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I recently bought a Midget, and as it is my first classic (in fact my first car ever!), I would like some advise. The first project has been the removal of all carpets and interior trim, removing old paint and rust, rust-proofing and painting it (a quite nasty job when it comes to the footwell-panels). Before fitting the carpets in again, I would like to know, if there are jobs that are done easier with the carpets out? I also consider waxoyling the car. Which places on the car should I pay special attention? Mikkel Crone London "mikkelcrone" 6396... MORE
Reply to jamesbilsland I have installed the Mini Mania real oil seal kit modification which was suppose to stop it from ever leaking again. Well they didn't test it on my car, did they!!! Rick Las Vegas, Nevada acostahr@... "Hugh Acosta" 6401... MORE
Rick, From what you said it sure seems that you are getting a lot of pressure in the crankcase. A compression check may not reveal the problem, I suffered from excessive blow-by before my first rebuild, the rings on an A series engine can move a lot, vibrate is the word the mechanic used. I would have doubted him but he built a mini that used to run against big v-8s on a local oval and WIN! I did a careful rebuild and the problem went a way. I believe that there is something wrong with the rings, not... MORE
Stuart/Rick There should be no problem with oil leaks on a 1275 running 50 at tickover and 60 at speed (which is the oil pressure I'd like to see on a rebuilt A Series). In fact on my race engines I run O/P higher than that without any leaks. If you have a problem its (probably) due to an incorrectly fitted rear oil seal (i.e. the scroll). The normal advice is not to disturb them if you're stripping an engine... Stuart - I would be concerned about running a new engine on such a low oil pressure... James "jamesbilsland"... MORE
Rick Sorry if this has been asked before (I haven't been keeping up with your thread recently) but when you rebuilt your engine did you remove and replace the 'half moon' rear oil seal that is bolted onto the back of the engine block with 3 1/4" bolts? If you did, did you remember to fit the paper gasket and how did you refit it? Regards James "jamesbilsland" 6390... MORE
I thought this is so damn close to the truth, I had to share this with everyone. For you ladies on the list, I hope this clears things up.................... Brad All "real men" answer "C" to all of these questions. Knowing this, women will have come far in understanding men and enriching their own lives if they carefully review the "C" answers. 1. Alien beings from a highly advanced society visit the Earth, and you are the first human they encounter. As a token of intergalactic friendship, they present you with a small but incredibly sophisticated device that is... MORE
According to Horler, the chassis number on the shock mount was introduced in 1967- Horler is, apparently, somewhat incorrect here since Dan's '64 has the chassis number there. My '61 has only the usual chassis number plates- right hand door pillar and left 'chassis' rail in the engine commpartment. The chassis number is not stamped directly onto the body anywhere. (The body has been 'dipped' to remove all paint and underseal, so I'm 100% certain the number isnt there...) HTH G "Grant Bowyer" 6368... MORE
I am being offered a newly rebuilt box which has "only" been used for racing.Any comments on what to look for,value etc.would be most welcome.I would be using it in a road car with 90-100BHP. Steve, 72midget "Steve Cowling" 6374... MORE
Hey list, who is the guy that has the correct stamps to mark new VIN plates for restoration? Of course I cannot find it in my saved messages. Robert Houston "The last thing that I want to do is to launch a 10 million dollar missile at a 10 dollar tent and hit a camel in the ass." -George W. Bush rbhouston@... 6356... MORE
Hi Stephen The holes are threaded and should be in the underside of the end of the two chassis legs in front if the suspension cross member. I have the same problem on my 66 Sprite, I think mine may have been repaired and since the car was not fitted with an Anti roll bar (sway bar) the repairer did not bother to put them in. Since the Anti roll bar was an option (not standard equipment) there may not have been holes in it originally. New repair sections which are intended to replace the chassis leg forward of... MORE
Michael; WOF? You in NZ then? Or do other countries have WOFs too? (Oz?) to answer your questions- 1- Significant oil leaks is anything which leaves a puddle more than a foot wide overnight. They all leak, its the way they are, and leaks are the least of your worries. 2- Dont worry about it. Tie rod ends and wheel bearings can be changed in a matter of hours, and cost only a couple of hundred dollars. More important is wear in the kingpins- wobble the wheel as if testing for wheel bearings, but look for movement between the... MORE
James; Potential problems would be rust, rust, and, err, rust. Oh and maybe the synchros in the gearbox. Frogs and Spridgets rust in the sills, the A-pillars, the rear bulkhead/suspension mounts, and the rear valence. Just like a Mini, in fact... The rear bulkhead of a Frogeye is expensive to repair- especially the area where the springs are bolted in. If you find a frog with rust in the rear bulkhead, just walk away. The sills are easy repairs- chop the old ones off and weld the new ones on. However, rusty sills probably indicate rust somewhere else, so... MORE
Hello everyone Now this might sound a little silly but I have question about exhaust. I would like to make my 1971 MG Midget sound better. I would like to have that sporty sound. I am running right now the eagle stainless steel exhaust. Is there a way to modify this to make a more raspier sound. I am still using the stock header, that is the only thing that is original to the exhaust. Thanks all Jason Gross 1971 MG Midget 1275 "Jason Gross" 6336... MORE
Hi Grant, Thanks alot for your very detailed reply, it is very useful. The car is not warrantable with the A pillar damage, in fact the rust is so bad in the A pillar that it is possible to push your finger through it. Apart from that there is little to no rust, e.g under the carpets there is no rust, etc. The engine is apparently in relatively good condition although it releases blue smoke at high revs. When we replied we said we would only consider it for a considerable drop in price, we should hear back tomorrow.... MORE
Ya know, Rick- There is no way you should be thinking along these lines to handle an oil leak; methinks we are trying to "treat a symptom" rather than trace "the cause" ("mechanical" in nature). In other words, there are oil leaks and there are OIL LEAKS!! Simply "venting" the engine to atmosphere through the flame arrester (timing cover) and valve cover (takeoff) should handle the stock motor in normal driving. Adding an additional 1" tube to a fabricated fitting covering the old mechancal fuel pump takeoff should suffice for the street tuned "performance" motor in terms of crankcase... MORE
How much is a 1967 MG Midget Hardtop worth? It is in very good condition with only a little spot where the paint has cracked. Please email me at v_traves@... with answers. I appreciate it. v_traves3@... 6317... MORE
jim, One of the books, if you can find it , is by Terry Horler, "The Original SPrite & Midget". As far as what to look out for , go to www.ahbugeye.com , go to the gallery and take a look at the car with the 54 pics,. Its mine, the first one is what she looked like the day I bought her the rest are what I found after. I should have her back by Christmas this year closing in on 3 years in restoration. Best of luck Bob 60 AN5 Tampa, FL MTGBRKR1@... 6319... MORE
Ok. I now have the engine out and am cleaning and re-installing the Mini Mania real seal modification. As it kept leaking even after installing it, I have an idea and would like some opinions. This time my plan is to drill a hole in the bottom of the lower half of the aluminum ring and install a 3/16 inch diameter tube which I will run out the side of the tranny housing. This tube will be run to the mechanical fuel pump which is not used on this engine as it uses an electric one. I will then... MORE
Bill, HUN is not a mistake. It is the correcty prefix from the LH DOOR plate, if it's still there. Door plates were put on in the factory that built the bodies. The RH door plate can be used to track you original chassis number, but you say you don't have it. As others have mentioned the chassis number is on the RH shock mount and also on the RH floorboard, just forward of the frame cross piece. I'm not sure what year they started this, but I know at least by 1968. Gerard pixelsmith@... 6303... MORE
Just a bit of a warning - I received an email from a member of this group with a virus attached to it today. If anyone else gets an attachment with an .scr or a .pif extension then delete it without opening the attachment. It's worth disabling the preview pane if you're using Outlook as well as if you're not up to date with your patches from Microsoft then the virus will run without you opening it. Standard practice I know but as the mail came from a member of this list in reply to a post I'd made... MORE
As we all know, eBay is ripe with Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware). I found out the hard way, to the tune of $25.76 plus S&H, that BritCarSource does not sell genuine Lucas Fault Manuals, but instead they sell photocopies. The photo on the auction has color and looks like a softcover book similar to a Haynes. When I asked him if it was a photocopy, before I bid, he led me to believe it was a softcover book. Ok, so a photocopy is technically a softcover, but not a $28 softcover. I was offered a refund but... MORE
The weather stopped me from working on the Midget today so for now I just want to let everyone know about all the parts I have. If anyone wants anything, just pay for the shipping and it's yours. I have pictures posted in the image/picture section or if you want more information and detailed pics, let me know and I will send them to you. One Each Radiator Fan One Each Distributor (Less Key) One Pair Bonnet Hinges One Each Radio Console (Just the case) Intake Manifold With Carbs (1 1/4 inch dia) One Each Stromberg Carb Two Each... MORE
I am planning to covert to disc brakes on the front of my bugeye. Can anyone tell me which master cylinder to use? I'm looking for something that fits with minimal modifications. Thanks oldcoventrian@... 6149... MORE
Hello all, Since last week Ive lifted the engine complete with gearbox. This last week ive opened up the engine (and cried like a baby) Ive decided to have the cylinders bored and honed (too worn out for another option) and the rebuilder will place the pistons with crank. From from then on Im on my own with regard to how I rebuild the engine. I posted a query sometime ago about a fast road engine, but the job of shipping the engine to England and back and the fact that I dont get my fingernails dirty have let... MORE
Hello ALL I have a chance to pick up a 1971 MGB GT that the owner says is in a good restore state.($900.00) What are some common things to look for? Thanks Jason 1971 MG Midget "Jason Gross" 6103... MORE
