The Restoration Game

[Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd]

Harry, Here is my advice........ 1. This is not a money game. If I spent the time on my business that I spent playing with old MGs I'd make real money. Most of us do this for fun and we know it will cost plenty. Only Badger tries to live off flogging TC bits on ebay but he also gets enjoyment out of it. 2. If everyone bought a good driveable TA/B/C and left the piles of bits to rot, supplies of T-types would soon run out. 3. Restoring these piles of rotten bits and creating from them a well finished, tight, clean and mechanically great 50 something year old MG has to be one of the most rewarding pastimes around. 4. So what if costs a bit more than budget - you will have put one more car back on the road ready to start deteriorating all over again so that 20 years from now you or next custodian can fix it all up once more. By then you will have forgotten about the present overspend. 5. I've done one like this and my current project arrived in 3 truckloads of what looked like total junk. Now its on 4 shiny restored wheels with a gleaming cream body tub bolted in place and plenty of new parts from members of this list like Roger Furneaux and Joe Curto. 6. I know I was crazy to take it on and I know it will have cost more than a complete restored one as did my black car but both cars are mine, I did them and I know what's in them and they give me loads of pure selfish pleasure. 6. Standing next to these expensive financial disasters is "Bluebird" a rusty, drooping, rotten but wonderful PA which took me 10 years to get out of the previous owner. This will be the next capital drain and I can't wait to start on it. 7. Follow your own instincts and if they tell you to get this TA, just do it, forget financial or any other justifications, enjoy it and put one more T-type back on the road where it belongs!! Good luck Viv

[Badger]

Very sound advice Viv and beautifully put. I have to say, from one who has flogged cars and bits for 40 years to finance his own "habit", I couldn't have said it better myself. Badger

----- Original Message ----- From: "Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd" viv@trax.co.za> To: harryvan@eresmas.com> Cc: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 6:09 AM Subject: [mg-tabc] The Restoration Game > Harry, > > Here is my advice........ > > 1. This is not a money game. If I spent the time on my business > that I spent playing with old MGs I'd make real money. Most of us > do this for fun and we know it will cost plenty. Only Badger tries to > live off flogging TC bits on ebay but he also gets enjoyment out of it. > > 2. If everyone bought a good driveable TA/B/C and left the piles of > bits to rot, supplies of T-types would soon run out. > > 3. Restoring these piles of rotten bits and creating from them a well > finished, tight, clean and mechanically great 50 something year old > MG has to be one of the most rewarding pastimes around. > > 4. So what if costs a bit more than budget - you will have put one > more car back on the road ready to start deteriorating all over again > so that 20 years from now you or next custodian can fix it all up > once more. By then you will have forgotten about the present > overspend. > > 5. I've done one like this and my current project arrived in 3 > truckloads of what looked like total junk. Now its on 4 shiny > restored wheels with a gleaming cream body tub bolted in place > and plenty of new parts from members of this list like Roger > Furneaux and Joe Curto. > > 6. I know I was crazy to take it on and I know it will have cost more > than a complete restored one as did my black car but both cars > are mine, I did them and I know what's in them and they give me > loads of pure selfish pleasure. > > 6. Standing next to these expensive financial disasters is > "Bluebird" a rusty, drooping, rotten but wonderful PA which took > me 10 years to get out of the previous owner. This will be the next > capital drain and I can't wait to start on it. > > 7. Follow your own instincts and if they tell you to get this TA, just > do it, forget financial or any other justifications, enjoy it and put one > more T-type back on the road where it belongs!! > > Good luck > Viv > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[Robert Grunau]

Well said Viv!! I agree 100%. I have collected bits and pieces of MG cars and by collecting over several years have managed to put together several cars from parts, not even a poor basket case. It can be done and it is fun. My race TC is just such a car, I started with nothing and over 20 years collected all the bits required to make a good race car. One other point, be very wary of the "fully restored" car. This term means different things to different people and some shady individuals do a quick clean up and shiny paint and chrome and pass the car off as restored. Far from it, its just a shiny piece of junk that barely runs and still needs thousands spent to make it right. So its different strokes for different folks. For me, I'm happy dragging home a junk MG and contemplating fixing it up. And after you get it all together, man what a feeling of accomplishment. But then I am also considered certifiable crazy!! Regards Bob Grunau Harry, Here is my advice........ 1. This is not a money game. If I spent the time on my business that I spent playing with old MGs I'd make real money. Most of us do this for fun and we know it will cost plenty. Only Badger tries to live off flogging TC bits on ebay but he also gets enjoyment out of it. 2. If everyone bought a good driveable TA/B/C and left the piles of bits to rot, supplies of T-types would soon run out. 3. Restoring these piles of rotten bits and creating from them a well finished, tight, clean and mechanically great 50 something year old MG has to be one of the most rewarding pastimes around. 4. So what if costs a bit more than budget - you will have put one more car back on the road ready to start deteriorating all over again so that 20 years from now you or next custodian can fix it all up once more. By then you will have forgotten about the present overspend. 5. I've done one like this and my current project arrived in 3 truckloads of what looked like total junk. Now its on 4 shiny restored wheels with a gleaming cream body tub bolted in place and plenty of new parts from members of this list like Roger Furneaux and Joe Curto. 6. I know I was crazy to take it on and I know it will have cost more than a complete restored one as did my black car but both cars are mine, I did them and I know what's in them and they give me loads of pure selfish pleasure. 6. Standing next to these expensive financial disasters is "Bluebird" a rusty, drooping, rotten but wonderful PA which took me 10 years to get out of the previous owner. This will be the next capital drain and I can't wait to start on it. 7. Follow your own instincts and if they tell you to get this TA, just do it, forget financial or any other justifications, enjoy it and put one more T-type back on the road where it belongs!! Good luck Viv Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Want1937hd@aol.com]

If Badger is unruffled, then I too agree with everything Viv. I'd also like to add that restoring a pile of parts if fine for the home restorer, better yet if the kids get involved. Bob TC4956 << Very sound advice Viv and beautifully put. I have to say, from one who has flogged cars and bits for 40 years to finance his own "habit", I couldn't have said it better myself. Badger >>

[KEN PORTER]

Viv: Great advice. I purchased a "restored" TC five years ago only to find out what I really bought was a paint job and nice upholstery. Two months after purchase I needed an engine rebuild. The DPO was even nice enough to provide pictures of his engine "rebuild". Since then I have rebuilt everything mechanical, except for the gearbox and diff. The diff gets a rebuild this year. Rogers gears and Joe Curtos know how. I have had a blast doing the real restoration. If my hands aren't dirty I'm not happy. Half the fun of these car is working on them the other half is driving them. It's a hobby, it's fun, it's relaxing, it's expensive but worth every penny. "The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys". Ken TC 4147 "Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd" wrote:

> Harry, > > Here is my advice........ > > 1. This is not a money game. If I spent the time on my business > that I spent playing with old MGs I'd make real money. Most of us > do this for fun and we know it will cost plenty. Only Badger tries to > live off flogging TC bits on ebay but he also gets enjoyment out of it. > > 2. If everyone bought a good driveable TA/B/C and left the piles of > bits to rot, supplies of T-types would soon run out. > > 3. Restoring these piles of rotten bits and creating from them a well > finished, tight, clean and mechanically great 50 something year old > MG has to be one of the most rewarding pastimes around. > > 4. So what if costs a bit more than budget - you will have put one > more car back on the road ready to start deteriorating all over again > so that 20 years from now you or next custodian can fix it all up > once more. By then you will have forgotten about the present > overspend. > > 5. I've done one like this and my current project arrived in 3 > truckloads of what looked like total junk. Now its on 4 shiny > restored wheels with a gleaming cream body tub bolted in place > and plenty of new parts from members of this list like Roger > Furneaux and Joe Curto. > > 6. I know I was crazy to take it on and I know it will have cost more > than a complete restored one as did my black car but both cars > are mine, I did them and I know what's in them and they give me > loads of pure selfish pleasure. > > 6. Standing next to these expensive financial disasters is > "Bluebird" a rusty, drooping, rotten but wonderful PA which took > me 10 years to get out of the previous owner. This will be the next > capital drain and I can't wait to start on it. > > 7. Follow your own instincts and if they tell you to get this TA, just > do it, forget financial or any other justifications, enjoy it and put one > more T-type back on the road where it belongs!! > > Good luck > Viv > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Badger]

Bearing in mind of course, the meaning of the word "restore": "To bring back to, or put back into, the former or original state.... to repair...into nearly, or quite the original form." According to Mr Webster and myself.

> If Badger is unruffled, then I too agree with everything Viv. I'd also

like

> to add that restoring a pile of parts if fine for the home restorer,

better

> yet if the kids get involved. Bob TC4956 > >

has

> flogged cars and bits for 40 years to finance his own "habit", I

couldn't

> have said it better myself. > Badger >> >

[Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd]

Date sent: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 09:27:52 -0500 From: KEN PORTER kporter@unix.asb.com> Send reply to: kporter@unix.asb.com To: "Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd" viv@trax.co.za>, T-ABC List mg-tabc@egroups.com> Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] The Restoration Game Thanks Ken, Strangely enough I'm in UK week after next and I'm driving down to Roger's place to pick up a 4.65 CWP for my black car. Rgds Viv Viv: Great advice. I purchased a "restored" TC five years ago only to find out what I really bought was a paint job and nice upholstery. Two months after purchase I needed an engine rebuild. The DPO was even nice enough to provide pictures of his engine "rebuild". Since then I have rebuilt everything mechanical, except for the gearbox and diff. The diff gets a rebuild this year. Rogers gears and Joe Curtos know how. I have had a blast doing the real...............................................

[Roger Muir]

RE: [mg-tabc] The Restoration Game Viv's comments are great. From personal experience though it is possible for the less experienced of us to get frustrated and despondent after a while whilst working on our cars. A couple of points of advice:- 1/ Don't set your targets too high. 2/ Give your self some time out while working on your car. 3/ Work in stages. I set my first target to simply getting the car running and on the road. The first time out in my TA Most of the interior trim was not in and I had no hood or Sidescreens. But the car was street legal. Brakes lights steering and in the UK an MOT, taxed and I was able to get out and drive the car. So it's not perfect but the lift you will get from driving it will get you motivated for the next two years!! have a break at the same time! Go on holiday, You will be raring to go. Good Luck Regards to all Roger Muir -------------------- End Forwarded Message --------------------

[Joe Gates]

Viv Your original email was well put. Suggest we each cut and paste your words onto a piece of fine cardboard and position same in a prominent place in our workshops, family rooms and bank managers' offices - all to true! As for the CWP, guess that will make the Cape Town to Port Alfred MGCC bi-annual Indaba trip in June 2002 a doddle (2000 km round trip at 70mph/2500rpm?), or will we be seeing your cream project? Pity our T-ABC colleagues will miss out on SA's finest MGs and hospitality. With USD/ZAR close to 1:10 exchange rate, they could bring the whole family for a month and have some change left over for a complete restoration! Joe Gates TC 8675

----- Original Message ----- From: "Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd" viv@trax.co.za> To: kporter@unix.asb.com> Cc: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: 31 October 2001 04:35 Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] The Restoration Game > Date sent: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 09:27:52 -0500 > From: KEN PORTER kporter@unix.asb.com> > Send reply to: kporter@unix.asb.com > To: "Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd" > viv@trax.co.za>, > T-ABC List mg-tabc@egroups.com> > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] The Restoration Game > > Thanks Ken, > > Strangely enough I'm in UK week after next and I'm driving down to > Roger's place to pick up a 4.65 CWP for my black car. > Rgds > > Viv > > > > Viv: > Great advice. I purchased a "restored" TC five years ago only to > find out > what I really bought was a paint job and nice upholstery. Two > months after > purchase I needed an engine rebuild. The DPO was even nice > enough to provide > pictures of his engine "rebuild". Since then I have rebuilt everything > mechanical, except for the gearbox and diff. The diff gets a rebuild > this > year. Rogers gears and Joe Curtos know how. I have had a blast > doing the real............................................... > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[Gene Gillam]

Viv, If I'd read your response to Harry before I'd written mine (I was trying to catch up after being off the internet for 10 days) I wouldn't have bothered writing. Very well put - and I hope Harry takes your (our) advice. Gene