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I've got a '79 midget. It seems to ride a little rough. I was thinking that maybe the shocks need some fluid. So, I have a few questions: 1. Is there a quick & dirty test a guy can do that might indicate whether more fluid is needed or not? 2. Is it easy for a shade tree kind of guy with limited tools to add fluid to the shocks? 3. What about conversion to tube shock kits? Any feelings? One more question. My dash is split right at the windscreen support bracket. I am going to order a... MORE
A follow up on the steering wheel lock clicking. The lock plunger knocking back and forth in the slot on the steering shaft formed sharp ridges on the top edges of the slot which when the steering shaft turned wore down the softer aluminum housing enough that the steel plunger was left slightly above the level of the surround housing and it was catching momentarily in the steering column slot as the steering shaft turned. I removed the steering column and rather than drill out the break off bolts took my Dremal tool and used a small thin cut... MORE
The clutch problem sounds like you're losing pressure in the hydraulic system, try bleeding the system/replacing clutch fluid/checking Master/slave clutch cylinders are working correctly. The indicator lamp not flashing sounds either like a poor ground connection from flasher unit or faulty flasher unit - both fairly easy to fix. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 23701... MORE
Toyman sounds correct, but you may get by with only topping off the fluid for now. Be aware however, that the fluid does not evaporate and you will in the perhaps near future need a master cylinder and/or slave cylinder at least rebuilt or replaced. Been there, doing that now. Robert Houston Transervicios S.A. de C.V. 915-592-2082 rbhouston@... 23699... MORE
After stripping off the front end outer metal work and cleaning the engine compartment I discovered there is a crack in the transmission bell housing. The tab like area at the top of the clutch bell housing where the top two bolts are located has a horizontal crack below them.. It does not appear to be a major structural problem once the transmission bell housing is bolted on as all other areas and bolts are sound. It looks like an easy in place weld job. Is it possible to weld the aluminum housing material? Some PO strangeness as usual... MORE
Rob... the temp rise, along with the stumble... tells me it's running very lean at higher speeds. Do an old fashioned 'plug check'. Find a stretch of road where you can cruise at say.. 30-40mph steady for about 10 minutes. While at speed, switch off the ignition and coast/brake over to the side of the road. Pull a sparkplug and see if it's whitish, or grayish/brown in color. Now repeat the cruise at 50-55mph. Kill the engine at speed Pull over and check the plugs again. If they are much whiter than before....it's running lean. If you simply slow... MORE
Driving to work this morning I heard Bob and Tom, my favorite morning DJ's talking about a new sport in Las Vegas. "Hunters" can stalk Bambi, with a paint ball gun for only $10,000.00! "Bambi" is a young lady clad only in running shoes. She get's $1000.00 if she is bagged, and $2500 if she evades the mighty hunter. They didn't mention if there was an extra charge for mounting the trophy. Robert Houston Transervicios S.A. de C.V. 915-592-2082 rbhouston@... 23406... MORE
If you can get creative with some fittings you may be able to run water from the garden hose through the engine (then water the oak tree) ;-) "Trevor Jessie" 23350... MORE
They just stopped by Placerville on Hwy 50 on their way to Gardnerville Nevada and eventually Wisconsin - or was that Minnesota? This is the cross-country pickup of a 71 Midget from Southern California. They've had a hot-running car, which fits the 100+ weather, but the 14lb cap is holding and, tho it dribbles once stopped, seems to be holding pressure fine. The fancy wide wheels are a bit too wide and the left rear tire has been rubbing, but a service stop in Fairfield on the way across California saw some adjustment for clearance. I wish now I'd... MORE
Re: Fuel Pump Pressure? Hey does anyone know what the fuel pressure should be coming out of the fuel pump on a 1978 1500 midget? Mine is 5 1/2 pounds. When I drive over 3500 RPM's / 60-65 MPH the gas goes to the front charcoal canister, fills it and chokes out the carb. I take off the bottom hose, drain and ok for another 20 miles. We tried everything and it still happens. I was thinking maybe the pressure is too high. Any thoughts. Joe Blitz Rochester NY "Joe Bellizia" 23310... MORE
Don't! If there is water in it you need room for a header - for expansion - and that means all the hoses etc to give proper circulation, and you will be able to run it only for a few moments, and if there is not a header - how much money did you say you want to throw away on an unnecessary rebuild? On the other hand, why not take it apart and have a peek whilst you are there and save all the trouble and aggravation! Just a look inside the rocker cover will give you a... MORE
of course, he could always cheat and get the discs machined so they are just flat, no raised centre section, and fit them between the drums and the wheels, so they have the appearance of disc brakes behind the wheels, but with none of the hassle! David "David Jacobs" 23275... MORE
a friend of mine wanted to test a secondhand Triumph Dolomite engine before buying it, and simply connected top and bottom hose together, and with the temperature gauge connected, just ran it till it showed on the gauge - a minute or two - long enough to see if there were any unusual noises or anything. (the engine was 'mounted' in a supermarket trolley for this test!) This method is simpler if you don't have access to a water supply, but slightly more risky than Cap'n Bob's, as there is nowhere for the expanding coolant to go, so pressure... MORE
I must apologize to those who followed my progress report, just don't have the time nor the room anymore to work on my 67 Sprite. It is a 67 Sprite that is torn down and middle of restoration. It has a lot of body work done already and shouldn't take much to finish. The shell and doors were professionally sandblasted to bare metal. (cost over $400 for just that). Car is apart but well cataloged, small parts in Ziplock bags with labels, bigger parts in categorized plastic bins, shell on a dolly, new VB parts used cost over $600.... MORE
Colin, I agree with you. There is one advantage that I can think of though, and that is that with discs there is less travel to take up between the pads and disc than there is with cylinders and drums. Should give a better and firmer pedal. Seems a long way round though to get this result! Guy "Guy Weller" 23271... MORE
So I take it none of you have done this, done lots of other things but not this. Yes, well, when I asked him why I did not get a valid answer. It was more - have midget, seen rear disks on other cars, want them on my midget, went out and bought them. He paid =A360 for two disks and calipers from the bre akers. He does have access to a very good machine shop and I think he will need it. If he succeeds I will be able to supply you with details after a ll if... MORE
G'day all Gotta ask - why?????? Under heavy braking, when the weight transfers to the front, the rear brakes lock up with the standard drum brakes fitted. I get slower as I get older (or so my bride tells me), but perhaps someone can explain to me why locking up the rears sooner (by using disc brakes) is an advantage. Personally, I enjoy power oversteer, but don't cherish disappearing backwards into the shrubbery under hard braking. Of course I have seen a few people fit rear disc brakes. Guess what they fit next. A brake biassing valve (usually off... MORE
Heh, heh.... Well, Terry.. ......if he's capable of doing his own machining then it's basically his time and not really the money that is at stake. With a proper biasing valve it should work. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I, too, find the stock brakes pefectly adequate. Wonder what it'll be like when he hits the pedal in the rain? Probably have to crank in a little more bias to the fronts, I would imagine. Which will probably defeat the whole purpose of discs in the back for superior stopping in the dry? Maybe he'll make page... MORE
Don.... Is the water pump is operable and on the engine and belt hooked up? If so, hook up a hose (tape, whatever) and "feed" the motor thru the thermo cover letting it run out the back (block heater outlet) using a normal hose hooked up to a spigot at low flow velocity? And I wouldn't take a chance on a malfunctioning stadt, either. Go stadtless. Otherwise I have no clue since in summer temps., mine warms up virtually in a heartbeat...really. But I don't think this is the critical aspect of it, anyway. You see, without water circulation... MORE
Talk about redundant? What with weight transfer and momentum, the fronts do at least 75% of the braking. If we gave equal power to the rears, they'd go light and lock up, skidding and providing no control. The rear brakes mainly act like the tail on a kite, stabilizing the car. It's over a hundred outside today - no wonder I'm taking so much interest in my email! David McCartney 71 Midget 72 Mini 69AA etc Captain Rapture 23277... MORE
Terry This seems like a great amount of work. Is the car raced? If not then why does he want disks on the back. The fronts do most of the breaking and the original drums in good condition are more than adequate. Just my opinion but it's much easier to rebuild to good stock condition than do all this rework. J. jeremy.cogman@... 23255... MORE
Terry, I am running a narrowed Vega 3.36 posi rearend in my Sprite. It has drum brakes, the emergency brake mechanisms of which are actuated by cables in sleeves as you might expect. I was able to adapt the stock E-brake lever mechanism quite neatly with some fabrication. The stock e-brake linkage on the rear axle was not useful to me. SO... if in the event that your friends disk brake E-brake setup is cable actuated, I can provide details and/or some digital photos. Let me know if needed. Chow. Hamondale "hamondale" 23248... MORE
Terry, Don't have any info on the rear disc conversion (thought I've thought about it) but will support the telescopic shock conversion for the front. Did mine and love it. Rob C 75 Midget 00 TransAm robbiesg@... 23243... MORE
There's usually a mechanical linkage for rear discs or sometimes a small brake drum built into the disc to provide a handbrake; however, a more fundamental question is why he needs discs on the rear of a Midget anyway?! it's not exactly a high performance heavyweight car. David "David Jacobs" 23240... MORE
Hi A friend with a 1500 rubber bumper job has just bought (breakers yard job) the rear disks and calipers from a Rover 216 GSi. He has been told these will fit his midget, all he has to do is make up a new back plate to support the caliper. He has been told the original habdbreak cable can be retained. Has anyone done this if so have you a drawing of the backplate to give him a start. He has just fitted the frontline telescopic mod and thinks it is fantastic, makes the front of the car more... MORE
