MG Sports Cars

BADASS has $775 left in the account after our last bill from Flying Circus.

Steve

Steve, glad to hear you made the trip safely.

JB

Just got back from a test drive in the neighborhood. Does not over heat, stopped the fuel from gushing down the carb.
Only one fan comes on, but heat is below 200 at idle and even lower after the drive.
Brakes still need mor work, but it will at least stop using all four corners.
I still plan to get the front end aligned and get keys cut and check some of the electrical isues: temp guage and air bag compressor.
Lots of fun and sounds good. Didin't do over about 30.
Timing is at about 20 degrees and the vacuum advane is hooked up to ported vacuum. So far no troulble.
More tomorrow.
Tom Caine came over to help with the brakes.
Parking brake now works a little .

Steve

I talked to Steve Yesterday and he had done quite a bit in the short time the car has been with him. Advanced the timing, backed off the idle speed adjustment, and several other things en-route to making the car driveable. Depending on how much he is able and willing to do, the car's days of being carried around on a trailer may be pretty much over. He had a few minor gripes and I think most of us will. After all, that is exactly why we customize our own cars, and of course this car is not the personal transportation of any one of us nor was it ever intended to be. About the most we can hope to do there is to make it as comfortable as possible for as many of us as possible.

So next we need to put insurance and tags on the car. I'm in the process of trying to figure out the best way to contact McKeel Hagerty to see how we can settle this issue, but if anyone has a way to contact him or anyone else highly placed in the insurance industry your help would be a big benefit to us all.

JB

Just got back from Roadmaster's first cruise in. It was quit the hit.
All guages now work except for the speedo and tach. Tach reads but is not accurate.
Alt now charges at 13-14 volts depending on RPM.
Engine runs at 190 degrees all the time now. That is the thermostat.
Brakes are still not great.
Goes in for alignment on Monday.
I drove it around about 20 miles today. Does run good.

Steve

OMG! STEVE DROVE THE CAR! ON THE STREET!

This is what we've been waiting on for, what? Five years now?! Now THAT is what I call exciting news!!

JB

That's awesome! Any pics of the car @ the cruise in?

What's the issue with the brakes?

No pics.
The brakes seem to have air somewhere that I have not been able to bleed out. Will try again after the alignment.
I have been afraid to open it up because of the brake issue. It will stop, but in a emergency it would be bad.


steve

I know I'm a relative newbie to the project.
But that's the coolest thing ever!!!
Everyone involved should be immensely proud and excited by it's mere existence.
And while a myriad of people have been involved in it's birth I think a special recognition is due to Jim.
What a phenomenal accomplishment.
For a relatively small group of online buddies to produce something like this is a inspiration at the least.
Well done! to everyone involved.
I am humbled to be in your presence.
Cheers
Fred

Do we have insurance on the Roadmaster now?!

Um...no,... why do you ask?

JB

"I knew him before he was king"

OK, a couple of new developments. Most of you may find this boring so be forewarned, still in the interest of full disclosure I should post it. First the good news, earlier today I fired off an email that I hope will reach the attention of McKeel Hagerty of Hagerty Insurance. No guarantees, it's not easy to find his personal email address, I suppose for pretty obvious reasons but we'll see where it leads. Anyone with an inside contact feel free to lead.

The not so good news is that my timing could have been better. I wasn't really satisfied with our organization's business designation being LLC on the official records when the application form is designated NLC and my apologies to all but this summer I accidentally allowed the license to lapse while thinking about what to do about it. A week or two back I had re-filed using NLC as the extension but it was bounced, so this morning I called the sec of state and worked out a solution that allows our registered name to indicate our non-profit status. The new form went in this morning using the extension: ...Society, N LLC, the N standing for the non-profit status. I realize this is a minor detail but the details are important.

I pretty much have to make hay when the mood hits me so I also later wrote the letter to McKeel and then sent it out. The down side is if he checks background on the organization before the new application is processed it will raise a flag. Not my brightest move I'm afraid, but there you have it and we'll have to deal with it as well as we can.

JB

If Hagerty doesn't like it, there is always Grundy, etc.

Not to worry.

The brakes are now very good. Hard, high pedal. This is thanks to Unlimited Auto here in Lugoff. No charge. Great guys.
The fuel guage has died. Tach still reading 8000+, Speedo not working.
The four wheel alignment turned out to be a 3 wheel job. Right rear would not adjust in. 5/8 tow out.
I took the rod off today and removed the jam nut which gave some more adjustment. Now it seems fine. Tom Caine helped with that.
Just drove it another 7 miles. No over heating, ran great.
Timing is now set at 25 degrees with the vacuum hooked to manifold. It is much happier this way.
The rear end is not quiet, it whines on decel. Everything is greased really well.
Will take it to the cruise in on Friday and will take pics and try to post.

Steve

Great updates, thx Steve!

So what DID you ultimately do on the brakes? Sounds like the first four bleeding attempts got nowhere...

And with the timing at 25 idle (manifold) you'll only get 25 degree FULL when you punch it! (Kinda short....)

I can't imagine you got it to stop running on the primaries, but what did you do to the carb to stop "the gushing"? You mentioned being at 20 degrees with PORTED vacuum-- was the port NOT being pulled? (That would be awesome). It's too bad the engine wants so much timing-- the distributor isn't curved for it.

And, lastly, did you get the other fan working? I'm guessing the top connector where both wires came in.... (Or did we have a partially seizing motor-- now done-- which might explain all the blown fuses!)

Cheers!

M

PS: My apologies for the HUGE pix I sent to Jim. (It was late. I was tired. I'm a Luddite, blah blah..) HOWEVER... I think I (now) know the quick way to downsize, so maybe I'll post a few for those watching in the wings. :-)

Okay, let's see how this goes.... M

Hey, it worked! (Note: Carl in his natural habitat!)

Okay, the previous were: a) interior b) "modified" TR6 heater valve c) the tricky dash repair d) Lights Work!!!

Last ones: 1) Front Lights 2) Jim's modified control arms 3) Passenger door 4) (nearly) Ready to Roll!!!

Max,
Carb: I advanced the timing and turned down the idle speed screw and kept balancing them until I got the butterflys closed. Then I could adjust the mixture screws.
With the timing where it is it runs good and accelerates faster than I want to. I fugure at cruise it will have about 40 degrees advance.
The brakes: took the car to a friend who has a bleeder set up that pressurizes the MC. Then just open the bleed screws one at a time and watch the air come out. Worked great and fast.
Have not messed with the other fan. Runs cool on one right now.
I will look at that and the tach this weekend, I hope.