Tech Session: Grease, Gaskets & Good Times

September 27

It was a classic Saturday morning for the Houston MG Car Club—sunshine, snacks, and a stubborn British car. Members gathered at Rich Colwell’s house to tinker with a 1980 MGB and maybe learn a thing or two about its electrical system. Rich, fresh off a flight from India and battling jet lag, a head cold, and a gut parasite, was mostly useful for knowing where the tools were. Fortunately, the club runs on teamwork—and snacks.

Fuel Fiasco: The MGB That Wouldn’t

The car, which had run fine before Rich’s trip, refused to start. Enter Dave Griffith, who diagnosed a fuel delivery issue. The culprit: loss of prime.  Previous to Rich's trip a small leak between the gas tank and sending unit was . After installing a new gasket, the system had gone airbound. Dave’s solution? Old-school ingenuity: he pressurized the tank by blowing into the filler neck. Yes, with his mouth. It worked. Don’t try this at home.  The tank started leaking again, despite the new gasket.

Grease Is the Word

Next up: front-end lubrication. The kingpins and steering rack got a fresh dose of grease, transforming the handling from “tractor” to “almost power steering.” Plans to torch the kingpins were shelved when a grease gun did the trick. Sometimes, simple wins.

Wiring Woes and Electrical Enlightenment

With the car running, attention turned to the wiring. Rob Ficalora led a deep dive into BMC’s color-coded chaos. Continuity tests, connector replacements, and oxide removal brought the brake lights, indicators, and reverse lamps back to life. The tachometer, long dormant, sprang into action after a faulty relay was swapped out. Victory!

Tank Trouble: The Sequel

Just when things were looking up, the gas tank struck again. Bill Sysman spotted the real leak—not the gasket, but both the tank itself and the sending unit.  The spot-welded collar that accepts the sending unit twist fastener was seeping from underneath, and the PTFE joint for the sending unit wire was also compromised. Rich plans to solder the collar and vacuum-seal the joint this weekend. Fingers crossed.

Snacks, Sips, and Solidarity

Kathy Colwell kept morale high with fresh-baked savory treats, soft drinks, and beer. As always, the real joy was in the camaraderie—turning wrenches, swapping stories, and embracing the eternal truth of British motoring: if it’s not leaking, it’s empty.

~ Rich Colwell