To start things off, here are a few pictures of the "beast" arriving home. Note in the 7'th picture the very short chain and old tire. The car had no brakes so it was a slow drive and gentle braking to get it home. No damage to either vehicle, though in hind sight a car trailer, car dolly or even a tow bar of some sort may have been a safer option. No matter though, it made it safe and sound. Pictures 3 and 4 are of it beside a stock (not lifted) 1993 Jeep Cherokee (2 Door). It was my daily driver at the time and served as a good size comparison vehicle.
A quick overview of the progress and some pictures
of my Project Car as it evolves.
Day 1 - 2000 - Bought MG for no reason other than I was looking for something to work on and loved the lines of the body. These are a couple pictures after it had sat for 5 years waiting for me to begin work on it.
Day 2 - 2006 - Bought 1992 S-10
Day 3 - Finally starting something productive on the project. Dad and I remove cap, plywood liner, box and cleaned up driveway from S-10. 4 Hrs
Total Hours = 4
Day 4 - Removed trim, headlights, bumper and Hood Latch (with Hood Bumpers) unit. 1 Hr
Total Hours = 5
Day 5 - Removed interior of S-10. Removed doors of S-10. Ready to cut cab off of firewall. 3 hrs.
Total Hours = 8
Day 6 - Cab is removed from firewall. Ready to move S-10 frame into garage. 4 hr
Total Hours = 12
Day 7 - Cleaned extra bits from frame. After some very careful measuring of MG body for center of wheel wells, I figured out how much the frame needs to be shortened. Cut frame (28.5" removed) and removed old body mounts near cut area. Ready for fitting and welding. 3 Hrs
Total Hours = 15
Day 8 - Final fitting and welding of frame, ready to be boxed after E-Brake lines are routed. Drive shaft shortened and re-installed. 4 hrs.
Total Hours = 19
Day 9 - (morning) Removed firewall and radiator (and shroud). 2 hrs.
Day 9 - (evening) planned E-Brake routes with dad. 1 hr.
Total Hours = 22
Day 10 - Remounted brackets for E-Brake. "Boxed in" frame where it was spliced. 4 hrs.
Total Hours = 26
Day 11 - June 12, 2007 - MG Registered in my name. Found serial number on MG frame. Turns out is is a 1955 MGA Coupe. Now I can actually start working on the car without having to worry about registering it "after the fact". 2 hrs
Total Hours = 28
Day 12 - Break body free from old frame. It would have been much easier (and quicker) if someone had used bolts. Entire body was welded to frame. Not a single mounting bolt to be found. 7 hrs
Total Hours = 35
Day 13 - Lift body and remove frame. Rolled donor frame under body. Lower body to check for fit and clearance. 5 hrs
Total Hours = 40
Day 14 - Remove inner fender wells and old firewall for clearance. Found that the motor needs to be moved back 16" (+/-) and down 6" (+/-). Clearance for moving motor seems O.K. 1 hr
Total Hours = 41
Day 15 - Remove body from S-10 frame and roll out frame. Remove motor and trans from S-10 frame. Lowered body onto frame. Some cutting still required to achieve proper positioning. 3 hrs
Total Hours = 44
Day 16 - Final fit of body over frame. Rolled out into drive on new frame for pictures. Removed body to place engine in new location. Aligned Motor and Trans with frame and rear differential. Fabricated new Transmission mount (clamped in place) and started new motor mounts. 8 hrs
Total Hours = 52
Day 17 - Completed motor mounts and re-installed motor. Trans. mount still requires final mounting holes. Lowered body back onto frame to check for motor clearances. All seems O.K. 5 hrs
June 24, 2007 Total Hours = 57
Day 18 - Removed interior sheet metal from rear of car to allow alignment of body on frame. Marked front inner fender wells for removal. 1hr
Total Hours = 58
Day 19 - Cut and welded old S10 gas tank to fit behind rear axle (and between frame rails and shocks). Fabricated Trans. Shifter linkage mount. 6 hrs
Total Hours = 64
Day 20 -
Total Hours = __
As things stand right now (Fall of 2009), the project is on hold due to both Health and Financial limitations. That doesn't mean I am walking away from it. This is my "baby" and one day it will be done. The worst is behind me as far as the work needed on the car. All that remains now is the tedious and time consuming things like Floors, Firewall, Electrical and Plumbing. None of those have what I would describe as a high degree of difficulty - they merely take time and money. The body work is the only thing I have had doubts about. I have no real body work experience and I don't want to not do the work myself. Finaly prep and Paint will probably be done by a Professional Paint Shop, but Id like to get it that clsoe on my own. I guess the good thing is that too much "mud" can always be sanded off and I can start again at that point.
Now for the good bit ... here are a couple pics of cars with very similar body lines to give you an idea of what my MGA should look like when it's finally finished. The two cars pictured are a 2009 replica of a 1964 Shelby Daytona Cobra and an original 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO
Page will be updated semi-regularly.