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Check the crankcase pressure before you strip out the engine. It may be the cause of all the trouble. A lot of work if its only in need of a PCV etc.etc. R "Roger Stinson" 25696... MORE

'Twas Yellow on the 1098 's R "Roger Stinson" 25695... MORE

Hi, Gingerino.... On a real hard "brake", any weak point in the brake system (wheel cylinder, etc) may "give way", emptying out to one extent or another, a goodly portion of the hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder reservoir, wherein clutch and brake systems share fluid. If this is the case, you may spot a hydraulic fluid leak under the car where it's been parked for a while. Otherwise, check the fluid level in the Master Cylinder in any case. If your car runs separate hydraulic systems for clutch and brake, then think back......did the clutch go "in" before,... MORE

Congrats, James! Rain has stopped here and I am about to take the BE out as the sun comes out... I know "that feeling" you are feeling! No way around taking everything out with respect to the oil leak, eh? The 1380 is a pretty potent unit and if it's new, rings probably haven't really seated fully yet so crankcase pressure would be maybe temporarily on the high side? Sure the crankcase is either well vented or the PCV system (either way) is functioning properly...I mean I hate to see 'ya pull the whole shebang apart again (though not... MORE

Cap'n I said no, because Bob in San Diego said Yes ; ) . . . and er to put a 1275 cc A series into a rubber bumpered Midget? Don't be daft! Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 25659... MORE

Chris I's probably not worth swapping engines. I would put a Weber DGV on the 1500 and enjoy. If you really want to work on the car you can put a double row timing chain, new thrust washer, a rocker oiler and you can fit 1275 cam bearings to a 1500. A lot less work than swapping engines. and a perfectly respectable engine. And you could recover part of the cost by selling the 1275. I take a lot of crap from the MG orthodoxy, but I race my '76 1500 "Spitget", No major failures yet, knock on wood.... MORE

Hey Lists!! Drove my Bugeye around the neighborhood yesterday! First time since I bought the disassembled body & boxes of parts 3 1/2 years ago; first time Bugeye has been on road since 1973 (multiple POs). 1380 with headers & Maniflow exhaust - sounds gooood!. It was GREAT! Oh, sure - leaks oil from rear seal area, brakes need to be bled more, speedo didn't work .... But It Ran! In case you didn't notice - I'm just a little enthused, excited, stoked, ... Well, back to fixing problems. Really looking forward (not) to pulling engine/trans to fix oil... MORE

Chris, Welcome to the MG world. I have a '75 Midget witht the 1500 Triumph drivetrain so I can shed some light on the subject. The 1500 motor is strong and torquey. It gives reasonalbe performance even in the gutless, smog-choked years it was installed. For most uses of the car, the 1500 is great. The 1275 is an MG engine and a pretty good one. It revs higher, snarls instead of rumbling and is very eager to accept upgrades and really become a screamer. For semi-serious and serious performance driving, autocross, road racing or balls out engine building,... MORE

Chris... I have no personal experience with the 1500 motor. Only the prior Series A 1098 and 1275, and damn little with the 1098! However, it is generally accepted by most that the Series A 1275 is a more bulletproof (tougher) engine than it's later Spitfire 1500 factory replacement, as well as being far more "tuneable". However, from everything I've heard from others (on this list) that do own and drive stock 1500 motors, they perform just fine in normal street driving. Only complaint I've heard mechanically (and I've heard this argued) is that as the crank wears and... MORE

Bree... If the Master Cylinder was completely empty (rather than 1/4 full, fr'instance) then air most likely air had been pumped into the system (rather than brake fluid) as the brakes lost effectiveness, prior to your stopping off to check the fluid and topping off. When pads have really worn down, they do indeed make noise just as you say, more noticeable in the wet conditions before they truly get bad enough to be noticed in the dry. But what also happens is that as the pads wear, more "room" becomes available for hydraulic fluid within the system, so... MORE

I am completely new to the MG Midget, so please bare with my lack of knowledge. I fell in love with a 1976 Midget and bought it. The man who owned it also gave me a running 1275cc engine from a 1967 Midget and said I should definately put that motor in the car. He told me the 1500 was not a good motor. Please give me some advice as to what to do? Is the 1275 that much better? Thanks! Chris "Chris Hall" 25630... MORE

What is the correct color to paint the water pump pulley on a 73 Midget(1275)? Thanks, Jim C 73 Midget 66 MGB "klutterbutt92530" 25584... MORE

Hi, Bree... More specific information would be required in each case for accurate answers, Bree. With respect to the brakes... are you making an assumption, here? Air just does not get into the brake system "automatically" or "overnight"...unless you've suddenly developed a hydraulic leak wherein air displaces fluid which has leaked out or you have suddenly developed a master cylinder or other mechanical problem(s) within the system. Otherwise, besides low brake fluid (when was the last time this was topped off?), worn brake pads are most likely the first place I'd look with a suddenly "soft" pedal (when was... MORE

HI GUYS, I'M RESTORING A 1960 FROGEYE THAT HAS NO ENGINE. I HAVE A MORRIS MINOR ENGINE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO THE 948cc. IS THIS ENGINE THE SAME AS WHAT WENT INTO THIS CAR? ITS ONLY A SINGLE CARB, WOULD I HAVE MUCH MOD'S TO DO TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING. I ALSO HAVE NO WIRING LOOM BUT CAN GET A NEW ONE EASILY, WOULD I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE LOOM? THANKING YOU, ROBERT KENNEDY. "robblola" 25583... MORE

Robert, someone will help you out with your question, ie ... can it be change to be like the 948 cc '59 Sprite engine? Where are you? Tell us more about the car. Where did you get it? Why no engine? Racer? Trany ? Condition? Bill French Hilton Head, SC '59 Bugeye '73 RWA frenchww@... 25596... MORE

I am getting ready to put the front plate on the 1275 I am building, and the cam sticks out a about 1/8" and won't allow the triangle type retainer to fit flush against the front of the block. Any ideas why it may not be going back into the block? Brad Brad Fornal 25585... MORE

I've only owned one later model Midget; the rest have been older Sprites. But, I had the same noise and while the fuel pump was indeed getting noisey with age, I agree with Paul that you should check your exhaust clearances. The frame rail can resonate like a drum when the exhaust is not quite as tight as it should be and the pipes make contact with the car. But you said that it happens as soon as you unlock the ignition ? Wait until the pilot bearing starts going out... that's a noise that will really confound you.... MORE

I looked at the VB catalogue and found that I'm missing the little rubber o-ring/washer, no wonder it leaked! Who assembled these? I'm not saying! I'll have to order a pair. Thanks. Martyn "Martyn Eastwood" 25560... MORE

I am having a bit of a clear out. All the following items are from 1972 1275 Midget which I have rebuilt for Hill Climbing Pair of Seats with head rests new covers serviceable but really need refurbishing 5 Rostyle wheels original distributor pair of SU on manifold with air cleaner original steering wheel front brakes callipers, new discs, hardly touched green stuff pads anti tramp bars complete kit effectively unused Make me an offer Based in Leeds UK "Peter Whittle" 25549... MORE

Kevin.... With respect to the picture of the crankcase ventilation system at the carbs.....the system does not appear to be "pinched off" from what I THINK I see. The large hose from the front cannister on the timing chain cover appears to be clamped to a non-stock "Tee" fitting from which smaller hoses are clamped that run to the crankcase emissions breather ports on each carb. Perfectly normal set-up assuming these hoses are not clogged. Take the hose off at the cannister, clean the end and blow through it. With some restriction (the "exhaust holes" in the carbs are... MORE

Hi... please don't laugh as I am a novice to this MG stuff. I have just purchased my first Midget and have a little niggle. When I turn the ignition key to the first position I get a subtle knocking noise - obviously something electrical - maybe fuel pump or starter motor???? As I start the engine and drive this knocking is still there (so obviously a necessary part of the running of the car) but the noise becomes louder and louder on an ad-hoc basis especially after a long run then pulling up at traffic lights). Should I... MORE

Well, I think I have established two things. I need to uncrimp the crank case ventilation systempipe cnnections in the picture which I have not yet done. The second thing is that this won't rectify my oil problem. I am going to do a little reading on the ventilation system over the weekend. Could a blockage somewhere else in the ventilation system be causing a buildup of pressure? I am on the road, ahnd will be out of touch, but will report back to the teacher(s)next week. http://www.northweb.sk.ca/kevin/mg/pinch.jpg Here is the picture which is likely useless, but I took... MORE

Well, I'll say this: The suspension and other mechanical components were designed a half century ago, and I am unaware of any widespread failures due to underspecification of fasteners. The state of design at that time (no computers) meant that many things were overengineered. I suspect that is true of the fasteners. It is also true that modern grade 8 bolts are *probably* stronger than what was available at that time. If it were my car, I'd have no qualms about using grade 8 in any application except internal engine parts. If you can't sleep with that, you can... MORE

If you can pull the tube oout with the nut tightened, that is your problem. There should be a ferrule in the end of the tube that the nut holds but compression. You probably need news fuel feed lines between the jet and the float. I think the jet comes with these as an assembly. Gerard "gerardchateau" 25528... MORE

I have been watching this thread, and have missed where the oil is coming from. I had a problem with my Bugeye (1275) a while back in that it was cold and I was putting 20/50 oil in. The oil was right, but the tempature was too cold and the oil was too thick to go back down the pushrod holes. I found a leak at the back of my valve cover, and I had "OIL, OIL Everywhere" Since he says that his engine is cold, and he just bought the car, I am wondering, 1. did you change... MORE