My Hobby Cars
I love working on my old cars!
- 1979 Triumph Spitfire (That’s the forward view on the right)
- 1979 MG MGB Roadster
- 1949 Packard Deluxe Eight
I’ll post much more later. Needed this as a placeholder.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
1979 MGB Roadster
A few years ago, I bought a non-running 1979 MG MGB Roadster.
It looked like a fun project, and indeed it was! I wound up doing a ton of body work, replaced the engine and transmission, and redid much of the interior. Also installed a new soft top and boot.
Painting in an open pole barn is always a pleasure.
Now it’s a pleasure to drive.
This is UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I’ll add more informative content later.
Start Here
Driver side rust
Passenger side rust
Fender wells rust-through
Electrical Before Paint
Remove old engine/transmission
Wanted overdrive...
In with the new engine/transmission
Now I have overdrive...
Everything Comes Off
Sand to bare metal
Interior needs some love
Refurbish the Interior
Needs a new soft top
Prime for Paint
Shoot the Base Color
Shoot the Base Color
Shoot the Clear Coat
Lots of Clear Sanding
Have to flatten orange peel
Interior much better!
Getting happy with the result
Getting happy with the result
Last Slide
I'll post more pictures in the future
1979 Triumph Spitfire
In March of 2014, I bought a non-running 1979 Triumph Spitfire.
I knew nothing about British sports cars at the time, so this was a big leap for me. I had a huge lack of confidence with my purchase. Would I be able to get the thing running? Was it going to be as much fun to drive as it looked like it would be?
Eventually, it turned out to be good news all around.
The engine needed a rebuild. I had less than ten pounds of oil pressure. Right, the main bearings were shot. So I found a rebuilder (beyond my own expertise) who rebuilt be bottom end. I got the cylinder head done locally. Eventually, that was done, and I moved on to the transmission. It had a 4-speed, but I knew that overdrive units could be had. I found one and installed it.
Moving on, and to keep this reasonably short, I did body work, painted the car, redid the seats and interior, and rebuilt the brakes front and back. I fixed about everything in the car as I worked along on one thing or another. The result is that I now have a slick little sports car that runs like a dream.
What’s left to do? One of these days I’m going to replace the differential. Sounds like a bad pinion bearing, but it works, and I’m loathe to jump into that while I’m doing so many other things. I’m so glad I bought the car.
This is UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I’ll add more informative content later.