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I am assuming by the hum of the running engine through the factory radio. "Brad Fornal" 18810... MORE
as far as I can gather from various parts lists, the 9/16" anti roll bar was standard equipment for both late 1275s and 1500s. David "David Jacobs" 18774... MORE
Alex I understand you have a Moss out there? I have their UK parts catalogue here that lists complete anti-roll bar (sway bar) kits as follows: Anti-Roll Bar Kit - Standard (9/16") Part no. AJJ3314 70.50 GBP, approx 105.75 USD Anti-Roll Bar Kit - Fast Road (5/8") Part no. AJJ3357 70.50 GBP, approx 105.75 USD Anti-Roll Bar Kit - Race (11/16") Part no. AJJ3358 76.38 GBP, approx 114.57 USD They also do roll bars alone, without the fitting kit which include the 3/4" and 7/8" diameter competition bars. Their performance section explains rolls bars as follows: 'It is important... MORE
No, no... Long is good in this case because it provides all the info required. I get the picture. The strap is to prevent the axle from getting too far from the body in case you do hit a "hole" in the road at an imprudently high speed and bearing this and the other info in your post in mind, I can see exactly how removing these accounted for better traction on the inside rear tire...makes perfect sense, now. I got my start in autocrossing the same way at the age of 17 Fun days, for sure. That would've... MORE
Alex Anti-roll bars (sway bar) became standard on home market (UK) MG Midgets from GAN5-138801, and Australian assembled Midgets. They were optional on all North American Midgets until GAN6-203341 (December 1975) when they became a standard fitment. It became a BMC optional extra fromJanuary 1964. However an anti-roll bar kit was available from the Donald Healey Motor Company Ltd from the Austin Healey Sprite Mk1. Nigel "amukdigiphoto " 18765... MORE
Alex That's not true. My 71 Midget (built 1970) had an anti-roll bar (sway bar) fitted as standard from new as an option - I know that because it's on my BMHT Certificate. . . . and the reason you have mounts on your chassis rails is as I said - they were available as an option. Nigel "amukdigiphoto " 18764... MORE
Off I went to Harbor Freight for the first time and returned to 22 posts. In my bag is a 40 piece tap and die set, on sale for $8.95 Should be fine for cleaning up existing threads. A 9 pc hollow punch set $5.99 for those gaskets I make now and then. Had a hard time locating the last item I had on my list, a " 2 PC Nut Splitter. Finally had to ask a sales clerk. Noticed a slight upturned twitch at the corner of her mouth when I asked her where the nut splitters were.... MORE
Well, Alex... "The bar"...... Your buddies are not wrong, really. But you will be trading off a bit of "quick" maneuverability for grip. As long as you don't go overboard in diameter, I think you will like the "calming" effect of the smaller front bar, though. The car does become far less "twitchy" and far more directionally stable. Bear in mind you can "add back" a little oversteer by adding pressure to the front tires. I run equal pressures all around these days which takes some of the understeer out of the 3/4 bar I am using. I am... MORE
Sway bars were not standard on all cars. My 65 Midget did not come with one , yet the mounts were there. Perhaps it was in 75 that they became standard issue. As high as those rubber nosed atrocities sit, they need 'em!! FLAME SUIT ON!!! Grin firmly planted!!! Brad "Brad Fornal" 18754... MORE
Alex... They do and they don't....it depends what you are looking for within the speed range you are tuning for. Putting a bar on the front will lend the car to understeer and remove back end "twitch" to that extent. That "twitch" or "oversteer" allows for the Spridget's "quick" change of direction capability at relatively low speeds (around town) along with a certain lack of directional stability at faster, limited access highway speeds. It's all relative. You will be trading manueverability ("tossabilty" or "turn in" aided by the stock set-up's tendency to "oversteer") for "grip" and increased directional stability,... MORE
"Tossability" Partly Bob, It would be the ability to change direction rapidly in time/distance and to be fair, within a speed range. Like Sopwith Camel or Fokker Triplane fighters of WW1. No one ever really knew how slow a Triplane really was. It simply outmaneuverd the faster Spads and SE5's who's pilots usually "lost" site of the slower DR1 who's pilot could then sneak off un-noticed should he chose to do so. If the less "tossable" more stable SE5 reacquired the slower "tripe" and came after him again, the "tripe" would do a "repeat"! WW2 Warhawks and Wildcats never... MORE
Rebound Strap... and rubber stops?? With the correct shocks (slightly stiff tube type on a mazda LSD), stock 1/4 elipt springs and pan-hard rod... we don't need no stinking rebound straps or rubber stops!! At least that's what my hopes are... when it hits the road of course, -Drew located "Drew Griffith " 18720... MORE
The following assumes a standard anti-roll bar from a later Spridget, not the Donald Healey Motor Co item, though they are broadly similar. Depending on how your front suspension has been rebuilt (what? it never has been??) the wishbones will probably have some mounting holes drilled in their front face; a triangular plate is bolted to the wishbone and the drop link is fastened to the 'spare' hole in this plate. If memory serves correctly, these links are handed, so you need to get them the right way round but it's pretty obvious. The other end of the drop... MORE
If it leaked only after you removed the brake drum, leave it alone, it will stop when you tighten the lug nuts again. If you've removed the axle for a peek, then you should replace the o-ring and paper gasket, and while you're at it, the hub seal too. and since you have to remove the bearing to replace the hub seal, may as well fit a new bearing too. They're cheap. Same old story - start out to change a light bulb and end up doing a three year ground-up restoration. "Jeffrey Holmes " 18709... MORE
I should know the answer to this. Is rust heavier than steel ? Regards Alan "Jones, Alan" 18694... MORE
My first car was a Bugeye Sprite, 48 HP that used equal parts of oil and gas. This car was bought in 1967. At the time I also started reading Road and Track. I read it for a few years and decided that their main market was the Richest of the rich in that the cars that they liked and recommended were $50,000-$500,000 at that time. You can imagine what the cars would be costing now. It was, and seems to still be a review of the cars of the rich and famous. Reviewing the Sprites and Midgets was... MORE
Fun to drive? FUN TO DRIVE? Damn. I'm almost speechless. Hell yes it's fun to drive. Here's an idea: As you restore your Midget, get it running first. Never mind making it look pretty. Then take it out and DRIVE IT. Then decide if it is worth restoring the body. I suspect you will. Steve 78 midget www.1978mgmidget.com Steven Michelsen 18655... MORE
Mickey D's for a coffee? That thing's more potent than the paint stripper we use. I hear it can be used as hydraulic fluid in these little cars in emergency situations too. Maybe you should put some in your gas tank for that extra go-go... Kim Yuchol 18663... MORE
When I did mine - it needed extensive work to all lower panels and floors - I replaced the cills and A posts before removing doors or much else so that I didn't distort the tub. Once these were done I completly stripped the shell. I could then roll it over onto a couple of old tyres, without help. With only the bodwork they dont weigh much and are easy enough for one person to move about. I then bolted a pair of pallet castors to the spring hangers (front ones for the rear springs). I could then trundle... MORE
Alright all, Last night made huge mistake.I read period Road and Track reviews of my (late model) Midget. To add insult to injury, the article was titled "Who would want one?" (!!!). As I bought my car in a non-running condition, I have yet to drive it. I am going to begin its restoration but the disparaging remarks in the article have me down. So: Are these little cars fun to drive? Was the article's tone simply a "context" problem (meaning the cars when new were *very* "old fashioned" and deserved of commensurate criticism)? So, anyone care to comment... MORE
yup, these are the diagrams from the factory manual. David "David Jacobs" 18627... MORE
I think quite a lot of the professional guys use gravity feed guns, but I have always found the ones with the paint resevoir underneath a lot easier to use. I'm no expert, but by getting the paint/thinners mix correct, I have always been able to achieve quite a good finish with cellulose, which is what I intend to use for the first re-spray of my Midget in nearly 37 years! Just my 2 peneth, for what it is worth, which is not a lot. Best results obtained with damp sheets spread over the garage floor to help lay... MORE
Same problem arises when you paint the hood or the trunk lid.....horizontal surface.......not t trick answer I assure you.........but now that I know you are gullible......LOL David A. Stevens Jr. Utilities Engineer II NYS Office Of General Services Sheridan Avenue Steam Plant 79 Sheridan Avenue Albany, NY 12210 "Stevens, David" 18604... MORE
In my estimation, they both have their advantages, primarily a positional thing. From what I can tell the gravity feed might be better for horizontal flat surfaces. This is a problem I had painting my girlfriend's son's car a couple years ago with a standard cup sprayer. Everything worked well until I tried to spray the roof, which meant that I had to tip the gun sot that the nozzle was in a vertical position. The problem arose when the cup became leass than 1/2 full, causing the pickup tube to emerge out of the paint supply. The gravity... MORE
Good point about the roof. But then if you were to paint the bottom, gravity fed gun would run into same problems... I'm far from being ready to paint the car, just doing my research so when/if my 67 is ready, I'd know what to do. Wait a minute, we Don't have a roof on our cars! Are you trying to trick me David????? Who told you that I was gullible? Kim Yuchol 18603... MORE
