Coreplug issue solved...

Well, thanks to my friends at MG Experience I've found out all I need to know about MGB core plugs.

Turns out that there is one at the back of the engine block, but it sits behind the gearbox adaptor plate. There's a hole in the adaptor plate but it's not big enough for the coreplug to pass through. There are 4 core plugs in total - three along the non-manifold side of the block and one at the back of the block and all are the same size. To replace the rear core plug you have to split engine and 'box.

It's good to settle that little question and work will now continue to remove the engine from the car...

I almost forgot - More About Core Plugs

I almost forgot - this is a bit of plot thickening!

I went to the BL/BMC car rally in Peterborough on the 1st August and found a really tidy little '72 MGBGT. The owner was a friendly sort and didn't mind me poking around in the engine bay and taking some photos. By far the biggest news is that his car has a hole at the back of the engine, same as mine but obviously his isn't leaking water, so I'm not sure if there should be a coreplug there or not. If not (as seems the case) then where can the water leak have been coming from? Head gasket? Or was it in fact the main radiator hose which was split when I removed it...?

Not sure but the engine's coming out now so it can be painted along with the engine bay and I'll take some advice when I can get at it properly...

New Parts but not a lot of work.

A general lack of disposable funds and family commitments have meant that not a huge amount has happened in the last couple of weeks. There are some good bits of news though.
The metal parts are away being blasted so they'll hopefully be back soon, ready to be painted.

In the meantime I've been dismantlling the front braking components. I'd planned to refurbish the callipers and replace all the perishables but unfortunately even though I'd soaked it in penetrating oil I managed to snap off one of the calliper bleed nipples. An Easy-Out utterly failed to get it out so it began to look like a replacement was the only sensible option. Once I'd compared prices of pads, discs, calipers etc, a deal on eBay at £140 seemed the best value for money, so I bought this little lot:


I've also got a replacement alloy thermostat housing from eBay.

In other big news, I won a driver's door, too. An absolute bargain at £40 especially since it was only 15 miles away. The seller turned out to be a really nice bloke who had previously restored 2 MGBs and he has a whole load of misc spares and I've ordered the following from him:

1x Water Pump
2x Front indicator & Sidelight assemblies
2x Reverse lamp lenses

I'll be picking those parts up shortly.

So actually not too shabby in the progress stakes; I'm going to spend some time getting the last bits off for the engine to come out.