No Room at the Inn

Just before my parents agreed to buy the car the in laws finally cointacted british motor heritage to confirm the age of the car. It was first registered in March 73 but if it could be proven that it was built during 1972 then it would be eligible for free road tax. As this represents a saving of about £150 each year that allows for any extra expenditure on the car itself and helps to justify owning the car but not using it a lot. We the car was first bought I sorted out the address of where to apply for the age varification but this was ignored like lots of my other advise. Anyway the up shot of this is that the car was indeed built in 1972 and now the tax disc can be proudly displayed in the window knowing that it didn't cost a bean.
As I said before my dad was keen to get the steering sorted so I advised him that the kingpins needed replacing as there was a lot of play on one side and the bushes may as well be done at the same time. As always I had too many other projects on the go and had no room to store and work on the car. I also did not want to take the car apart in their garage in case I did not get it reassembled in time for them to move out. I had a chat with my sister who agreed to store the car in her garage until I could get the time to work on it. The day before my parents were due to move out I came round to collect the car and drive it the 10 miles to my sisters place. I had not been used for about a month as my dad did not like to drive it until I sorted it out.
It started fine and after warming it up and checking for leaks and tyres pressures I drove off. As I reached the end of their driveway (only about 50 feet) I applied the brakes. The pedal went straight to the floor. I ynked on the hand brake. There was no time to fix it and besides I didn't need the hassle. So with a cheery wave a wet off as if nothing was wrong. It'll be ok I'll take it easy and enjoy the drive. Thank heavens for a half decent handbrake.
Within 2 miles I was on a dual carraigeway and not wanting to slow the traffic down I wound her up to a steady 75mph. As I smiled at the passing motorists or passed them I bet they had no idea I had no brakes and would not be able to slow down let alone stop if something happened in front of me. Very irresponsible I hear you say but you only die once. I was relieved when I approched my sisters turning. A tight left hand turn down hill and quite narrow. As I approached I used the hand brake to slow me down to make the turn. I miss judged it some what and what with the stiff steering and only having one hand on the wheel I almost went straight on into one of her neighbours gardens. If there had been a car comming the other way the MG would have been toast. And so would I.
Finally the car was put in my sisters garage until such time as I could get to work on it.
When the time came I decided her garage was too small. It was a standard size garage that you find now with most modern homes. My sisters boyfriend had just bought a new house that had a big double garage. Ideal I thought. I asked and I got. All I had to do was get the car there.
Needless to say I hired a trailer. Well I did have to move two ther projects on the same day.
Over the next couple of weeks I stripped and rebuilt the front suspension using poly bushes. The kingpin bushes were fitted and all I had to do was ream them out. I could not find a reamer for love nor money (at a sensible price anyway). I tried all the local garages and tool hire firms even Ebay which usually serves me well in times of need. I eventually hatched a plan. I would take the parts to The MGBhive a specialist repairers not too far from home, get them to ream out the bushes, pick up a few tips and a couple of parts I still needed ie bump stops. I could then bring them back and fit them. The plan worked well other than it taking a day to get there do the work then drive back. The old guy in the workshop instructed me on how to shim the kingpins and I was confident of getting the car back on the road soon.