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Off Topic MGA progress

FM Former Member
Obviously the wrong place to post it, but I still thought that you might like to see the small amount of progress that I've made on my MGA-shaped pile of junk.

As it's being built from most of my left over VW/356 project parts along with the remains of my Karmann Ghia, it may well be best suited for this forum or TheSamba in the end.

A buddy let me splash some tin foil "molds" from his fender dog-legs and rear sections to use in repairing/replacing the missing metal on my fenders, here's some progress on the driver's side.

This picture shows the mold in place on the outer surface of the fender, once in position a few clamps and tape will hold it steady.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f6.jpg

Here is the inside of the fender with the mold firmly attached to the outside, and a few layers of fiberglass mat built up in the mold. You can see where the red fender metal ends, and the fiberglass patch begins, pretty clearly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f4.jpg

A shot of the mold just pulled and the patch in place. Again, the division line between what metal remained and new fiberglass is clear.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f5.jpg

Patch in place partially trimmed to correct proportions/shape.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f1.jpg

Patch trimmed to fit with first coat of reinforced resin applied.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f3.jpg

Fiberglass resin sanded, first coat of filler partially sanded as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f2.jpg

Final polyester filler coat sanded and first primer filler coat applied.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f7.jpg

A splash more primer filler and nearly done, the final body work comes after the fenders are fitted to the body.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f8.jpg

Not too terrible, three more fenders, two doors, a hood, and a trunk to go. THEN the real work begins . . .

Please delete if necessary, no biggie, I understand.

TC

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FM Former Member
Obviously the wrong place to post it, but I still thought that you might like to see the small amount of progress that I've made on my MGA-shaped pile of junk.

As it's being built from most of my left over VW/356 project parts along with the remains of my Karmann Ghia, it may well be best suited for this forum or TheSamba in the end.

A buddy let me splash some tin foil "molds" from his fender dog-legs and rear sections to use in repairing/replacing the missing metal on my fenders, here's some progress on the driver's side.

This picture shows the mold in place on the outer surface of the fender, once in position a few clamps and tape will hold it steady.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f6.jpg

Here is the inside of the fender with the mold firmly attached to the outside, and a few layers of fiberglass mat built up in the mold. You can see where the red fender metal ends, and the fiberglass patch begins, pretty clearly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f4.jpg

A shot of the mold just pulled and the patch in place. Again, the division line between what metal remained and new fiberglass is clear.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f5.jpg

Patch in place partially trimmed to correct proportions/shape.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f1.jpg

Patch trimmed to fit with first coat of reinforced resin applied.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f3.jpg

Fiberglass resin sanded, first coat of filler partially sanded as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f2.jpg

Final polyester filler coat sanded and first primer filler coat applied.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f7.jpg

A splash more primer filler and nearly done, the final body work comes after the fenders are fitted to the body.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f8.jpg

Not too terrible, three more fenders, two doors, a hood, and a trunk to go. THEN the real work begins . . .

Please delete if necessary, no biggie, I understand.

TC

FM Former Member
As I said, cost and availability. The MGA suspension needs everything, there is nothing there that can be re-used. The cost to replace/re-bush/re-build the assembly will be FAR beyond my budget for this.

I could replace the MGA front assembly by welding on one from an MGB, but even there, what I have will need going through, and the rotors/calipers/bushings/pins/etc. plus outside machining work is going to be too expensive to consider.

I've measured and marked up the MGA frame, and can easily position a cut down VW frame head section on the stock front cross member so that the MGA chassis will accept the VW beam.

I have all of the parts necessary for the alteration right here in the cellar. Seems like a good choice and a set-up that will last forever but can be periodically up-dated/re-built when necessary for very short money.

Much like with the Speedster, I like the shape of the MGA rather than the car itself. Swapping out mechanicals, fiberglassing repairs, deviating from stock; that's not an issue at all.
FM Former Member
I have an Audi steering rack assembly for the VW beam, it's set up to work with it already. Not sure if I could even use the MGA rack because of it's mounting position; in front of the center line rather than behind.

The MGA has forward pointing steering arms and the VW's point towards the rear, I wouldn't want to fuss with that sort of thing unnecessarily. Ackerman angle, bump steer, toe in and out . . . to much additional trouble on top of everything else.

I also have a new TRW steering box for the VW beam, I like the way that they're made, quality throughout. A rack and pinion may not even be necessary.
FM Former Member
This past week, I finally finished up the rear section of the passenger's side rear fender, still have the front dog-leg to go.

A few pics of the process, again using the "tin foil mold" technique, makes things SO easy.


Here's the inside of the fender showing, or NOT showing, the missing metal. Pretty much the bottom two/three inches including the lower wheel well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f10.jpg

A shot of the inside again, this time with the mold clamped in place to the outside of the fender.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f9.jpg

The first layer of fiberglass resin and mat laid into the mold and up onto the lower metal section.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f12.jpg

A pic of the outside of the fender with the fiberglass all set up inside and the mold removed from the outside.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f8-1.jpg

First coat of strengthening fiberglass re-enforced resin on the outside.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f14.jpg

Sanded and ready for filler coat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f15.jpg

Sanded polyester filler coat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f7-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f3-1.jpg

Primed and done, for now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f17.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f18.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/f19.jpg
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