MAIN
Restoration
Previous Page | Next Page
well, one person has given me a starting point.but I need a few specifics.. My engine needs a re-ring(overhaul?) and my clutch is BAD, and I agree w/ the others on the MUST HAVE a 5 speed. I am not worried about the "value" of the car, as I never intend to sell it. I do however want a reliable daily driver (I just really love the body and styling) VERY reliable. This is myquestion: I am considering another engine, and tranny, and what rear axle would work best... Ive heard the chevy is a good engine..what about a... MORE
If you are after more relaxed cruising then changing the final drive ratio is the best way to achieve this with out - over stressing engine, over stressing your fuel bill and ending up deaf !! Consider swapping to a five speed conversion using a different make gearbox (loads of specialists out there), changing diff ratio or trying to find an overdrive box from a Triumph. 1st option is pricey but strong and refined, 2nd option is the most simple and cheap but limited in options, 3rd is not so pricey, is periodically correct but not so refined. If... MORE
Stanley When I rebuilt my 1500 I went .020 over flat top pistons standard pistons are dished, a new TSI 275-2 cam from TSI Imported Automotive, and milled the head .080 but I think you can go .100 without a problem, a Weber DGV, headers and a free flow exhaust. This will give you a compression ratio of about 9.5 to 1 up from 7.0. Much faster now but still takes a lot of RPMs to do 70 mph. But it gets there a lot faster and easier. Sounds great too!! Doug 77 Michigan Doug Pletcher 8695... MORE
Anything *can* be done, in fact I recently saw a Bugeye advertised for sale which had a small block chev! That said, I assume your '66 has a 1098 engine, so if it needs rebuilding, a swap for a 1275 would be a reasonable way to get a little more performance, and the 1275 could be modified to give 100+ HP. From there you could do a trans swap for a Datsun 5 speed. Lucas electrics aren't as bad as some say. Remember, after all, yours may be 36 years old, and who knows how good Nippondenso electrics will... MORE
I just bought a 66' midget, have changed all the fluids, all brake parts, hoses, and master/slave cylinders.So far, all is well. Its been a month or so of ownership, and I know I need a clutch replacement, and the engine needs to be re-ringed. The carbs were just rebuilt(SUs),and of course the common Lucas issues(lol). I have considered keping it all original, however, I think I have changed my mind. I am considering to go with a modern distributor, a newer engine perhaps, and new wiring/guages(not Lucas!) If anyone knows anything about this, has attempted it, or know... MORE
Another suggestion for a 1500cc Midget. The European 1500 cars had dual SU carbs, minimal emission control mods, and, I think, higher compression and hotter cam. These parts might be available good used from a source in England, and maybe someone who posts here from the UK could help in locating same. My neighbor has a rubber bumper car which he bought new in Europe, and it will run rings around my 1275, something the US spec 1500s can't do. "tloutrec" 8683... MORE
I have some very interesting photos of the 2 "privateer" MG/Lolas run at Sebring. The 37 car that won the class spent part of the week with the factory LeMans nose on it. One of the pit crew members told me the factory wouldnt let them run it that way in the race. The 11 car which qualified 3rd overall and ended up 5th in class had 2 factory crew members on the team for the weekend. When the gearbox took a dump a very interested Lola bigshot made his way into the pits to find out exactly what... MORE
The '76 MG Midget I am fixing up was purchased 2 years ago, driven on 3 very short drives, and then died when I parked it to start the body work. Fast forward to present day and the stock 1500 is being transformed to one with Weber downdraft, headers, monza free flow exhaust system, fireball electronic ignition and sport coil, not to mention a completely rebuild engine, master cylinders, suspension, etc.... Prior to purchasing this vehicle, I had never driven one... and I doubt if I put a total of 10 miles on it after I bought it, before... MORE
FWIW, when I did the trip for Texas Healey Roundup several years back, I di d a complete tuneup. I used Genuine LUCAS points and condenser (made in Ind ia with the Royal Enfield Motorcycle) and within 700 miles, the condensor w as toasted. I now use Standard and Blue Streak parts in my ignition and hav e no trouble to report yet.......... Brad "Brad Fornal" 8663... MORE
The rear uses lever shocks unless someone coverted it to tube shocks. Even then, I think you'll have difficulty finding replacements. Your best bet is to contact Peter C. at World Wide Auto Parts. He has the best rebuilt lever shocks in the country. nosimport@... 800 362-1025 Peter Caldwell World Wide Auto Parts 2517 Seiferth Rd., Madison, WI 53716 (800) 362-1025 Fax (608) 223-9403 If you want to know why, see http://www.gerardsgarage.com/ GarageContent/Tech/Shox.htm Gerard "gerardchateau" 8632... MORE
Hi Mike Its difficult to say - I rebuild it every year and I suppose I might do 4-500 miles in a season? That doesn't sound too good but you have to bear in mind that race engines spend most of their lives over 5000rpm while road engines rarely go over 5000rpm. Revs equals wear. I replace the bearings, piston rings, oil pump, timing chain and big end bolts at every re-build. I check things like the cam and followers for damage or wear. It is a good idea to reseat the valves by lapping in with fine paste.... MORE
Off to get my tracking checked tomorrow after a steering boot change. I seem to remember the last time I had it done the fact the I had it as a measurement (0-3mm) insteead of an angle threw them. Does anyone know what the angle is? While we're on the subject does anyone have any thoughts as to whether this is ideal on a more or less standard setup? Jeremy "Jeremy Cogman" 8614... MORE
Rust Free '79 Midget CHEAP ! complete car except motor , spindles and ring & pinion - very nice . $50.00 includes title Here's your chance to get a perfect rust free So.California car for super cheap ! it will be _crushed_ for scrap if _you_ don't save it . Call after 4:00 P.M. PST please . THANK YOU Contact: Nate Email: vwnate1@... Tel: (626) 791~5398 Location: Sunny Southern California USA Dated: 11/03/2002 "Ian & Cathy" 8610... MORE
OK Mike you got me... Anyone fancy a ride in a Midget that out-handles out-brakes and out- accelerates a Subaru Impreza Turbo P1 (based on the evidence of a track day at Bruntingthorpe last Saturday)? On a couple of laps I was showing 8300rpm in top on the straight (3.9 diff - 134mph...) Trouble is though, if I drive to London I will have to rebuild the engine before I go home... J "jamesbilsland" 8603... MORE
Sorry I made a mistake. The size of the lug on the wheel is a 3/8"X24. Atleast the standard size is. I just took one off of my midget and found that out. The studs on your midget may have been replaced due to the pewvious owner wanting to use the style of rims and lug nuts you are looking for. They are prone to seizing up and causing the studs to snap when one tries to remove them. You may want to invest in an inexpensive set of dial calipers, a TPI Guage (Threads per inch) and check... MORE
"London can be magical on a Sunday morning" Exactly!! Your's is a beautiful city and I felt the same way about Manhattan back in my youth. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. I remember Saturday night dates that turned into Sunday mornings in Central Park tossing a football or frisbee around; then a sprint across town to Friday's on the East side for breakfast (picking up a New York Times on the way for "proper" reading material), the sound of the MGA's Abarth echoing against the quiet city; magical? Yeah, it was!! (Bob Shlafer, doing his thing... MORE
Hi, I've just re-started my restoration project on a 72 RWA . One of the reasons for the break in the restoration was as follows. Engine out of car. Sump plug unscrewed. Out flows a stream of antifreeze followed by oil. A bit unexpected !! :-( Both fluids were clean i.e. not mixed in any way, there was no rust in the water.. The previous owner had left the car for about 5 years but assured me that the engine was good. Could the water and oil got to gether in the sump when removing the engine from the... MORE
Hello all! Entries are open for the 2002 Targa Florio - the site of a number of DHMC forays with Sprites and also BMC factory efforts with Midgets. So, while I'd love to take my car across and run this event, the shipping costs to/from Australia (not to mention the 6 months the car will be away!), make this an unattractive option. So I was thinking that maybe a co-drive in a UK/European spridget would be most satisfactory!!! Seriously, if the idea of running in the modern revival of the famous Targa Florio is of interest, and you have... MORE
Gerard That is a good option. I like the A series engine better anyway. Just rebuilt the 1500 so don't want to changes out yet. Maybe down the line I will sell the built up 1500 and put in a 1275 with 5 speed. Remains to be seen. As far as the snow I hope it's the last of it for this year need to get on with things. On the brighter there have been years when we have put the boat in the water in March but not this year. Doug 77 Michigan Doug Pletcher 8556... MORE
If you can turn it with pliers, you'll find that if you can find a piece of plastic tube with the right diameter you can shove that onto the shaft and if it's tight enough then turn the shaft with the tube. My midget's had this mod for 15 years, since I first got it and the trip didn't work. "graham2306" 8532... MORE
Thank you Jeremy and Ted for your help. I'll check out the info on the "silly" fluid but whatever it says I'm still going to use it. I have heard that it tends to feel soft on the pedal, but so far I have my clutch finished [yesterday] and it works great. I would have the brakes bleed by now but I can only find one bleeder screw in the box of parts. and yes some fluid spilled on the paint but it just wiped off and no harm to the paint job that cost so much. so far... MORE
I had one pair rebulit by a machine shop which pressed out the pins, bored the door halves, pressed bronze bushings into the door halves and installed new pins. Elegant, but expensive. The second pair I rebuilt via home blacksmith engineering. I pressed out the pin, then drilled the door half and one ear of the body half to 5/16". The other ear of the body half I tapped 5/16" thread. Then assembled with a 5/16" bolt, marked the bolt, removed it and cut the threaded and head ends so they would be flush when installed, then cut a... MORE
Ian, Paul Asgeirsson of Portland Oregon runs a business called Morriservice. He makes a very well made kit that uses a Datsun 210 (4 or 5 speed) to fit Spridgets and Morris Minors. I have the kit in my '72 Midget and I love it. The best part is the Datsun does not require chassis mods, while the Seirra box does. The Datsun coversion is considerably less expensive too. Rivergate makes a kit for the Datsun too, but I prefer Paul's. His customer support is great too. You can reach Paul at PAsgeirsson@... . Tell him I sent you.... MORE
Chris; I think David Vizard's book has a section on valve sizing. As I remember it, the valves are definitely the bottlekneck in the breathing system, and so there's really no such thing as a valve which is too big. Ports which are too big will slow down the charge, but not valves. Because the intake charge is only moved by atmospheric pressure, (whereas the exhaust charge is moved by a bloody great big piston) it works out that you'll get more gains by enlarging the inlet valve more than the exhaust valve, especially in a cylinder head which... MORE
On browsing my factory workshop manual (spot the contractor between jobs) I find the normal wiper motor current is 2.3 to 3.1 amps. Jeremy "Jeremy Cogman" 8393... MORE
