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The system I have used on all of my vehicles over the years involves a bit more than what most mortals would use, but it really does a nice job. 1. Bought a small transfer pump at my local plumbing store, it has two garden hose connections, one suction and one discharge. They use them for pumping off swimming pool covers or emptying water heaters (about $40.00 US ) when I bought mine several years ago. 2. I also purchased a washing machine filler hose at the same store (6' with female fittings on both ends) as well as... MORE
How do you actually perform the flushing? Just keep filling and emptying, or is there some kind of kit that can be purchased to attach a hose or something? During the week when the water/vinegar mixture is in the car, do you run it or let is sit? Thanks rlirwin@... 5347... MORE
I personally don't feel the need for originality, more HP, better brakes, better handling are all improvements in the true Healey tradition. However, having said that I am glad that other are preserving the cars in their original state. It is preserving an important part of the history of these wonderful little cars. In fact, it is surprising just how nice these cars were to drive in their original state! As for James' assertion: I think this is unkind. I know a couple of diehard concours folk, and they do a lot of the work themselves. What they don't... MORE
I have a 1959 Bugeye (frogeye) that is orig. with 948 cc and non-synco trans. std. drum brakes. Just finished the "Moss" interior, Mini-lite wheels and fresh YELLOW paint. Not fast, just a nice ride in the sun. Bill French Hilton Head, SC PS. Still looking for early sprite sales brochures. frenchww@... 5337... MORE
Mike, Trying to get mine back to near original, the engines a 1098 instead of a 948 but have had the intention of getting it back to the 1960 she once was. You know, the engine smokes, the brakes dont brake, the carbs wont stay tuned the shifter wont stay in first gear and the wiring didnt work. ORGINALITY AINT IT GRAND. In truth, after 2 years 6 months and 1 day(but I'm not counting) she should be nearing completion and should be back on the road in the next 2 weeks Bob 60 AN5 TAMPA, FL MTGBRKR1@... 5335... MORE
Hey Reg, Welcome back dewd. Kinda sounds like you have a car similar to my last one (65 Midget) ie. The brakes don't brake, the carburetors don't carb, the wipers don't wipe, the ignition don't ignite, and the pistons don't work either.....LOL Wish you were here in NY....I'd be glad to share my shop with you in exchange for assistance on my 79 refit. Good luck Dave in NY "Stevens, David" 5332... MORE
Hi Everyone, I haven=92t been on here for a while, and boy I sure do miss the banter. Anyway, I am trying to restore a =9268 midget, but lack the major resources to do so. I would like to strip her down as she has some body work that needs done, and she really needs a media blast. Now my problem is that I live on the Campus of The University of California, Irvine, and they frown on minor car repairs, and would absolutely freak if I were to pull the engine, or start stripping her down. I really... MORE
To get a race engine built here in Australia will cost b/n about A$6000 and A$13,000 depending on who you use and what you want. The biggest, fastest engines (from the most expensive builder) with billet crank, carillo rods, steel caps, converted thick flange A+ block, etc etc are right up there in $$. If you are happy with a wedged/cross-drilled EN16T crank, Cooper S rods, Spridget or A+ block, etc, and are happy with 15-20% less HP, then you can do it for the bottom end of the range (~$6000). Depends on what you can afford to spend...... MORE
The worst mechanical job I can think of on a Midget is replacing and re-bleeding the clutch slave cylinder (on an A series car)... Also any job involving a MIG welder and grinder.... J james@... 5301... MORE
The corolla conversion also comes with new pillars. Yes, the geometry is correct - the pads completely cover the valve stem, and the angles are perfect. Maybe he has ground and re-hardened the pads to get the geometry right - I'll have to ask. Mike "Mike & Kerry Gigante" 5260... MORE
Thanks for the help. New guage on order. Can I simply disconnect the oil pressure line from the back of the old guage or do I need to drain something first? I have visions of loosening off the nut (once I can work out how to get to it) and oil spurting everywhere. There is also a second Smiths oil guage in a console which houses the radio. Don't know why this is there as both work, although giving slightly different readings. A short length of braided hose has simply has been taken off the back of the original... MORE
There are 1.5 forged rockers available in the UK for about UK=A3140-ish and they are complete with new pillars which re-align the rocker assembly. I could see that the Corolla rockers may upset the geometry of the rocker gear. Does the rocker pad line up with the valve stem? If so, is the pushrod now working at an angle? Dave dave_oneill138@... 5240... MORE
Hi People, Bit of an open question that I may have asked before, so forgive me if this is a bore - but then again it might stir up a few views as it's been a bit quiet... The work on getting my 1500 back in the road progresses apace, and with that in mind I am trying to get straight in my head what I shall do with my '2nd' Midget. It's a '71 rolling shell. Bought from a scrap yard cheap. Literally a panelled monocoque less boot(trunk)lid, but includes front suspension/steering/brakes, rear suspension (empty axle). The wings... MORE
== local pros, (read salvage yard), use equal parts brake fluid, battery acid and WD40 (or equiv) They USUALLY change the oil on these "freshened" engines..... ;-) Peter C "Peter C." 5113... MORE
This happened to me at a junction,in such a rush to get going, behind the usual dope in a Rover, that I stalled and like you ended up with a jammed starter.Solution : stick it in first gear, jump out and then try to rock the car forward and backward, after a couple of decent shoves loud 'click' and I was back in business, still caught him up (Rover ) and lost him.(doing the legal limit of course), and by the way this was on an upward slope as well, will help if you can take your handbrake off... MORE
Can you push the car up the drive as well as down? Release the pressure between the starter and flywheel usually frees them up. If you can't, brakes on and keep the clutch pressed down (release the pressure imparted from the drive train) and smack the starter motor with a medium sized hammer. To further that method you could take the spark plugs out to relieve pressure from the engine as well (but I've never had to do that - a smack from the universal thumb squasher usually allows them to separate -) ). If you look through previous... MORE
Hi, Tom- That is a "nice" looking RWA Spridget, as in the accompanying Spit, Tom. I know all you 1500 guys like your cars (obviously, of course) but man, Spridgets do look better without those rubber bumpers, for sure, IMHO. I know nothing about 1500's but assume removing the rubber bumper in the front would allow for better cooling (airflow) and expose more area for same allowing the installation of an oil cooler forward of the radiator area behind the grille? I don't even know what it looks like "back there" but assume an "earlier" grille could be adopted?... MORE
Hello everyone I have a 1971 MG Midget 1275 I have been seeing on some car's that are my year or right around my year that the Horn push pad has a red color around the MG logo. Mine does not have this. Has the paint just worn away? And if so how do I go about repainting this? (What color red) Thanks Jason 1971 Midget "Jason Gross" 4976... MORE
Rick, I still have the scabs on my hand from bleeding our clutch. Couldn't get pedal no matter what until I levered back the piston in the slave cylinder to empty it. Out came a heap of air. If starting from scratch now I would bleed the system before installing the slave cylinder - just connect the hose into the slave, tie something into the other end to keep the piston right back, pump the air out of the line with the pedal, close the system, install the slave cylinder. The pro's assured me Midget clutch bleeding was no... MORE
I'm hearing lots of advice to "just pop the new stud into the hole".. Apparently these gurus havent tried that with a rear stud. If its on the rear, you'll have to pull the hub. An unbroken stud is juuust a little too long to get between the hub and the brake backplate. My Sprite had a couple of short studs from an A30 in the rear- looks like the DPO was too lazy to pull the hub. Dont fit short studs. While the hub is off, here's a simple modification to make changing a stud easier in future;... MORE
Hi A warning here, I found it difficult to machine break drums true. If the slightest bit offset it will cause massive shudder on the break peddle as the shoes are forced in and out. I had better success grinding discs as you only have to get the disc the same thickness all over but watch the minimum thickness allowed. Terry "Terry Isherwood" 4766... MORE
Oil pressure up before firing the engine? YES - if you can. Otherwise, try hand cranking (leave the rocker cover off and turn the engine) until oil appears. Use the starter motor if you are happy with that. If you wish, jack up one rear wheel with the car in 4th and turn that (h/brake off :-)) and that will turn the engine over if you are not happy about using the starter motor. Be sure to turn it in a vehicle forwards rotation, as far as wear is concerned wrong way rotation is a big no-no for the... MORE
Outcast Good info this will really help. I think I will go with the starter and hope the pump works. I will prime the pump so I hope that works. As you sa y it may be tough to keep your foot out of it. I milled the head .080 put in a TSI275 cam and over bored it .020 so I need to run it in correctly and overcome the temptation to mash the loud pedal. It=92s also running a Webe r with headers. Doug 77 "Doug Pletcher" 4730... MORE
Thanks David, thats enough info for me to buy new. I guess with brakes its probably best to do that anyway. Jim. jim.wyper@... 4616... MORE
LOL! You appear to have forgotten that Midgets are 'olde worlde' cheap cars to start with. Machining the drums is a fine repair, the drums are made thick enough to handle it. Even modern dum brakes are built to handle one or two light skims. Re-lining brake shoes is also a perfectly legitimate way of repairing your shoes- the steel bracket dosent wear out, so why not simply glue new linings to the old shoes? (Only to be done by qualified repair persons using the correct equipment, of course.) Drums should not be machined oval- in fact it would... MORE
