MAIN
Exterior
Previous Page | Next Page
I trust all the purists out there have their nitro glycerin pill handy. A group member observed upon seeing my bugeye bonnet photo that I have a lot of new metal to replace with new and weld in place of the rusted metal on the edges of the bonnet . . . I am thrilled that my MIG welding skills have progressed to a point that I tack welded the side panels back on after having removed them to work the fenders back to a fair semblance of their original state . . . weld sheet metal . .... MORE
Without giving a preference of suppliers I would like to ask what is going on with the turn signals? Also . . . the horn is a high current device, any resistance in the wiring will often render it inoperable. Before you give up on it be sure and check/clean all the wiring connections between the horn button and the horn. I have had two midgets whose horns did not work and that was all that was needed to get the horns working. One was dirt on the wiper arm at the steering column and the other was a... MORE
Thanks for the info Gerard, and here's what I did... I measured the "at rest" distance between the mounts to be 12", but I didn't know at the time to note the tie-rod angle. I picked up the front end of the car, upper arm dropped against the rubber stop, and measured 13.5". Set the car back down gave a tape measure to my daughter and asked her to measure how much the car was moving up and down as I stood on the two front frame extensions jumping up and down myself. Don't laugh=85 it worked. My results... MORE
Hello Group. Just started to rebuild a mk2/3? midget. Stored in dry conditions for 9 years, from elderly relative. Main bodywork panels repaired or replaced. Engine out, with other various components etc. Where do I start first? A list of your top ten major jobs to do first!!!!! That should be enough to frighten me, before we get started. Regards Sue & John Daniells Lincolnshire England "Sue" 24477... MORE
Welcome Sue, To add to Bob's suggestions. Often oxidation on electrical connections is a major problem with cars that are old and particularly if they have sat for long periods of time. There are many spade wire connectors on the backs of switches, gauges, lamps and the wiring harness has many bullet in line connectors, in black insulation tubes. At minimum pull off and push spade connectors back on, or bullet inline connectors apart and back together several times to break the surface crud. Spray with some WD40 before and after you do this. If they look very oxidized... MORE
In the process of checking out the clutch slave cylinder linkage I reached up to move aside the ground strap a bit to have a better view. The strap is from the lower clutch slave cylinder bolt to the chassis frame, the normal original configuration. It appeared to be a full strap, although covered with oil and dirt as they often are. A gentle push and it moved aside in two pieces, only a few strands were left under the dirt and oil and they parted under the least amount of pressure . . . Nothing can be taken... MORE
Hi all- New to forum. Finishing a ten year restoration (aren't MG's like a fine wine?) on my '73 Midget. The door catch/lock on each side is worn. Found striker plates at Moss and Vic Brit but cannot find new catches. Any ideas? Thanks........ Paul "dfwip" 24452... MORE
G'day Bill, Don etc The barrel of the boot lock is different to the doors and the ignition. However the same key should fit. You can remove the barrel from the boot lock - but only if you have the key!!!!!!!!! Otherwise the tumblers jam behind the chrome dress piece that the key fits into. When you inset the key, the tumblers withdraw into the barrel and the barrel can be removed. After you have removed the lock pin. Which you get to after you have filed off the crimps and removed the cover for the retaining spring. Assuming... MORE
Colin, you are always an amazing source of information and taking time to share it. Fortunate we are to have you on the list. Yesterday in a fit of curiosity I took the boot lock off the 69 and disassembled it and was lucky as the 73 boot key after some wiggling allowed me to turn the barrel on the 69 to remove it. Had it not been for that bit of luck, as you say, it would have been impossible to remove the barrel. Filed off the crimps as you did and will drill and insert a pin... MORE
"Improving cooling" 1. Thorough flush/"reverse flush" of entire system with proprietary "cleaner" 2. *80/20 Distilled Water/Anti-Freeze Mix or 100% Distilled Water with can of proprietary lube/anti-corrosion additive and a couple of drops or diswashing liquid or appropriate amount of "Water Wetter" 3. Modern aluminum "deep impellor" water pump..Colin Dodds reports "County" brand has a slightly deeper impellor than "AE" brand. Both good. 3. ^^Block Cyl. Head/Water Pump Bypass 4. *68C Thermostadt or Blanking Sleeve 5. 4.5" Cooper "S" Water Pump Pulley 6. Recore/upgrade stock rad or go "aluminum" altogether *Summer Only ^^Drill 1/4" hole in thermostadt plate as "new"... MORE
when the locks are 30 years old or more, they get pretty worn, so they are pretty easy to turn. "David Jacobs" 24436... MORE
Max Well as everyone's corrected my deliberate mistake *s* (gotta give these guys something to do) I can now tell you a little more about your MkIII Sprite. The main changes from the previous versions were, a new windscreen assembly, quarterlights, and as everyone's pointed out, wind up windows, exterior door handles and locks. It lost door pockets but gained a parcel shelf. A new dashboard and instrumentation was introduced, and a new hood clipping onto the windscreen frame top. The other major change was the change to the rear suspension from quarter to semi-elliptic rear springs. Produced from... MORE
The Midget Mk2 - Sprite Mk3 definitely had wind up windows and a strengthened 1098 with bigger crank bearings in addition to the disc brakes of the earlier so called MG 1.5 Sprite 2.5 (or substitute b for .5) R. "Roger Stinson" 24421... MORE
Nigel I think the 'reclining' seats came in with the 'leylandised' version with the split and narrower bumpers. I will look and see if I can find the original sales literature to confirm this. Several of my friends had 1275 engines, without the recliners. R. "Roger Stinson" 24420... MORE
Thanks Guys! The reason I am asking is my Mk3 Sprite (on my V5) is registered in 64 and has removable hood and wind-up windows. I was trying to work out the time period these Sprites were made and in what quantities. Cheers Max "MG_Max" 24418... MORE
My book says- March 1964 A-H Sprite MK III #H-An8 38829 to H-AN8 64755 Doors substantially altered. Wind-up windows instead of sidescreens....External door handles and door locks now fitted....etc. March 1964; M.G, Midget MK II G-AN3 25788 to 52411 Identical to contempory Sprite except price was 20 lbs mor in U.K. and $170 in USA. *Guide to Purchase & D.I.Y. Restoration of the MG Midget & Austine- Healey Sprite by Lindsay Porter. Bob, Troutdale, OR USA "Robert Webb" 24417... MORE
Sprite 2 / Midget 1 also went to front disc brakes at the same time as the 948 to 1098 change. Sprite 3 / Midget 2 have wind up windows not sidescreens. "Jeremy Cogman" 24413... MORE
Max Heres the List - Austin Healey Sprite MkI (Frogeye/Bugeye) (Mar 58-Dec 1960) (948cc engine) Austin Healey Sprite MkII and MG Midget MkI (Feb 1961-Jan 64) (948cc engine, 1098 from 1963) [Sidescreens, fixed/removable hood] Austin Healey Sprite MKIII and MG Midget MkII (Jan 1964-Sept 66) (1098cc engine) [Sidescreens and fixed/removable hood] Austin Healey Sprite MKIV and MG Midget MKIII (Oct 66-Aug 69) (1275cc Engine) [Wind up windows, folding hood and reclining seats] Austin Healey Sprite MKIV and MG Midget MKIII (Oct 69-Oct 1974) (1275cc Engine) [Wind up windows, folding hood and reclining seats] Facelifted version with thinner front bumpers,... MORE
More strangeness. After my last post I thought . . . the 73 key worked on my 69 why not try it on the 74 . . . it worked. Both the 69 and the 74 had no key for the trunks when I bought them, well the 69 was free for the towing, but now I know I can lock them both with my 73 key. That makes me wonder how many midgets out there my key will work on :-) . . . and how many of their keys will work on mine . . . so... MORE
I checked this morning and the ignition tumbler has a different end piece on it than the trunk one so it will not work. Strange but I tried my 73 trunk key in the 69 lock that I do not have a key for and with a little wiggling it worked, pure chance I suspect. Don "Don May" 24432... MORE
Can anyone tell me the the dates of Mk3 Sprites. i.e. Mk2 Sprite was split into to 'versions', Mk2 and Mk2.5. I think that early Mk3's had sidescreens and later ones had wind down windows. etc... I looked on the site but it doesnt go into too much detail. So , basically can someone list a basic list of Mk's and dates and major changes, I am trying to work out if there was a Mk3a and Mk3b in "unofficial" terms. Cheers Max "MG_Max" 24407... MORE
That's is what I pay. I supply the frame, dismantled, cleaned, polished, protected, with new fitting screws and new rubber seal. I get it back with new glass, fitted and assembled. its for a '71 Sprite. "Guy Weller" 24405... MORE
The meaning of life still eludes me however . . . I am wondering if the tumbler sold by Moss for the earlier MKII (midget MKI) dash ignition will fit the trunk handle as I suspect the same tumblers were used on the ignition and the trunk lock and the trunk lock remains the same for later models. I have bought one from Moss for a Midget MKI ignition and it only costs $8.00 and comes with two keys. I have a 69 Midget (sort of for now parts car, sorry it is also missing the trunk key) but... MORE
is that including glass or fitting only? David "David Jacobs" 24395... MORE
I don't know about Kurust. Phosphoric acid will simply dissolve the rust - not much color except the liquid will be light green. After the phosphoric is rinsed off with clear water there will be a gray/brown film of iron phosphate left behind. That's a perfect paint base, don't sand it off. Prime it soon, preferably within hours, certainly within days. If phosphoric acid is unavailable to you, use Naval Jelly. It's phosphoric acid with a thickening agent. The pink color is just cosmetics. "Jeffrey Holmes" 24397... MORE
