MGC Appraisal

Peter has been conducting an appraisal on our 1968 MGC Roadster. Here are his findings:

Appraisal.. drivers door lock seized, can’t check keys, passenger door lock spinning in door can’t seem to fit a key, passenger door button sticks in handle, drivers door isn’t closing correctly, drivers sun visor mount broken, drivers quarter window handle seized unable to open but winder works for main window, passenger quarter window handle missing unable to lock, passenger main window stiff to operate both up and down.

Both door inner handles and locks work fine. Connected battery, ignition comes on with key, fuel pump makes noise but isn’t filling the filter under the bonnet. Car tuns over but no fire. External lights are working, no high beam, flashers are very very slow. No dash lights seems to work other than flasher tell tale and ignition light. No interior lights work. Hand brake travel is fine and it seems to hold the car.

Multiple keys for the car but very few seem to fit. Under the bonnet and gear, signs over overheating or coolant spilling on intake around filer cap, both clutch and gear selection is stiff, unable to check drive as non start. Washer bottle has a glue type repair and is secured with cable ties. Clutch and brake fluid looks clean, possible new clutch master has been fitted. Informed of a popped core plug, engine is wet below intake so definitely a coolant leak. Su carb damper caps were loose. Choke cable disconnected and rusty, radiator is in contact with the body and is damaged, engine bay is grubby and shows signs of various leaks, wiring around coil is loose/untidy and disconnected in places.

Chest height checks, passenger front disc pitted and play in steering joints and bearing. Driver front the same, both tyres are cracking and dot code of 2012. Passenger rear is binding at points suggesting warped drum, also play in bearing. Driver rear binding at all points of rotation, also play in bearing. Rear tyres both are cracked, I wa unable to spot a dot code, condition suggesting older than fronts, all tyres are 165/80/15 but mixed brands. Loose stainless sill trims at driver arch lower, rust bubbling around arches to front and lower valance. Upper shock rubber drivers side isn’t contact body suggesting loose shock, passenger is disintegrated. Underside check, excessive underseal throughout, engine, gearbox, both have oil leaks origin unknown, rear passenger hub/brake backing is wet with oil or brake fluid.

Propeller shaft is hitting chassis (worn check straps) front upper and lower suspension joint rubbers are all degraded beyond repair and are in places metal to metal. Front of sills both sides show corrosion but seem solid with light inspection. Floors show old weld repairs. Brake discs pitted, pads 20 percent worn. Lower sill edge is crusty. Rear anti roll joints look worn. Lower rad pipe has a small cut. Roof not fitted but is present although unsure if complete until tested.

5ltrs of fresh fuel into the tank and we have fuel coming up to the under bonnet filter, new filter fitted as old one was leaking. Removed spark plug and check for spark, spark present, test crank and no fire. Top of carb float bowl removed and it was evident that the fuel bowls and carbs needed and bit of an internal clean. Carbs and associated items removed, stripped and inspected, very dirty old fuel drained, gaskets checked, the needles and jets checked/blown through. Reassemble and refitted to the car, test fire shows a sputter of life, choke not working as cable damaged, minor repairs made ready for a new cable, bypassed this by cable tie onto he choke arm and she fired and ran lumpy (possiblity of just cold) further work needed but started well.