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Now that you mention that the engine is 'old', here's what I did with similar symptoms. Firstly I checked ALL the wiring, twice! - didn't help Then I re-adjusted the timing statically (statickly? staticly? - with the engine not running)- didn't help either. Then I adjusted the timing with a stroboscope - I noticed that I couldn't adjust accurately, It seemed as if the ignition 'floated' from too retarded to too advanced. of course this didn't help either, but I narrowed the problem down to 'engine trouble' I solved the problem temporarily by adjusting the timing 'on the fly'... MORE


interesting comparison ! Jayne Mansfield and a Tellytubby. Thats hard to visualise first thing in the morning ! Jim Lodder 1974 RWA almost rebuilt (honest) 1983 Vauxhall Astra (boring) 1981 Volvo estate (bl**dy boring) Jim Lodder 11145... MORE


The Haynes manual is very good as is the factory manual. Factory manuals come up quite often on ebay for not much money. Where are you Virginia, in the US the Robert Bentley Manual is also spoken of very highly but I've never seen it myself. It is available in the UK, I think I've seen it in Foyles. Water pump change is not difficult only fiddly insofar as you have to remove the radiator to get access. Hardest part is probably relocating the four rad mounting bolts which requires a bit of patience. Jeremy '63 Sprite Hampshire "Jeremy... MORE


Tim Summers: Hey.....just for the hell of it....considering vintage of car and assuming you don't find anything obvious like a bad plug, etc., change the ground strap between body and engine and clean that ground up at the battery also.....just, maybe!! Yeah...the 1098 that came with my Frog ran so well, we changed it's bearings (I got the "cc"), oiled it and tyvecked it (a small hole or two for some breathing) as a "standby" motor. Thing has 60K on it and runs like a Swiss watch!! Let us know what you find, "if and when". Good luck! Cap'n.... MORE


Which manual do any of you recommend for restoration? I need to put a new water pump on my 65 midget and would like to know which book is the best to use. Thanks Virginia "Virginia Leonard" 11092... MORE


I've logged only about 50 miles since I rebuilt the Sprite, I noticed after a nice sustained 3,500 rpms for about 10 minutes, the engine went"pffftt" loss of power for a second and snapped right back to normal. The motor als o has a slight stutter at idle. 1098cc, twin SU2s, conventional ignition. A ny ideas where to begin? TimS '63 Sprite MkII Detroit Where do you live? Motor City What kind of beer do you like? Black-n-Tan (Guinness/Bass) Got dogs or cats? Cat Escher Married or happy? Happily not married Own any firearms? Signal flare gun What kind... MORE


I'm just at the right point to make the decision. Is the ball-bearing type physically interchangeable with the carbon type, or do you have do do some other mod to get it to fit? Tony P. "anthony pooley" 11074... MORE


Hi I just found this Group Today.... First let me start off by saying I love MG's, (Midgets especailly) The First car I drove was my Dad's '72 1275cc. I had to get it back into Driving shape when I turned 16, but it was well worth it.. After putting some work into it, I decided to buy one of my own, since my Dad's would always be my Dad's no matter what I did to it. I ended up buying a BRG 79 1500cc, Loved that one too, but it had been a beach car and I never... MORE


I sort of took my 72 apart in the reverse order to that you list below. I am going to rebuild in roughly the order you list. I also would be interested in what any other spridgeteer has done, and if they would have done it differently if they 'only knew then what they know now' ;o) Regards Alan "alan.east-jones" 11028... MORE


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


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


Dear Listers I am just finishing a protracted (22 years) restoration of a Sprite 2. I am about to reassemble the dash panel and I cannot find a picture that identifies the switch, light and instrument positions. Can anyone help me? I have good pics of Sprite 1 dash but it seems quite different! Many thanks Nigel Furness PS It may interest some of you to know that during the dash renovation I discovered the correct Rexine material is stocked by J. Ratchford of Stockport. Much better than the horrible stretchy vinyl sold at rallies etc. "nigelrbfurness" 10959... 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


I've seen it done. Major modifications required, including cutting the front rails. The one I'm familiar with uses a Ford rear axle and much larger brakes. BB, you out there to tell our friend how fun your Nasty Frog is to drive? schicmg@... 10935... MORE


Mine did that And.... I rebuilt the front end. Bob 60 AN5 Tampa MTGBRKR1@... 10932... MORE


According to Mr Horlers book the car top to bottom was painted the body color. Bob 60 AN5 Tampa, FL MTGBRKR1@... 10931... MORE


I would like to find a Spriget that runs but needs body work. Any year up to the first round rear arch, I think '72. I have a Sq. rear wheel arch rear clip. Wrecked, rust bucket, but running. I live in Hilton Head, SC and my son lives in Cincinnati, Ohio...Anywhere close or in-between. Thanks Bill French '59 Bugeye frenchww@... 10927... MORE


my rwa midget was painted black by a PO but I believe , and costs at the factory dictate, that it would have been body colour originally. Regards Alan "alan.east-jones" 10910... 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


Couple of points Shaun. Pricing seems a bit of a cartel - probably fixed by BMH. All suppliers seem to be asking very close to 2500, but have various sweeteners - eg MGOC give 6-months' 0% finance (but payable by 6 monthly instalments) and 10% off all MGOC purchases for a year + free delivery. MGBHive (where mine is coming from) want 2500, with free delivery and 100-worth of free stuff. You cannot order direct from BMH. Choose your prepper / painter carefully - definitely worth shopping around. Have they done Heritage shells before? Are they going to take... 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


Jorge , The old MG records are kept at Gaydon , which is the British Leyland herita ge car museum complex (Now owned by Ford, I think), It's 10 miles from wher e I live. You can buy a heritage certificate from them which will tell you when the car was made, when it was despatched, the colour of paint and inte rior trim etc. I think that all you need is the chassis Nr. (VIN Nr.) costs about =A325 fo r a certificate I think. This is to pay a historian/ record keeper employed by the museum to... 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


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


Bill- Sounds like you'll need some British Heritage help.... http://www.heritage.org.uk/archive/archive.htm Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 10770... MORE