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Bob- I can't wait. Have the engine out already! Talked with Rivergate, and due to moving into their new shop, was advised they were just now filling November orders. It would be several months wait. Given that I am at the end of a ten year project, I want the car running the first day it gets above freezing in Ohio (which will probably be mid July). I had also heard that the Riverside clutch set-up could be an occasional problem. Apparently they use the MG pressure plate but a Toyota throw-out bearing. Not sure of the disc. Paul... MORE
I've only put about 500 miles on my Rivergate conversion. I initally had questions about the custom clutch. I thought the trowout bearing was a datsun part? Anyway... I was concerned about being able to replace the clutch should rivergate not be in existence when the time came. However, I talked to my local transmission shop, and they said it would be no problem to fabricate. I plan on putting some serious miles on the Midget this summer. Ask me again at the end of the year how it is going. Otherwise I am happy with the clutch performance.... MORE
Paul... I got my first before I joined the list and knew of Paul's kit. Got my second from Rivergate 'cause Bill Perry was building my curent engine anyway, and the one which I had initially gotten used (and put God knows how many more miles on) was good for full core credit on a new "rebuilt". I mean, I was setting up the car for essentially the balance of my life on the planet so I went all the way! :) You're gonna love it. :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 29434... MORE
Remind me never to take these apart again, what a job getting the rev counter bezel back again. The inner disk just would not drop in, it had sprung out never to go back. Two G clamps and a small hammer persuaded it to reseat. Found a selection of gasket material by the yard to make all new seals. Have tried 12 v 5 watt side light bulbs, much improved but they are bayonet connectors not MES so am working on adaptor. First choice is to dismantle 5 w bulb and unsolder it to give a glass envelope with... MORE
Nigel, I am very afraid to post any pix you could see. The car is in three colors of paint plus the original Brookland green. (Seeing what looked best, ya know). I have lowered the front with 1275 springs but not the rear just yet. I'm running American Racing Mags 5.5 inches with 165 x 70 tires. I've cut off the front bumper supports and sold off the rubber bumpers. The interior is new and pretty well sorted out. McGee runs and drives well except for my often mentioned clutch problem. I will be pulling the engine this spring... MORE
Hi, My local scrapyard has a set of twin SUs fitted to 1500TC Triumph saloon - same engine as the 1500 Midgets. They are at the moment still on the car, complete with manifolds and linkage and I think it is all there. There is some surface corrosion - white oxidation - but this would clean off easily. Anyone interested in these let me know quick and I will go grab them before someone wrecks them. Guy "Guy Weller" 29315... MORE
The future 200 watts is correct El Capitan. I just had an error in stating that my current setup puts out 20 amps when it should have said 20 watts. As for the future 200 WATTS IT IS but probably in the '69 CGT as to provide a bit more security (locking doors and an alarm system). I like the visual of the Memorex commercial :) It is the set-up I had in 1992 Civic Si prior to having a stupid driver try and shoot through an intersection at the same time as me in 1995. Needless to say... MORE
Colin Well, I think the concensus is that their 'original' finish was indeed 'natural' but rebuilt ones were painted black all over. I was in two minds whether to leave them natural and spray a clear coat over them or to paint them silver. My main concern was to finish them in such a way as to protect them from the elements, so the paint won. I never set out to build a 'concours' car, that was never my intention - the car will be used and used regularly and enjoyed for what it is - so slavishly following... MORE
On the 1500 there is an extra piece on the front of the inner wheelarches, that is not there on earlier cars, however it is welded onto the front original 1275 panel rather than done properly and a new panel!, this is then welded to the rear part of the front panel just outboard of the RB mountings. I think I will just bolt it on.. the engine has to go near vertical to get it out because of the normally non removable front panel! and as I still want to fit an overdrive box (if I ever find... MORE
During my restoration of my shell, I had to take this off to repair it, but on the 1500 there are 4 spot-weld holding it onto the inner wheelarch, the rest is bolted onto the radiator mountings and the front chassis members just like any other midget in that respect. Given these spot-weld are already undone is there anything to be gained by welding them back on or can I just drill 4 holes and put bolts in their place? and will this make putting in and taking the engine out any easier? Stewart "Ford Prefect" 29221... MORE
Tim I am not that familiar with the 1500 cars but I expect the engine will have to come out to replace the clutch and so this is going to cost 300 in most garages, however if money is tight and the engine was running OK before the gasket blew why not just get that fixed (maybe 150 or so). The problem with second hand engines is that they may be no better than the one you have and you are not going to know without removing the head and checking the bores, so it will still cost you... MORE
Tim, I take it that you don't wish to do the work yourself? Repairs to a 1500 engine are really quite straightforward and its a really great way to learn about all aspects of the engine. An expert like Frank will take an engine and gearbox out in about an hour, I take a little longer, more like 1hour 15 minutes. If your engine was running OK before the head gasket blew then there is no need to take the engine out although obviously the clutch will. If you feel that these things are better left to the garage,... MORE
Oh, yeah.. that's right. 1098's didn't come with an oil cooler. Right, right, right...I had to transfer mine over from my wrecked PO'd '67 I was working on, when acquiring my 1098 equipped BE to take it's place. I am a little surprised you are only getting 65psi "cold" out of a "new" motor, Brad. Not that this is "bad" or anything like that, but most newly rebuilt motors built to street tolerances (IMHO) put out 70+. I'm leaving my present motor out of this as it was built by plan to the tight side and actually required a... MORE
Hmmm....sorry, Alan! Well, I obviously I missed this (must have read it before jumbo Mickey D's "kicked in":) but it's nice to hear another of your experiene agrees, and most especially in that it was a "tuned" unit at that. Too bad to lose the 1098's silky exhaust note for the superior power/revvability of the larger motor. But I do tend to forget about this when I put my foot into the 1293! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 29230... MORE
Dave... I could not agree more with you in your opinion of the running "sweetness" of the 1098 motor. My BE came with a 10cc. My prior experience having been limited mainly to street "tuned" (including balancing) 1275's and too a far lesser degree stock 948's, I was immediately struck by the stock 1098's silky smooth running/exhaust note. Not very strong top end but otherwise, performed just fine, most especially in terms of low end for normal street use. I mentioned the apparent smoother running of the 1098 as compared to the 948/1275 several times over the last couple... MORE
Terry, On the several that I have dismantled, they have all had mastic between bezel and glass, O-ring between glass and the next ring in, and an 0-ring between the case and the metal dashboard. I don't think there is supposed to be an O-ring behind the metal reflector ring. It is stepped and fits against the rim of the case, leaving a gap between it and the dial face to let the light through. One tip here is that you should save discarded O rings from the rear hubs as these will fit around the tach and speedo... MORE
Terry JPEG's are no good for what he wants - they take out detail in the compression algorithm's. He needs an 'uncompressed' image like a .tif. I'm assuming these were 24 bit colour scans ? Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 29203... MORE
Further to my query regarding the water leak, I think it has been answered finally by the fact that on it's way to the garage this morning to be inspected, the head gasket blew. As usual this happened about 400 yards from the garage in question, leading me to wonder why as these things couldn't have waited for a few minuites longer until I was actually AT the garage and saved me a recovery fee. Anyway, its now in Jentree garage in Pevensey where they will have a good look as to what exactly needs doing on it. As... MORE
I am not familiar with the speedo in your vintage LBC but I had a problem with the odometer reset rod in my 62 Sprite. At about a half inch from the body of the speedo there had been a small screw hole through the rod. This was for a small screw that held a shaft extension. Mine broke at that hole leaving what looks like it might be a screwdriver slot. The rest of the rod was not able to be attached. The far end of it had a small knob that is used to reset the odometer.... MORE
Terry... I agree with Nigel asking you why all this for bulb replacement but I will answer to the extent I can 'cause obviously it's already out of the car!! :):) OK... 1. Yes (O-ring, gasket, rubber washer, bit of silicone, whatever! :) 2. Have not seen an O-ring between instrument and panel before. But I don't see why you could not do this, either. 3. White/sky blue...don't know 4. Innard out...don't recall..too long ago! :) 5. Reset rod broken...maybe. Mine ends in a little knob (most likely set into that small slot you see?) 6. As I recall,... MORE
Had this years ago, that time it was a stripped fibre gear in the gear train that drove the numbers round. Do tell me how you got the innards out, the trip rezet rod is stopping mine from coming out. Terry "terry.isherwood" 29237... MORE
Hi Tried scanning in a colour postcard, 6 in x 4 in. 150 dpi = 1.5 meg file < 10 sec to scan 300 " = 6 " " 600 " = 24 " " took 1.5 min to scan 1200 " = 96 " " 2400 " = 385 meg file This is bit map no compression. Tried jpeg format. All jpegs have some compression, normally adjustable. Tried 600 dpi in jpeg format minimium compression and got 12 meg file, scanned in less than 1 min tried 150 dpi in jpeg format minimium compression and got 700 k... MORE
Hi I would like to see what speed I am doing in the dark so Speedo is out and apart. 1972 RWA midget Questions Chrome bezel is filled with black gunge at rear, is this the remnants of an 0 ring that seals the bezel to the glass? Is there an 0 ring between the Speedo and dash board? The inside of the Speedo is sky blue from 1 o'clock to 7 o'clock and white for the other half. Is this correct and why? How do you get the innards out? The trip reset rod is stopping it. What... MORE
8G 180 N is listed in the Spridget parts book as 'Engine Unit - Stripped - HC' and is basically the UK or early US spec 1275 standard engine. I'm not sure what difference the 'ER'suffix makes, though. Regards David "David Jacobs" 29142... MORE
Guy Put like that, I agree with you as well. However, it's not as simplistic as you make it out to be is it? Bearing in mind, I've been paying National Insurance contributions ever since I was legally able to work, and that was at 16 on saturday jobs in department stores, which now by my calculation is about 25 years worth of NI contributions. I had a need recently to claim a benefit I felt I was entitled to, I had a Doctor's certificate stating I was unable to work, yet wasn't able to claim the benefit. Why?... MORE
