Monty 2.0DL Help needed

[Ed]

Hi all,

Having decided to restore my H reg Montego 2.0DL saloon rather than break it for its 85K mile engine, I need a bit of help from anyone in the know. The headlining as usual is drooping at the rear but is not torn or frayed. Does anyone know or has anyone ever tried to repair one like this? Is it possible? It is really letting down an otherwise perfect interior and good ones in the scrap yard just do not exist round here. Also, would anyone happen to have available any body panels for this car in stone grey metallic, or know where i could get some? Its had a light bump on the front and i'd like to keep the cost of body repairs down until my MG is finished. Cheers guys, hope to hear from you soon. :)

[mgdavid]

you can do a half-decent job with those brass split rivet-like clips they sell for clipping legal documents together. Drop the headlining at the back, press the rivets through and open them out. Put a line across the car from side to side where it sags, you need one every 6 inches or so, just need to spread them out in an even pattern to fit the area of sag. Then if you paint the heads with model paint to match the headlining colour they blend in very well. Seen a couple of Maestro turbos done by Jackie Woods and they look OK.

[Ed]

Thanks very much for the advice. I will give this a go this weekend. Atleast my rear passengers will be able to see without headlining round their ears! Thanks again!

[F 447]

Hello Montyboy, Looks like we have similar cars, even the same colour, although mines an F Reg. I had to rip my headlining out and run without one, it was drooping, torn, ripped badly. Only plus point about that is you can then move one of the interior lights to a ideal spot just in front of the sunroof handle. Much better lit inside now than where they were.
How's yours going?, does it need a Head gasket yet?

[Ed]

Hi F447

It runs like a dream. It has only done 85K miles and has got a full service history so with any luck the engine is good for quite a few miles yet. The real test will be once I have her on the road. I still have to replace the front bumper, and wing (possibly the bonnet too if I'm fussy) as she suffered a minor bump on the front end, but then I can't complain, after all, I only had to pay £20 for her! This weekend the chase is on to try and find some good panels in the same colour, wonder what my chances are!? How is yours? I'd be interested to know exactly what MPG I can expect when she's finished.

[F 447]

;) Hi Montyboy, you had a great buy ther mate. Mines done 86k miles and I have just had to do the head gasket. Before this was done she was returning approx 55 to 59 mpg, thats a mixture of town, country roads and 65 to 70 mph on the motorway. This is why I decided that I should try and save her. Can't tell yet if there is any improvement, because I have only just filled her up and my injector timing is still a little out.

Tell me, how well does your heater work?

[Ed]

To be honest, because I have not yet had her on the road, I don't really know how well the heater works. I am going to be working on her tomorrow, got to fix a power steering pipe and fit a new battery so I will run it and see what the heater is like and let you know.

Hoping to have her MOT'd in the next few weeks, nail biting stuff. I really need the diesel for work as I work 25 miles away and using my 827 Sterling is proving too expensive on the old petrol.

Our cars do sound quite alike, in type, colour and mileage! Keep me posted on how you get on!

[F 447]

;) On second thoughts and looking at your photos again, I'm not sure that our colours are the quite the same, mines a sort of gunmetal grey metallic. Don't know the name of the colour. But it is nice to hear from a fellow 2.0 DL saloon owner. Can't post photos, no digital camera at present.
Which power steering pipe needs fixing on your car ?
Good luck with your MOT. Steve.

[Ed]

Hi Steve,

I haven't had a good look at the power steering problem yet but it was like that when I saved her. All i know is there is a couple of metal type pipes hanging from underneath the engine/gearbox area. The guy i got it from said it just needed a new pipe or something. If it becomes to much to work out tomorrow, I'm sure I'll be posting a thread here for help! hehe

Yes, Gunmetal Grey metallic i believe is a more silvery grey whereas Stone Grey has a more green tint to it.

Thanks for the luck, lets hope it doesn't need too much! :)