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Re: minor issues

To: pete@swdc.stratus.com
Subject: Re: minor issues
From: sfisher@Megatest.COM (Scott Fisher)
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 94 15:15:52 PST
> I have a 74 MGB and am trying to get an idea
> of what is "normal" for oil consumption.  It doesn't smoke nor does it seem to
> drip very much but seems to go through a pretty good amount of oil.

Heh.  "Normal" can run from as low as 500 miles per quart to 1500; I
suppose it's possible, given a brand-new engine with properly seated
rings and new valve-stem seals, to go as far as 2000 miles per quart.
But I doubt it.  I've had cars go as little as 250 miles/quart with
no other obvious signs of damage.  The motor I took out of The Green
Car ('71 MGB, 18GK block) went through a quart every 1200 to 1500 miles,
which I always figured was pretty good for its age.

(Danny, did your MGB ever seat all of its rings?)

> Secondly, I have a tonneau cover that hasn't been used for a while and now 
> does not seem to be able to stretch far enough to make the snaps.  Is there
> any way to get this stretched out?

The classic answer to this comes from Dick Nyquist: Get the hottest water
you can from your tap, and soak a couple of big bath towels in it.  Then
lay the towels on the vinyl; the heat soaks in and stretches the fabric
much more quickly than the usual recommended solution, which is a hair
dryer; the water holds much more heat and holds it right on the vinyl.
This works for tops, and I presume it would work for a tonneau cover as
well, since that's the same stuff.



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