A Shed Downunder.

[metalhead140]

Thanks Andrew

I am hearing you on the wiring issue, the MG F is no different.

We are taking the F to Winton tomorrow for the Marque Sports Car Club - Super Sprint event, the weather is looking a little better so it should be a good day out.

http://www.msca.net.au/index.php

http://www.wintonraceway.com.au/

My eldest has just brought a used motor and gear box as a spare so I now have another project on the too do list: one race engine an gearbox for the MG F. Like your list mine is just getting longer.

Top day over at Winton, my son beat his PB and the previous owners best by 2 seconds ( 1 min 50.1 secs ) so he is pretty stoked with his performance and the car went well.

Good to hear he's getting plenty of use from the car and making the most of it. A very good effort to bear the cars PB by 2 seconds! Will you be posting up the engine build? What are the plans for it?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Thanks Andrew

I will post my progress on the build for sure.

Our plans are not to build a hand grenade in the first instance.

The head goes in for crack testing this week and we have to strip the rest of the engine, gearbox and assess where to from here.

I am leaning toward a set of either Mahle or Cosworth pistons and rods.

Piper cam and valve gear at this point.

He already has a 4 throttle body injection set up on the current engine.

It will be a slow build so watch this space.

View media item 52598
Regards

 

[groupcracer]

I raced at Winton myself. Orange Formula Ford 54.

Great Meeting.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I raced at Winton myself. Orange Formula Ford 54.

Great Meeting.

Hows that, awesome. I saw you, small world.

Here is a link to Andrews in car footage.

Enjoy

 

[metalhead140]

Thanks Andrew

I will post my progress on the build for sure.

Our plans are not to build a hand grenade in the first instance.

The head goes in for crack testing this week and we have to strip the rest of the engine, gearbox and assess where to from here.

I am leaning toward a set of either Mahle or Cosworth pistons and rods.

Piper cam and valve gear at this point.

He already has a 4 throttle body injection set up on the current engine.

It will be a slow build so watch this space.

View media item 52598
Regards

Sounds like a plan, I look forward to seeing the progress. As you say, no point building a grenade, but I'm sure it'll be a nice engine.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Very cool car be sure to keep us posted!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Very cool car be sure to keep us posted!

Will do sean..

Regards

 

[drivesitfar]

1/2: thanks for posting the YouTube video of yours or is it your son's car with him driving it? I've always wondered on a right hand drive is your right foot the gas or left foot?

pretty cool one of the twin's siblings won an award at a different show. i wonder if they will remember each other if and when they meet at a show later on in life?

congrats on Jason bringing the PGA trophy back to Australia because he deserved it. if he can keep that Vertigo out of his life i'm sure he'll win a few more majors in the future.

cheers

BTW i see you were waiting for a link for Windows 10. my laptop was shutting down after being on only 5 or 10 minutes for no reason that i could think of last week. I was ready to buy a new MAC. then Microsoft sends me a free download to Windows 10 yesterday and my laptop hasn't shut down in a few hours now so maybe 8.1 was having issues. how do you like windows 10?

EDIT: as soon as i posted this post on your thread my laptop shut down for no reason. so i guess the welder money might end up being for a MAC. crossing fingers my laptop comes back to life for good because it's only 3 or 4 years old.

 

[1/2 Cup]

1/2: thanks for posting the YouTube video of yours or is it your son's car with him driving it? I've always wondered on a right hand drive is your right foot the gas or left foot?

pretty cool one of the twin's siblings won an award at a different show. i wonder if they will remember each other if and when they meet at a show later on in life?

congrats on Jason bringing the PGA trophy back to Australia because he deserved it. if he can keep that Vertigo out of his life i'm sure he'll win a few more majors in the future.

cheers

BTW i see you were waiting for a link for Windows 10. my laptop was shutting down after being on only 5 or 10 minutes for no reason that i could think of last week. I was ready to buy a new MAC. then Microsoft sends me a free download to Windows 10 yesterday and my laptop hasn't shut down in a few hours now so maybe 8.1 was having issues. how do you like windows 10?

EDIT: as soon as i posted this post on your thread my laptop shut down for no reason. so i guess the welder money might end up being for a MAC. crossing fingers my laptop comes back to life for good because it's only 3 or 4 years old.

drives, I am glad you enjoyed the in car video. The MG F belongs to my eldest son and that is him behind the wheel, loves his motor sport and is continuing the family tradition.
Our gas peddles are on the right, I have driven a LHD Model A and does that feel all wrong

Mrs 1/2 Cup is pretty chuffed at the pups performance, done well.

That was a great win for Jason Day, I think it will really kick start things for him now.

I have installed Windows 10 on my lap top at home and are very pleased with it thus far. The only issue I have is my Fuji camera SW won't work, Fuji are aware of the issue and say they will have a patch ready by December

Computers can be a fair PITA at times, my work one has had the blue screen of death twice this morning so it looks like a phone call to our IT help desk when they get in.

Have a good one and thanks for dropping by...

 

[drivesitfar]

1/2: i just realized why the Aussies are such good golfers. it's left handed shifting to get some coordination for the golf swing. Phil Mickelson is actually right handed and i had to build up my left arm to play better. Johnny Miller is left handed and plays right. Just think with a couple golf lessons you'd be awesome if you had the time to play.

cheers and hope you are having a great week

 

[1/2 Cup]

1/2: i just realized why the Aussies are such good golfers. it's left handed shifting to get some coordination for the golf swing. Phil Mickelson is actually right handed and i had to build up my left arm to play better. Johnny Miller is left handed and plays right. Just think with a couple golf lessons you'd be awesome if you had the time to play.

cheers and hope you are having a great week

drives, your are on the money there.

Golf is a game that I could get hooked on but finding the time seems to get harder and harder.

I was looking at my to do list and it reads like this, in no particular order:

. The Storage Solution.
. The Carport front brick wall.
. The under bench drawers.
. Get stuck into the Model A restoration.
. Solar powered electrolysis bath.
. Ensuite make over.
. Gas heater replacement in the family room.
. Solar hot water installation.
. The Industrial Style dining table build.
. Main switchboard replacement. More of a bring it into the 21 st. century thing really to keep up with technology.
. Recover some more bricks from my mates place.
. Trim my Dads' Privet hedge this weekend. Some thing I have to admit I have been putting off.

Other:

. MG F engine and transmission rebuild.
. Service Mrs 1/2 Cups Honda City today. Long overdue as she is off to see our youngest son, DIL and no 1 grandson in Gosford this week end. ( 11 hour drive. )
. Eldest sons' house switchboard replacement.
. Eldest sons' shed electrical submain install.
. Clean and sort some of those ugly areas in the shed.
. Spare Model B engine and gearbox build for the Model A.

There still probably a few more but that's all that come to mind.

You will get no complaints as I enjoy what I do.

I am looking forward to having some annual leave of work in the not too distant future and get on with a few projects around here.

Have great weekend, I am off to service one Honda... Edited update and Mrs /2 Cup is on her way Honda Service done

 

[CoopVA]

Golf courses are a flagrant misuse of a perfectly good rifle range...

 

[sean Buick 76]

Speaking from experience bump the "service to the wifes vehicle" to the top of the list...

Great to read all your progress, I may not always post but I read all your updates...

 

[rmalkow2]

Golf courses are a flagrant misuse of a perfectly good rifle range...

Amen to that.

 

[rmalkow2]

Speaking from experience bump the "service to the wifes vehicle" to the top of the list...

Great to read all your progress, I may not always post but I read all your updates...

Amen and Amen to that!

 

[drivesitfar]

1/2: i see you got the most important HONEY DO finished so Mrs. 1/2 can have a safer ride on her trip.

that little TO DO list might take me 5 years so good luck with that.

RM & COOP: you guys leave our golf courses alone because hell you guys can go out in a desert and shoot snakes or lizards and have fun. i'll help you fix your ailing golf swings when you ask though to make golfing a bit more fun. first thing to do is practice your left hand shifting with a right hand drive car.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Golf courses are a flagrant misuse of a perfectly good rifle range...

Speaking from experience bump the "service to the wifes vehicle" to the top of the list...

Great to read all your progress, I may not always post but I read all your updates...

Thanks for dropping by Sean

Amen to that.

Amen and Amen to that!

1/2: i see you got the most important HONEY DO finished so Mrs. 1/2 can have a safer ride on her trip.

that little TO DO list might take me 5 years so good luck with that.

RM & COOP: you guys leave our golf courses alone because hell you guys can go out in a desert and shoot snakes or lizards and have fun. i'll help you fix your ailing golf swings when you ask though to make golfing a bit more fun. first thing to do is practice your left hand shifting with a right hand drive car.

Mrs 1/2 Cup was on the front foot for sure with the Honda service, I got home from work Thursday and she had been to the local Honda dealer and picked up every thing I needed for the service, oil, filters and even a sump plug washer plus some windscreen washer additive that was on special in a six pack. Bless her, so there was no getting out of that one.

All we a pretty well catered for around here when it comes to both golf and shooting facilities, in fact we lack very little for any sporting discipline you could think of.

There is 4 pretty nice golf clubs and one driving range with in 15 minutes drive from here, similarly two rifle ranges, two field and game courses and one pistol complex.

My eldest is an avid pistol shooter and I will quite often attend their "come and try days"

My golfing is limited mostly to our work place golf and bowls charity days, which are great fun and the odd hit at the driving range.

Have a great weekend every one.

 

[rmalkow2]

Ok, truce on the golf versus shooting sports. I think I found the perfect compromise competition.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ok, truce on the golf versus shooting sports. I think I found the perfect compromise competition.

What a gem, I am still laughing.

 

[CoopVA]

Ok, truce on the golf versus shooting sports. I think I found the perfect compromise competition.

Good one!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Look what appeared in the Shed Downunder this morning, my eldest dropped of one of two spare MG F K series engines he recently brought for his race car.
I knew they were on their way but wasn't quite expecting them here for some time any way it looks like I will have something to occupy my spare Quality Shed Time for next little while as he would like to have it ready by November.


View media item 52715
It will be a top to bottom rebuild and hopefully i can extract a few more horse power and stop those typically British engine oil leaks for the lad.

Have a great week end guys..

 

[CoopVA]

That'll be fun!

 

[Denwood]

1/2, looks like a great project. I've always found engine work strangely cathartic

 

[taumac]

Look what appeared in the Shed Downunder this morning, my eldest dropped of one of two spare MG F K series engines he recently brought for his race car.

I knew they were on their way but wasn't quite expecting them here for some time any way it looks like I will have something to occupy my spare Quality Shed Time for next little while as he would like to have it ready by November.





View media item 52715


It will be a top to bottom rebuild and hopefully i can extract a few more horse power and stop those typically British engine oil leaks for the lad.



Have a great week end guys..

Wow, your a man of many talents.

 

[1/2 Cup]

That'll be fun!

Looking forward to the build Coop.

1/2, looks like a great project. I've always found engine work strangely cathartic

I have never thought of an engine build like that Dennis, but on reflection you are on the money. I tend to zone out somewhat on an engine build and focus 110% on the job at hand.

Wow, your a man of many talents.

Thanks Gerard
my Dad always said "if you broke it, you fix it" and there was no Google in those days so we took on lessons learned at a young age be that our backside was so sore we couldn't sit for a month of Sundays.

All, I finished stripping the engine today and for a $350 Ebay purchase my young bloke has done well. It was complete less the cams and drive gear.
I could not get over how clean it was. It appears the engine has had a makeover at some point and not run a lot since, that said it has sat a while and has some water stains in one bore, a mark on one of the exhaust valves and one of the compression rings had picked up on the ring land which I suspect it would have been a bit lame on one cylinder.

The oil pump and water pump are new.

Its the first time I have worked on an MG F K series, looking forward to the challenge.

 

[HOTFR8]

Looking forward to the challenge.

I doubt it will be any challenge for you given you always appear to put in that 110% on any new project.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I doubt it will be any challenge for you given you always appear to put in that 110% on any new project.

Thank you very much HOTFR8 humbled by your comments. I only hope I can do it justice.

View media item 52734
This where I ended up tonight and making great use of the fabrication bench.

Regards

 

[akdiesel]

Nice project you have there. Great quality alone time on things like that.

 

[RivennHewn]

I tend to think that anything coming off that workbench will function flawlessly!

 

[HOTFR8]

I tend to think that anything coming off that workbench will function flawlessly!

Just looking at it on the bench looks like he is off to a great start.

 

[HSpencer]

That fits a what??? It looks big enough for a bulldozer!!

I will be real interested to see this project from start to finish.

WOW!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[1/2 Cup]

Nice project you have there. Great quality alone time on things like that.

akdiesel you are right on that score, it is a lock me away job, no phones, no interruptions full stop.

I tend to think that anything coming off that workbench will function flawlessly!

I am hoping that will be the case Rivenn, attention to detail is a must.

Just looking at it on the bench looks like he is off to a great start.

Thank you HOTFR8, now we have to decide where to from here.
By its very build quality I will keep the bottom end pretty much standard apart from a balance, rebore and some bullet proof pistons.
Looking at it I believe the key will be the head mods and cam/s selection that will give him the best bang for his buck in terms of HP.

That fits a what??? It looks big enough for a bulldozer!!

I will be real interested to see this project from start to finish.

WOW!

Best Regards
Herb

Herb, the engine fits an MG F ( No. 54 below )

View media item 52598
They are an 1.8 litre 4 cylinder unit and mid mounted in the car. Not an overly big engine and are fairly easy manoeuvre being all aluminium except for the cylinder sleeves and crankshaft.

Regards

 

[rixtrix1]

That #54 MG F looks like a Mazda Miata. Are they sold that way in Australia?

 

[1/2 Cup]

That #54 MG F looks like a Mazda Miata. Are they sold that way in Australia?

They look very similar to the Mazda Miata, which are known out here as a Mazda MX5 I believe.

Thanks very much for dropping by Ric.

 

[Carves]

You're a glutton for punishment 1/2 Cup.

Carports,
Pavers,
Dog Shows, and
Engine rebuilds.



Was reading up on the, later MG history, because of your thread.

I didnt realise they have been Chinese since 2007 ??

Also came across a snippet about relocating the thermostat to the outlet side of the waterpump .....

... but if its a good thing - Im guessing you fellas are already on to that ??

 

[Lyndon]

They look very similar to the Mazda Miata, which are known out here as a Mazda MX5 I believe.

Thanks very much for dropping by Ric.

Rix

They are sold here as Mazda MX5's. Here's one for sale down here:

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/_/SSE-AD-3458550

This one is an early 1993 version.

I think another company had already used the name MX5 in the states when Mazda went to release the car.

Originally posted by Carves
You're a glutton for punishment 1/2 Cup.

Carports,
Pavers,
Dog Shows, and
Engine rebuilds.

And 1/2 - yes, you are making me tired with the number of jobs (and the size of 'em) that you have on the go.

Keep it up - it's inspiring to watch.

Lyndon
Wet and miserable Sydney (oh well - it is winter & it's the first rain we've had for about 6 weeks)

 

[1/2 Cup]

You're a glutton for punishment 1/2 Cup.

Carports,
Pavers,
Dog Shows, and
Engine rebuilds.



Was reading up on the, later MG history, because of your thread.

I didnt realise they have been Chinese since 2007 ??

Also came across a snippet about relocating the thermostat to the outlet side of the waterpump .....

... but if its a good thing - Im guessing you fellas are already on to that ??

You are right on that score Carves no rest for the wicked.

I didn't realise that they were built in China, this one is a 1996 vintage.

Funnily enough the remote stat, whilst it is a great idea on a road car they do not recommend using one on a race car as the original set up provides a more even temperature to the block.

Working on a mid mounted engine is a real PITA at the best of times so any thing that helps the cause like that is most welcome.

Thanks for dropping by.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Rix

They are sold here as Mazda MX5's. Here's one for sale down here:

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/_/SSE-AD-3458550

This one is an early 1993 version.

I think another company had already used the name MX5 in the states when Mazda went to release the car.



And 1/2 - yes, you are making me tired with the number of jobs (and the size of 'em) that you have on the go.

Keep it up - it's inspiring to watch.

Lyndon
Wet and miserable Sydney (oh well - it is winter & it's the first rain we've had for about 6 weeks)

Thanks Lyndon for dropping by and clarifying the Mazda MX5 scenario.

Mrs 1/2 Cup left Gosford this morning and said it was overcast and raining and it looks like its following her all the way home, we could do with some here as well.

My eldest just dropped around the complete work shop manuals for the MG and it reads like War and Peace I may have bitten of more than I can chew given the other things we have on the go at the moment but I will give it my best shot.

Mrs 1/2 Cup has also engaged my services to do a make over on some mobile show trollies for one of her friends later this month just to add to the mix of things on the to do list.

On another note our Rinnai gas space heater has reached the end of its useful life, I installed it some 20 odd years ago as one does, this time I am handing it over to a licenced gas fitter so I have been waiting around today for a company to turn up to look at the options I have to replace the old unit which has served us well.

I really should not have reviewed the to do list in hindsight and just went on my random project instinct..

Have a great day..

 

[Grizz1963]

Look what appeared in the Shed Downunder this morning, my eldest dropped of one of two spare MG F K series engines he recently brought for his race car.
I knew they were on their way but wasn't quite expecting them here for some time any way it looks like I will have something to occupy my spare Quality Shed Time for next little while as he would like to have it ready by November.


View media item 52715
It will be a top to bottom rebuild and hopefully i can extract a few more horse power and stop those typically British engine oil leaks for the lad.

Have a great week end guys..

Very neat.

However, at this point I would be running a mile.

 

[shortykorte]

Hey 1/2Cup if you don't fix the oil leaks, you can always put in a Triumph or Harley engine.
Is your son going to help on the build?