The work on the MGB that's undergoing an engine rebuild expanded somewhat when the owner asked me to take a look at tidying up the interior. I began by stripping out the carpets and removing all trim, some of which was original, some of which was hand made, all of which had been there quite a while. As the passenger quarter-light was missing it's handle that was removed for renovation and the driver's side followed suit when it was noticed that they were mismatched. The owner wanted me to fit a set of locks with matching keys but the passenger door latch was missing the locking actuator so a used one was sourced and fitted. The biggest issue with the doors is that are from a later car that uses a different window regulator - the problem with this being that if the early door opener is fitted at the top of the door the window winder hits it. I sourced a pair of regulators that are right for the car, one from the UK, the other from the US as they are quite rare, but you wouldn't believe how different they are, they wouldn't fit in the later door. I had a chat with my fabricator friend and we've combined the 2, using the gearbox base from the correct regulator and replacing the arms and mechanism by cutting and welding one to the other. It seems to have worked, the handles don't interfere with each other, the window goes up and down, all good. Now all I have to do is the same for the other side. And finally for today I was also asked to do something with the seats, the were beige with green trim, rather scruffy and really wouldn't suit the all black interior we were returning it to. When I stripped them down I discovered 2 passenger seats, they are shaped to fit the transmission tunnel, meaning the driver's seat would bind when moved. This led to a discussion about safety, comfort and possible improvements and the answer to these issues came in the shape of the sports reclining seats available through the MGOC. I must say I really like them, easily the most comfortable MGB I've ever sat in. Oh, almost forgot, I'm also restoring the dashboard and fitting an original type steering wheel.
mcpheatauto
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