Blood donor

[jagnut66]

Hi,
Just thought I'd post up this shot of Abby helping out her cousin Miranda today.

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Miranda the MG is my latest acquisition, all the way from Dumfries in Scotland. I was looking for another Minor but couldn't find what I wanted for the price, then Miranda came up and it was a good excuse for bit of a road trip. I say 'bit of' as the trip up was via train, long winded and slow, wouldn't have minded if it had been steam!!
Though I did bump into the Duchess of Sutherland on an excursion when changing trains at Carlisle.

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Anyway when I got back I took a closer look under the bonnet and discovered that the hoses were held on by willpower and the water was just that, no coolant and a nice shade of red!
Time for some heavy duty two part rad flush and some new hoses and clips, which meant she's had to sit for a week and she didn't like it, so decided to sulk by giving me the mystery engine cut out treatment.......
This turned out to be an old favorite, the fuel pump.... a few taps with the hammer and she went again for a while......
However all this stop-starting started to drain the battery, so Abby volunteered to donate some juice to help Miranda in her hour of need.
Odd though, as on the way back from Scotland she didn't miss a beat.
Once she's cooled down thoroughly (the flush through treatment requires you to run the engine for periods of time to pump the treatment through all the engines waterways and to flush it through with plain water after each part of the treatment) the pump works fine again.
So I can only conclude that whilst on the move there is enough air flow round the pump to keep it cool but running her whilst stationary causes it to overheat...............
Mmmmmmmm.................. new pump in due course methinks...............
Best wishes,
Mike.

PS: Yes, I am going to replace those awful modern plates with some nice raised digit black and silver ones.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Good luck with your new purchase, at least its made by Morris Garages!

[jagnut66]

Original chrome bumpered car only £1550 with 12 month MOT!! 1972 so tax free!!
She has a few scabs and other issues but like I said, she got me all the way back from Scotland as bought!
With added 'grin factor' !
I don't mind a car I have to work on though, as it allows me to bond with it, if that doesn't sound too weird. Something that was perfect and didn't require any input from me would never quite feel 'mine' somehow.
I still need to master the getting in and out though, as I have long legs.......

Still, I always have Abby for 'posture correction' whilst driving!

[busguy]

Good luck with the MG! A great car, and enjoyable to drive.

I particularly like the photos of that fantastic piece of steam train engineering.
One of the best batch of main line steamers on the LMS, if not in the whole country!
Brings back definite memories of the 5A Crewe shed in the '60's.

[John Naylor]

You probably know, but I didn't, its the 'blue stuff' you need, not the orange anti-freeze which eats heaters, copper etc.
And while you are at it, disconnect the heater pipes and connect a hose pipe and flush/ reverse flush/ flush again till its clear, I've found a vast improvement from heaters after removing the crud. I'm not going to upgrade my Minor heater now as it is very effective after reverse flushing.
Love the B, they make a fine pair.
John

[jagnut66]

Don't worry I sourced some blue.
I say sourced, as I ended up buying it on line (eBay), £12.99 / free postage. I couldn't find anywhere round Mansfield that sells it neat (concentrated) for a reasonable price.
Also I agree with the thorough flushing, including the heater matrix, they do work allot better after (my Minor cooks me too now! ).

[bmcecosse]

Great pictures of the Duchess! It was heading up to Bo'ness to do a couple of Fife and Forth Bridge tours.. - unfortunately my schedule meant I 'just' missed it on Monday morning - and was left waiting at the signal till it cleared.... Oh and good luck with the MGB !

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[jagnut66]

Cheers BMC.
Once she's a little more up together I think I shall bring her back north of the border (in whatever form it takes then??) and take a closer / longer look at some of beautiful Scotland.
Best wishes,
Mike.