The next job in the restoration of my 1967 MGB GT is to pull the engine and gearbox.
The engine actually runs extremely well, so you might wonder why we are pulling it.
Well, the gearbox seems as if it could have a few issues so we want to take a look at it and see what is going on in there. And the engine is dirty with years of accumulated oil from a leaky front and rear main seal and it is easier to do that with the engine out of the car.
The main reason we are removing the engine and gearbox is that’s the only l way to do a truly great paint job on any car. With the engine and gearbox out, you can paint the engine compartment and make the car look that much better.
Actually, pulling an engine on an MGB is not that difficult a process, especially if you have a proper shop and the proper tools. The Paddock Classic Car Restorations shop has the necessary tools as well as the skilled hands needed for the job.
So what Mac, Jay, Michael and I did was to disconnect everything, including draining and removing the radiator, disconnecting the starter and all other parts of the electrical system that go from the wiring harness on the car to the engine and gearbox. Being an overdrive-equipped gearbox, we also needed to make sure that we removed the wiring for the overdrive.
Happily, every single fastener came off with ease. Nothing was stuck or rusted or stripped, attesting to the care this car seems to have always received.
We thought we had everything disconnected and put the engine on the engine hoist. We carefully undid the engine and gearbox mounts. But while lifting the engine, we realized that we still had one or two things we had missed, so Mac got under the car and undid the things we had missed.
Out next job will be to remove the inspection plate on the gearbox and find out what is happening inside, and to thoroughly clean the engine before we start chasing leaks.