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Can anyone recommend a shop in the Chicago area or western suburbs that does front end alignments for MG's? I have a '74 Midget that is need of an alignment. Thanks! Ted DSutteiii@... 9619... MORE
I have the front line kit for my car - alot more stable under braking. How would a lever arm shock control a 420 pound front spring ??? "Beckers" 9553... MORE
Hugh; A recent thread on the MGBBS discussed this idea. The concensus was that a threaded pin actually has more bearing surface area than an unthreaded pin, and so should last longer. It also holds the grease better, and it prevents the pin from moving sideways. To reduce the wear on your bushes, suggestions includeed fitting an extra zerk to the other side of the A-arm, grinding a small chamfer on the edges of the grease channel (so it doesn't act like a thread cutter) and greasing more regularly. HTH growler "Grant Bowyer" 9542... MORE
Shockbrakers! Woohoo! Love it! Ahem. Sorry, I get excited by neat words. I know at least 5 people who have the frontline conversion, and they all love it. I have driven cars with the Frontline kit and the handling is superb. The rear suspension of a Sprite is already fairly good- if you were to uprate it, you should fit a Panhard rod, 20% SOFTER springs (or remove 3 leaves from your existing spring-packs) and a Frontline telescopic shockabsorber conversion. Hope This Helps, Growler "Grant Bowyer" 9536... MORE
Before I replaced the frame and hood on my 1500 I could do this also as the hood was so worn and a couple of the arms on the frame were broken. Looked v. cool at traffic lights!! Weekend just gone I was trying to work out how to put the top down without creasing the windows and didn't know about this folding malarkey, then hey presto this thread pops up! God bless the internet....... AW 1500 - chrome bumpers '75. "Andrew Worley @ Mi-King" 9567... MORE
Rick, We have a local group of about 10 guys who race Spridgets. We did that same modification to our race car a-arms starting about 1979. It works very well and lasts forever. The machine shop that did the modifications probably has not done one in the last five years. "Tom Speed" 9582... MORE
I have been lurking in the background for a few days listening to you all. I have enjoyed your banter, even the non-spridget related postings! If I don't like it, I'll leave. Anyway. I took the liberty of posting a few photos on the groups site under "Curt's 72 Midget" including a close up of my rebuilt right front suspension. If it's helpful, great! I bought a digicam to document this restoration so if anyone needs any detailed photos, let me know and I'd be happy to post whatever you wish the next day. I have about 300 photos... MORE
Olivier, I used the Frontline kits for both front and rear. The front kit is superior to any other system and I would highly recommend it. The rear kit was too stiff even with the shocks set at the softest setting. I eventually went back to the original setup. The stock rear shocks rarely give any problems anyway. Tom Speed '76 MG Midget '67 MG Midget (race car) "Tom Speed" 9576... MORE
Happy Motoring !!!!!! I like it as phrase for returning to LBC topics!!!! , besides I apologise for being the one that start the last "fireworks" here, was not my intention really, sorry again......... LBC Front end: I will rebuild the front end, so before starting, I need from some of you there, if you can send me off list some pic or drawing with the parts name..............cos I dont want to rename them!!! LOL !!!!! (although "elastic blades" is just copyrighted by ME!!!) LOL!!!! This way I will be able to ask properly............. Anyway, I had opened several... MORE
Oops, dampers... OK, now I would be really interested to know what a shockbraker really is ;-) Thanks for the info anymay, very helpfull. Olivier "Olivier Caeymaex" 9543... MORE
Hi, I'm about to rebuild a 59' Sprite (AN5). I hesitate between a straight rebuilt of the normal front suspension (with new Amstrong shockbrakers) or its remplacment by a Frontline kit with telescopic shockbrakers (details of the kit are at http://www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/frntsus.htm ). Is this a good idea? Is it worth the expense? And shall I replace the rear suspension as well? I'd be glad to hear advices from fellow list-members who have done (or decided not to do) the same. Cheers. Olivier Caeymaex '59 Sprite, Belgium "Olivier Caeymaex" 9534... MORE
Yaaaaay, Jorge!! Southamerican dogs are "OK"!! :) I'm looking around for my old convertible top boot cover for you. If I come across it as I clean out the gagarge this spring, it's yours (came with my old '67 Spridget - never used - in good shape.) for free 'cause I have no use for it and it needs a good home! I'll see if I can find it (hopefully!). Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 9556... MORE
Ahh- Beckers has the Frontline kit!! Good show! (How would a lever shock control a 420lb. spring....I dunno?! Not an engineer, Mr. B but I guess they've been doing it satisfactorily for like, years!! I got tube shocks, myself, though, and they work well enough not to convert back.) OK, tell us all about it! Was it easy to install? Any pitfalls Oliver should know about. How are the shocks that came with the kit? Any reason to try other types in your opinion or are those that came with the kit perfectly satisfactory. What was the total cost... MORE
Oliver- My Frogeye came equipped with a Wheelrite tube shock conversion all around, the same type I used on my Vizard-tuned '74 Spridget years ago. Each system has it's pros and cons but I am convinced the conversion is not necessarily done to increase "performance". Most are using levers on race tracks, today. The reason people usually go this way is because they cannot obtain good, well rebuilt lever shocks and get sick and tired of having to replace the poorly rebuilt units (which seem to be the norm) which seem to abound in the marketplace. I know that... MORE
I am in the process of rebuilding my front end. The question/problem I have is this: The lower a-arms have a pivot pin that threads through the a-arms and passes through the lower section of the king pin. In the king pin, there is a pin that locks the pivot pin to the king pin preventing it from moving. Now for the pivot pin to function properly, it must screw back and forth (albeit very little) in the a-arm as the suspension moves up and down. It appears that all the stress is sent directly to the threads which... MORE
Captain (and other interested listers), Just a few counterpoints to Cap'n Bob's comments. BTW, these do not come because I support one side or the other: I think it may be part of the British nature to side with the underdog. There have been atrocities in the Middle East for centuries. Past Israeli Prime Ministers have, in a previous existence, strung up Brits from lamp-posts during their struggle for independence. Some 50 years on, it is not seen as an issue on the world stage. But they would still say they were justified in revolting against an occupying power... MORE
Chas: (I am not offended, BUT....!) The Israeli's have the right to protect their country and citizens from "bombing" whether it be from B-52's or any other means, just as we do (and just as we are doing!). While I absolutely agree the Palestinians deserve their own state (we ALL do), the purposefully directed attacks against unarmed civilians is directly opposite to the Israeli purposefully directed attacks against the "armed" (in line with our own "methods") both of which accept collateral civilian casualties as this is as unavoidable as killing our own guys once in a while (neither of... MORE
first off, thanks to everyone who helped with the rear suspension problem. Now, I just had a new roof put on (79 midget BTW), and realized i 'm not sure of the right way to put the top down! do i undo the Tenex fasteners, or do i just undo the two clasps on the windshield (plus the two snaps in the corners) and just heave the thing back? is there a proper way to take care of my new roof? I would like this roof to last, and need to know the proper way to fold it back... MORE
Has anyone installed a forward tilting one piece front end on a MKII on Sprite? Would appreciate any info on how to do this.... parts list, pics, etc Thanks "george07876" 9467... MORE
Just spent the afternoon dropping the suspension of mine , captive nuts just span where the box section had rusted away. Not too worried though, the bodyshell will probably end up at the scrapyard. I only hope the mounts on the 'good ' car are better. Regards Alan "alan.east-jones" 9438... MORE
Chui, If you are referring to the spring hanger box, there are two bolt inserted upwards from underneath and two inserted downward from the interior behind the seats. All four fasteners are bolts and the nuts are captive, (no studs), so if the nuts are turning, your captives are broken off. Gerard "gerardchateau" 9433... MORE
replacing my rear springs in the 40 deg cold, and everything is fine until... i get to the front shackle. there are four bolts, two of which go into the car (those came out nicely), and two studs sticking out of the car which JUST SPIN AND SPIN ENDLESSLY! How in god's name do i get those nuts off? help me please!!!! "chuibuddy" 9427... MORE
Here's my 2-minute method- Jack up car, place axle stands under front crossmember. remove front wheel Undo nut on top of trunnion- lift lever arm and trunnion off kingpin. Remove two bolts holding steering arm to swivel hub. Lift swivel hub, complete with brakes etc, off kingpin. Loosen A-arm pivot bolts Stand on end of A-arm, forcing it down until the spring pops free. You may need to remove the bump rubber from inside the spring first, or the spring might pull it out for you. HTH Growler "Grant Bowyer" 9385... MORE
Sounds to me like the linkage arm is disconnected at the pivot point. Usually a small pin with a plastic "keeper" (supposed to keep the pin in place) The keepr may have fallen off or broken due to the window being frozen while attempting to open it. The linkage arm pivot hole could also have worn through and dropped off from frequent use, and or lack of lubrication? Just my thoughts on the subject relying on experience working on the electrics in the Lincoln over the years. David A. Stevens Jr. Utilities Engineer II NYS Office Of General Services... MORE
I have two '76 MG midgets that have the engines removed... now I want to remove the lever shocks, A-Arms, etc... Any suggestions, tricks for removing the springs in a safe manner? Thanks, Brett "Brett LaCroix" 9379... MORE
