The MGA With An Attitude
MGA Guru Is GOING MOBILE - (April 16 - April 30, 2024)
Tuesday April 16, 2024:
Sitting in Naperville, looks like rain for a couple of days, and no more appointments until tomorrow evening, so time for more new computer configuration work. A little fun figuring out where and how to steal ions from odd locations to use in my desktop shortcuts, because the new op-sys uses different icons for same functions. Installed Open Office software on new machine to handle some of my data spread sheets. Moved some data documents to a different (new) folder in a better location of my choice (deferred maintenance), and updated shortcut links to match. Then noticing some data files were three months out of date (copied from some older backup), now having to copy from old computer to new computer to get the current edition. Have now transferred and verified function of our Friends list (2500 line spread sheet) and similar but smaller Planning spread sheet (YES, major accomplishment).
Wednesday April 17, 2024:
Downloaded and installed Adobe Acrobat Reader (for PDF documents). Failed to download Foxit Reader (because access to the web site was blocked by our current WiFi venue). Also failed download of AdBlocker Ultimate (for same reason). -- In the evening w dropped in on Wednesday Night Garage Club at "Tommy's Garage" (Tom Raddatz) in Lagrange Highlands, Illinois. First business was for navigator to access Tommy's WiFi to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader and AdBlocker Ultimate on my new computer (which he did, yahoo!). Then on to the garage club business. The following photos and notes are being posted two days in arrears, because of the ongoing new computer configuration issues. Just got a new image editor working on Friday (4/19). In the interim you may notice a few technical glitches with the images (but we're getting better daily).
Checking out the garage as we stroll in, what's hiding on the other side of that big sport-ute? Ah, it's Paul Pickley's new toy, an MGA that used to belong to Skip Han (who 30 to 35 years ago used to be tech coordinator for the Chicago Area MGA Club). I guess both rear fenders were damaged (or rusted), needing repair.
Tonight Paul was giving the shrinking disc a good work out, first time I have seen one in use. It works by friction heating the panel, then spray a little water on it to give it thermal shrinkage.
There was another green MGA 1600 owned by a younger couple (well, it's all relative). Now thinking about it,
maybe it's father and daughter. Don't think I've met them before (how long have I been away?). But she is right into it getting her hands dirty to get it fixed up. Who says the younger generation is not into these cars?
Cowboy (Dave Bralich) was after the MGB parts car. I thought he was removing the front wings, but turns out he was just after the bolts to use on the project car.
The club project car was getting plenty of attention. A few sheet metal welded inserts as rust repair around holes for the side trim fasteners. Have to re-drill to install pop riveted snaps later.
Repair panels for the lower front wings.
Several hands required for fitting the steering column universal joint. Pry open the tight fitting splines and tap the steering sahft into correct alignment before installing the pinch bolts.
Tommy's custom build MGB V6 is still progressing, just not as fast as everyone had hoped. Everything on this car is custom, so it takes a while to figure out how to make it all fit and work. So much for hopes of getting it to the British Car Festival last September. -- Meanwhile, barbecue dogs and burgers are good eating, and the campfire is always nice on a cool evening.
Activities winding down for the evening, it was time for us to hit the road. South to I-55, then south on I-55, 40 miles total. took us to a Love's Travel Center in Channahon, for snacks and late WiFi work until after midnight (still doing new computer configuration). Then another hour south down I-55 before we stopped.
Thursday April 18, 2024:
Moved a bit away from the big city, sitting back in Dwight, IL today. Spent hours figuring out how to restore a tech menu toolbar line in the Firefox browser window, but got 'er done. Was going to spend the day recreating hundreds of links in my bookmarks list, but finally managed to restore the old list (Yippee). Failed to get the old L-View Pro image editor working, needing to enter a registered License# which we no longer know. Sent message to the image software company asking if they can reconnect us with our existing license number, still waiting for a reply (not holding breath).
Friday April 19, 2024:
Only a little farther down the road, sitting in Mclean, IL today for more computer configuration. Finally managed to find an image editor that could work on the new Windows 11 Op-Sys. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) open source software 1998 vintage, seems to be very popular still. Slightly different user interface, so taking some time to get used to using it. It did eat up most of the day, but apparently it works, because it did all of Wednesday's photos posted above, so I guess it's a keeper.
Basic summary for the day is, I got a few hours of useful work done on the new computer without touching the old one, so I'd call that a satisfying day. Not everything transferred and working yet, but it's getting there.
Saturday April 20, 2024:
Springfield, IL today. Spent much of the day fighting with various improper font sizes displayed on the screen, many of them too small to read (6-point font maybe), and it is inconsistent. Some windows or applications use larger font, some use smaller font. The worst of it seems to be dialog boxes nearly always having tiny font. Shoot me? I have a headache. -- In the afternoon I finally downloaded and installed a 2D CAD program (QCAD, open source and free), so for the first time in a year or so I have a drafting program working again. That's nice.
Finally took the time to register for NAMGAR GT-49 in Welches, Oregon in mid July. That went okay, sort of. From past tradition I thought it was good to register for the event before making the hotel reservation, because in some cases you must be an event participant (with the event registration first) to be allowed to reserve the hotel room at the club discount rate (especially if they blocked most of the rooms at the inn). Then when attempting to reserve a room, with the room block event code in hand, we are told there are no more rooms available in the event block at the discount rate. What? It's still three months before the event, end the reserved block of 100 rooms is filled. Furthermore, the whole hotel is filled with no more rooms available at any price. Double What? If I knew there was no way to book a room, I might not have registered for the event. Still three months before the event, and no rooms available anywhere at any price? The organizing committee better get their act together quick before registered participants start cancelling their event registrations. Need to contact NAMGAR about this.
Sunday April 21, 2024:
Morning email and BBS in Eureka, Missouri (at least we got out of Illinois). Still having font size problems with the new computer (grrrr). Also an unanticipated email problem. Have been using Eudora email client for off-line reading and editing of email messages, ever since my first email activity with AOL 30 years ago. This morning I clicked on an email link for NAMGAR, and it tried to open Outlook (more Micros**t trash software), for which I do not have an account, and it is trying to force me to sign up. Screw it, I don't want any account with MS, because they will pirate my personal information and sell it to anyone who will give them some money.
Now Windows-11 Op-Sys refuses to redirect a MailTo: link to use Eudora for my email client. Looks like a worldwide problem. I suppose MS never received their piracy fee for assigning a signature file to Eudora to allow it to be recognized by the MS Op-Sys. Some folks on the net suggest using Thunderbird email client, which is supposed to do the same thing. And, Thunderbird should be able to import my HUGE spam mail filter file from Eudora. Crap. This may kill the rest of the day.
 Good guess. Now 8-pm and not resolved yet. On navigator's advice I downloaded and installed Thunderbird. spent a lot of time configuring it to log into the POP box on my web server to download my incoming email messages, and the STMP server top send outgoing messages. Result so far is failure to connect, with a note that the mail server would not recognize the log-in information. No clue why, of course. It doesn't say which piece of information is invalid. I have a headache, may need to take the rest of the day off. Navigator is continuing to search on line for some information to resolve these issues. Thunderbird would also not import my 8-MB filter file, but will leave that issue for later. Right on 10-pm closing time we got Thunderbird to connect and send an email message. Hopefully the only time I will ever have to do that is when I might click on a MailTo: link in a web page. Otherwise Eudora still works for everything, didn't loose anything except the MailTo: link connection.
Contemplating going to southern Texas, so we drove a bit southwest on I-44 in the evening.
Monday April 22, 2024:
Sitting in Rolla, Missouri. Mostly exercising lots of functions on the new computer, and so far it all seems to work. Day 3 of not touching the old computer. Some day soon will have to haul it out at least one more time to review if there is anything more there we still need to transfer to the new machine. Then I think need to make a data backup from the new machine (kill another day or two).
Guess we haven't been planning far enough ahead. Just made an appointment for tomorrow morning in Lee's Summit, MO, on south edge of Kansas City. It just means we need to drive an hour back north before heading west again.
Tuesday April 23, 2024:
Arrived mid morning to visit John Farrell in Lees Summit, MO. He has an MGA 1600-Mark-II that has been in the family for decades, first father's car, then passed on to a sister, then to another sister, and now to John. There was (previously) some question about title, hopefully resolved by now. The car is currently in southern Wisconsin for restoration work, so we were just hanging out to chat for a couple hours.
Still contemplating going to southern Texas, so we headed south from the Kansas City, MO metro area, then sitting in Harrisonville, MO for late lunch. Again not planning far enough ahead, so the next incoming phone call had the wind changing direction. Forget south, and head west on I-35 South (go figure) toward Colorado Springs, CO (what's a few hundred miles between friends). Two full days to travel before appointment, so no big rush. After evening food and WiFi stop, we ended the day just across the state line from Missouri into Kansas.
Wednesday April 24, 2024:
Hauling on a a couple hours farther wast, sitting in Emporia Kansas for breakfast, and we don't have anything scheduled to do in this state? Time for email and BBS, and maybe more advance planning. Sure enough, missed a couple appointments, overshot by 90 miles, so turn around, go back. Now heading for Lawrence and Topeka, KS.
Early afternoon we dropped in to visit Red Ink Racing, Ltd in Lawrence, KS. Say hello to the shop owner Craig Walker, the jolly guy in the blue shirt, and John Reynolds. These guys have plenty of experience with vintage British cars. Craig has been here on the same site for 50 years. He started next door, then over time took over more of the premises, now owns the whole building and the building next door, and another storage building in back. The open doors with wide bays two steps deep is where most of the work gets done, but may be only 1/4 of the space. Most of the rest of the space holds parts and projects they haven't had time to get to yet.
The red MGB is a bit unique. This car has a real in the metal Duck Clutch. This has a shift knob with a finger trigger that will automatically operate the clutch with an easy finger pull. This device has a mechanical power servo to pull or push the clutch release lever. In this case the power servo is located in the boot along with the clutch hydraulic master cylinder, so the servo is pushing the clutch master cylinder while the slave cylinder is still hydraulically operated.
Then a short sprint back west again to visit Rob Winter in Topeka, KS. That's Rob's MGA, and Rob in front of his toy shop.
I had to post the next one. This is a picture of Rob at age 1-yr 10-mo in front of his (father's) MGA with a set of pliers in his hand. Seems like it never wore off, as this is now his car a generation later with a restoration and new paint. Iinside ther were more toys, a Datsun Z-car, a Jag E-Type, and a VW Karman Ghia (sweet).
And a well organized garage and work space (go ahead and drool).
Okay, now we can go farther west. Found good WiFi and dinner in Abilene, KS. Cruising on late night to land in Ellis, KS.
Thursday April 25, 2024:
Breakfast and lunch in Ellis, KS. Hauling on, another fuel stop, arriving in Colorado Springs, CO in the evening. Car running sluggish over 6000 feet altitude, so before shutting it of we leaned out the fuel mixture and turned up the idle speed. Then three dud WiFi spots in row, two McD with no power plug, followed by the first ever Loves Travel Stop (truck stop) with no customer WiFi. So we settled for a McD with no power and very slow WiFi, while our computer batteries lasted long enough for dinner break before the place closed.
Friday April 26, 2024:
Destined to be a long day hopping around. Good morning, Colorado Springs. Nearly two years since we were here for NAMGAR GT-47 in 2022. Now we're back for a breakfast meeting with Pikes Peak Little British Car Group at Patty Jewett Bar & Grill at Patty Jewett Golf Course. Signs say, "Welcome to historic Patty Jewett" (go figure).
At first glance at least 15 vintage cars in the lot, and a few more modern types. Counting noses, 15 guys standing around chatting. A few minutes later we were heading into the dining room, finding more people already ordering, now up to 32 filled chairs. A good time for food and chat, wait staff a bit slow, so rather longer breakfast.
Back to the car park, checking out a late arrival. This would be a 1962 MGA with a 1962 BOP engine (Buick- Oldsmobile-Pontiac before the aluminum engine line was sold to Rover). Tight squeeze for a V8 in the MGA. Very close fitting exhaust headers, with small notching into the angled side frame braces.
No notching required in the frame goalpost, as the engine was moved forward a bit. To make that work, a low profile radiator was located farther forward completely underneath the bonnet latch brace. The aluminum V8 engine weighing 10 pounds less than the original iron 4-cylinder engine, with 4-barrel carburetor and slightly warmed over cam, should dyno at about 215-HP. Hang on.
Then we hitched onto Jim Goodwin's tail and followed his MGA to his sister's house to check out his MGA Coupe that seems to be factory mislabeled as a roadster. No matter, as this car is very original in content, relatively low mileage, and nearly rust free. Unfortunately it suffered a little tree fall with minor damage on top of the front end (but looks easy to fix).
Next stop was a visit to Martin Willis "The Machine Shop". Martin works on anything that is MG Midget or Porsche (odd combination).
One staple of his handiwork is refurbishing Porsche brake drums, which are otherwise unavailable. He will bore out the worn ID and make a sleeve getting back to standard bore. The sleeve is to be press fit, but also will be locked in place with a wire key (nice trick). Also bore out a worn center spline to be replaced with a new splined insert to accept the drive axle.
Next picture is an MG T-Type or MGA front suspension swivel pin and link assembly. When these are worn he will bore out the thread in the swivel link, re-tap it to larger size, and make a new threaded swivel pin to match. And there is the MG tachometer gear and housing which he made from scratch. And we get a look into his jewelry chest with lots of custom parts he has made. Learn to restore everything when parts are not available.
Starting with picture below center, a very special differential and half-shafts for a live axle MG Midget, allowing negative camber at the wheels (up to 4 degrees).
Martin will cut the banjo type rear axle housing apart, and weld it back together with the desired camber angle. He has then found a way to fit two constant velocity joints inside the MG differential to allow for the misalignment of the half-shafts. The assembly will then run full power with no loose or sliding spline joints.
He also put together this flywheel and heavy duty pressure plate using a ventilated brake disc for the flywheel friction surface Creative fellow.
The next one nearly escapes me, but he seems to be fond of stealing ideas from the Brits. There is a thumb wheel adjuster for spark advance setting on a non-Lucas distributor. And he likes SU carburetors, putting them on anything, including Porsche.
That would be a Midget 1275cc engine block and crankshaft. The Audi has some odd stuff going on with supercharger and intercooler.
I clicked a few more pictures around back of the building on the way out. He does have some mixed interests.
Then we were off for lunch with some of the same people, and a few more from the machine shop. Count a few more noses.
By mid afternoon we were heading on to Jim Goodwin's home garage, commonly known as "MG Rescue", which may be familiar. The place certainly lives up to the name, every car with another story. I recon we were all running out of time as it was beginning to rain, so we headed south to get out of town. We stopped at a truck stop in Pueblo, CO for the evening, decent WiFi, but not enough time to catch up the clerical work. And it was raining, so we stayed late.
Saturday April 27, 2024:
Sitting in Pueblo, CO all day, catching up email plus photos and notes from Wednesday and Thursday (3 days in arrears again), and just a small start on Friday's pictures. Then back to fighting the computer for system text size too small to read. Looks like the system text default is carried over from earlier Op-Sys, and Windows 11 cannot change this parameter. So we changed the system Zoom factor from 100% to 175% to get small text to be larger than a pinhead to be readable. Then change the desktop icons to "smallest" rather than "largest". Then for Eudora email client, changed all text display sizes from from "largest" to "smallest" (so mailboxes would fit on the screen). Hey, that works, and now all of the email font sizes are about back to normal. Still trying to work with two image editors, Gimp and Paint, and they both have some serious issues, so likely not settled yet. Feeling better than this morning, but again out of time, needing to move on. Late night cruise another 80 miles south, but still in Colorado.
Sunday April 28, 2024:
Cruised across that state line just into New Mexico. Sitting in Raton, NM all day, finally catching up with all the photos and notes from the past few days (see above).
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