MGB Roadmaster

[Moderator]

Ref: <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/MG/Roadmaster.htm">Roadmaster in the BritishV8 Photo Gallery</a>

Today I wrote a new introductory paragraph for the top of the Photo Gallery page, and shifted the old intro to the bottom of the article. In the new intro, I gave Pete's name and contact info.  I also moved the list of project participants lower on the page... It's all still there, but I figured someone interested in buying Roadmaster might want to get to the features and specifications list - and to the photos - a bit quicker. I think the article is a bit dated though. I guess I should add a note about the new ignition system, eh? I think it's a big selling point! What else? (Please p.m. me the specific details.) Nice photos of upgrades would be good. All the significant improvements could be grouped together in one section. Let me know what you think.

[mowog1]

License tag sticker received and installed on car.

Insurance policy paid up, but I need to receive the Proof of Insurance card to keep in the car. (The current one expires in about a month.)

[mowog1]

We have moved the BADASS (Roadmaster) checking account to the Marine Bank in Champaign, IL.

There are no fees involved with this account. It is set up as a NFP LLC Business account.

Pete Mantell and my name is on the account.

It has a current balance of $325.xx.

We will obviously need to boost this amount somewhat before insurance, license tags, or any repairs are needed.

The car is currently residing in my garage.

If you would like to make a donation....

1) Check payable to BADASS and mailed to:  Rick Ingram - P.O.Box 746 - St.Joseph, IL 61873

2) PayPal payment to:  mowog1@aol.com  (PLEASE specify BADASS donation so I can keep this separate from my Pieces of Eight account)

Thank you!

[mowog1]

I'm bumping this post....we could REALLY use some cash donations to the Roadmaster's operational fund.

We will be having some annual expenses (license, NFP filing, insurance) coming due.

If you would like to make a donation....

1) Check payable to BADASS and mailed to: Rick Ingram - P.O.Box 746 - St.Joseph, IL 61873

2) PayPal payment to: mowog1@aol.com  (PLEASE specify BADASS donation so I can keep this separate from my Pieces of Eight account)


Thank you for your consideration!

[mowog1]

Thank you, Dan Masters!

[mowog1]

Thank you, Mark Weitzman!!!

[mowog1]

Thank you, Calvin Grannis!

[mowog1]

Took the Roadmaster out for a short drive today after its hibernation of 6 months.

She started right up....and put grins on the faces of three out of town enthusiasts who were visiting Mantell Motorsport. They all got rides/drives.....and REALLY like it.

This car is for sale......

[mowog1]

I just finished installing a gas strut kit on the rear deck of the Roadmaster.
 
A single strut works fine and allows for the use of a larger spare tire.
 
(I only installed one strut on the Roadmaster.)
 
A dual strut kit is available for those who REALLY want it.

Pieces of Eight!

[mowog1]

Note to self.

Fuel gauge is not accurate.

Oops.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Yeah, we should fix that. Is there any reason we couldn't go back to stock gages? I mean, if it's the tach, a stock one will work by just hooking it to one of the coil packs. We'd need a round oil pressure gage to match of course, but I sort of favor the old dual gage, oil pressure and water temp, and that would leave us with an extra slot I think. Can't have too many gages... long as they work. Was the sender ever changed out?

Jim

[MGBV8]

Fuel sending unit. That is what I was wondering. the fuel gauge worked perfect for the month I had it. Drove it home from Charleston, West By God Virginia. The gauge read F to E as I drove it from full to fumes. Pumped in well over 12 gallons when I made it to Kinsport.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Yeah, but Carl, if you'll recall it had a big ole band-aid on it in the form of a huge capacitor in parallel with the sender to take the surges out of it. Dan M and Jim W removed that when they were working on the fan wiring and who knows where it went? It's never been the same since, and I never felt like it worked completely right even then.

I probably have some OEM gages I can donate, though maybe not the full set. I can look though if anyone thinks this is a good idea.

Jim

[mowog1]

The sender needs to be matched to the gauge for resistance in order for the gauge to read correctly. Not overly hard.

It would be REALLY nice to have a tach.

I use my GPS as a speedometer.

On a positive note (pun intended), the voltmeter works as does the water temperature gauge.

Larry Norton, MG enthusiast out of Atlanta, drove the car on Wednesday. He really enjoyed it. He commented on the hard steering and the whine from the differential. Said the brake pedal was fine.

[MGBV8]

And now for a dissenting opinion.

Personally, I have no need for a tach in the Roadmaster. With the torque on tap, there is no need to wind it tight enough to even look at a tach. Just me, though.

Gas gauge, yes! This running out of gas is getting ridiculous.

[BlownMGB-V8]

I think all the gages should be made to work. It almost seems ridiculous that we've had this problem for so long. It seems to me that the sender was changed. If it has not been, then there is a replacement still in the boot. But I think it may be a stock sender, and I doubt that would be much of an improvement. We may have changed that out the last time the car was here. Curtis donated the replacement.

Those gages may be just fine, I don't know. Nobody has ever been able to get them to work. But if we can put in a set of stock gages the gas would work at least. That is probably the most important one. A stock tach should work wired to one coil pack. And isn't it possible to hook up a regular speedometer cable to the T5? Is that the way yours is Carl? The rest are simple by comparison and can be picked up for at most $30 each just about anywhere. Ammeter, voltmeter, water temp, oil pressure, whatever. Black face, white numbers, and chrome bezel is just about the most common combination there is. Browse ebay. Pick 3. Buy a speedo cable. A weekend's effort and done.

Jim

[Dan B]

I think I have some spare 2" gauges from a TR4A, black face white numbers. Oil Pressure (mechanical), ammeter, probably fuel and water temp,

[MGBV8]

My T-5 has a 90 degree box with speedo correction gears (still not correct) and cable to the stock speedometer. The electronic VSS in the Roadmaster T-5 is interchangeable with my mechanical speedo drive. The two units are interchangeable in Camaro T-5s.

[BlownMGB-V8]

I have tach, speedo, fuel and temp, circa '71 mainly, with the rounded bezel, a few pieces with the angled bezel, also a rectangular oil gage and sender, not that we'd want that. They should be cleaned up but there should be enough of them to get a working set, with Dan's oil pressure gage though I'm not sure the bezels will all match.

I think that leaves the volt/ammeter. Where is that in the Roadmaster? We also have the spot where the air pressure gage is for the removed air suspension if we want to use it, maybe it could go there? I've forgotten if that's in the console or in an add-on mount.

I'm not sure if it's even possible to over-rev that big block before the power falls off a cliff. Probably the least in need of a tach of any car in the fleet.

I'd be happy to box up the lot of these gages and send them out, use 'em or lose 'em sort of a deal, they're just sitting in a box taking up space.

Jim

[MGBV8]

From Hap Waldrop

Also screw VDO, go with Autometer Sport Comp, or Pro Comp, it's well worth the extra money, VDO and Stewart Warner are not what they used to be.

[mowog1]

The Roadmaster will be going to Indianapolis this week (July 15-18) for BritishV8 2015.

PJ Lenihan will take over as its caretaker...the car will be going to North Carolina and will be campaigned on the East Coast.

I've noticed telltale signs of a rear differential leak on the garage floor.

I put the car up on the lift and check the level of lube in the diff. It required about five ounces to top it off. There is a whine in the differential...I used 85w140 Hypoid which seemed to quiet it somewhat.

While the car was in the air, I greased the jerks on the rear suspension.

The oil has not been changed on the car this year....but still looks clean and really does not have that many miles on it since the last change.

As for funding....we currently have about $720 in the checking account at a local Champaign (IL) bank. We changed banks due to monthly fees being charge by the previous bank. We are NOT being charged fees at the current bank, nor are we receiving interest on the account.

We will be "passing the hat" at BritishV8 2015 to bump the account somewhat. We will have insurance and licensing fees coming due which will eat about half of the account...should something catastrophic happen to the car, we would not be able to reimburse those who bankroll the repairs at this time.

Related....kudos to those of you who stepped up to the plate with donations this year to the Roadmaster. It is much appreciated....and as the British American Deviant Automotive Sportscar Society is a Not-For-Profit, LLC...your donations are tax deductable.

[lawnvett]

[attachment 17173 IMG_7734.jpg

I&apos;m at a car show on the golf course at Hilton head South Carolina. Modified British cars were invited

[kstevusa]

PJ, you making us drool!. thanks for your efforts.  See you in May at Townsend

[lawnvett]

the oil and filter where changed, rear tires to be replaced soon.  I completed a few cleaning tasks Clay bar, polish, wax, carpet cleaned, seat covers cleaned and moisturized, glass cleaned.

  I continue to show the car at many local events including a slide show presentation last week at a all European car club named Corsa Rosa.  

I continue to encourage young kids to sit in the car.  I've picked up a few Moss Motors Challenge points during the just right Fall weather these last few weeks.  And RM was on display in Hilton Head.

Carl plans to drive over from TN to help me attend to a few issues:  leaking heater valve, heater blower fan, interior lights, possible exhaust system rattle, water leaks into passenger footwells & spare tire area, gauges, etc.

[danmas]

Jim Watson and I have agreed to take the Roadmaster to the Street Rod show in Knoxville May 6, the V8 meet May 8-11, the local British/European car show May 13-14, and then to MG 2016 in June. We'll pick it up in NC, and hand it off in Louisville for the next leg.

We'll probably pick it up in late March or early April and tend to some of the needed maintainence.

If that's agreeable to every one.