Getting serious- frame off

The car had some welding to be done, and my son-in-law the welder is here for three weeks.  We had to remove the motor mounts for the V6 and add back something like the stock mounts for the 1800 cc 18V MGB motor I acquired from a 1972 Auston Marina, with its BW 35 auto tranny.  There were some frame glitches relating to previous repairs, and some of the floor panels needed strengthening too.

Body rolls nicely on ATV dollies.

Stripping the car and beginning repairs

I had a month to start to dismantle the MGA before it had to be pushed aside for a ZB Magnette project.  The pictures will show some of the rust and condition behind the splash panels. The rocker on the left was replaced with 3M Fusor.

Behind left front splash panel, surface rust.

Behind the right rear panel was a pile of dirt
and rust through the rocker. 

Eastwood clamps and vise grips.  Silver coating is Rust Bullet. 

Orphan cars

Sometimes a car is orphaned by benign neglect, sometimes it is after suffering abuse.  My MGA coupe was purchased from a well-meaning owner who rescued the car from complete neglect but who realized the car was too far gone for him to resurrect.

I probably should have realized that too.  Now, however, we are involved in a lot of work to bring the car back to a semblance of originality, knowing from the start that what I wanted, and could do practically, would result in only a partial recovery, this happens with orphans.

This coupe lived in Oregon and Washington state for many years, that means rain which can lead to rust.  The rocker panels and left sill had been replaced sometime in the past.  A front end collision necessitated a change to a Cobra-type fish mouth.  Wait until you see the front frame extension.

A long-gone unknown make V6 conversion butchered the inside fenders, motor mounts and lower firewall. The fender seams were filled in and the wheel wells widened.  An MGB rear-end, front king pins, and discs were installed.   Hopefully with some skill.

Fortunately, the frame has no rust except along the drivers footwell where the floor supports join the frame. I have the windshield and rear glass.  And a beautiful headliner.

Arrival pictures: