Hi, everyone! There will be no pictures from me for a while. Why? I don't have my car yet -- right now it is 1000 miles away. My name is Dan Rinker, and I live by the sea in Washington state in a town called Ocean Park. I acquired a 1977 MGB in February, and after having sorted out most of its problems, feel that it is now time to go for my dream. So... with my newly acquired LBC skills and being retired, I have launched into my new project. I have bought the red Mazda powered S-2 that was on eBay a couple of weeks ago. My Greyhound trip to Anaheim begins in 2 days. I will bring my favorite MG tools (a Mity-Vac -- go figure!!!) and a few clothes. My sister lives about 40 - 50 miles away in Moreno Valley, where I will go over the car for as long as it takes to feel it's safe to launch for home. The car is described in the eBay page that doesn't exist anymore, but even so I won't know what to expect until I see it in person. Apparently, on installation of the rotary Mazda engine, the clutch was changed to a hydraulic actuated one, probably the Mazda one. And the owner has told me that there is a slight problem with the flex hose for it, so I know for sure that this will be one area getting great attention.
I haven't dealt with the sliding components in the drumbrakes the Spitfire brakes do, but I am sure I can deal with those. I feel that the next problem area, and maybe there is no problem, would be to assure that there is enough capacity in the stock cooling system to deal with the new powerplant. So, I will need to determine that.
Mostly I will go through the measures the MG websites tell us to use when one wakes up a car from a long slumber. I can take a closer look at maybe restoring the S-2 to the Renault engine it was spec'd with when new, later on. After I get used to the extra 20 hp. the rotary will have. Gee! Maybe not!!!
I hope to post while I deal with these issues, before the car leaves California for Ocean Park.