Is it my imagination of does some of those pictures look like a Miata? Did they take a Viper and toss hot water on it and, POOF, a Miata? ... View more

When I worked at a gas station in the 60's as a young pup I would always get the dirty job of replacing the broken belt. I think the head mechanic and owner would be laughing in the background when they assigned me the job. Usually the job was on a car like the late 60's T-bird. Yes it had a belt, several, like in seven. And it would never fail that the broken one is the one farthest back in the line of belts. These T-birds had a belt for every function, power steering, AC, air pump, alternator, fan, water pump, and some other. I always remembered seven because I had to remove all to just to replace one. The serpentine must have been invented by a gas station helper like me. Bless them. ... View more

Great article. I stumbled upon the Griots Synthetic clay a few years ago. I tried the regular clay and my hands could not handle it. With Griots I found it was much easier combining two steps into one, wash/clay. During the first time I used it on my MGB I noticed less effort in the waxing and polishing. I use in on my other cars making the job more bearable. With all this new publicity Griots is getting I hope the price does not go up. I better order a few extra. ... View more

It's nice to hear others agree with Jay. It gets me pissed off when I watch these restoration shows when they trash the bondo repairs. Hey I'm sorry. I don't have a MiG welder sitting in my small garage to weld every bit of cut out rust. I have to work with just jack stands on the cold floor. I worked on Marine/Navy aircraft for 20 years that have been built from 1935 on and most of the patch work was forming metal and riveting. A little dev-con (JB weld today) sanding, prime and paint and out the hanger she goes. I still perform that work today using formed metal, rivets, JB weld and bondo. Looks good last a long time. I used to belong to a few car clubs. They would have a tech session a few times a year. At these sessions the serious car guy would attend to get some knowledge to bring home. But 60% of the others that have somebody else do the work on their cars stand in the back and shoot the bull and having to be ask to take their conversation outside. I agree with Jay, finding somebody who now-a-days that get their hands dirty is far and few between. ... View more

I keep a small metal bin in my garage. A good amount of metal comes from the dead water cooler, washing machine, cloth dryer, and refrigerator. That scrap metal is usually the right thickness, already treated or painted to prevent rusting. I was able to obtain a good amount of stainless steel. Some of the rubber tubing can be used. I joke with my wife that our MGB has parts of a water cooler, and cloths dryer and washing machine to keep it going. At a car show one person asked where I was able to obtain a grey long vacuum hose going from my breather vent to the valve cover. I calmly said, "Oh, that is off my old washing machine". ... View more

I guess I have done my share of gates and ladders at car shows and on the street. When at cars show I respect more of the car enthusiasts that works on their own car. They are proud to talk about what they did and changes they made as I do for my cars. The ones who have others who do the work for them and then brags what they pay for I usually look at the car with a comment of "That's nice" and leave it at that. I envy the young kids today who tune up the car with the computer sitting on the engine instead of a timing light and volt meter. But in the reverse the kid envy's the old fart that can make a car purr with just adjusting the carb, use a timing light and volt meter. I am 67 and have to come to realize that many of us baby boomers car enthusiasts may be the last for the combustible engine cars. In 15 to 20 years what are we going to do with our combustibles when they are outlawed, gas with be $20 a gallon, and oil will be $10 a quart? I guess we will have to buy the electric version swap and trash our combustible engine. The shell will be admired more than what powers it. As I see what is coming I have come to the conclusion that we need to drive and enjoy what we have now more often before we have to trade in our wrench for a electric socket. ... View more

When going to my new duty station I was driving from LA to Norfolk, VA in my 67 MGB.  When in visiting my mother in Denver my B just stopped on the highway.  While trying to figure it out what happened I saw on the other side of the highway a nice looking lady had a flat of which I helped to change.  When I got back to my B I discovered that the distributor popped out of position.  Lucky I had some tools and got it back in position enough to I could get it my mothers house to set the timing.  At the end I thing my B did that on purpose because remember the lady I help?  I had a date with her that night that I will never forget! ... View more

Around 2001 I was able to obtain a 1978 Kawasaki KZ 650 SR for $200 that was found in a van in middle of a farmers field.  Rebuilt it in my basement and learned a lot about what makes motorcycles tick.  I joined the Vintage Japanize Motorcycle Club (VJMC) and was able to get information from them as I do now with MGB experience and John Twist.  This bike was a pleasure to drive, very responsive, and fast.  I tweaked the four carbs so fine that the gravity feed fuel could not keep up at 80 MPH.  At 80 it would starve itself of fuel and cut out until the fuel caught up (scary when passing somebody on the highway)!  One thing that I am proud of is that all the effort I put in restoring was recognized by the owner of the Clymer repair manuals.  The picture of my bike is now on the cover of the Clymer KZ650 repair manual.  I have sold the bike since then but at least I have the privilege to claim my efforts are embedded on the cover.  It shows of what a person can accomplish and have fun doing it.   I wish I took before and after pictures.    ... View more