My MG ZS repair diary....Repaired.
 

http://www.themgzs.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=15276

Following on from this thread I had the car delivered on Friday, looks as good as the pics really.
Started 1st time...sweet, clutch feels good too.

Mk1 straights,:D
Full stainless steel exhaust,:D
Unknown cone filter,
Aftermarket short red aerial,
Kenwood Disc changer with disc holder missing.
Dog hairs on all the seats.

This is how it looked before I stripped the front end.

https://i.imgur.com/2FccmtI.jpg
After
https://i.imgur.com/M3qSqDr.jpg



This pic is the alternator belt cover so you get an idea of how fare the front panel went back.
https://i.imgur.com/SDDdwMM.jpg

Time to break out my 3 part jigging tool.
1 R400D,
1 tow rope,
1 wife to drive the R400D.....sorry no pics of the wife.
https://i.imgur.com/gzlXgPC.jpg



The front bumper will be repaired as the main curvature is still intact.
Things I need,
Bonnet,
O/S headlight,
front bumper bar,
Radiator with AC and twin fans,
OEM rear lights or swap for the Lexus style ones.

I used a very similar tool to "Jig" a Rover 25... although it was a Yellow rope, an MG ZS180 and a friend driving :D:D

Love the jig tool:D Look forward to seeing the end result of your labours with this:)

Think if my wife was the jig, I'd end up with a foot longer ZS and no rear on the R400D. :D:D:D

Hope it all comes out OK, have a great car when its finished.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Hope it all goes well for you, will be a good one when finished.

Thanks guys.
Are the bonnets the same on the MK1/2? just different grill.

Yep mate, same bonnet:)

looks good already, keep us all informed and look forward to seeing it when finished.

lol!

Nice one (Y)....... I,ve used that myself a few times .... And that looks like it,l be a nice car when its finished

Bit of good luck yesterday,
Bumper bar £10.
Rad and A/C with twin fans, airbox and spare air flow sensor all for £60.

Sounds a bargain, be up and running soon.

:yay::yay::wave::wave::wave:

i used a ratchet strap,a tree,and one of my mates to pull the back end out on my old zs,worked a treat

I must admit I find the idea of car and rope a bit scary as a jig, so easy to over do it, I prefer the ratchet strap and tree or 4x4 with electric winch methods.

I've used the car method a couple of times when I have done bodywork for friends before :)

Its fine, you just get the owner of the car your fixing to drive the "jig" car... that way they pay extra special attention to what you say and if they pull too far you can blame them ;) lol

Quick update.
Fitted the AC condenser and Rad, I now have heat....Woohoo, couldn't get the fan to came on even after half an hour, the temp stayed below half though.
I pressed the AC button and the fans spin, just needs a re-gas and it's good to go.

My derv always runs about half way on the temp gauge, even in the hot weather last year.

Think the only time its come on was after a few laps at Brands, when they recommend just sitting with the engine running, after you finish.

Good to see one going back on the road, for a change.

:smile1::smile1::smile1:

Thanks for keeping us updated, Ive been watching this with interest. All good work!
Looking forward to seeing how the bumper comes out.

I got shot down on one of the forums (not this one) for suggesting the guy got his slightly damaged bumper, (just a crack), back from the repairers and fiberglassed it back up.

On the tv programme where they buy 2nd hand cars, do them up and flog them, the mechanic guy even showed you how to do it.

Main thing was to drill a hole at the end of the crack, this stops it from carrying on. Bit of fiberglass, filler, flatting back, paint and as good as new!!

:smile1::smile1::smile1:

Wheeler dealers, I saw that episode.

a thought it was wrecks to ritches,that was quite a good show aswell

Had a day off so I went to see my Bodywork guy.
From this,
https://i.imgur.com/YTJG4IE.jpg

to this.
https://i.imgur.com/6NEIiG5.jpg


Heat gun/heater on the area to be joined,
soldering iron to fuse it together,
mesh strips heated on the rear for extra strength.

Just needs a bit of filler, paint and a new bumper grill.:happy2:

Looks a good job, always thought it was a waste to dump a bumper that was just cracked.

top suff mate,your getting there

My bonnet arrived last week, £20, needs a bit of work but interestingly the engine bay colour matches the bonnet.
Yes I do have the MK2 grill, makes no sense to fit it yet.

https://i.imgur.com/oLwchdK.jpg

By chance I did a vehicle check with the No. plate given on the car, previous owner had transferred it, good job I hadn't gone for a MOT, I would have been a bit cheesed off.

Your new bonnet colour is Copperleaf Red ( Rover 45 Colour ). Your under bonet is un-laqured Firefrost, They do both look similar.

But great work! :)

i quite like the old rover 400 style grill on it, bit of chrome really blings it up.

Its a 45 one ;)

400 was incorporated into the bumper

I now have a rear electric window kit.
A mate of mine is breaking his 5door civic vti.
Running gear has been sold however the rear doors are no use to Honda owners unless they're replacing accident damage.
So £20 later I have the kit, spare glass and spare rear door handles when they break.
Many of these cars are broken and scrapped on HONDA forums and Ebay with the doors on, please don't pay too much.

Woohoo, I now have electric windows.

Had to get the MG transported to DVLA for them to do a chassis/engine No. check, they rung me the next day with my Reg No. Woohoo.
Ordered a set of plates of ebay for less than a £10 delivered.

Brakes had surface rust on them as it's been stood so gave them a clean up as well as the caliper sliders especially the O/S rear 1 was a bit stiff.
MOT was a pass with advisory on Trailing arm bushes.

Booked in with my bodywork guy 2nd week in May for Bonnet and front bumper painting.


https://i.imgur.com/JQHkQ7b.jpg

Lexus rear lights are gone stuck em on Ebay, 'buy it now' ?30, this was after I won a set of R45 for 99p each.:yes:

Next job will be sill covers off for rust prevention.


So......I got to drive it to the MOT station, and bearing in mind I've had 2 R400 SDi's which were standard boost with decat, all I can say it was much much faster.

Glad it got through everything with no probs. car looks OK as is.

Dervs do go well!!!

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

looking good matey, where about in hudds are u, im new mill area.

well done kev,youve done well with this mate!

I'm in Dalton.

Nice work, lovely colour...

Sun was shining so I got out the decent camera, Bonnet and bumper still to be painted and I need a driver side headlight.
Paying £130 for 12 months road tax feels really nice.:D
https://i.imgur.com/T6tidZk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xWxMtV1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ujCrV9g.jpg

Car looks good as new, like the colour.

Looking good.

How much it setting you back to get the bonnet sprayed?

Not sure yet TBH, he'll look after me though.
It's gonna be Bonnet, grill, bumper and 4 civic door handles for when they break.