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<DIV>do not take it to a shop that has not worked on old british cars.
they don’t have a clue and won’t do it right. your car will be bondo’d and
a mess. it is well worth taking to someone who has experience.
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=mgs@autox.team.net
href="mailto:mgs@autox.team.net">Dan DiBiase via Mgs</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 19, 2015 8:52 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=mgs@autox.team.net href="mailto:mgs@autox.team.net">MG
List</A> ; <A title=mg-mgb@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:mg-mgb@yahoogroups.com">MGB Group</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Mgs] '65B Restoration Status, How to
Proceed</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
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<DIV id=yiv9191085328>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21187
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<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17213 dir=ltr>I apologize for
the length of this note.....<BR></DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17259 dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17260 dir=ltr>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_22104>My '65 B has been stuck in limbo for a
few years now, as circumstances have made it difficult for me to free up any
time to work on this project. But I expect to have some</DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_22134 dir=ltr>time this coming year to
re-start.... Here is the background -</DIV></DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17261 dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17262 dir=ltr>I purchased this
car in 1999 with the intention of restoring it to (mostly) stock condition, not
to be a concours car but an enjoyable driver. 'Mostly stock' meant, in my mind,
<BR></DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17528 dir=ltr>that it wouldn't
necessarily be as it came from the factory - I want to put an O/D in it as well
as upgraded tires, etc. The condition of the car was pretty darn good for a
$600,</DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17527 dir=ltr>non-running
example. There is one rust hole in the passenger's side rocker, so I assume that
there is additional inside and on the other, although frankly they are in
better</DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17438 dir=ltr>shape than the
ones on my '76 B! Also some rust in the rear fender. But overall, the body is in
good shape. Mechanically, the parts are all there but the engine
accessories<BR></DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17432 dir=ltr>were all removed
when I bought the car and the engine itself is seized. It is probably the
incorrect engine for the car, being a G-series 3 main bearing car - it should be
a GB</DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17470 dir=ltr>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21811 dir=ltr>5 main bearing engine based on
the build date. I have a couple of GB blocks that are rebuildable. I may also
just take the '75B engine out of my '76B and use that, as I expect</DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21919 dir=ltr>the '76B - being pretty rusty -
to only have a few years of life left in the body....<BR></DIV></DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17515 dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV id=yiv9191085328yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_17516 dir=ltr>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21198>Current status is 'mostly' stripped.
Wiring loom, engine/trans, steering column all remain in the car. Everything
else has been removed and stored away.</DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21319> </DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21645 dir=ltr>I'm at the point where I need
to make a decision about proceeding. I am assuming that my next step would be to
remove the engine/trans and wiring, and I can proceed to have</DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21359 dir=ltr>the body looked at...? I don't
really have the skills/tools to do the welding work necessary to replace the
rockers, nor am I really that interested in learning... ;-) The nearest MG
<BR></DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21646 dir=ltr>'specialists' are over an hour
away but there are several reputable body shops in my area (at which I have had
work done on my 'regular' cars). I'm wondering about thoughts on <BR></DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21647 dir=ltr>using a regular shop. And also
what sort of things I can do in terms of prep to reduce the cost of this work.
<BR></DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21949 dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21950 dir=ltr>Other comments
appreciated.</DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_22063 dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_22017 dir=ltr>Oh, and lots of pictures are
here => <A id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_22016
href="http://s24.photobucket.com/user/ddibiase/library/1965%20MGB?sort=3&page=1">http://s24.photobucket.com/user/ddibiase/library/1965%20MGB?sort=3&page=1</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21738 dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21739 dir=ltr>Thx,</DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21740 dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV id=yui_3_16_0_1_1424346596016_21741 dir=ltr>Dan
D</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>