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Main cross member replacement

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Main cross member replacement
#1
  This topic is about my 1973 MG MGB
18081961 Avatar
18081961 Gold Member Dariusz Ornatowski
Windsor, ON, Canada   CAN
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1973 MG MGB
I need to replace the main crossmember and would appreciate advice from someone that has done a replacement and is familiar with the process.
If anyone has or knows where I can get info on this subject from removal to replacement please let me know.

Thank you

Dariusz

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Bill MacTavish Avatar
Clayton, ON, Canada   CAN
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1970 MG MGB "Monty"
Dariusz,

Do you mean the main front suspension crossmember? That's fairly easy with 4 main bolts, and then removing
the steering rack (just unbolt from the crossmember), undo the brake lines to the front.
(With the car supported on jack stands, use a floor jack to lower the crossmember.)

A little clarification. It's much easier to do this with the brake rotors off, and the suspension undone (springs
removed) as you can use the weight of the car to compress the springs with a floor jack while the assembly
is still mounted. If you take it apart after removing from the car, then you will need specific spring compressors.
Fairly simple, but can be dangerous. Safety First in this situation for sure.

If your talking about the cross frame underneath the front seats, and where the jacking spots are, that's
a bit more complicated and requires more metal cutting and welding knowledge than I possess.

Bill.



"Remember, for every mile of road, there are two miles of ditch."

Bill MacTavish
Clayton, Ontario
'70 BRG Roadster 'Monty'



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-10-16 10:59 AM by Bill MacTavish.

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RIRaven Avatar
RIRaven Silver Member Dave Wilson
Little Compton, RI, USA   USA
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1971 MG MGB GT
1973 MG MGB "Iris"
Then there's the transmission cross member, but it doesn't sound like you're talking about that. Repairing the cross member that Bill refers to is often part of a major sill repair, so if you're looking at videos of sill repair you will inevitably find cross member information.



Dave

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CMCon98 Avatar
CMCon98 Colin C
Boston, MA, USA   USA
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If you mean the crossmember that spans the width of the car where the jacking points are, the entire member seldom rusts out. The center of it is protected by all the oil leaking out of the engine and transmission. The ends of the crossmember, however, are out of reach of the oil mist that emanates from every British car, and frequently need replacement. Moss and some of the other suppliers sell crossmember end pieces that are about 10" long. To use these, the castle rails, floors, and adjacent sheet metal parts have to be solid, and if the crossmember ends are rusty, the other areas probably are, too. If rust or weakness is limited to the crossmember ends and jacking points, you can carefully drill and/or cut out the welds holding them to the floor and castle rail, cut out the bad sections, and weld in all or a portion of the new sections. It's kind of a pain to weld while laying under the car, but it's do-able, and strong welds win over pretty ones here since it's out of sight.

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and6412 Andrzej Wojcik
Kraków, Poland - Krakow, Poland   POL
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1965 MG MGB "Crisp"
1976 Mercedes-Benz SLC "[SOLD]"
2001 Porsche Boxster S
Hi Dariusz
Do you mean part #1 in here: http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/mg/mgb-c-v8/steering-suspension/front-suspension/crossmember-suspension-mgb.html
I cannot imagine any reason to replace it, except crash.
I have full (nut by nut) foto-documentation with dismantling and fitting back mine crossmember and I can share, just send me your email by PM.

PS.
If you speak polish we can switch to it in PM.

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GWUISTER Avatar
GWUISTER GREG W
RIVERSIDE, CA, USA   USA
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1967 MG MGB

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