Project 1974 MGB GT - The Mustard (Mit) Mobility Scooter - After nearly 7yrs, The End (for me)

[SiC]

Have you still got the old bushes? Can you measure them and compare with the new?

 

Ben

I have both. The original bushes though are just fully rubber, with no inner steel tube. So the rubber can keep compressing until you compress all the rubber - no metal to stop it. The ones I was fitting are "upgraded" metalastic bushes (originally specced for the V8 MGB) with a bonded inner steel tube.

 

Old bushes:

 

New bushes: (not my picture)

[PhilA]

Yeah I had considered that.

Bulb is 2.2w, so at 14v (2.2/14)= ~160mA - call that 200mA for a margin.

25W wirewound at 70 Ohm would also provide a certain degree of protection against fire in case of some random short circuit. It can handle being across 14V without smoking up.

 

The connections to the bulbs in the back of those is pretty dire at best of times, especially when the damp gets in. Blue LED in the high beam lamp also is a good one, bright enough and actually the proper blue it should be behind the little plastic "crystal".

 

Phil

[SiC]

For reference, this is how the front end suspension is built up:

 

Part 40 is the v8 design bushes, part 39 is the original stock bushes.

[Guest Hooli]

For reference, this is how the front end suspension is built up:

mgb_25_02_011.jpg

 

Part 40 is the v8 design bushes, part 39 is the original stock bushes.

 

Bah should have got a golf on PCP m9!

[SiC]

Bah should have got a golf on PCP m9!

Honestly? It would have been cheaper! £999 deposit and £269 p/m ... and it'd work.

[tooSavvy]

.... I have just dropped ££ on ToMM©... But >> It Works

 

TS

[Sigmund Fraud]

... and it'd work.

 

You're missing the point ; BL unreliability is the reason we all* love their cars ! They truly mastered the psychological concept of "variable interval intermittent reinforcement" !

 

Also see : Alfa Romeo.

[SiC]

New bushes, pair of a-arms and an assortment of bolts, washers and nuts to replace anything damaged/worn out. A great* way to spend £120. I cba even to take it out of the bag to photograph now.


£43 for 8 small bits of rubber, a cut metal tube and some lube. I'm in the wrong business.


Buy an old British car they said. It'll be fun they said.

[Guest Hooli]

8 & 18 please...

[Mally]

I used stock bushes.

With the V8 bush I'd have pressed the bush to one end and shortened it, or filed the base of the castle nut a bit.

You must love spending money.

[SiC]

I used stock bushes.

With the V8 bush I'd have pressed the bush to one end and shortened it, or filed the base of the castle nut a bit.

You must love spending money.

Stock bushes look like they'll be worn within a thousand miles or so ... which yes, is probably more than I'll ever do in it...

 

I did consider cutting the bushes down at the ends but wasn't sure the effect it'd have on the structure on them and if it would weaken them, being that its part of the structure of the bush. Right now I just want to get the thing working, so I don't mind throwing a bit more cash to make that job easier/quicker.

 

Also Moss are excellent in their returns policy. As long as its in a resalable condition and you have the receipt, they'll take it back for a full refund within a year. As the store is local, I don't have any postage fees to do that either. Makes it a bit less painful paying Moss prices and overbuying.

 

So I could use the V8 bushes still and return these. However I suspect my life will be a lot less painful just using these. I do like the idea of using V8 bushes though, as potentially softer and more original.

[SiC]

With nylock you tighten and forget, just make sure there's a small amount of thread at least protruding beyond the end of the bolt otherwise an eagle eyed tester will fail you as the bolts are technically insecure if there's no thread visible at the end.

 

Is this likely going to be a problem? It's the nyloc nut positioned on the a-arm.

 

Going by the dimensions, it won't be possible to leave a few threads visible.

[Mally]

I'd use it if it came level. If it worries you you can get thinner nuts.

If the MOT man complains put a thinner washer on and change it back after.

[SiC]

Looks like with the V8 bushes, the nyloc won't have any grip on the threads. I'm wondering, is the washer supposed to be removed when using V8 bushes?

 

[busmansholiday]

I used stock bushes and they compressed enough to have some thread visible. As Mally says, you can also get thinner nuts or thinner washers. Local industrial fastner supplier should have these.

[SiC]

Not entirely clear from the photo but it looks like I did reach the a-arm flat and bush steel core. Just was tightening it up way past that and crushing the steel washer into it.

 

I can't decide if to go poly bushes or just use these V8 bushes.

[SiC]

Damaged A-arm off. Most of the damage looks to be the castle nut rather than the thread on the a-arm. No point taking any risks though, in case I stretched stuff and weaken the metal shaft. 2 bolts were tight on one side. Other side really loose!

 

I really need to make a decision about these bushes asap now. Coming to the point I need to decide.

[Guest Hooli]

If going poly I'd do the lot, just so it all matches.

[Six-cylinder]

Now you are so experienced in MGB GT suspension I will drop mine off in case you are ever bored, it will only take you an hour now!

 

My friend drove mine this summer who has spent thousands with Oselli Eng to make his perfect and pronounced mine tired!

[SiC]

Well this explains why I couldn't tighten it up. Turns out that the washers on the OEM only fit one way. The hole must be tapered.

 

[busmansholiday]

Just going back to the £120 you spent with MOSS, 43 quid for the bushes, the pivot arms are 23 quid each, so that's 89 quid. Thirty one quid for assorted nuts and bolts, are they gold plated ? As we say up here, "how fucking much ??!!"

[SiC]

There's 10% discount on that too!

[SiC]

Pretty much what I ordered. Except also some alternator bushes. Brake bolts on the list are the a-arm bolts. Which I have just literally done up now to 50lb-ft.

 

Decision time on using the poly bushes or not now.

 

[SiC]

Decision made.

 

 

 

Which in hindsight was a good call. The munged up one was royally damaged.

[busmansholiday]

Fuck me sideways, they saw you coming didn't they. Think I spent 10 quid with a local firm, Bapp for Bolts for several slack handfulls of different size UNF nuts & bolts. There's enough left to do both my GT's and Mr six-cylinders as well.

 

I trust MOSS will send you a nice Xmas card and invite you to their Xmas staff piss up.

[busmansholiday]

Enjoy the rest of the day, I'm going to get the wife's C3 up on ramps to see if I can find where the oil is leaking from.

[SiC]

Much nicer. Far more satisfying pushing them in too.

 

[Guest Hooli]

Fuck me sideways, they saw you coming didn't they. Think I spent 10 quid with a local firm, Bapp for Bolts for several slack handfulls of different size UNF nuts & bolts. There's enough left to do both my GT's and Mr six-cylinders as well.

 

I trust MOSS will send you a nice Xmas card and invite you to their Xmas staff piss up.

 

Bapp are good.

 

I went in a few years ago for a half width lock nut to fit the stem on my Bonnie, the bloke spent 10mins finding one & then said just have it, it's nice to see those old bikes used.

[tooSavvy]

Much nicer. Far more satisfying pushing them in too.

Quite relieved a photo accompanied that observation

 

TS

[Sigmund Fraud]

Much nicer. Far more satisfying pushing them in too.

 

Looking good ! I hope you used plenty of copper grease on them ?