Bodywork, Paint, Interior, Trim, & Wiring

Spent the better part of the 3 days in the garage...

First, made a brace that combines to protect the radiator, serve as a jacking point, and reinforce the bottom/leading edge of the front valance -- forgot to take a pic of it though

Next, installed a Hagan fuel door...


Then, installed remote jumper posts...


Next spent most of the time making some reinforcements for the door skins to hang my mirrors (Chrysler Crossfire)...

More... Here's the door with the mirror on it...


Also noticed the "crack of doom" starting on one door, so reinforced that area... It's hard to see, but what i did was weld a piece into bend & tied that into the piece i made to reinforce the skin for the mirrors...


And, got louvers punched in my hood...


Phew!

Nice work Rob! What's the story on the fuel door? I've never seen one quite like that before, slick! Mirror looks good on the car, not too large for the B at all and you've got enought support you'll never see the crack of doom again. I like what you did with the rear flares as well, now I know what you were describing to Jim for the Roadmaster.

Looking good Rob.

Keep at it. It is all worth it in the end.

Just wait until that first drive. Bet you won't be able to keep the smile off your face.

Bill, Hagan is a supplier to the hot rod market... they make stuff like suicide door hinges/latches, lighting parts, grille shells, etc. They advertise in most of the hot rod magazines & most speed shops carry or can get their stuff but you can also order direct. [www.haganauto.com]

I used the one that has a slight curve (32" radius) & 45* angle to the filler neck. They sell them with the skin attached to the box or unattached; I got mine unattached so I could work the curve a bit. Still wasn't easy because the hinge is attached making it hard to work... I ended up removing the hinge & then welding it back on when I finished getting the curve right. They also have a series with a 7" radius. Not sure, but I think that might have been closer to the curve needed to work where I put it.

Rob, that really will look sharp. I'm guessing it's opened with a solenoid? Looks like you're getting pretty close.

Jim

It actually opens with a magnetic catch. may add a selenoid later, but probably not.

It feels like i'm close. I have a lot of welding to finish up, but probably can do it all in one full weekend. Then body shop, plumbing & wiring. It's going to be tight to get it done in time for NC.

Here's a pic of the combination radiator/valance protection/jacking point. The 3/4" square tube in the front is curved & fits snugly in the lower front lip of the valance...


And here's one of the mod I made to my rotisserie. Original version used two pieces of plumbing pipe, one inside the other as the pivot. I had a bolt that went through the outer pipe to pinch against the inner one to hold the car where I wanted it. After about 6 months I took the car down & when I did I found the inner pipe had been warn almost completely through by that pinch bolt. Modifed using someones idea of using the gear & worm drive from a cheap a harbor freight winch. Should be way safer this time around.

That looks very good Rob, light but strong enough to use as a jacking point. I like it.

Jim

Looks good Rob!
I like those mirrors, looks like they belong there.

Bill

Nicely thought out. Looks like it's coming along. Got a target date for being on the road?

RE: Nicely thought out. Looks like it's coming along. Got a target date for being on the road?


Yeah, spring 2008.

LOL

I"ve quit setting targets.

Rob,
I'm a little bit behind you. Where did nyou source them or what kind of side mirrors are you using. I like um
Richard Carr

They're chrysler crossfire mirrors. I tried saturn sky, some kind of toyota mirrors, & these. These seemed to fit the best. And, I lucked out because they hang right without haveing to modify the angle where they attach -- like they were made for the curve of the MG door. Couple of things to be aware of -- first, they're pretty heavy so you'd definitely want to reinforce the door skin or you'll get the crack of doom for sure. second, where i placed them, they're in the way of the quarter windows opening more than about an inch or so. I never used those windows much on the prior MG's I had & I have A/C so decided to go with looks over the window function.

Looking very good. I especially like the louvered hood, did a shop do that or did you do it yourself? Michelle

Local hot rod shop -- Bill's Hot Rods in Spring TX... turns out Bill & his family are pretty well known in the hot rod circles. I've seen write ups on cars from his shop & his personal '32 in a Rod & Custom, Hot Rod, & similar magazines. I had a heck of a time finding someone with a louver press -- he's the only one around here that seems to have one.