Greasings and Lubrications, All...
POOR_MOUTH_WHINE_COMPLAIN=ON
My friend Mark is helping me rebuild 'Daisy's' engine. Mark builds
other peoples race cars for a living. We pulled the head off the engine and
after some thought, Mark said 'What you have here, is a genuine MGA head!'
which means the head is some years older than the rest of Daisy, being that
she is a 70 MGB!
So, the catalogs offer for some $500 your choice of new MG heads.
Mark recomends the 'big valve' head that came on 71-73 or so engines, and
had a 1.625" intake as opposed to a 1.563". Some performance would be gained
for 'free' since the head must be replaced anyway, and the cost is more or less
the same. This plan we adopt. (Along with a mild cam, some port work, ect.
Nothing major.)
My other friend Henry, who puts large US made powerplants in MG shells,
has an engine or two under his feet. I visit his place and find, lo and
behold, a `72 engine with the asked for big valve head! So, Henry wants $100
for the engine, transmission, carbs, whole thing!
I drag the thing home, rip off the head, and away to the machine shop.
Three miles from my house there is a shop with an excellent reputation doing
all manner of LBC. (Bring your own parts.) The treasured head is delivered
to the shop and I chat for a while with an elderly gent who would not admit
his regret at parting with his 65 MGB, but you could hear it in his voice.
A week later, the shop calls. 'Your head is full of cracks, Sir.'
Further, 'All the seats and most of the guides will have to come out...that
plus the crack repair is about $450, plus your parts...and still what you'll
have is a crack-repaired head which we will not guarantee...Sir?....Sir?...
Are you there?...'
'Yeah...I'm here.'
'What do you want us to do?'
'Put the pieces in a bag and I'll come get it and settle my bill.'
'Anything else we can do?'
'Got anymore calanders with the pretty girls?'
'Nope...sorry.'
'Crap.'
POOR_MOUTH_WHINE_COMPLAIN=OFF
So, I have the most of a MGB engine, tranny, plus ancillary devices
which I will trade for the following...
1. Head with 1.625 intakes
2. Oil pressure sender, electric, fits 1970 B
(I just remembered I needed that!)
3. 1994 calander with pretty girls on it
Wade 'will I make it to Chateau Elan or not?' Massengill
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