Running gear on MK1 invader

[blue1]

Please can tell me where the running gear comes from on a mk1 invader.

[Bitsa]

Primarily MGC ....

[welshrat]

Hi,
Very pleased you asked this question as I am slightly confused about the running gear on my 1970 mk1. I have recently purchased a MGC workshop manual (2nd edition) with a view to stripping down the front and rear running gear, however the manual describes front suspension with torsion bars and the rear with leaf springs, I may well have bought the wrong edition of the manual as mine has coil springs on the front and AVO adjustable gas shocks on the rear. Would appreciate some advice re. whats on my motor. Please excuse my ignorance but the Gilbern is a new project for me, I have restored a rag top moggy and mini cooper in the past but must admit that I am struggling as there are no manuals or 'original restorers guides,. This will probably be the first of many help me i am stuck type questions.
Regards,
welshrat.

[Waylison]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum

The best money you can spend on your Gilbern is to buy the Printed Archive DVD as advertised on the Regalia page in the list to your left now. At only £10 + P&P, it's a must! It has a huge amount of information covering many processes to do with the strip down and repair / improvement of all Gilberns. My knowledge extends to the MkII mainly, and I'm not too sure how it differs from the MkI and with there being so few MkI's you may find help slow in coming because it might not be correct to your model. But do come back and ask your questions, we're a friendly bunch on here and an answer will eventually come back, or at least direction on where to get the info!

Best Wishes,

[Admin]

With reference to Welshrat and Wayne.
This is outside of my Mk3 comfort zone hence I held comment until now.
Plus I believe Mk1s may be something of a transition between Genie and Mk2 so expect some detail differences.

As Wayne says the Archive disc is the first step, I put all the technical stuff in a separate index grouped by model but you will need to check Mk2 and refer to Genie if appropriate.
With both Mk1 & 2 the clue is given by the Gilbern alloys with the 5 stud MGC hubs but this only extends as far as the rear axle and front uprights, the rest of the suspension is Gilbern fabricated. The steering rack is also MG but there are some nonstandard details with regard to steering arms and track-rod ends that I am not qualified to comment on.
The three quiz masters that will know their G,1&2s are Philip Ivimey, Brian Somerfield (phone or written inquiries only) and of course Roger Spares, although thats only for detail as mostly it generic Gilbern engineering that most of us can help with.

[welshrat]

Hi,

Many thanx to Wayne & Admin for the advice, will be purchasing printed archive and joining the club ASAP, the rat does have G alloys with 5 studs by the way. I would think that AVT 528H is known by several club members as it as had 12 previous owners, would be happy to hear any stories from the past (good and bad memories please). Bought the rat from a really nice chap in Monmouthshire, test drove down a gravel lane which was scary stuff but new at once that had to buy and get back on the road. The last couple of motors I have restored had the full treatment, the priority with this one is an MOT as I think it looks the dogs as it is (very, very shaby paint work and interior), hence the name RAT.

Regards,

John

[blue1]

As a Mk1 owner I am having difficulty with spares as mentioned before the Mk1 is mix between genie & mk2. What makes the problem worst is that when these cars were sold they were all different do to the tax situation. Most cars were finished by the buyer.
I attended my first annual show this year and I could not believe how each car were not the same.
I have been trying to replace a steering gator and when I told them it was mgc, the guy told me it looks like a ford steering setup. In the end he found a pair of gators that look like mine.
I have ordered some EBC brake pads for a gilbern 1970-72 but when I received them the brakes are for a lotus 2+2. I have not tried them but I will get back to if they fit.

[blue1]

I forgot to mention I still love the car.

[Greybags]

You can get a parts list from Reg Alia for the Mk2 telling where all the parts originated from, I presume there is one for the Mk1 as well.

I dont know if there is a lot of difference between the 1 and 2, so maybe a Mk2 parts list would help.

Perhaps these list could be made availiable on here???

Grahame

[Bitsa]

So I think my "primarily MGC" was accurate ........

I have one of the last four Genies (H reg with Invader doors and a chassis Phil went "hmmm" over and was in a recent Rarebit article.)

The Club got me the remains of an Invader 1 for the roof and I decided to rob the steering rack off it and it's different......

My Genie rack is "unususal" and is with Phil awaiting collection to be repaired and refitted.

My front coil spring saga is well documented .. they are different to anything the Club had a record of and didn't match anything at Moss motors !!

I guess that's what makes a rebuild fun ??

[Bitsa]

Sorry forgot to mention Roger Spares sourced me some Genie lower wishbones to replace one that was bent ..... my springs didn't fit the pans on the replacement wishbones.

Oh and Phil does have the full set of Invader 1 front suspension with springs that came off the car I broke up (with the Clubs blessing).

[Admin]

I have been trying to replace a steering gator and when I told them it was mgc, the guy told me it looks like a ford steering setup. In the end he found a pair of gators that look like mine.
I have ordered some EBC brake pads for a gilbern 1970-72 but when I received them the brakes are for a lotus 2+2. I have not tried them but I will get back to if they fit.

General caveat; It is a 30 plus year old car and you are not necessarily the first to replace parts without an origin parts list!
As regards the brake pads that's is not necessarily any concern, the MG propshaft yokes and UJs are the same as a Bedford CF van.

[GGenie69]

Hello Welshrat,

I bought AVT 528H in 1981 from GDS exhausts in Shropshire. It had not been used for years. We spent hours getting it going and then got stopped on the M54 on the way back to Tywyn for having no Tax, also had no insurance either and got banned from driving for 6 months, or happy days

AVT 528H had Wolfrace slot mags when I owned her and was painted Ford Midnight Blue, CB (pre legislation) and a huge whip ariel.

I'll see if I've got a photo somwhere.

Richard

[Tree man]

Ahh the joys of a 40yr old cars. In the 6mths I've owned mine I've established that the most of the rear suspension, the complete front suspension set up, gearbox, induction and ignition system are all non standard. Also don't assume any modification is better than the standard. If in doubt I find getting a mate round and drinking lots of tea/beer while scratching your head, pointing at the offending part and talking will solve most problems And if all else fails get the instruction manual out you've just bought from the GOC

[welshrat]

Hi,
Manged to strip down one side of the front suspension over the weekend (between being a taxi service for the kids), pretty sure it is MGB rather than MGC as apparently the first 20 to 30 retained the MGB running gear as with the GT's.
All came apart suprisingly well, the most time consuming bit was making up a tool (threaded bar and two metal plates) that allowed me to release the tension in the coiled spring. Probably teaching my grandmother here but for those not in the know be extremely careful with these as if not released correctly they can do some serious damage to you and your motor.
regards,
John