MGB Roadmaster

[mowog1]

Good thing I passed on the pink covers, eh?

[rficalora]

Might be a good idea to check w/Terry if he's still going to do the paint & body work.  Darker colors show imperfections more so require more hrs of labor to get ready for paint.  Just a thought.

[Bill Young]

When I spoke to Terry on Labor Day he did mention that he hoped we'd pick a lighter color because of just the problem Rob mentioned. Maybe Steve has something there with his white with blue stripes. ;-)  Those are the FIA racing colors for the US, would be appropriate in that sense.

[trevorwj]

OK, I can understand choosing a light color for a volunteer project to reduce prep time.   But if it were my car it would be dark, sleek and ominous.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Considering the ties to Buick, the GN scheme certainly does have some appeal. Also the current body is straight so aside from the flares should not need much additional prep for a dark color.

Jim

[trevorwj]

Just for giggles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeZQs1oi5cs

[Moderator]

Trevor's ideas sound B.A.D.A.S.S. - but rather than black why not flat gray? This might be a good car for one of those rat-rod paint schemes that looks like primer. Gray works well with other colors. Sponsor decals would look especially good on a gray background.  You could potentially accent the gray with some elaborate flames, or a British flag motif, or maybe stripes in gloss black or charcoal.

I'd recommend losing unnecessary chrome trim too.

If not gray... orange is pretty sharp:

[trevorwj]

OK, since we are talking paint schemes...  light ice blue with dark navy blue hood/top/hatch.

I like the orange idea too, but I'd go with a satin finish and black out all the chrome and tuck the bumpers.

Silver is over done and can be difficult to spray.

[mowog1]

Roadmaster work weekend ...  this Friday/Saturday....11/13-14

[BlownMGB-V8]

Yep, we've got a pretty good work crew lined up if everyone shows, so we should be able to get a lot done. Somebody will have to be designated as weekend photog so we have pics to share, and I think pretty much anyone who wants to show up is welcome. We all know where Pete lives, right?

Steve DeGroat and I should get there Friday evening.

Jim

[MGBV8]

Sorry guys, I'm not gonna be able to make this one. Probably be pretty low key after all that Viva Las Vegas.  

[BlownMGB-V8]

Pete told me today that the radiator has a bad core so we need to reconsider our options. Do we look for another XJ6 radiator to modify? Do we buy an aluminum radiator? Let's have some suggestions on this.

Jim

[mowog1]

Pete Mantell, Dave Kirkman, Steve deGroat, and Jim Blackwood are working on the Roadmasdter today. Some decisions have been made regarding the radiator; it was planned to have the brakes plumbed; and a look at the clutch hydraulics was planned as well.

Next work weekend will most likely be in January.

[302V8]

A fantastic work weekend it was.............
As Rick mentioned we worked on getting the brakes plumbed, clutch fork & hydraulics & radiator support.
The work crew was:

Jim Blackwood
Steve deGroat
Dave Kirkman
Tom Bowles - White Heath, IL
Dik Sleeth - St Joseph, IL
Pete Mantell
Rick Ingram

Steve, Dave & Tom concentrated on the brakes, Jim worked on the Rad support and I worked on the clutch parts.

New brake lines were bent & master cylinder installed.

We pulled out the T5 from under the car and loosened the bellhousing, I then fabricated/modified a clutch fork and wilwood pull type slave cylinder, which then was attached to the side of the transmission.

Jim cut off the tube steel rad support to enable the wheels to be turned lock to lock.
It was then trimmed and re-installed pending the new radiator.

Here are a few pictures of the weekend.

[302V8]

And a few more..................

[302V8]

And more..................

[302V8]

And a few more.........

[302V8]

Plus, I took a couple more photo's with borrowed front fenders, just to see how it would look..........



I will work out a schedule for the upcoming work weekends and post ASAP.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Well guys, I think if there was any question in anyone's mind about the wisdom of moving the project we've just dispelled them. The project has moved along quite smoothly and we've made progress in directions we wouldn't have had it stayed here. A case in point, it turned out that Pete had that brand-new in-the-box pull cylinder that we needed lying on the shelf waiting for an application and he didn't seem to mind donating it to the car. So not only was the cost of buying it avoided but the time spent acquiring it was avoided as well. And it turned out that his feeling that an external slave cylinder would fit and work was well founded. Some judicious trimming of the release arm and very slight bumping of the tunnel and we had a good 3/4" of clearance. (There is an existing bulge in the tunnel, we simply smoothed the rear edge of it.) The hardened release arm was near impossible to drill for the pivot bolt to the slave but it turns out that Pete has quite a skilled hand with the plasma cutter and with the hole at near finished size and shape a simple clean up had it in good condition. Anyhow, these guys really worked on the car, but there was quite a bit of joking and tomfoolery going on as well and a more congenial and agreeable environment you'd be hard pressed to find. We did take a break for an extended executive power lunch at the local bar and grill. Some of us might have thought at the time that those were wasted hours but with such an almost extravagant rest break we were well able to work into the evening, when Rick showed up with a much welcomed pair of extra large pizzas. Steve, Dave, Tom, and the guys were meticulous in their preparation of the braking system, even going so far as to consult with Bill Guzman over the phone to insure that everything in the braking system is as it should be. Turns out that the flex lines are a bit short but that is the last piece of the puzzle and all else is in readiness. We have a few fittings to acquire for the clutch lines (pressure and bleed) as well, but those are very minor issues which we can square away next time around. Speaking of which, we'd like to see some more new faces at the build, so sign up now!

As mentioned, we made some decisions, one of which was the radiator, which was ordered from Summit and will be arriving at Rick's house on Tuesday. With that we will finalize the front support, bumper mounts and grille attachment. This weekend we simply moved the doglegs forward where Pete securely welded them into place. So personally I really didn't do much other than make suggestions but I feel those were valuable as well. Rick's able assistance in that area helped assure that all was in order. The "new guys", Tom, Dik, and Jim (last name started with "V" if I recall correctly) were immensely helpful in too many ways to recount.

In the end, we rolled the car out, much closer to being roadworthy than it was before and quite satisfied with our efforts. Another weekend like that, maybe two, and some time spent tuning and we'll be very close to ready for the meet.

The one thing that needs to be settled however is the matter of the rear flares. I was a bit surprised to see that photo of the Sebring fender on the car, hadn't realized Pete had the photo to post. But doesn't the car look GREAT?!! Is it just me, or is that exactly in keeping with the character of the build?  Already being at the point of glass fenders it really isn't much of a stretch from there to Sebring but look at how much better it matches with the wheels and what an aggressive stance it gives the car! If we could do something comparable at the rear the end result will be something that every single adolescent boy with an ounce of red blood in his veins is going to simply drool over! Much as we may have graduated to a more moderate approach, don't forget that this audience is who we want to reach with our message about the synergies of big American engines and little British sports cars. If you like this look please let us know. So many surprise benefits have come our way in this build that this should certainly be thought of as a possibility. Of course matching the rear to that should be a priority, and I for one just wonder if there's any chance that someone like Bill G with his newly acquired skills on the wheel might come up with something for us.

Jim

[Citron]

I had a great time at Pete's.  We did get a lot done.  Jim has covered the work we did.
Just wanted to say thanks to Pete and ARick for having us there.  Stayed at Rick's and really had a great time.
Met new people and worked well with them, I don't always play well with others.
I do hope to make the next work weekend and hope to see some more people there.
The Sebring fender look great, hope we can get them.
Steve

[mowog1]

I'll second that emotion regarding the Sebring front fenders.....even if the ARE fibreglass!  

[mowog1]

re:  The "new guys", Tom, Dik, and Jim (last name started with "V" if I recall correctly) were immensely helpful in too many ways to recount.



That would be Tom Bowles, Dik Sleeth, and Jim Zivic.

[CBV8]

Sebring fender looks great. Gives it a more muscular look! You got my vote.

[MGBV8]

I don't think those fenders are available.  I do think a mold should be made from them real quick!  

[mowog1]

I think ***those particular**** fenders just *****might***** be available.