Journal: Peter Mittler's Journal

Feb. 01/07: A most frustrating day. After getting a new brake master cylinder ($300.00) because the old one would not pump I discovered the new one won't either.... and it is because one of the lines from the MC to the rear junction is plugged. When the fire occurred the brake fluid must have gelled and now with new fluid going in something has dislodged and blocked the line. It took ALL DAY to discover this, including back bleeding the lines from the rear wheel cylinders to the junction block. New front lines are on order - one week at least to get them.

Spent some time manually polishing the G3 sworls out of the hood, trunk and upper fenders in prep for G10 buffing.

So with the brake lines out and no electrical system yet we are on hold on the engine build-up because I don't want to finish the engine and restrict movement around the engine bay for installing pipes and wires.

Tomorrow i am going to inspect a bug-eye Sprite for one of the guys on the board who lives in Connecticut and is looking to buy it in Toronto.

Feb. 02/07:Inspected the Bug-eye. Fugetaboutit.

I am a bit bummed out now since I can't complete so many items. The engine can't be finished before the brake lines are replaced otherwise I will restrict my access to re-fit. Then the wiring needs to be done but the harness is STILL in transit to me. The interior can't be finished until the wiring is done. So tomorrow I will concentrate on getting the G10 buffing done and the machine glaze and then start putting on brightwork.

Finished making a plastic lid for the storage box behind the driver's seat and cleaned and polished the luggage rack. Also covered the door caps with leather, cleaned up the mounting chrome and now need my piping back from Diamond Trim to finish that job.

Feb. 03/07: Spent the entire day buffing with G10 followed by Turtle wax. Looks great. Tired.

Feb. 04/07: Started putting on the chrome bits: luggage rack, door locks (had to make two door lock retainers), hold-downs for the top, lights replaced after buffing.

Feb. 05/07: Took ALL DAY to install the six chrome strips on the side. Very scary and slow process to make sure no drill bit broke, no chance of a slip (hold tightly) and ensure no pop rivet gun snap bounced of the paint.

Feb. 06/07: Installed back-up lights and windscreen washer sprayers, mirror mounts, inside vapour barriers on doors, adjusted the hood with a shim under the left support block, drilled engine serial number plate rivet holes.

Received the book I ordered 'MG Electrical Systems' - good timing since I have not yet started the wiring. Also received the Heritage Certificate from the UK and find that this car started life as a Limited Edition. That is a surprise since when I got it it did not have LE Wheels, decals nor front spoiler.. only an LE steering wheel.

Running out of things to do without the electrical harness.... that was one of my biggest fears. Maybe it's time to go to Detroit and pick up the wheels and tires for the trailer.

Feb. 07/07 installed oil filter and lines, valance, rad hoses and various other plumbing. Power Block arrived by mail be we were not here so they took it back for re-delivery or pick-up. Installed Valance, front bumper and air dam. It is starting to look like a car again.

Feb. 08/07: Installed rear bumper. Cleaned up around here!

Feb. 09/07: We have a Power Block!! Installed new front brake lines. Cleaned up cockpit. Started designing plastic cover for the Power Block

Feb. 10/07: Fabricated PB housing with smoked lexan. Mounted on right fender and organized wires and connectors to start routing wires.

Feb. 11/07: I just can't seem to get 'into' it today. Managed to bleed the brakes and get good pedal with Patty's assistance pumping. Routed the wires through the firewall into the cockpit and re-read the instructions. Have not got my crimping tools yet. Ordered a new Alternator 96 amp (stock is 34 amp) to handle all the new accessories. Looked into Steering Wheel leather covers. Need to call about that tomorrow.

Feb. 12/07: Red leather steering wheel cover ordered. New Alternator on the way.

Feb. 13/07: Decided to get the battery box, cables and cutoff switch set up in readiness for the Advance Wiring harness and to make sure feed to the starter and grounds were solid.

Well, I felt like the clumsiest oaf today. Nothing went right. Drilled holes poorly, fastened nuts onto bolts with washers in the wrong order, put the ground cables to the switch on the wrong posts so they would not fit (which meant since I had already cut the plastic liner box I had to go to Canadian Tire to get one three inches longer). .. and while there I decided to buy a new battery... but wait....

I was not sure if the properly sized battery would fit and I had been running with a smaller 9x6 garden tractor battery and with the new wiring and alternator I decided no way...

but

Canadian Tire would not let me take a battery home to see if it would fit properly - you buy it, you own it. $109.00 for trial. So as luck had it there was a used dead battery with the proper case on their trad-in shelf. Borrowed it, took it home, tight tight fit but with a heat shrink gun and a little plastic molding pressure we got it to fit. Back to CTC to buy the battery.

Then the hold-down clampsI bought would not work... soooooo custom fabrication and two hours later we have it.

8 hours all in.

Feb. 14/ 07: Ran the wires out to the termination points at the front and rear corners and
all the wires have now been coiled in a temporary location in readiness for crimping and soldering.

Yesterday and today I connected the coil, left headlight, left front park and left marker, horns and fans. Tomorrow we tackle the right front side and rear lighting system.

Dan, thanks for the discussion regarding 'best practice' for grounds. As it happens my new horns provide a perfect lug on the top of the mounting bracket into which I can neatly daisy chain all the front grounds to one solid point.

Pictures here:
http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,510443

Feb. 15/07. Wiring. Right front done. Trunk done. Fuel pump done.

Some of you here will appreciate that it took me 8 hours to complete the rear wiring with about 30 connections. Routing the wires perfectly: that takes planning before you cut to minimize the number of connections and to eliminate little extenders, stripping, soldering on bullets, dielectric grease into the couplings (or shrink wrap on terminal connectors -MATCHING COLOUR on visible wires where possible!) then testing continuity and finally zip-tying into neat bundles. I wired it so I can add a harness later for the trailer when it is done and added a circuit for a light that will come on in the trunk lid, just behind the lock mechanism, to illuminate the entire area of the boot when the trunk is open. I will buy a 12v flat mount light that has a built in switch so I can override it and turn it off if I want to.

My fingers and hands are very sore from the detailed high powered grip required in some of these operations and I managed to cut myself twice and burn myself once (minor) with the butane soldering flame... but that is the ONLY way to go. Fast and hot and requires no pressure like a soldering iron or gun so the wires and the connector don't shift on you. Also it is so hot the tip gets to solder melting temperature before the insulation starts to get warm.

Ahh the smell of melting resin core solder... reminds me of my youth soldering speakers wire.

Now to complete the underside of the 'bonnet' and move on to the dash. It's time to start 'running the greens' .. the power feeds to the devices.

Feb. 16/07: I took my door panels and materials to have them stitched by the shop that does work for SpeedVision Channel. Gary suggested vinyl inlays to match the piping (welts) on the seats. He knows what he is doing so I said .... sure go ahead and do what you can do to make them unique.

Then I took the rear deck cover to Kim Chevalier who embroiders MG and Triumph Regalia for the Toronto Triumph Club and MGCCT. I chose the Safety Fast/MG Logo. Both turned out better than I could have imagined. I will have to treat these carefully as I install them. Can't wait to finish the wiring so I can get this interior installed!

The alternator arrived today. Also re-installed the dizzy with the engine drive spindle 180 degrees around so the rotor would line up #1 at 2-3 o'clock.

Feb. 17/07: Wiring. Alternator, brake switches, reverse switch and planning the under dash bits.

Feb. 18/07: Major progress today. Ran all the under-dash wires to the correct location in readiness for termination. Ran out of bullets but fortunately Laura McEachern from British Auto Sport was on the way to Whitby and delivered 50 so I could keep going. Removed all the connectors from the old harness and the part's car harness to use because the ones from British Electric (along with the crimping tool) still have not arrived yet and will likely get here now after the job is done!

Feb. 19/07: Wired up the steering column connections. See the posts here
http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,512991

Feb. 20-21/07: Basic wiring complete and functioning. Search on 'Advanced Auto-Wire to see the 10 posts as I progressed. Great feeling to have this almost complete. Minor finishing touches needed now and tidy up the wires.

Feb. 21-28/07: Almost complete? I must have been mad to say that. The whole week has been spent on wiring wiring wiring... cutting, soldering, checking, testing. Managed to get it to the point where I could test spin the starter and have all the lights working. Now to take it apart to make harnesses and tidy up.

A great month's work on the restoration.