Mary's Back!!

[Steves2580]

Hi there,

Mary's back and is needing a little TLC

I picked her up on the 15th December, bought things for her but not fitted anything yet!!
So this is how she looks right now!!

Have you noticed that only one fuel tank is connected? I've plans to construct an alloy tank in the near future, I'm also going to alter the radiator ducting!!

Any alterations I make, I'll take pic's and let you see them!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Hi All,

Just fitted the new fog lamp ;D, piece of cake!!

So after fitting the lamp, me and Lee (my son) decided to go for a blast out in the snow ;D ;D

It was a little on the cold side!!

Love it!!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Hi All,

Just a little up date!!

I've been beavering away and getting Mary into some sort of shape ;D

Well I started by treating the misses to a tip out on Valentines Day, we didn't go in the buggy (and I'll tell you why)!!
I thought it would be romantic to go to town and do a little shopping, the misses didn't realise that I was taking her to Halfords!!
So anyway, there I was in Halfords, low and behold there was a sale on, half price Alloy wheels!!
Well I couldn't help myself, a new set of wheels ended up in my boot!! I was told romance was dead!!!

Rushed home, with a mighty grin on my face and straight into the garage, after a few hours I was back out after painting and refitting one of the fuel tanks, fitting the new wheels (basically just messin) ;D

As you can see from the picture, me and Lee had our first motorway trip, just about half an hour to MiniSport at Padiham!! M6, M61 and the M65 (bloody cold, only had my overalls and a thin fleece).

Shes starting to look like someone cares!!

Keep you posted!!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Well, here we go!

The conversion is starting ;D

Collected MGF from Cheadle Hulme, it towed very well!

Only thing I've done is drag it back and put it in a barn at work, I'll be stripping the MFG as soon as possible

First Piccy is on its way!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Just been over to the barn and took this piccy ;D

While I was over with the car, I thought I'd best check it over!
It had been stood for nine months, I but the jump pack on (as the battery was missing), turned the key and the bugger fired up first turn! Thank god ;D

It didn't look too good when I first saw it, it had three flat tyres and a broken anti rollbar. I thought I'd bought a right kipper!!

I hope my luck isn't going to run out ;D

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Well I've had a couple of hours stripping the MGF, finding loads of parts that I won't need, so I'll be filling ebay shortly ;D

Every wire and connector is marked up with masking tape, just hope I will be able to read my writing 

I plan on having a full day stripping on Saturday, hopefully get the rest of the loom out and possible the rear subframe and engine!

I'm having loads of fun ;D

Keep you posted!!!

 

[Steves2580]

Hi,

Had another couple of hours of stripping the MGF today ;D I didn't get chance to take any piccy (bugger!)
Most of the loom is disconnected, dash is out, carpets are out, I've definatly made a right mess of it HaHa!

Tomorrow is an early start, hoping to get the rear subframe out, powerwashed and taken home to Mary, fingers crossed!!!

I'll get some more pictures as it is now, then when I've had enough tomorrow ;D

God this is good fun! (is that sad ???)

Steve ;D

 

[Steves2580]

Well I have had a bad day on Saturday

The M G F ing git is still in one piece I really wanted to get it stripped right down.

All the parts are pretty freed off, so it's only a couple of bolts and it's in bits, just run out of time!

Wiring loom is out and in a large box, all brake lines removed, subframes unbolted bar four in each.

Handbrake removed, gear stick and cables removed, steering column removed, fuel tank out (what a bastard!), all pipes and wires released from body, so it should fall free ???

Only got a couple of pictures!!

Rolled into workshop and onto ramp

Full cockpit wiring loom in the nearside footwell

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Hi folks,

I really got cracking yesterday, got loads done ;D

I knew I was close to getting the front subframe off, but it just fell right off (apart from me getting absolutely soaked with Hydrogas from the suspension) :

Then straight onto the back end, just had to remove all the Hydrogas pipes and she started to peel away nicely

Struggled there for a short time as I'd missed removing the handbrake cable brackets from the rear of the engine bay :-[

Gently does it and clear (top view)

Rolled out from underneath

Old Michelle outed ;D

I then had an issue on how to get the engine and subframe home, time to get creative ;D
So I made it into a trailer

Parked it in thew garage and had a bit of tea ;D

I should have called it a night, but I got a little carried away and started stripping Mary's back end :

So Mary is getting undressed for us, exhaust off, engine cover off, fuel tanks drained, fog light and number plate removed!
That's it for today, as soon as I do some more I'll put up some more piccy's ;D

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Hi guys,

Well I didn't have a bad day yesterday, not as much done as I'd of liked :

Thought I'd better make it safe, so the battery was disconnected

Fuel tanks off, started to remove rear lights, fancy some different ones when I get to putting her back together

Wire covers removed from both side so wire chasing could be done

Rear lights gone, rad drained and gone ;D

Loads of room to play with the rad and fan assembly out

Seat removal taking place, what a bugger to get to the nuts ???

Loads of wires behind the seat, cool 8)

I'm going to try and have a full day on her tomorrow, apart from a visit to the Trafford Centre, Lee's phone has to go back to the Apple shop. I was going to take it to our local green grocer, but I'm told thats the wrong type of apple (granny smith) ;D ;D

Hope you all like the photo's, let me know if I can improve them!!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Hi all,

Not a bad half day really

Got started with more stripping of Mary, both from seats out

Centre console removed

After removing the centre console I came accross this, if I was Rolf Harris I'd ask if anyone can tell what it is??
I've been welding for 20years, teaching it for 7years and I've never seen eagle poop like this before (no offence to whoever did this, god forbid it was anyone from our club)

Lower fire wall removed, giving more light and room to move

All bolts removed from subframe

Jack place under front of engine to support and lower as required

Into two!!

Engine had to be on a large tilt so that the carb was clear of the rear tie bar

Main chassis rolled forward clear of the engine

Chassis out on to front lawn, just a little sun bathing

Tow frame removed from MGF engine

MGF engine levelled off ready for measuring up for a new subframe

Chassis, new engine and old 998cc engine all in garage, snug fit

Fuel tank in place for measuring up

Old engine and subframe supported by jack

Thts another day gone ;D

Just about to set off for Trafford Centre (such fun, hope traffic's not too bad

I'll keep you posted on the conversion ;D

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Hi Guys,

Just a small update, not a great deal to report

Handbrake and gearstick removed, then just a basic clean up.

998cc Engine, subframe and all the ancileries up for sale if anyone is interested

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Hi guys,

Just a little done today!

The other day I took loads of measurements of the rear chassis of the Freestyle and loads of measurements of the MGF subframe and the body shell!!

Well today I threw all the measurements in the air and took the one's that landed first, took those measurements and build a small subframe, hopefully it will bolt to the rear chassis and to the front of the MGF engine subframe!

Bloody hope so, it's millimeter perfect ;D

I'll get some piccy's tomorrow, when it may be bolted back together ;D

Can't wait to get it back on the road ;D ;D

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Another really good days progress on "Mary" ;D

Started with fitting the new subframe that bolts to the chassis and MGF subframe

Subframe attached and checked that the MGF fuel tank actually fits in

MGF engine subframe brought forward to bolt to new subframe and chassis

Nearly there ;D

Child labour ha ha

Rear hoop fabricated

Rear subframe mount ready for hoop

Hoop support getting cut to length

Hoop and N/S support tacked in place

Both supports tacked in place

Rolled out on to drive way ;D ;D ;D

Looking very nice, What do you think? Let me know!!!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Just had half an hour or so today

Removed Mary's wiring loom, most of it was damaged, looked like a short curcuit had happened at sometime!
Poor little thing!

Still enjoying myself with the conversion!

Keep the thoughts and comments coming guys ;D

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Just a little update!

Had a couple of hours on the fuel tank frame, here's some piccys

Sat the fuel tank on the frame, then started a bit of fabricating, built up the rear frame

This was impossible to measure up and draw plans, it was a case of cut a bit of steel, tack it in place, then cut the next piece and so on ;D

More side bracing going in

Fuel tank removed before welding it up, thought it would be best, as the bugger's full of petrol ;D ;D

The above pictures were taken yesterday, since then the frame has been fitted back in the buggy, but I've missed getting any pictures of it in place!!

Looking very cool, if I do say so myself ;D ;D

Next update as soon as I can!!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Just found this missed piccy from the other day!

Altered again now!!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Another little update:-

Not a great deal done this weekend, more shopping (boring stuff, ASDA etc) than working on the buggy
At least I did a little bit, so its closer to the finish

First job on the list for this weekend was getting the fuel tank frame back in and sitting the tank in too, there's still a tiny bit of welding to do on it, but it will have to come out again

I then moved onto the back end, time to position the engine brain, quick measure, check wire's would be long enough and off we go!

I made some little hanger brackets and welded them in place, then just a quick bolt up

Moved onto N/S rear shocker mounting

Copied that design over onto the O/S

Making of the shocker brackets

Both side brackets tacked up ready for welding off

Welded

Polished up

O/S bracket fitted to the mount, shocker inplace

N/S bracket fitted

I was going to roll her out of the garage, but the weather was crap
I really want to see it out so I can get a real good look and get some more pictures for you, so frustrated

Bring on the next hour I get free ;D
Keep you posted

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Just a small update!

Not had a right lot of time to play this weekend

Pictures of the Air Purge Tank bracket

Nice little bracket, while tacking this little bugger I set fire to my jeans (what a prat)

Purge Tank fitted 

Not got a clue what this purge tank actually does??

Then I thought I'd better get my arse into gear and get something constructive done ;D
So the gear linkage system had to be welded into place

Well that is it for today, as I said a very small update.

A stage closer!

Steve.

 

[Steves2580]

Just a small update, not had a great deal of time on the conversion today:-

First job on todays list was getting the MGF throttle peddle assembly to fit, what a bugger that was
Couldn't take any pictures of the construction, but here is the finished/fitted assembley

Loads of modifications (cutting/welding/bolting) had to be done to make a large peddle bracket fit in a small place

Next job was the handbrake, this wasn't easy either
I'd made some plates the other day, it was noe time to fit them to the buggy, again no pictures of the fitting operations, just the fitted items

After welding the handbrake in position, I had a quick tidy up, sweeping the floor of both buggy and garage, then I stepped back and took this picture ;D

Well not as much done as I wanted too, but other jobs had to be done (mowing the grass, clipping the hedge, etc).

At least its another stage closer, I'm feeling the wiring loom is next

Wish me luck ;D

Steve.