MGB: Bad idle Update

Wow, just got a call from the MG shop. My snake bit 79 LE is back together, but not for long. The cylinder wall's from the prior rebuild by the PO had no cross hatch pattern, and the ring's weren't seated correctly. The head had all new parts bought for it, and the Napa machine shop didn't do a good grind job, and some of the valve guides were installed too tight, and the valves were sticking. Also, the top radiator hose connection had been cut out of the tank and the thermostat switch hole patched over by a PO. The hose connection then had to be installed pointing down about 45 degrees so the original hose couldn't be used. All the above has been fixed, another top tank from another radiator from the same year B had to be installed during the second trip back to the radiator shop. If that wasn't enough, then they found the brand new Euro spec distributor I had installed had a bent shaft and the timing and dwell was different for every cylinder. They had to reinstall another dizzy they had on hand and now that is ok. Also, the PO told me after he had the engine rebuilt, he was told the original cam was ok, but 300 miles later it was trashed. The PO had a fast road cam installed and the engine had a lumpy idle. Since it takes me 45 min to an hour to go the 8/9 miles home from work, I'm following the shop's suggestion to install a stock or mild cam. So that has to be done before the B is 'right'. They also cleaned up the wiring under the hood and removed the relays I had installed on the fan and the headlight circuits while trying to solve my low idle problem. I never would have solved all these problems, thank goodness I have a good MG garage to fall back on. I was ready to give up. What an adventure or should I say 'experience'......

Wow! That's all I can say, Wow!

Interesting story about the radiator. And you still refer him as "PO" and not "DPO?"

does it really take you 45 minutes to go 8-9 miles or is that just "taking the long way home?"

Boy Bob, your car sounds like so many I have had to deal with. I have had cars come in with freshly rebuilt motors by other shops that I had to start all over again. I even had one come in once that had been built in the UK. It didn't have any oil getting to the top end. Took me a while to figure out there was a dirt dobbers nest in an oil gally in the block. Sounds like you have a good shop. Lets hope they don't cut any corners to save money.

Well, the PO wasn't a wrench turner like me, he was getting his work done by someone. I thought I had a good machine shop, but they hacked up the head so it had to be redone the right way, so I can't blame the PO for the people who did his work. And yes, we don't 'drive' down here, I live in the most densely populated county in Fla, the rush hour is bumper to bumper, and sitting in a line at a light. When I get the B back, I'll be trying every different route and back road, that's always fun in the B.

We have two MG clubs in the Tampa Bay area, and Glenn, the owner of the shop, belongs to one, and gets rave reviews from the other members. I told him I wanted the B right, money no object. Yes, my B is spoiled rotten, but she's worth it....

Bob, next time you're over there see if he still has the 2 Magnette parts cars.

That's the way to get it fixed right the first time. I hate it when customers start out by whining about price up front. We have a sign posted in the office that saids," If you cant afford to fix it right. How are you going to pay to have it fixed again."

Funny, oil won't cut through a dirt dobber nest but water will. Oil will combine with the nest and make it inpenetratable to anything except gouging and brushing it out.

How about that "inpenetratable". Niether Webster n Funk & Wagnel has that one yet.

Damn, I'm glad I do my own motors!! Probaly not as good as Tom, but pretty darn good!! I remember about 15 years ago, I had some machine work done, and they said they would assemble it and warranty it for something like 200 bucks, so as much as it went against my grain, I let them do it!! Anyway, I fired it up, and there was water in the oil and oil in the water!! I called them, and they sent a guy up, were all pi$$ed at me for not letting them fire it up!! Anyway, it was a 350 chevy, and there was a huge crack in the valley!! I would have seen it!! I would never have missed it!! But anyway, they had to re-machine another block for me, and I opted to disregard the warranty and re-assemble it myself!! It has run like a champ for the last 100,000 miles!! Anyway, the moral of the story is, unless it is Tom doing my engine, I will do it myself!! Thank you very much!! Good Luck Bob!

Crap! Now you are the king of bad luck! Long live the King!

chris just doesn't wanna take over again!! :o)

I'm just too damned pickey to let someone else build and engine or paint a car for me. I do engines my way and Tom does them his. Niether one of us can fault the other because we're after different results in the end. I'm out for moderate performance increases and he's out to blow your a$$ out in the weeds. He has to be dead on every spec and use all the tricks in his bag to keep his customers happy. I'm luckey, when it feels good in the seat of my pants I'm done with it.

Right On! Man, he did have a string of bad luck for a while.

That's right! This hole in my leg hurts worse than it did originally. No infection that I can see though.

If it gets red, get some antibiotics!! A hole in the lkeg is a bad thing! :o)

I don't make fire breathers out of all my rebuilds. Most of them are bone stock. Not too many people want to invest in a hot street MG. It can get real expensive.

Well, anyway. You're the pro with the most MG experiance and I defer to you on most things MG and probably the only guy I'd let work on my car.

I've just gotta break away from the herd on one of my Memphis runs and get over to your shop for a few minutes one of these days.