MGB Roadmaster

[BlownMGB-V8]

The fan shroud that Calvin sent came in today. After some initial trimming here is the first fit:









If you can see it, the only place where clearance is inadequate is where one strut hits the lower pulley and that is easily remedied.

Jim

[74ls1tr6]

Well it looks like it fits in there like we thought would. "Great" I'm glad it went to good use.

Calvin

[roverman]

"Water Wetter" to help for temp reduction? For future think, gads of (2)x 1" row alum. rad's in Jegs for $165. Knocksensor helpful? Your eardrums probably overwhelmed with "other" sounds?  Good Luck, roverman.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Preparations are underway to bring the GT to Pete's place in Sidney, Illinois in a little over a week, where a number of us are planning to gather for a cook-out or some such activity. This will mark a transition in our build program, as we move further from the actual fabrication and conversion and more towards tuning and refinements. Towards that effort, Dave VanWyck has been attempting to get some fiberglass fenders to us, we're still working on that. I expect we will find a chance to sit down informally and discuss where we are and what should be attempted between now and next summer. As always the goals have to remain somewhat flexible, but sorting out the radiator and carb certainly are near the top. Pete has given me every assurance that the car will be well cared for, but at the same time we must acknowledge that he and those who come to work on it must drive and test the car in order to tune it properly. I think we are placing it in good hands. As a driver with racing experience and a consciousness and respect for the cars of others, including his customers, Pete can be relied on, and he certainly is familiar with high powered automobiles. I have satisfied myself that at low speeds the car is safe and tractable, but as we develop power we will need to be ever alert for any signs of trouble and I can't think of anyone better equipped for that task.

So the next week and a half will be a busy time for me, as I get things ready on this end. I know several of us will not make it to Pete's for various reasons but look forward to seeing those who are there.

Jim

[mowog1]

Looking forward to seeing you and the Roadmaster this weekend.

[BlownMGB-V8]

OK, just so I have the dates down right, I understand Pete's shindig begins Friday evening the 11th and runs through Sunday the 13th, is that correct? So that would be 9 days from today, right? If I'm in error please correct me quickly!

Jim

[mowog1]

The "gathering" is technically 11am Saturday until we quit that evening. (I mistated "this weekend"...medical leave has made the days become somewhat of a blur.)

So, yes, you have the correct weekend....9/12

Hotel accomodations at Chateau Ingram are currently at maximum occupancy, but I already have your reservations covered.

I live about 2 miles north of Pete.

Kelly S. and Mike M. are arriving on Friday...you are more than welcome as well. I'll send an e-mail with directions to you.

[MGBV8]

I can sleep in the barn.

[mowog1]

Carl...I can squeeze you in the house with no problem. You're just a little feller.    

And yes, the office in the barn is still available..and has its own bathroom.

[Bill Young]

Wish I could join you all but no time this year. I think Kelley is going to drop by KC afterwards on his way to Nebraska so he can bring me up to date on the activities. I agree, the project is going into good hands, Pete will cerainly take good care of it while he gets it tuned in.

[mowog1]

Fiberglass wings for the Roadmaster have arrived....Roadmaster is now temporarily "residing" in central Illinois pictures to follow.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Good News Everyone!

The MGB-Roadmaster has a new home. From now until next summer's British V8 gathering the car will be in the custody of Mantell Motorsports in Sidney Illinois, a virtual stone's throw from Champagne (though why anyone would want to throw stones at champagne is beyond me...). With a fair number of enthusiasts within just a few hours drive, more of you now will have the chance to gather at Pete's place and help in readying the car for next summer's meet. There are many small tasks yet to be done, but with good participation we can easily have it ready and humming like a swiss watch (a very LARGE swiss watch) by then, and we can all go out and tear up the parking lot. Odds are good we'll even have insurance and tags as well, I'll be working on that end of it.

As some of you are aware, Terry Schulte has renewed his pledge to paint the car once it is ready, and that should happen after next summer's meet, over the winter. For that, we will need to finish out the fender flares, arrange for transportation, and dissassembly/reassembly. There are other details to be worked out as well and I will be looking after most of the administrative details to help smooth the road ahead.

Over the weekend we fired the beast up, whereupon Carl and Pete drove it around the yard a couple times, then we removed the steel front fenders and attached the fiberglass ones. Many thanks to Mike Moore for transporting both sets of fenders for us. He's got a great little lightweight flat bed trailer that tags along behind his muscular 300 Buick MGB roadster. Our guestimates indicate that we probably dropped somewhere around 30 lbs with the fender swap. Since they will come back off for work on the car maybe we'll get more accurate numbers later.

So for the next year Pete is The General. With Ricks help (and mine) he will set up the work weekends and make on the spot decisions that affect the build. As usual the big decisions will need some sort of common consensus among us but since Pete is housing the project he should decide if an immediate choice is needed. The rest of our organization remains the same, at least for now.

So, there's tuning work to do, some cleanup, an oil change, work on the radiator and fan and so forth. Many hands make for light work, so everyone contact Pete and tell him when you can be there. Plus it's a ton of fun!

Jim
Aka: Badass Boss (BB)

[mowog1]

Here's some pictures from this weekend.....

[mowog1]

....and some more....

[mowog1]

...and a couple more....



...we did take time out to cultivate some corn!  


...and watch the NASCAR race...

[Bill Young]

Looks like you all had a good time and got some good progress made on the car as well. Now that I can see the frame mods for the radiator I really like that design, good work guys. Kelly warned me about that group though, don't go to sleep early or someone might be about up to no good in the corn field. And I heard some rumor about doughnuts or such from the Roadmaster, how about that Carl?

[mowog1]

Here's a shot of our gathering at Mantell Motorsport...a few cars (the BADASS Roadmaster, Merv Hagen's MGB V8, Ron Davis' Morgan Plus 8, Tom Bowles TVR, Jim Zivic's MGB, Dik Sleeth's supercharged MGB,and Pete Mantell's Land Rover) are not visible...this does not include a couple of customer cars in the workshop (one 302 conversion and one LS2 conversion) as well as Pete's Factory Five Cobra Coupe. Note the additional available horsepower in the background.

[BlownMGB-V8]

What happened on the frame mod was that I made the forward extensions long enough for standard bumper bracket attachments and then attached the diagonals to the car and this put them back too far and into the tire space. The remedy is to move the diagonals forwards about 3 inches or so, and then make everything else fit them. Then I think the tire clearance will be correct.

Jim

[BlownMGB-V8]

Good News Everyone! It seems our Ways and Means Committee chairman, Rick Ingram has been busy, and his efforts have culminated in an offer by "Mr. Mike" to provide us with a set of seat upholstery to fit a set of Fiero seats which Rick has set aside for this project. Thank you Rick! This is the kind of participation that will help us have a really nice car when we finish!

Rick has asked for suggestions for seat colors and patterns. Feel free to comment here. Following is a link to Mr.Mike's website where you can see various combinations:
http://www.mrmikes.com/fierohome.htm

We have also been trying to organize another work weekend out at Pete's shop in Sidney Illinois. This can happen anytime after the 6th of October, so whoever can make it needs to suggest weekends when they can be there. In order to have the car driveable by summer we really need to have at least 3 work weekends by late spring. I will not be available on the 11th but otherwise should be able to go. Who else?

Anyone who likes is welcome to route their trip through here (Florence, KY just outside the Cincinnati beltway) in order to travel together, cut costs, overnight, etc.

Jim

[mowog1]

I would like to publicly thank Mr.Mike for this generous offer!

[BlownMGB-V8]

I was looking at the flares on the rear of Philip Leonard's SCCA GT2 class racer (in a thread under the racing section) and I like the looks of his rear flares. (Though I favor a more rounded wheel arch personally) What do you guys think of those panels?

Jim

[mowog1]

Can you provide the link to save (us) a little search time?  

[BlownMGB-V8]

Sure:
http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?9,1582
Scroll down about 3/4 of the way.

Jim

[302V8]

Hi Guys,

Due to coaching soccer and SEMA show the first work weekend in Sidney can be Saturday Nov 14th.
We have games both Sat & Sun until Oct 31st. Then it's SEMA Nov 3rd back on Nov 7th.
Check your calenders and let me know if that works for anyone.

Thanks
Pete

[BlownMGB-V8]

I'm planning on being there, who else can make it?

Jim