Jonn continued the repair of the nearside quarter light of our 1968 MGC Roadster by filing out and fitting a new handle mount. Two countersunk screws were cut down to fit and secure the mount, and a 1/4″ bolt was ground down to fit the frame for the pivot. Mastik was applied inside the frame to reseal the glass and rubber, and the glass was knocked into the frame. The quarter light was refitted to the door, the handle was installed, and the tag was bent out to tighten. The frame was secured into the door, and the door panel was refitted. The same procedure was then carried out for the offside quarter light.
A grommet was fitted into a hole in the bulkhead, and the old heater was pulled through and secured under the dash. The wiring was secured to the main beam switch. The speaker box was set in the centre. The original steering wheel was fitted and secured, followed by the centrepiece. The horn was tested and confirmed to be working.
Painted parts were installed, and the radiator along with its mounting brackets was refitted and secured. The cowling was aligned and secured, and the fuel pipe was secured to the radiator mounts. The radiator hoses were cleaned, fitted, and secured. The top radiator bracket was installed and secured, with a new rubber seal fitted and glued in place. A P-clip and filter seal were used to secure the washer bottle. A new rocker cover gasket was installed, and the painted rocker cover was refitted. A new oil filter and seal were installed along with a painted canister. The engine was filled with oil, and the crank was turned over with the king lead disconnected to build oil pressure after an extended period without oil. The king lead was then reconnected, and the engine was briefly started. Oil levels were rechecked and topped up. The cooling system was vacuum-tested, holding pressure at 26hg for over five minutes. The system was then filled, and the header tank was topped up. The washer reservoir was also topped up, and the washer pipe was rerouted and secured. The washer pump was activated but found to be leaking. All tyres were inflated, and the car was taken outside and run up.
One fan blade was found to be hitting the radiator when rotating. All blades were bent slightly outward to provide clearance, and the issue was resolved. The driver’s quarter light door mirror was refitted. The heater pipe had slipped off the heater, and a longer hose was cut and fitted. However, the connection on the engine was found to be corroded and had collapsed. The metal pipe was cut back, and the heater hose was secured as close to the heater box as possible. On testing, it was still not fully secure. The heater box front panel was removed, and the hole was cut slightly larger. The hose was slipped through, and a hose clip was installed behind the panel before refitting the heater panel. An additional hose clip was fitted on the other side of the panel. The water level was topped up, and the system was run and tested, now securing correctly. Ten litres of fuel were added, and a road test was carried out. The heater fan was found to be non-functional, and the car was returned to the workshop for investigation.
The heater fan fault was diagnosed by checking connections and verifying that the earth was sound. Continuity was checked from the switch to the fan, confirming the circuit was intact. Power to the switch was confirmed as present. The switch was removed and tested, revealing an open circuit in both positions. A second-hand switch was tested and found to be functional. The toggle handle was swapped onto the replacement switch, which was then installed and connected. Testing confirmed the fan was now operational. A quick spanner check was performed on all previously worked-on components. The wheels were removed for refurbishment, and a spare set was installed to keep the car mobile. A final check for leaks was carried out, with none present at the time. The car was confirmed to be in working order.
