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Jeremy Thanks, I have just fitted new bearings on my car but will have a look at this mod in the next few months... Out of interest does your dad remove and/or modify the spacer on the front when running Timken bearings? Regards James Bilsland Charing UK "James Bilsland" 1319... MORE
Hi Chaps, I'm putting MGOC bucket seats in my Arkley soon, lower, and more comfortable!! Therefore.........2 standard Midget MkIII 1972 seats, with head rests, looking for a good home, one in excellent condition, other with small tear in Vinyl, along a seam.........any offers? Paul. paul@... 1317... MORE
Mike Sounds like your piston rings are shot... 2 breathers should be sufficient assuming that the pipes are of a sufficiently large diameter (say over 3/4"). If you are using smaller pipe then you might require 3 breathers Don't plumb breathers in to the inlet if your CR is significantly higher than standard as the oil mist can be detremental to the octane rating of the fuel and detonation can result. You can plumb into the exhaust if you like (there is an illustration in the Vizard book) but you should be alright just using a catch tank (although... MORE
New toy on the way....so.... Mk 2 1961 Han 2977 Iris Blue All of the important original bits 1098 (10CC) with all the bits and rebuilt 1998 1275 box New tyres/brakes/body/trim/glass etc New wiring loom Ashley Fastback top with Laminated glass Reg'd YMW 543 Will respray before sale due to shoddy top-coat. New MOT Shorrocks JUST removed, but avail for extra. Spare engines, heads and brakes avail also. Cardiff or Bournemouth or JPEGs. 3100 or humorous offers! : ) 01446 795489 Rob Thomas PS New toy is triple Weber'd MGCGT rally car. "rob thomas" 1310... MORE
I have a 68 Austin Healey Sprite and I am trying to find out what type of engine will fit in place of the 1275cc original with the least amount of welding. I want to replace the engine and then use the car while I rebuild the 1275cc. the rebuild will probably take a year or two, and I want a reliable engine in the place of the 1275cc for the time being. Can anyone help with a few helpful hints or suggestions kraggironfist@... 1296... MORE
Chris I cannot recall ever seeing a 200mm section tyre, if it is indeed available it certainly is not common. What is wrong with the 185 section that your calculations bring up. Even this will probably require some bodywork modifications to allow it to fit. Regards Alan "Alan Kempster" 1287... MORE
and a Schneider cam (specs if you care; Intake: open 22.5 deg. Close 57.5 deg. Duration 260 deg. Lift 390 in. Exhaust: open 57.5 deg. Closes 22.5 deg. Duration 260 deg. Lift 390 in.) I had 1 1/4 SU carbs with out chokes and 3 inch velocity stacks. Distributor had a modified mechanical advance with a CD transistor ignition. So much for the hard stuff. I told my guy I wanted to make power between 5,000 and 8,000 rpm. I was running a 5.125:1 rear end gears out of a Morris Minor and 20.5 in diameter tires. He calculated... MORE
1960Bugeye Ground up resto 8 years ago rebuilt everything approx 8k since rebuild. Have photos on line but can'tend. car located in Pennsylvania. Cranberry Red On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being best car is3.5 to 4 Asking 7,000.00 mlacoco@... 1264... MORE
Paul (all) Well surprise surprise! I have been running it for over a year and while I haven't stripped the valves down to check I am sure they are fine. The idea is to keep the gasses hot to aid flow and increase the scavenging effect (flow = vacuum = more flow!) They start to slow down as they hit the manifold and the wrap postpones the slow down process The wrap would only cause heat soak if the exhaust and manifold is standard as its designed for a fast road/race system. Even then you would be unlucky to... MORE
My advice is to go with the later Spridget discs. I did the conversion using the front suspension parts from a late model Midget. Had the king pins and spindles rebuilt by Apple Hydraulics before I put it all together. The change to the dual master cylinder is not absolutely necessary but highly recommended. Good luck martin farber mjfpjf@... 1256... MORE
Wanted: Sensible, Impartial advice on brake set up for 'warmed up' Frogeye (approx 55-60 BHP). I am rebuilding a Frogeye with a warmed up 948cc engine and want to get the brakes right. Currently the car has standard drums which are probably not up to the job, should I change to larger A40 type drums or go to later Spridget discs? Have you done either of these conversions ? Also with the change to discs is the change to a 3/4" (rather than 7/8") dual master cylinder absolutely necessary? Thanks Trelawny Burt treb@... " "Trelawny Burt" 1251... MORE
Hi Guys I have an original steering wheel on my Sprite the only problem is that the PO has glued the healey badge into the centre of the horn push (don't ask me why). The glue has reacted with the paint on the rear of the badge and some of it has lifted. The car is a 66 MKIII Sprite. Has anyone tried to repaint one of these things and if so where do you get the chrome paint for the emblem details. Also what type of paint is safe on the plastic. Thanks Dave edave@... 1245... MORE
Jeremy Definitely a worthwhile modification. What bearings do you use? James Bilsland Charing UK "James Bilsland" 1238... MORE
Class A Modified Midgets (was Halfords now FADS series) run 10" wide wheels with 9" slick racing tyres front and rear. You have to be careful about checking the wheel bearings regularly and replace them every season (but then you have to do this on a 'roadgoing' spec race car too...) but the bearings seem to put up with the stick as do the stub axles, king pins and wishbones. You can imagine the increase in suspension load over a standard car - these cars lap within a couple of seconds of Formula Ford cars at most circuits... Obviously... MORE
Not actual direct advise Hutch but if you get really stuck Classic Restoration Services (in the middle of Sunderland) are pretty good on MG's - 0191 567 2500. Good luck AndyW Fenham Newcastle Dead 1500 "Andrew Worley @ Mi-King" 1224... MORE
Help! Entering the fourth season with my Bugeye and have decided that I really ought to have a top for it. I'm tired of living in fear of the rain. It has windshield wipers but no top. Might have done it sooner except I don't have a header rail. Moss, Victoria British, Mini-Mania, Roadster Factory don't have a listing for one. Does anybody out there have a header rail that they're willing to part with? Thanks in advance Martin Farber mjfpjf@... 1171... MORE
This is true on some modern FWD cars but not on the Spridget (e.g. how would the rear wheels locate??...) It is important however to use the correct taper nuts and also ensure that the stud holes in the rostyles are round and not elongated/oval... It is also a problem with steel disc wheels that they can fracture due to metal fatigue. this is why most 'standard' class race series specify alloy wheels (usually 5" KN Minators) for racing on... The only problem I can think of using Vauxhall Viva wheels (When did you last see a Viva BTW...)... MORE
Why is it that when you want a thread to break free, even with a hammer, spanner and WD40 you have difficulty, but when you absolutely do not want it to come undone, it does all on its own! With reference to brake failures 2 and 3, do you use Loctite on critical threads? If you don't then it could save your life next time. Roy Drake Aerospace Eng. james@... on 04/04/2001 09:55:29 Please respond to midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com @INET2@wtgw To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com @INET2@wtgw cc: Paper Mail: Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Brakes for racing *** WARNING *** This mail has originated outside your... MORE
Two posts on dual braking systems are right on. One of the best changes the auto industry ever made was the installation of dual brake systems. This was the very first modification that I made when I rebuilt my Bugeye. I cannabilized the system from a late model Midget. It required widening the footwell opening but that wasn't that hard. Bugeye has since undergone many modifications but this was the first and most important. mjfpjf@... 1138... MORE
War stories... Total brake failure, its happened to me 3 times... 1. Running down the back straight on the Silverstone International circuit at 7500 in top (3.9). Little did I know that the rear brakes were on fire and the seals in the rear cylinders had melted... Total brake failure meant that I cleared the gravel trap at the end of the straight and spun on the grass heading off down towards Stowe on the GP circuit... 2. Front Brake banjo worked loose (and yes I HAD checked it) coming into Chessons at Lydden Hill. Trying to run flat... MORE
I have found out that Rostyle wheels were made by Rubery Owens a manufacturer of automotive bits and pieces, hence R-O-styles. They were fitted to a range of cars in the 1970's including Ford cortina, VW beetle and some Vauxhall models. Those on my Midget are Vauxhall ones where the stud spacing is a direct fit on the midget. They are 5J13 mounting 165x13 tyres instead of 4.5J13 mounting 145x13 tyres. The thicker wheels and tyres necessitate 10mm spacers between the wheels and hubs so they clear everything. They have a 55mm hole in the middle which takes a... MORE
You have been informed correctly, however it is perfectly possible to run the 7/8 bore master cylinder on the disc brake set up, you will have to apply the pedal pressure slightly harder but it will work, you can also add a servo to the system, although I do not recommend this on the standard discs as the extra pressure can help induce brake fade due to the small brake discs being unable to dissipate the heat fast enough. Hope this helps Tim www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/ "Tim Fenna" 1099... MORE
Tim- When I rebuilt the 1275 engine in my Midget I used Form a gasket on the pan and rear seals mainly to hold them in place and provide a tighter seal. I have not tried Form a gasket on the valve cover & gasket. I will certainly consider it. Ted DSutteiii@... 1102... MORE
For small cables, I have found that after making sure that the bodywork to which you are to attach the earth cable is "shining brightly". You make a really good tight connection, with either bolt or self tapper, using as big a washer as you can realistically use, behind which is a good quality spring washer, and then paint the whole lot with a good helping of Hammerite, it is then sealed, hopefully for life!! Larger cables I use Lithium based grease and a good dollop to keep the area clean. Paul. BTW brazing should be ok the base... MORE
anyone have a picture of the steering arms attached to a non 1500 midget wheel hubs In the process of rebuilding mine, the arms got mixed up and as they are handed and angled, it would be nice to get them back on the correct sides, any help appreciated. put a couple of pics in the files part of my rebuild djay djay@... 1008... MORE
