The previous owner had cut a couple jagged holes for 6X9 speakers in the inner kick panels. These allowed moisture into the interior and destroyed the speakers that were installed as well as the kick panels. I found a wrecked shell in the junkyard this weekend- so I cut the panels out of it to use as patch panels. I know it is is kind of anal retentive since these will be buried behind the kick panels, but I felt that this would be a better repair than just welding a flat plate over the hole.

(July 2007) I finally got a handle on the bodywork. I actually took the entire week off from work, and finished the body work from the doors back. I still need to work on the front fenders, but I'm still deciding what to do there. I replaced the left rocker panel, which was dented as well as rusted on both ends. I installed patch panels to fix the usual rust in front of the rear wheels. Then I removed the fender cap on top of the rear fenders, and filled the side marker holes, extra trim holes and some other damage I uncovered when the body was stripped. I still need toget the minor waves out, but it looks much better than it did a week ago.

(July 2007) So I can never leave anything alone if I can modify it- I guess it's the mechanical engineering training. My latest modification is adding a remote opening gas filler door to replace the gas filler that clutters up the rear of the MGB. first I filled in the holes on the rear surface (gas filler as well as backup lights). I found a filler door I liked on a 90 Ford Probe- it's oval and fits nicely in the rear right fender under the chrome trim strip. It does open the wrong way, but I can live with that. I cut the oval opening in the fender, epoxied the Probe opening to the inside of the fender, and epoxied the cut out piece to the existing door. Everything was trimmed and filled, and I have the resulting area in primer now. I still need to fab a tube to connect the tank to the new filler location, but since I will be adding an internal fuel pump and baffled sump to the gas tank, I bought a new gas tank. This way I can cut and weld on it without risking an explosion. Anyway- here are some pictures of the gas door as of today.

*UPDATED*- I added a brace inside the trunk to attach the filler tube to. The piece I got from the Probe doesn't have any holes to attach the tube to- the holes are in a different piece of metal in the Probe- so I had to fab a bracket to brace the opening as well as bolt the filler tube to. Everything is now attached and the filler tube goes through the floor- I still need to add a couple more bends to the get to the fuel tank, and I need to extend the vent tube, but I have pieces cut, and it looks like it will all hook up OK.

(Feb 2007) With a JDM SR20DET turbocharged motor, an intercooler is a must. There isn't a whole lot of room to install one, and I spent a lot of time investigating various options, even bought one that might work (didn't though). I also don't want to block airflow thru the radiator. The only thing left to do was design one and have it built. I am using the space under the radiator panel, which will get airflow thru the opening in the air dam. It fits with the stock valance (see picture), but I'm getting a fiberglass air dam to replace the valance.
I sent the design to Top-End Performance (http://www.racetep.com/trbstart.html) and they sent me the completed item in about two weeks (not cheap though). It's not big enough to support large horsepower numbers, but will work for my street application. Fits like a glove, but I will have to wait until I get farther on the engine installation to run the pipes.

(July 2007) I've always wanted to install a roll bar, but never did like the looks of the usual roll bars- too tall and bulky. I found a dual hoop bar I like better at this web site- http://www.classicrollbars.co.uk/prod.html
In addition to installing the reinforcement plates and welding the nuts on so I won't have to mess with loose hardware, I welded a cover over the battery openings. I will be placing the battery in the trunk, and the normal battery spaces will be used for a muffler on the left side and a subwoofer on the right side (still working the details of those). From the pictures you can see I will still need to get shorter screws or the tires will be shredded.

(September 2006)Installing the engine is going to be a trick- nothing matches up with the MGB engine bay. So it's time to fab custom parts. I had to trim the motor mount brackets on the engine, and weld new brackets on the frame. I found a set of BMW polyurethane motor mounts on eBay to use, as well as a torque bracket to stabilize the engine. The trans mount was built out of an MGB trans crossmember with a NISSAN part welded to it. At least the engine now sits in the car- I'll worry about the rest of the connections later.