hotel in Seattle, going home in the morning, and thinking about you and my
MGB. If interested, let me share more.
   I (mostly) restored my '72 MGB to 'usable status' a year or three ago,
then it got too hot so work stopped (I live in Houston.), then the COVID
pandemic hit, AND other projects slipped ahead of it. Sigh...
   Work began again in ernest about a month or so ago. But given Houston's
100°F summer temperature, I could only work for an hour or two each
morning. Then we took a short cruise and - you guessed it - Nancy and I
both got COVID. So work haulted again but we recovered and MG work
recommenced.
   I rebuilt the fuel system, replacing the fuel pump with a proper low
pressure pump. New alcohol-safe rubber hoses went on with new hose clamps.
And I removed the Weber 32/36DGV and put the twin SUs back on. I had
rebuilt them a bit earlier. Short end to this bit of the story is that the
engine now starts easily and runs great. Its carbs are only 'static tuned'
so far but a nice, warm engine idle is already possible. Next step, the
dynamic tuning. I really enjoy that bit. Then the air cleaners go back on.
But wait! There's more.
   After rebuilding the fuel plumbing I added a couple of gallons of
premium petrol to the tank only to discover a drip, drip, drip. The fuel
tank is new but the fuel level sender seal has perished...or perhaps the
retaining ring isn't adequately tightened. So once I get back home, I'll
pump the fuel back into the fuel jugs so I can open the sender's seal.
Waiting in the mailbox at home is a new seal AND a new retaining ring. I
don't want to risk the old ring being bent or rusty.
   Also in the fun queue before the interior cosmetic restoration
recommences, is bleeding the brakes again (all the cylinders and calipers
are new), reinstalling the cover over the pedal-to-master cylinders, and
readjusting the brake light switch.
   I also have a new Al radiator to go on. The OEM radiator is plugged and
quite inefficient. That's in the queue too.
   Yeah, lots of fun to be had all before temperatures in Houston fall low
enough to permit comfortable, open air motoring. I'll save you the
descriptions of the cosmetic work remaining to be completed. But suffice to
say, it's mostly panels, a bit of refinishing, a seat diaphragm or two, and
a top.
   Thanks for reading. I'm happy to be back in touch.

Rick Lindsay, on America's South Coast
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