MGB Roadmaster

[BlownMGB-V8]

Dave got the invoice for the shock. There was no shipping charge shown for the spring and snubber but about $12 on the shock. So our total was right at $245.

Registration renewal was $24.99

Jim

[Citron]

Jim,
Thanks for taking care of all that.
see you in Townsend.

Steve

[Citron]

What is the status of Roadmaster?

Steve

[lawnvett]

I was wondering about Roadmaster yesterday, just hadn't gotten around to asking.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Oh, it's probably sitting in Dave K's back yard. After that problem with the master cylinder I think he had an issue with the fuel pump. I guess some guys just have all the luck, eh? I haven't heard from him in a couple weeks, maybe you guys should give him a call and see how he's doing?

Jim

[Dan B]

Rumor has it that the Roadmaster is now back in it's Old Kentucky Home.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Actually it's sitting in my garage waiting out the snowstorm. Steve D and I went up to Dave's house yesterday while the weather was nice and the roads were clear and after ignoring the GPS and spiraling in on it, we arrived only 8 minutes after Dave had to leave to go to Terra-Haute. But he was magnanimous about it, taking the time to show us his project GT and making sure we were all set to go. He had the engine warmed up already and Steve jumped right in the driver's seat while I wasn't looking, so shortly we rolled out. We were a little concerned about the heater but had a good and uneventful trip home, and I stopped at the halfway point in the hopes that we could switch rides and Steve could get warm, but he just said, "Why'd you stop?" so we rolled on in.

But it's gotten me kinda concerned. All evening yesterday Steve complained about being cold and I feel so bad about it that I think we need to do something right away about the heater fan so the car won't be so cold. I'm just thinking about our other members who might have to drive the car in the cold or poor weather and I'm afraid we could be endangering their health. You guys aren't getting any younger and you don't recover from things like that as quick as you used to and there could be complications that could be serious and even life threatening, all because we didn't replace the blower fan with something better. I really feel like we need to do something about that.

Jim

[MGBV8]

I concur. Winter is coming on, we sure don't want anyone to catch pneumonia!  

[mowog1]

[BlownMGB-V8]

Hey, I'm just thinking about the rest of you. I know how delicate some of you are, and want to make sure everything is just right.

Running the blower motor backwards didn't help any btw. There's a whisper of a gentle breeze wafting out of the heater but that's about it.

Jim

Anyone want to send one of those magnets that go over the cowl vent so the cabin air can be recirculated? That might help.

[danmas]

I know how delicate some of you are...

When I was younger, one of my favorite things to do was backwoods camping in the Smokies in the dead of winter. Now that I'm nearly grown, I can't take cold weather. I'll be miserable from now until May. I now know why old folks go to Florida for the winter. If I weren't so poor, I'd do it too.

I #%@# hate being cold!

[kstevusa]

Jim, perhaps you can cut a pattern that covers the cowl vent from a sheet of magnetized  material.  sometimes you can choose a matching color.  Hobby store or other supply place.  Even an old magnetized sign will work.

[lawnvett]

wool socks, long johns, ski clothing, who needs a stinkin heater.   .   .   .Last Spring I drove several hundred miles in temps of 30-40 degrees F no problem but I'm only 65 years young, not as old as some of you guys.

I volunteer to drive RM to the deep south for the winter then no heater needed,  Key West would be nice this time of year.  Anyone in Palm tree land have a spare garage space?

RM needs AirCon more than a proper heater.    much more driving is done in the summer than in the winter.   .   . Oh how I remember driving RM from Houston, TX  to IL in 98F.  I was half naked and soaking wet for two days, drinking  2 gals of Gatorade per day  and sweating it all out; didn't have to pee one time.

I tried night driving but the headlights were pointing too far down and I couldn't see 20 feet ahead.  But it was fun, I'm ready for another 1000+ mile road trip!!

All I want for Christmas is gas money!

[BlownMGB-V8]

I drove the Roadmaster a little today just to get a feel for it again, and I can tell that we are going to have to do something about the ignition system. Before I went out I retarded the timing enough to reduce kickback on starting a bit. Not eliminated yet but less of a problem as it was so bad I'm sure we'd soon be buying another starter. So it's still there but better. Didn't put a timing light on it, just dialed it back a few degrees and tried it, said good enough, adjusted the idle screw, fast idle and automatic choke up a bit and went out.

Oh and I stuck the hood strut back on, slipped some strap down the channel and bolted to that. I think it'll stay until we get the new hood from Dave Craddock. He says all he needs is the paint codes.

Anyway, the power seems like it might be be off a little bit with the timing retarded but it's really hard to tell because any time the car develops much G force the engine cuts out. Seems to me like an electrical problem and at this point I'm all for removing all that MSD crap and going back to a straight coil and distributor setup. I don't see where that stuff ever helped us at all. Then dial back the static advance until the car will start without breaking starter noses. Then if it won't run right do something to get some more advance. I saw where somebody is selling a MegaJolt ignition system in the classifieds, maybe that would be a good answer, at least then it would be adjustable. I know how to tune that, so if you guys want to buy it and send it here we can install it on some work weekend and finally quit messing around with the ignition.

Jim

[BlownMGB-V8]

Have to agree with PJ on the A/C. It'd be a tremendous improvement. How could we do it?

Well, Dan B has 2 or 3 Sanden compressors that might be usable and is willing to donate one.
Carl mentioned an evaporator unit that he might donate if we want it, dealer option type.
Steve D left a combo A/C and Heater matrix here that might fit that evaporator unit if it isn't already a combo.
I'd be willing to make up a set of mounting brackets for the compressor.
Which might leave little more than the condenser, drier and hoses to complete the parts list. We'd have to install it of course and spend a little money on making up the hoses.I'd have to look to see if we have a double pulley on the crank and water pump.

Something to think about anyway. In the meantime, my roadster is camped out on the lift and I'm trying to get some wiring finished up there so I can start the engine. I hope to get around to looking at the subframe bushings eventually but my car has to come off the lift first and that isn't happening until either it moves under it's own steam or I have help pushing.

Jim

[lawnvett]

Here's a thought,  let's all give RM a Christmas present.  Nothing that would break anyones bank you know something like $20,or $50 each.  Then we could attend to the needs and with a little luck have some spare change left over.

[BlownMGB-V8]

That'd be a good idea. Bill Davidson told me there's about $125 in the bank account. Not enough to buy the megajolt that Randy Kassad is selling in the classifieds:

http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?11,42759

We've spent a lot more than that on broken starter noses, and will spend even more unless we do something about it. This would be the correct fix and very likely would allow us to squeeze a little more gas mileage out of the car at the same time.

For my Christmas contribution, you guys buy this and get it here and I'll install and tune it.

Jim

[Citron]

Will we also need the trigger wheel, the cord module and the coil pack.  What is different about tbe RM engine from the 455 of 1970.
They didn't break starters. I hate to add enpence and complication to RM

steve

[BlownMGB-V8]

Steve, it can trigger off the distributor's points and run the stock coil back through the distributor. What it adds is a timing map. As you know, the distributor's mechanical and vacuum curves are not well suited to this engine's requirements, as retarding initial timing enough to eliminate kickback means not enough advance when running and the engine runs hot, while mileage and power go away. Nobody was able to make the MSD timing box work and nobody knows enough about the stock distributor to fix it. If we leave it like it is, we can pick one but only one of the following:

1) good mileage, good power, broken starters every now and then without warning resulting in expense and unexpected repairs
2) bad mileage, poor power and response, overheating, easier starting and no broken starters

I'm just giving you guys another option

Jim

[BlownMGB-V8]

OK guys, good news. A certain donor, who I assure you is unlikely to remain anonymous for too long, has purchased the unit from Randy for the RM. So me and my big mouth, guess who gets to install it and tune it now?

This will be a big improvement over what we have now and I think some of you are going to be surprised at what we'll be able to do with it. We'll keep the distributor and coil, lock the advance plate, and use a timing map to control the ignition and the setting will let us retard the spark while cranking so broken starters will be a thing of the past. We'll also be able to map the timing while driving the car (or on the dyno) to get the most out of it. I'm not going to predict we'll improve on the 17mpg we've been getting out of the car lately but it is certainly a possibility.

Jim

[lawnvett]

I need details for making a donation:

who to make the check pay ale to

where to mail

[MGBV8]

Ale? Did someone say ale? Ale for one & ale for all!      

[Citron]

Sounds better now.  Hope you have fun installing it.  Can we get a good map without a dyno?
Steve

[BlownMGB-V8]

Shouldn't be a problem.
 Donations:
http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?2,166,page=116

[Dan B]

Good for what ales you, Carl