Ms. Fisher is Back (Page 2): MGAs are timeless as well. What is really rare are the MGA twin cam versions. I had an MGA that we swapped an MGB engine into. Unfortunately had to use the...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

CPR wrote:

Wanted the AH but had to settle for an MGA - looked similar if you didn't look too close..
I also like the new Ms. Fisher but much preferred the original.
ACORN has a lot of shows that are very good. BRITBART is the Teaser though - you can see the first episode of many series then when episode 2 comes up you have to subscribe to ACORN - got ya!
Best to just go to ACORN..

MGAs are timeless as well. What is really rare are the MGA twin cam versions. I had an MGA that we swapped an MGB engine into. Unfortunately had to use the single outlet MGA exhaust manifold to clear the steering instead of the dual outlet B manifold (couldn’t afford headers then).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jaycoffman wrote:

Wow, really good news about the return o fMs. Fisher's Murder Mysteries--I really liked the first season. Is the Austin Healey 3000 in the second season because I don't remember it from the first? That will add jazz to her. I had an Austin Healey 3000 in the '60s when I was in the army. Great car--still one of my favorite two or so that I've ever had. Used to run it in rallies all over Arizona where I was stationed for my last two years.

Definitely my favorite. I also like the Jaguar E-Type, and I was lucky enough to get one at a good price years ago.

Did the overdrive on your car work? That was always a question about them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

CPR wrote:

Wanted the AH but had to settle for an MGA - looked similar if you didn't look too close..
I also like the new Ms. Fisher but much preferred the original.
ACORN has a lot of shows that are very good. BRITBART is the Teaser though - you can see the first episode of many series then when episode 2 comes up you have to subscribe to ACORN - got ya!
Best to just go to ACORN..

I wanted an MGA, too. Fortunately, my father bought the new MG Midget (like the Sprite) in 1962, and I drove it more than he did.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

Definitely my favorite. I also like the Jaguar E-Type, and I was lucky enough to get one at a good price years ago.

Did the overdrive on your car work? That was always a question about them.

The Laycock de Normanville overdrives were always iffy. They typically worked on 3rd and 4th and internally was a sun and planetary gear arrangement. There was a switch on the transmission that disabled the overdrive in reverse. If that failed and you backed up with the overdrive engaged, it destroyed it (ask me how I know).

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

jerryc41 wrote:

Definitely my favorite. I also like the Jaguar E-Type, and I was lucky enough to get one at a good price years ago.

Did the overdrive on your car work? That was always a question about them.

OK, I loved the Jaguars too. We had a MK IV coupe which was wonderful although not a true sports car. Yes, when we're talking years ago the "good price" was the key as money was limited. I was lucky that someone traded in my Austin Healey to a car dealer who was the father of a friend of mine. We lived in a very small town in Nebraska (4210) and no one knew what this car was and no one wanted it. Just back from Turkey I fell in love with it--the battery didn't work so he pushed me out of the lot and I popped the clutch, heard that distinctive British roar and fell totally in love. As I said, I was in the service, a friend of his son's and he was motivated to sell so he made sure I could afford it. One of the best deals I ever got.

My overdrive worked perfectly in my Austin Healey 3000 but I assume I was lucky because I've heard a lot of stories about them being problematic.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jaycoffman wrote:

OK, I loved the Jaguars too. We had a MK IV coupe ... (show quote)

The clutch on my Jag broke a month after I got it. That meant removing the hood and the engine and gearbox. For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to rebuild the engine. I brought the block to be cleaned, and when I picked it up, the guy told me that it had been cracked and repaired. Not good. While on Long Island for a visit, I looked around and found a complete '68 engine - for $75. I rented a trailer and hauled it home. Once I got the car running again, it was great.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

jerryc41 wrote:

The clutch on my Jag broke a month after I got it. That meant removing the hood and the engine and gearbox. For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to rebuild the engine. I brought the block to be cleaned, and when I picked it up, the guy told me that it had been cracked and repaired. Not good. While on Long Island for a visit, I looked around and found a complete '68 engine - for $75. I rented a trailer and hauled it home. Once I got the car running again, it was great.

Love it--that's the story of my youth--happened numerous times in similar ways although never with a Jag.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

The clutch on my Jag broke a month after I got it. That meant removing the hood and the engine and gearbox. For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to rebuild the engine. I brought the block to be cleaned, and when I picked it up, the guy told me that it had been cracked and repaired. Not good. While on Long Island for a visit, I looked around and found a complete '68 engine - for $75. I rented a trailer and hauled it home. Once I got the car running again, it was great.

Jerry, you are a tough dude, because that is a HEAVY engine, especially with the gearbox attached. I almost bought an E Type once. An ex-wife got it in a divorce settlement and was selling it for $2800 (in the early 70s). I took it out on the belt line for a test drive and got it up to ~100 when I came up on some traffic and stamped on the binders. Nothing. It’s that weird sensation when you brake and nothing expected happens, so you feel like you’re going faster. Lots of downshifting and dodging. I didn’t buy it (I had previously had the “pleasure” of working on the rear brakes of an E Type). Big mistake.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jaycoffman wrote:

Love it--that's the story of my youth--happened numerous times in similar ways although never with a Jag.

When I was driving the MG Midget, I always had a toolbox in the trunk. I probably made a mistake in installing Jahn's pistons with an 11:1 compression ratio. While on a sports car rally, one of the pistons disintegrated and tore a hole in the cylinder walls. While I was waiting for a friend to arrive with a tow car, I removed the head and saw three pistons and a hole.

I wound up relining the cylinder and installing new MG pistons. That little 948cc engine was bored 0.030", had an Iskenderian cam, larger, lighter valves, larger carbs off a Jaguar, lightened flywheel, competition clutch, exhaust headers, and electronic ignition. It would rev to about 8,000. I outran a Porsche on the NY Thruway with it.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

When I was driving the MG Midget, I always had a t... (show quote)

Jerry, I had no idea you were such I gearhead

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

TriX wrote:

Jerry, I had no idea you were such I gearhead

Oh, yeah. Since forever. Cars, computers, and cameras.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

Oh, yeah. Since forever. Cars, computers, and cameras.

My wife grew up with a midget and really wants another - nothing doing! I had a lot of British cars growing up (none new) including the predecessor to the Midget, the Bug Eye Sprite. I don’t know if I’d want any of them back today except for a casual drive in a spring or fall day within driving distance of my house, but they were fun (and I gained a great deal of experience working on them). You should start a thread for everyone to list every former British car they’ve owned

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

If you all enjoy watching murder/mystery series, there is an excellent Canadian series called “The Murdock Mysteries.” The setting is turn of the century Toronto, Canada, and William Murdock is a detective with the Toronto Constabulary. He employs techniques far ahead of his time to solve murders, and lots of historical notables, like Thomas Edison, and others appear on episodes. It’s clean and it’s entertaining. Currently it’s on Hulu, free with no commercials. I think there are 14 seasons. It’s definitely binge-worthy.