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Hi All, I have two requests for help, one basic - the other related to tools. The basic question is: I have stripped the car and will have re-painted the body soon. In terms of mechanical parts, is there an order of rebuild that I should be guided by. What do i put back first? My guess would be : Brake pipes, wiring harness, fuel tank, rear suspension/brakes, front suspension/brakes, engine/gearbox, ancillary electricals (heater, wipers), dash, trim, then seats. Or doesn't it matter much? Secondly, I am going to buy a sander. Is a random orbit sander worth the... MORE
There you have it, toyperson! As can be seen from replies from fellow listers, there are so many variables that "normal" encompasses an arc about 5 nautical miles wide!! The guys in Jersey, NY, LA and London or engulfed in metro traffic situations get a helluva lot of excercise driving a stick shift!! They have many, many more shifts per mile than a guy driving the Blue Ridge mountains and similiar areas. And it is "tougher" on the mechanicals as you DO have to keep up with traffic (0-60 "sprints") or you DO become an "obstruction" to all in... MORE
Hi Adam All this is a matter of opinion and I am not sure if you are looking for a Midget rather than a Sprite or either. The truth is that the Midget is a copy of the Sprite, the first car being the MK 1 Sprite (frogeye) designed by Healey using Austin mechanicals. All the cars built since the frogeye use basically the same body and floor pan but with cosmetic exterior modifications. Most of the modifications to the car were driven by legislation or an attempt to keep up with the competition and maintain market share and... MORE
Brad: So much of this depends on driving style that I wouldn't hazard a guess as to what might be "normal". I think the carbon-graphite "clutchi" probably get less as this seems to be the first clutch part to wear out. I have used upgraded "rollers" for years and these clutchi I have gotten many, many miles out of. An example would be my old Vizard tuned 1300+ 11.0-1 motor that powered my old '74 RWA Midget. Motor turned out about 90 at the rear wheels (dynoed). Using an "upgraded" roller throw-out I put 80K on this motor without... MORE
I have a Mk1 (1961) & a Mk3 (1970). Each has it's own characteristics. But the Mk 3, with a 1275 engine, is the sportier of the two. The Mk1 is more basic, and needs to be treated with a little more tenderness and respect. It won't be pushed, whereas the Mk3 will. The Mk3 is also sturdier, and has lots more power, especially getting up hills, and is easier to manoeuvre on tight bends. It depends on what you are looking for in a car as to which model you choose. Sometimes you are limited by what's available,... MORE
Sorry for previous empty mail !! Trying to remember the name of the 'list recommended' guy in the midlands for A Series tune ups on rolling road? Aldon have one but I don't think it was them ? Thanks in advance (don't want to go to Le Mans with a flat spot do I !!!) Mike M North London mike643mnp@... 10942... MORE
Can anyone recommend a decent Midget specialist around Southampton area in UK?? I am looking to check for a clean bill of health and then would like a god pont of reference for various suspension upgrades, engine & brake modifications that I am planning. Any thoughts gratefully received, Joe West "jaydubbleyah" 10930... MORE
Hi Old. The Ribcase gearbox will bolt up to any of the three early engines. So go with the 948 clutch for the 948 engine. Mike 63 MkII Sprite kna331@... 10937... MORE
If everything else is tight, including the two bolts attaching the tie rod assembly to the swile axle, I'd guess the rod end is bad. schicmg@... 10936... MORE
Hello all. I'm currently looking to buy a Midget and need a bit of help in my understanding of the technical differences between model years and the pros and cons of the different years. The car will be a sporting weekend driver and I plan to do all the work on it myself. 1098cc vs 1275cc? Generator vs Alternator? Which years can provide the "best" compromise between performance and simplicity of mechanics. If you had it to do over again which year would you get? Thanks for your reponses. Adam. "adamwales" 10924... MORE
Hi, Any one know what the original colours of the engine bay and front chassis rails (an cross member)were? Body colour or black? Thanks Listers Chris South Wales, UK '58 Frogeye - no moving parts attached, but not much rust any more and painted inside! "howes" 10909... MORE
Sorry for the delayed reply. I have been very busy with and engine swap project and just haven't had time to keep up with the bulk of mail. I would even have looked at this had you not included my name in the subject line. Now to the answer... I believe you are correct if you are retaining the 948 flywheel. It is possible (and preferable) to use a 1275 clutch, but I thing it requires having a 1275 flywheel adapted for use on the 948. I use a 1275 cltuch on the one 948 I have but I... MORE
Hi, Sorry if this has been asked a thousand times but it is time to get a 68 midget back on the road, unfortunatly it has sat outside for the last 5 years and is now suffering from the tin worm, After a lot of pondering we are going to use a heritage shell as that will mean no chance of rust appearing a couple of years down the line and will be cheaper as I hate bodywork and all the quotes we have had for it to be done are extortionate. I just wondered if anyone has any... MORE
Maybe this had been asked before, but I don=B4t remember answer, so going a gain: Is there any way to know the original colour my midget was the day it left the factory?? Jorge =B473 Midget RWA 1275 "gaucho" land "Jorge Dimitrakis" 10871... MORE
Reminds me of the occasion late one night with someone hard on my tail when, on exiting a roundabout (at high speed of course) and flooring the throttle, the engine died on me. A fairly long flame shot out of the exhaust, lit up the car and the worried face of the guy behind as I watched in my rear view mirror in case he hadn't twigged I was in a spot of bother and rammed me up the backside! I needn't have worried as I think it might have been obvious. It turned out the distributor had jumped... MORE
I believe, but am not certain as I have not done it myself, that you will have to retain the 948 clutch assy. Perhaps Gerard can confirm this... "tloutrec" 10814... MORE
I took the advice from ED in SD and checked the pin where the pedal attaches to the master cylinder even though I replaced it last June. Guess what, this is where my problem was. The pin was of soft metal and had sheared off on one side and was just about to snap on the other. The pedal was moving almost half way to the floor before pushing the shaft in the master clutch cylinder. After cleaning up the damaged holes and bushing them, I put a bolt (with a shank) in it and now she shifts better... MORE
Hello- I am hoping someone knows of a site that has info relating engine serial number to specific year model...the sites I have found just give a range of years. I have a 1098 and a 1275 (both from Sprites) I need to ID for a Lotus Seven replica I am building as the year model determines what smog standards I will have to meet when I register it. Bill C. "dean99_1999" 10765... MORE
At Last, another Mk 1 Midget!! My Poppy was built in December 1961, which make her just over 40 years old. Still has the original body (with very little repair work done) and engine (with botton end rebuilt) Runs a treat, but has today gone to the car hospital to try and have the exhaust put right. Aparently, they don't make them any more, so one has to be specially made. Keep your fingers crossed for her!! Margaret South Lincolnshire (UK) mmbrock88@... 10781... MORE
American "Eaglet", Jim. We fly the turboprops and less than 70 seat "hot rod" regional jets. We don't make the big bucks at this "level" but we have a lot of fun flying airplanes!! Who did you work for that had these great post and WW2 airplanes?!! Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 10749... MORE
I am currentl tracking down a lead on a 1975 MG midget. I am going to use it as a donor car for my other project, a 1958 Bugeye. Thought maybe I could use the front brakes, engine, tranny, and whatever else may fit. Can anyone provide me with any information about the interchangability of this later year car with my Bugeye? Thought if the car was in good enough shape may just save it for my next project or try to part it out for others looking for parts. Is that a popular year of that car? Is... MORE
Agreed - the Alpine had the Rootes 1725cc inline 4 engine. The Tiger had the V8. Tiger was canned when Rootes was bought by Chrysler. J "jamesbilsland" 10733... MORE
Allen, I now have a happy running Mk 1 Midget with a new rear hub and bearing, it all went well including bleeding the brakes as indicated. The hub that I took of had taken a beating, the splines that lock the wheel studs in has all worn away on 2 studs and were pretty gone on a third. Does anyone have any experience of wire wheel coversions? This is the type that goes on to a standard axle, the centre lock hubs bolt on like a steel wheel, then a specially offset (took a while to work that... MORE
I got a call today that a friend found a Sunbeam for sale locally. It has b een sitting outside and thus the interior is rotted, the body is straight b ut has some rust, and the engine is there but doesn't run. It is $1000, and I don't know if that is a good price or not for one of these, but I though t I would tell you all just in case it was. Email me for contact numbers if interested. Brad "Brad Fornal" 10727... MORE
Dear listers, Last week, I mentioned a catalogue that had a Monty Python articulated action figure listed. I loved all the STUFF in the catalogue and figured there are enough "twisted" minds on the list that might also enjoy it. I have no interest in it (Usual disclaimers). It is called, "Things you Never Knew Existed.....And other items you can't possible live without." Here is a short list of some of the things listed. Magnetic Flames to put on the fender of your LBC for a special impact that come off. Also works well on family station wagons. A... MORE
