niwid
Posted a lot
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After spending some time poking with a screwdriver and crying, my recently acquired MGB GT has turned into a rather involved restoration project, and I could do with a little advice on how to get through it. Bear in mind I have never done anything like this before. I’m relatively handy with the spanner, and I’m happy changing suspension components, brakes, exhausts, interior bits and other bits and bobs, but the ‘B’ is going to need fully stripping, welding (a skill I will have to learn as I go), and probably some re-wiring. It’s going to be a long process, learning lots of new skills along the way, and I want to do as much of it myself as is possible.
I’m worried that I’m going to go about doing things the wrong way, and end up with a half finished project, and no motivation to continue. I really don’t want this to happen, so I need some help.
I know there are a lot of people on here who have done projects like this. Some people have done hundreds of them, so if you have any words of advice for getting through the build, tips and tricks or tools that make certain tasks 100 times easier, or any useful articles/threads/books to look into, I would really appreciate it.
It’s going to be a pretty slow, low budget build, as I’m planning to go to university soon, and I won’t be able to spend hundreds of pounds at a time, or 40 hours a week working on it, but I can’t wait to get stuck in!
Thanks in advance
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There are numerous books and web sites about restoring MGB's. They are basically simple to work on and nothing is beyond DIY.
I always cringe, however, when somebody says they will have to learn how to weld "as they go". A lot of the time their results are frightening. I qualified as an industrial welder in 1981 so know a little about welding ! My advice is don't even attempt any welding on the vehicle until you are proficient. That isn't your opinion but that of somebody who can make an honest assessment of your quality of welding. Look to see if there is a local college course in welding as that is one of the best ways of learning. Yes you can self teach but unless somebody checks the result you won't know if it's acceptable. If you are at uni as a full time student then often other courses at local colleges are free.
Enjoy.
Paul H
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niwid
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,753
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Thanks Paul, any recommendations on which books are best? I imagine some will be a lot better than others.
Don't worry, I will be learning to weld as I go, but I have friends who can help me get started and help with/check any structural bits. I also plan to get plenty of scrap metal, in varying thicknesses, to practice on before doing any on the MG. I will have to look into courses at the university when I (hopefully) start.
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,326 
Club RR Member Number: 160
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If you need any help with wiring in the new year give me a shout, I rewired the majority of the lights on our MGB..
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93fxdl
Posted a lot
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Posts: 2,015
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My advice is, don't spend any money to start with unless you can see a return for it, ie paying to learn welding will return, in not paying for welding or even being paid to do it. Don't buy books unless you can't get from library or online. Only collect parts before you need them if they are that cheap you can sell on at a profit if mojo fails. Concentrate on refurbishing small parts first then work up, this can help mojo as a nice pile of clean shiny parts all ready to fit speeds the job up, also should be easy to sell on if the mojo does fail. Write a list of jobs to do as every job crossed off raises mojo but don't get carried away adding jobs as a huge list is very disheartening. If all else fails take a step back and then start again. My beetle has spent most of the last 20 years hibernating but every so often it stumbles a bit closer until I get distracted by a different project. A final piece of advice, try to finalize your plans early because if you don't know wher your going, your going to have a hard job getting there.
Ttfn Glenn
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Very few projects will see any return, by all means learn to weld with the help of someone who welds for a living. buying a decent welder, gas (don't bother buying disposable bottles they are a big waste of cash) etc will set you back several hundred quid but will pay for itself quickly, ask local car welders where they buy their metal and gas as prices do vary greatly.
Don't buy parts until you know you will need them and don't buy cheap parts from unknown sources.
Buy, yes buy books as the library don't take it kindly when a book is returned covered with oily finger prints. A factory parts manual is worth its weight in gold as is joining a car club as parts and panels may be cheaper from them and the advice from members is normally very good.
Only refurb parts when you know they will be fitted, a nice shiny part sat on the shelve for 10 years may look good but it can go rusty or seals can go brittle.
Bag and tag every part removed and take photos because a few months later you will have forgotten where it goes.
If you send parts away to be sand blasted or repaired keep a note of where and how much you have been quoted and when it needs collecting.
If you have a sudden brain storming idea write it down, it is easier to cross it out then try to remember the 'great idea' at a later date.
Double check everything and always measure twice before cutting and don't scrimp on safety gear buy a decent welding mask, safety goggle, gloves and dusk mask and buy the best quality tools you can afford.
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If you are at uni as a full time student then often other courses at local colleges are free. Enjoy. Paul H sorry guys I got to ask this as its kind of relevant , but I am currently at uni and never knew I could do this? so how does it work then as if I want to do a motor vehicle evening course (just to get the certificate- I can easily pass it all in my sleep!) i never knew or got told that i could do a college or evening course for free ?! could be helpful on my break in the summer ! looking forward to an answer there  . Also on topic Tim, i would suggest watch a ot of you tube videos, pick up some rotten wings or doors from the breakers or ebay? and have a go, i learnt to weld on my cars but never jumped straight on the cars, i got a rotten old mk1 Cortina wing i had for my Cortina and practiced on that and a few other things(like a polo i got given for the £ of a drink) , got me to a much better standard and taught me a lot. |
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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If you want to learn welding, get on the mig welding forum. Get some nice clean steel, weld, post your pictures, listen to the comments, weld, post pictures...
If you start on thin rusty scrap panels, you'll blow so many holes you'll give up.
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If you are at uni as a full time student then often other courses at local colleges are free. Enjoy. Paul H sorry guys I got to ask this as its kind of relevant , but I am currently at uni and never knew I could do this? so how does it work then as if I want to do a motor vehicle evening course (just to get the certificate- I can easily pass it all in my sleep!) i never knew or got told that i could do a college or evening course for free ?! could be helpful on my break in the summer ! looking forward to an answer there . Also on topic Tim, i would suggest watch a ot of you tube videos, pick up some rotten wings or doors from the breakers or ebay? and have a go, i learnt to weld on my cars but never jumped straight on the cars, i got a rotten old mk1 Cortina wing i had for my Cortina and practiced on that and a few other things(like a polo i got given for the £ of a drink) , got me to a much better standard and taught me a lot. My son (29) went to uni as a mature student. He had gained no qualification at school. During his time as full time uni student he took numerous courses to gain CGSE and A levels as they were free. He's since got his degree but is still doing two more GCSE's so he can start a teacher training course next year. Now he's technically no longer a full time student at uni (unemployed but not available for work so can't sign on etc) he has to paid for the courses ! I'm registered disabled and didn't have to pay for college courses I took in engineering a few year ago either. I think you are best contacting whoever runs a course and asking about consessions for full time students. Paul H |
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dazcapri
North East
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Posts: 1,061
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sorry guys I got to ask this as its kind of relevant , but I am currently at uni and never knew I could do this? so how does it work then as if I want to do a motor vehicle evening course (just to get the certificate- I can easily pass it all in my sleep!) i never knew or got told that i could do a college or evening course for free ?! could be helpful on my break in the summer ! looking forward to an answer there . Also on topic Tim, i would suggest watch a ot of you tube videos, pick up some rotten wings or doors from the breakers or ebay? and have a go, i learnt to weld on my cars but never jumped straight on the cars, i got a rotten old mk1 Cortina wing i had for my Cortina and practiced on that and a few other things(like a polo i got given for the £ of a drink) , got me to a much better standard and taught me a lot. My son (29) went to uni as a mature student. He had gained no qualification at school. During his time as full time uni student he took numerous courses to gain CGSE and A levels as they were free. He's since got his degree but is still doing two more GCSE's so he can start a teacher training course next year. Now he's technically no longer a full time student at uni (unemployed but not available for work so can't sign on etc) he has to paid for the courses ! I'm registered disabled and didn't have to pay for college courses I took in engineering a few year ago either. I think you are best contacting whoever runs a course and asking about consessions for full time students. Paul H I got my level 1 MIG and then level 1 TIG course,for nothing,about 18 months ago but they changed the rules just after I finished.I wasn't a full time student but because I didn't try at school I only had what they classed as a level 1 education so got I got them free,it's always worth asking you never know.From memory the course cost about £200 at Gateshead College at the time and tbh I would of happily paid that. |
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,991
Club RR Member Number: 58
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I can't weld, but if you need any help with other jobs on the MG I should be about, I've been through most bits on them in the time I've had mine  and it probably helps the mojo to keep going if you've got a bit of help with the tough jobs |
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where are you going to uni?
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Make a job sheet and put in order the things that you need to do first at the top of the list , break each job into sections and allow a realistic timeframe for each job .....
By doing this it helps spur you on seeing something ticked off on your "to do" list ..... As opposed to doing bit of this bit of that and seeing nothing done in your allotted time as let's face it sometimes you may only be able to snatch an hour of workshop time so need to keep motivated
Say for example you would want to strip the car prior to welding
Put stripping car top of list ,then welding ,filler work and prep etc etc
Good luck too and take plenty of reference pics to look back on when refitting parts and pieces too ,helped me out many times before
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,304
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Here's another person willing to help with your plight. I did strip and sort of rebuild my old 'Bs (wiring, rot, suspension issues etc). Some great advice here. I would start to tot up a parts bill though. Even when I was working on mine castle sections were around £70 a side, and front wings are now stupid money. As with many people I ended up trying to save a little, but spending quite a chunk at times. There really should be an RR Welding masterclass somewhere . |
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niwid
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,753
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Thanks for your help guys, definitely feeling the support right now It's great to know there are so many people on here and elsewhere that are willing to help out a fellow petrol head. Thanks to those who have offered help, I'm sure to be calling you up on it in the future! There is a lot of sensible sounding advice here, which is very much appreciated and I have a little bit more of an idea of what I'll be doing over the next however many months. I'll be sure to start a build thread in the new year so you can all tell me where I'm going wrong Once I've got my unit space, I'll start stripping the thing down and making a 'parts needed' and 'jobs need doing' list. I'll have a look at that mig welding forum too, as that sounds like a very useful tool when learning to weld. I'll definitely be doing plenty of practice before doing anything to the car. I like the idea of doing cheap and small jobs on the car to keep the mojo up too. I'll spend some time polishing chrome, and perhaps some interior work. Another vote here for the RR welding master class too  |
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niwid
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,753
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where are you going to uni? I'm hoping to go to Bath Spa, but my second choice is De Montfort in Leicester. If I don't get in to either I have a few local options too. The courses are all music technology, music business and music practice oriented. |
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,991
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Also get a build thread up (unless I've missed it) helps keep you going when you really lose motivation |
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Practice makes perfect regarding the welding, I couldn't weld at the start of the year but got myself a welder, some gas and gear and now I'll happily take on any repair.
Practising on a bench is much different to welding a car, so don't be dishearted if it doesn't go as well as it does on the bench at first.
As for the mechanicals, I know you dabble in older polos and can tell you an mgb is simpler so if you manage that you will manage this.
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1966 MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Super Imp
1985 Volvo 360 GLEi
1986 Volvo 340 1.7
1990 Mercedes 190e 2.0
1993 Peugeot 205 STDT
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. 
and it probably helps the mojo to keep going if you've got a bit of help with the tough jobs 
