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Well that would make re-installing them even easier! A jack under the ball joint will jam the taper in place to allow it to wedge tight. It sounds like the same principal will still work. It's simply the idea that you're using the jack to act as an anvil, so you can pound on one part without stressing the whole arm. To dis-assemble the jack would then be under the edge of the arm and you can pound on the nut ( pound on the 2x4 to protect the threads of the ball joint end) Whacking the outside 'round'... MORE
Never pulled a Spridget engine and need advice. The cross brace in front of the front engine pulley had been pushed back at some point in the life of the car and is only 1/2 and inch in front of the pulley. The instructions in my manuals simply say lift the engine and pull it out. (Bentley and Haynes) But . . . how far forward does the engine need to travel to disengage from the clutch/flywheel before you can begin to lift it up and out? I do not have a clear picture of how the engine shaft... MORE
Colin, Thanks for the photos (off list in case anyone else is wondering) That's useful. I also see what the limitations are on the earlier car. I think I could get a larger speaker in there on mine, but not as large as I thought because I couldn't cut into the vertical web immediately in front of the wheel arch as it is clearly structural. - I would get a sagging rear end if I did! Guy "Guy Weller" 18355... MORE
G'day all I like the attention to detail. Little things like: 1.. unpadded roll bar directly above your head; 2.. pedal box assembly, wiper motor (including park wire), suspension etc nicely painted in contrasting green primer; 3.. unplugged holes between the engine bay and the cabin; 4.. no grille to protect radiator and intercooler; 5.. at least 3" gap between inner and outer front guards (fenders?) so that those wide wheels can fill the engine bay with mud, rocks etc; 6.. broom handle bonnet prop; 7.. open breathers on the cam covers; 8.. the battery corrosion hole on the... MORE
Thanks for your input David. I am debating whether to try your method...it all depends on whether my clutch release bearing is doing its job. Do you know how far a fully-extended clutch pedal should be from teh footwell/firewall? Or, even better, the depth the slave cylinder should extend to (I think I can get a little thingy in to measure its extension). Thanks R "rior95037 " 18352... MORE
To remove the ball joint.... I loosen the nut but leave the nut on right up to the very end of the threads. Place a floor jack, tight up underneath the nut of the ball joint. Then with a BFH, and a piece of 2"x4", I pound down on the steering arm right next to ball joint. The nut will limit it from flying off and protects the threads. Works every time. You don't need to hit super hard.... just repeated firm blows will shock it loose. To re-install...most people have problems with the taper not seating well enough... MORE
I have freed stuck clutches using the brutal method of starting the car on axle stands in gear and pressing down on all three pedals (the handbrake wouldn't hold it enough) at once! It will either come free or break something, so it's not really to be recommended. I've never had to use any more subtle methods Yes, the front wings unbolt; don't forget the four bolts you get at from inside the car behind the trim panel in the footwell. Regards David "David Jacobs" 18304... MORE
Question : What is the height of globalization? Answer : Princess Diana's death Question : How come? Answer : An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was high on Scottish whiskey, followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles, treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines! And this is sent to you by an American, using Bill Gates' technology which he got from the Japanese. And you are probably reading this on one of the IBM clones that use Philippine-made... MORE
I bet you're right, Guy Weller. We'd probably not be looking at it, had it!! :) While car does "appear" to be lowered all around and slightly low in front (and sports a front spoiler as well) this could very well be picture "angles" etc. My feeling is 160 is the theoretical top speed according to redline and gearing. With Datsun 5 speed and 3.7 diff, I have a theoretical top speed, too but, even with slightly modified suspension, wheels and tires, "no way, Jose"!! I think his point is (or should be) that what he's got is a... MORE
Hi everyone: New to the group. I have owned Triumphs, Lotus, MGB, Fiats...but this is my first Midget. Our MG is a 1979 US 1500. It is a 37,000 mile car but has been neglected. I am lucky as there appears to be no rust... I am anxious to get her running again. The engine barely ran; it turned out the ZS carb slide had gummed up, preventing airflow. But, I have a clutch problem: Even with the pedal down, I cannot get the car to go into gear (ie "clutch spin"). The trans I believe is OK since... MORE
G'day Don If you look at any rear axle half-shaft (other than a new one) you will clearly see how much of it goes into the diff centre. There is a very visible witness mark over 1.5" from the end. So if you use a wire wheel shaft, that is 3/4" shorter, then clearly you will still have over 3/4" engaged. It works fine, as long as you don't try and "burn-outs". I know a lot of cars that have had this done and no of none that have had problems. Of course, it's not the tidiest way to... MORE
Brings back memories... Don't ever try to put four bolt axles on a wire wheel rear. I was told years ago that this would work and found out the hard way it didn't. It looks pretty good until you tighten down the lug nuts. Then you hear a sharp "ping" as the shaft that holds the spider gears in the differential cracks. If you want wires, or want to get rid of them, swap the whole rear end. It's not that much more work and you avoid problems down the road. Blessings, Mark Howard "Mark Howard " 18200... MORE
Paul I hear what you say and to a point I agree. BUT - you knew that was coming didn't you - My experience has been that if it is going to free up, it will free up quite easily by rotating the engine while keeping the car still with the clutch pedal disengaged, but if it doesn''t free up easily, the only safe way to do it without storing up troubles for later is to dismantle it. So 1) Make sure the hydraulics are working or hold the lever of mechanically and try shifting it that way. But... MORE
Hi Bob, Although I am not sure if I am going to make the wire wheel conversion at this time I would like to know about how much the axels and rear ends and front hubs would cost me. It would be a 1/4 elliptic rear end for the 63. Looks like the US is beginning to reap what we have sown for so many years. Course if you say that too loud people accuse you of somehow approving of terrorism. We wonder why kids don't take responsibility for their actions but the government sure is not a role... MORE
There are a many cars running around on the streets today that have switched to wire wheels using both methods. I would recommed switching the rear end as well. There is a 1 1/2" difference in the rear end widths. This will also effect the location of the wheels to the body. I have a set of axles and front hubs that I would like to sell and I know of people that have a rear end, both 1/4 and 1/2 eleptic that they want to sell. Contact me off list for information of either. Second question. The 1275... MORE
Don: I would not do either. The splines of a wire wheel axle will engage the splines of the differential assembly just barely if at all. You will probably break an axle right away. The smoothcase transmission will not last very long with a 1275. I've never tried it, but you may have problems sorting out the back engine plate and clutch mechanism if you try to put the smoothcase onto the 1275. Sorry, that's not what you wanted to hear. John "mg_john2 " 18149... MORE
Don: I would not do either. The splines of a wire wheel axle will engage the splines of the differential assembly just barely if at all. You will probably break an axle right away. The smoothcase transmission will not last very long with a 1275. I've never tried it, but you may have problems sorting out the back engine plate and clutch mechanism if you try to put the smoothcase onto the 1275. Sorry, that's not what you wanted to hear. John "mg_john2 " 18148... MORE
I have read conflicting information on changing to wire wheels by directly installing the rear axles of a wire wheel Spridget to one with steel rims. I understand that the wire wheel axle is shorter and does not extend into the differential as far on a steel wheel differential but will go in far enough to work. Given that the car will only be used for light street use and not racing is it alright to do this? Opinions please. Second question: Can you exchange your 948 engine with a 1275 engine keeping the 948 clutch and transmission? Engine... MORE
Sounds like you might have messed up one of the gear assemblies, but the only way to find ot is to dismantle it, using the factory manual for preference. Sorry, I can't help there, I do have a factory manual, but only for the mark 2 Midget, with the old spring clutch rather than the easier later diaphram clutch. As to what has happened, whatever has happened to the clutch hydraulics, the clutch lining will also have fixed itself to the flywheel pretty thoroughly by now and you are best off breaking that joint by splitting the gearbox from... MORE
1) Triangular sandwiches taste better than square ones. 2) At the end of every party there is always a girl crying. 3) One of the most awkward things that can happen in a pub is when your pint-to-toilet cycle gets synchronised with a complete stranger. 4) You've never quite sure whether it's ok to eat green crisps. 5) Everyone who grew up in the 80's has entered the digits 55318008 into a calculator. 6) Reading when you're drunk is horrible. 7) Sharpening a pencil with a knife makes you feel manly. 8) You're never quite sure whether it's against... MORE
Was a 1963 Sprite. Yes, I am an old fart. I never thought I would end up owning a 1963 Spridget forty years later. I know I am not suppose look back with regrets but I traded in my 1959 bugeye sprite I bought used a couple of years before when I purchased the 63. I loved that bugeye. Sometimes you do have love affairs with your car. I would take that bugeye out into the Anza-Borrego Desert and go up washes where only four-wheel drivers went. Being so small I could maneuver around and squeeze between most obstacles... MORE
Don if its any consolation I proudly purchased very first car a 1962 Austin Healy Spite when I was 16 years old. I drove home very carefully from the car lot (approximately two miles)that I purchased it from and parked it in the driveway, washed it and proceeded to go showing off. Well nothing happened. long story short the axle had broken and it was nothing I did. I had been concerned about some of the previous post about running and on jack stands. I've done that once or twice. I was getting worried I just got this back... MORE
That's right Bob stand up for us 5' 8"ers. Too bad I have twenty more pounds to carry than you. Not fat . . . just stout all over. Now if I could just find the right detergent for the washing machine to keep my pants waists from shrinking. I think Spridgets were designed especially for 5'8" folks. Once met a 4'2" midget wrestler who drove a big sixties Cadillac with a special seat riser and extensions on the pedals. Watching him get up into it was not that different than watching some people getting into some of those... MORE
This is the 69 I was given that had not been started for 22 years. I have been working on the engine and now have it running but the clutch master and slave need to be rebuilt and it also looks like the clutch needs work but it is engaged and I have been running the car in neutral and on blocks. I had started it before while in gear and on blocks with no problem in any of the gears. Today I tried that again in fourth. I had forgot to release the emergency brake and it tried... MORE
If it makes you feel better Bob I am closer to dust than you. I suppose I should get off my self righteous snit and bash Lucas like a good little Spridget owner. Today was a day when I think I took three giant steps backward. After working on the electrical system for awhile I did some adjusting on the engine and it was running better, sounding much better. Not having a way yet to disengage the clutch I have been working on the engine in neutral. I jacked up the rear wheels and started the engine in fourth.... MORE
