Building Moneypenny – Part 1

[newkitman]

Well…I’ve started building Moneypenny. Started with pulling the body off and stripping the chassis. So far I’ve modified the gas tank, made the chassis mods EXCEPT for installing the shifter bracket. That’ll take two people (due to a number of tubes in there). I’ve rmoved the pans and front beam and now its the trailing arms and ball joints. I’ve got all the trailing arms off and have removed all the short torsion leafs from both tubes and have them ready to install. Still don’t have the ball joints removed. Three days and my wrists are aching. Even used the ball joint C-clamp tool and the ball joint just stays there and laughs at me. Going to soak them with PB Blaster till Saturday and try again. Until then its keep on pressing on. I have to order wheel bearings, brake tubes and brake shoes.  Next installment (transaxle rebuild) later. newkitman2012-08-15 20:44:20

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[edward ericson]

What an adventure. Good luck, Allen.

BTW, if you look around for an auto repair shop you might get them to press our the ball joints for you. I think that’s what I’m going to do when I do mine.

[newkitman]

Well my chassis mod is 85% complete and the front beam teardown, cleaning, mod, and reassembly is about 50%. Tomorrow finish the ball joints and start reassembly. Trailing arms going to shop to be pressed out and new one pressed in. Wahoo!

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Paul Mossberg]

Productive weekend! Nice work Allen.

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[newkitman]

Thanks! Changing jobs and I have the next two days off. I’ll work her both those days. After Tuesday night I’ll need the floor pans, the seals that go between the trailing arms and front beams, front and rear shocks and one brake backing plate. One severely corroded.

 

Also going to the local boat store. They have a great terminal strip that I intend to use for the front and rear grounds. From the terminal strip to the chassis ground on the rear for with a 10 gauge wire and the same set up in the front.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Rick]

Ah memories.  Keep it up.  You’ll probably finish before I do

[newkitman]

I finally got the trailing arms completely cleaned and painted. Tomorrow I’ll install the ball joints and then clean and paint the front beam and move on to the brake drums and brakes. Photos can be found here:

http://public.fotki.com/Allen1209/mgtd-build/building-my-vw-base/

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[edward ericson]

Excellent. Keep us posted of your progress, Allen.

[Paul Mossberg]

I love to see build photos!

Thanks Allen!

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[newkitman]

Tried an idea for installing the new ball joints. Let the trailing arm set in the sun for about 2 hours while the ball joint with rubber boot removed sat in freezer for the same 2 hours. Ball joint lined up and in real quick. Gonna do the same on the other 3 tomorrow. I’ll post photos later.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[newkitman]

Good news and bad. The good news is I got all my ball joints installed. The bad…after I got the last ball joint installed, while loosening the vise on the C-clamp, the main body of the vise broke in the base plate. Score: ball joints 4, vise nil. I’ll have to get a new vise. New one will be HEAVYduty!

 

But that will have to be later. First I have to fold up my Easy-up Auto Shop and batten down the hatches for Hurricane Isaac. Hope he doesn’t hit us and I wish he would just die out. Hate to see anyone face a hurricane. For any members in the gulf coast, watch yourself.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Royal]

Allen, I usually don’t think much of Harbor Freight tools but I bought this vise and it is a pretty good one.  I really like the way that the head swivels.  Very nice.   

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-inch-multi-purpose-vise-67415.html

[newkitman]

I guess I should start this as the Build Part 2 but I’ll save that for the next step. However, my front beam is finished and setting in the sun letting the paint cure. Tomorrow I’ll touch up any missed spots and Monday after work start the Build Part 2…Assembling the chassis. Little by little I’m eating this elephant.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[edward ericson]

Mmmm. Elephant! Don’t forget the cheese sauce. And a cold one.

[newkitman]

Ah. Just killed two grogs this evening. I’m ready for my nap now!  newkitman2012-10-07 15:05:33

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Robert J.Smith]

Hey Allen love the build photos. Hope you dont get to many snafus. Looking good.

[newkitman]

Going to try and load two pics. They are of my front beam work now that it’s done. If they come out, the first is before and the second is after. (And as you see, I still have trouble posting photos so go to http/www.fotki.com/Allen1209 and look in my Build album.)

 

BEFORE:

 

 

AFTER:

 

 

PMOSSBERG2012-11-04 16:46:16

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Paul Mossberg]

Not sure why you guys are having trouble with pictures.

You can upload to your gallery using the picture icon (looks like a tree) so long as the source file is on your hard drive.

Or, if your pictures are on-line, like Allen’s, include the full url of the photo in between

full image url

In Firefox, you can find the url of your photo bu right-clicking on the photo and selecting “View Image Info”.

In Internet Explorer, right click on the on-line image and select “Properties”

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Paul Mossberg]

By the way, the front beam looks AWESOME Allen!

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[newkitman]

Thanks for the assist Paul. And the compliment. Everything is new except the beam, trailing arms, steering box, brake drums and shimmy dampner. Carrying it from the rear of the deck the 50 ft to the chassis was a bit of work. That front beam is heavy!! But I did it. Next weekend to the FL Bug Jam to purchase the floor pans. And see some cool VWs and perhaps a couple of FL TDers. newkitman2012-11-04 21:18:50

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Rick]

Very nice Allen!!

[Author]

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