Project MGA Part 11 - I'm back after all this time

The long-awaited update since the engine start. The body is on, the wheels and tyres are installed and brakes bled. Now the issue of wiring starts.

[@warrenp2022]

Your making good progress, other things always get in the way and slow everything down. Looks good, helping to inspire me to fix mine but I have a motorcycle to finish first and make room in the garage for it. I bought a 1958 roadster in April 1967 for the princely sum of $300., had some rust and a few other troubles but it was on the road and fun to drive. I drove it off and on until 1974 when I took it off the road to fix some frame rust, started taking it apart and due to lack of money and other distractions it is still in pieces. Mine is basically stock and I drove it everywhere starting from New Hampshire, USA to as far west as Oklahoma and back. With the 1500 engine and 4 speed transmission it's happy speed was 80 mph, below that it always urged me to go faster, never overheated but the interior would get real warm in the summer and cold in the winter even with the "heater". Mine came with 48 spoke wire wheels with 155 x 15 tires, in 1973 I put 60 spoke wheels with 165 x 15 tires on the back. Looking at yours the tires look quite a bit wider on the black wheels and your powder coated wheels look to be different rim widths with wider tires. I need to put new tires on it so I can move it around, I have four 'new' 60 spoke wheels I bought in the 80's waiting in their box in the barn that look to be the same as your front wheels. My question is what size tires are you running on the front? I never liked the skinny tires, even with the posi traction rear end I could burn rubber with both rear tires through first and still get a squeak out of them in second, need wider rubber! ;-) Back in 1969 I was in the army in New Jersey and when I needed a new tire I would drive to the local auto junk yard, pull off the bad wheel/tire and exchange it for another wheel with a much better tire for $5.00, those days are gone.

[@williammills7778]

Alan love the series, but the one thing you need to get is a microphone. Your volume tends to drop while you're narrating, I had to turn on the CC to know what you were saying. Looking forward to you completing your build. Cheers🍻

[@myhockeyplayers]

Outstanding! demist vent is on backwards, yet thank you for your video it has helped me with my 57 A. look forward to you showing it on the road1

[@1mjsieler]

Great progress and everything looks well done. Interesting three blade radiator fan. I've not seen one of those before. A couple of things to note: Defrost vents are on backwards and should point to the glass as opposed to the driver and passenger. The wood veneer looks to be Walnut and not Oak. Positive ground was standard on all MGAs.

[@mgaaustralia3509]

Good to see you back and the A is looking great

[@dinom8450]

You can get the MG badge re enamelled!

[@johnrussell5245]

I'm at roughly the same point with my '62 MGA build. I'd get the doors on pretty quickly if I were you-they're fundamental to the fit of the wings.

[@dinom8450]

Is it sitting high?

[@tourettestrickenshan]

I'm curious to know the cost of having your gauge rebuilt vs. the cost of a new gauge... Beautiful car!

[@carlogic1960]

Nice progress. Good to see you back. Was that Mark giving you a hand with the body lift?

[@stirlingAC]

Yes - Mark very kindly came down from Brisbane to help with the lift. He brought his workshop certified safety thongs as you can see ;)

[@carlogic1960]

@@stirlingAC Thought so. Mark has very kindly helped me out with a few things, parts and measurements. I am in the early stages of the project and behaving a little like lightning. Striking all over the place.

[@johnallred3124]

I had a 59 with those same tailllights. Not sure what years they appeared on. Is this a 59?

[@stirlingAC]

John Allred - Yes, an Australian delivered 1959. Was yours +ve ground (with a generator) like mine?

[@robbending3848]

The 'single' red tailights (/'single' front indicator / sidelights) were 1500 and Twin Cam; 1955-1959. For the 1600 the tailights got split into red brake/taillights & Amber direction indicators. Far prefer the singles, although it does confuse other road users when you're indicating and braking with yr lights on!