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

Joe Schrodi alerted us to this noteworthy news:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19j5fusMmH/

The Silent Auction at our Oct. 4 Car Show will include a good number of quality items.  Long-time members Wayne and Isabelle Hardy donated the list you see below.  So bring your checkbook and bid early and often.  

Our member, Clay Ownby, attended the 111th GOF event of the NEW ENGLAND MG T REGISTER in Danbury, Connecticut.    Click this link to see his report on it all.  

NEMGTR GOF 111.pdf

From the President’s Octagonal office:

It was a sweltering day for the Houston MG Car Club President's Social.  The good part is that it didn’t rain.  54+ members of our club made it out to Richmond to talk cars, talk repairs, talk parts, and get to know each other a little better.

Kathy Colwell was at the heart of the operation, having coordinated the catering and preparing the house.   A special thanks to those who helped set things up.

Ron Redding was much relieved, as I learned from our July meeting, he only eats BBQ.  We had plenty of BBQ and many boxes of the leftovers when home.  While most club members drove their climate-controlled modern cars, there were a few Drivers who tolerated the heat. Joe Bolduc show up with a trailered 1957 MGA that he just purchased that morning!  While I thought it was a coupe, it turns out to be a roadster with one of those fabled removable hardtops. Of course, there were also a few MGBs in the car park.

 Mike Menard was the club masochist that day, driving his MGB out, and working on his transmission while the car was on my lift.  We could hear him conversing with God, looking for a lost bolt, and we also heard him praying that the patron saint of cross-threaded bolts was not present.  He drove away exhausted, very dehydrated, but successful in his repair.

It was a joy to have so many club members at our house, some who I have not had the pleasure of getting to know yet.  It was a good opportunity to be social, and I think that we accomplished that goal.

  

I am also happy to report that my $200 1980 MGB is happily on the road.  Only a day after our party, but who is counting?  She had a couple of bugs, which were worked out after work today.  Brakes are much tighter, she idles softly at 800 rpm, and the throttle return springs are now doing their job.  I find that the speedometer doesn’t work, and I will have to start thinking about that soon.

I am thankful to the leadership of our car club over the past decade.  They revitalized our club, bringing in new members, each with something to bring, something to talk about, and something to drive.  It was Kathy’s and my pleasure to have hosted such a splendid event.   Thank you for coming. 

I am out of the country for 30 days as of next Saturday, and thus will not be attending our September meeting.  Vice President, Mr. Scott Kalish, will run that meeting.  There is some important business to conduct.  The club requires that 3 members step forth, volunteering to be part of a nominating committee for next year's officers.  Please think this over, and be part of that committee, and help identify Members who will move our club forward.

Rich Colwell

President, Houston MG Car Club 

President Rich Colwell is hosting the annual President's Social, at his home on Saturday, August 30.  There will be an overflow crowd and Rich has a Request:  bring a dessert to share "just a little" and your chairs.  You can expect some pretty good BBQ.  

The image is what AI thinks Rich must look like (wrong) but they got the MG pretty close.

Fellow British Car Enthusiasts,

As you are aware, Kerr County, Texas, suffered a devastating flash flood earlier this month, resulting in the tragic loss of over 107 lives—27 of them young children and teens. Our hearts ache for their families and loved ones.

In moments like these, prayers alone can feel insufficient. In response, the Houston MG Car Club Board of Directors has voted to donate $500 to the Kerr County Relief Fund. This locally administered fund ensures that every dollar reaches those who need it most, without dilution or delay.

We’ve also learned that the Texas MG Register is making a similar contribution. It’s a quiet testament to the kind heartedness of British car enthusiasts—people who care deeply and act with empathy in times of crisis.

Personally, my wife Kathy and I felt moved to offer additional support. We’ll be contributing another $100, which we’d like to include in the club’s donation. If you’re likewise inclined to help, we invite you to do so.

Our Treasurer, Greg Fleischer, will be present at our August 2nd meeting. Donations of any amount—cash, check, or other—can be brought directly to the meeting, where Greg will include them in our collective gift from the Houston MG Car Club.

Thank you for showing the spirit of generosity and neighborly care that defines our community.

Warm regards,  Rich Colwell President, HMGCC (2025)