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"We can all agree...." Yes we can, Jens...most of us. There are some (few?) who think "oil is oil" and this is true...unless you are talking the "additive packages" that brand name mfgrs. add to the basic stock intended specifically for automotive use. Then the "oil is oil" idea goes right out the window! :):) Paul A (and I) use(d) Fram's for many, many moons with no problems so it is quite possible that conscientious scheduled oil (and filter) changes are more "key" in this than alleged quality of filter. I don't know but certainly, "better" is "better" by... MORE
Hi Cap'n and Jens, I guess I've got to be a lone noise in the wind here. I've always used Fram or Pennzoil filters for as long as I can remember. I've got a 1275 in my van that has almost 300,000 miles on it since a major rebuild. Did 105,000 mile on a quickie rebuild before that, on an engine that came out of a burned MG Midget wreck. Admittedly this engine is now pretty tired, but it still goes OK. I changed the oil and filter religiously at 5k miles, with nary a peep out of this... MORE
Hi Pete, Glad to know you are a satisfied with what I did for you. This is the only way to do it, (even if I didn't do it for you). There is no question that your MC is WAY better than even a new one. Joe tells me that many people send him BRAND NEW MC's to be sleeved. I can tell you from the many I have done that this is the only way to go. Also, as you found out by closer examination of what you had, amateurs trying to rebuild this particular MC do more... MORE
Rick, I took the less frustrating but more costly option when recently dealing with a leaky MC. Working through Gerard, I sent him the defective unit and he coordinated with Sierra Automotive in CA to brass resleeve it (10-yr warranty). Also had it powder-coated. It is now installed and working flawlessly. The cost was a little more than a new one as listed, but I can move on knowing that it is just as good or better than a standard MC. Good luck, Pete 78 midget Granville, OH "Pete Skalski" 32183... MORE
Hi All I am going to try to rebuild the master cylinder in my 79 midget this weak end I have the rebuild kit and the hone. I have never done one of these befor. Does any one have any tips tricks or helpfull hints. I have replaced all lines both calipers all rear barke parts wheel cylinders also. And my brake pedal still gets rock hard and front brakes drag. The thing is I drive it the first time it gets hard.I let it set for about 15 mins. and the presure lets up and I can drive... MORE
Rick, you might want to take a look at this page in Gerard's web site. http://tinyurl.com/2xm32 It is plans for a simple rotisserie for turning the tub over. I hope to reach the point this summer where I can put mine onto one of these. Nelson "Nelson Wittstock" 32165... MORE
From: David Jacobs [mailto: mail@... ] Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 12:46 PM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: Reply - Re: Reply - Re: [midgetsprite] Re: Tub interior restoration yes, "it" is - he only said the website was there, not necessarily the pics yet! Regards David "Duncan Sinclair" 32172... MORE
Duncan One of the jobs I hated most on the car (and there were plenty of them) was scraping all the underseal/bitumen off the inner footwells and fronts of the inner footwells. I'm not small (no comments needed on that one thanks Ed) at 6 foot and getting inside those footwells and scraping, scraping, scraping was very uncomfortable! Regarding carpet glue and fluff, I found Cellulose thinners worked really well. Apply it with a brush, leave for a few minutes and it just scrapes off, once you've got the majority off - go over it with an old rag... MORE
From: Rick Bender [mailto: rick.jnb@... ] Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 10:07 AM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: Reply - Re: Reply - Re: [midgetsprite] Re: Tub interior restoration Duncan - How did you safetly turn you tub over? I'm hoping to get my tub fliped over in a couple of weeks after finishing the topside to start on the undercoating and stripping. Was wonder how to safetly turn it over without crushing the cowl. What did you support the body with after you got it turned over? Did you put your car on some sort of dolly to be able... MORE
Duncan - How did you safetly turn you tub over? I'm hoping to get my tub fliped over in a couple of weeks after finishing the topside to start on the undercoating and stripping. Was wonder how to safetly turn it over without crushing the cowl. What did you support the body with after you got it turned over? Did you put your car on some sort of dolly to be able to move it around? Thanks Guys. The sun is finally shinning here in southern Wisconsin and supposed to warm up to the mid 70's this afternoon, got... MORE
From: amukdigiphoto [mailto: amukdigiphoto@... ] Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 7:18 AM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: Reply - Re: [midgetsprite] Re: Tub interior restoration Duncan One of the jobs I hated most on the car (and there were plenty of them) was scraping all the underseal/bitumen off the inner footwells and fronts of the inner footwells. I'm not small (no comments needed on that one thanks Ed) at 6 foot and getting inside those footwells and scraping, scraping, scraping was very uncomfortable! Regarding carpet glue and fluff, I found Cellulose thinners worked really well. Apply it with a brush, leave... MORE
Nigel, I think Nisonger Corp. also does speedo's & Tach's. One of mine was the wrong number, and Faspec had a used one. They sent it in and it cost me $125 restored and rebuilt. Bob, Troutdale, OR "Robert Webb" 32143... MORE
Rick The answers to these questions are as long as they are short! I can tell you what I did, but I'm not sure it will help you in your situation. I stripped all my interior paint back to bare metal using Nitromors paint stripper, washed it down with water, dried it, cleaned it all with a wire brush zip wheel in an angle grinder, sprayed it with etch primer, high build primer filler and finally top coat. I removed the carpet glue and (one of the worst jobs of the lot) the underseal/bitumen panels on the trans tunnel... MORE
Peter Do you know how much odo's and tach's cost approximately to renovate/restore? Mine are both working fine, except the odo has lost its trip reset button thingy which I'd like fixed/replaced. I don't think there is anything wrong with either of them, but I would like someone to check them over before I put them back in. Tia Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 32140... MORE
Listers - Finishing getting the exterior of my Midget tub stripped and primed and about to move onto the interior and trunk areas. Whats the best way to go about it? The trunk is fairly dirty with light rust scattered around and there is a dirty sludge in the cracks and crevices, whats the best way to remove it and paint the interior? I doubt I'd be able to get all the rust and won't be able to strip everything to bare metal so I'll be leaving areas of the original paint. What should I paint the interior/floor with?... MORE
Yeah. Im going to have to find some other type of shoes to wear strictly for driving my Midget. My MR2 has come along way since those pics. 90% of the car has been painted now. All thats is left to paint is the aftermarket front and rear airdam and then reassembly. If you look at the third pic youll see that Iv put a driver side air vent. The first gen MR2s only had it on the right side. Iv also relocated the gas filler to the B pillar of both sides of the car and installed Datsun... MORE
Whats up Roger I found that the steering wheel isnt the main problem. Its my frickin long legs and my propensity for wearing work boots. After removing the steering wheel I found that it made it easier to get out but I still hit my boots on the front edge of the door opening on the way out. Im hoping that the modification that Im making to the bulkhead just behind the seets will help even more. Because Im slightly over 6' I have to slide the seat all the way back "but" I like to sit in a... MORE
Hey all. Yes, it's Graziano. Frankenstein@... is my "dummy" address for yahoo groups. Please respond directly as I'm on the digest. Midget 1500 with twin HS4s, 285 cam, .30 over, head work, 13 row oil cooler, and headers.. As I mentioned a while back, I'm having trouble with the car getting hot here in Tx, which is causing vapor lock. I'm re-installing the original 3 row staggered radiator, and standard water pump with an electric fan. 1) should I wire the fan straight to the ignition so that it runs when the key is in the "on" position whether... MORE
Blackish/Grey you say? Well ALLRIGHTY THEN, Jens...it's not oil!! :):) Oil is bluish in color and "stays" in the air. and....the exhaust definitely smells of burning oil (and not unburnt gasoline). Whitish/grey (or gray) is water which is a byproduct of combustion and along with condensation within the exhaust system is produced most abundantly when a "cold" motor (overnight sit, fr'instance) is initially fired up, most definitely on those cool, humid mornings when it tends to stay in the air rather than more immediately evaporate as it does in "drier" air. Black is definitely unburnt gasoline which we get... MORE
What color is the "smoke", Jens? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 32079... MORE
Tede The stuff you wnat is 3M Weatherstrip adhesive. Over here it comes in a red and white squeeze tube and is yellow in color. I think the paint is a fairly common color of gray. Probably other listers could tell you what they used but I am sure you could find a close enough match. Hope this helps. Mike mk2sprite@... 32075... MORE
I believe the color is called "Dove Grey". I second the 3M, but used the spray on myself. Worked for both the Midget and the B's tops. "TJ Tryon, Jr." 32076... MORE
I am on the point of summoning up the courage to replace my Mk IV Sprite's tatty old hood with new fabric. A couple of questions for anyone who has already done this: 1. What sort of glue should I use to fix the fabric to the header rail? 2. Is there anywhere I can get the grey paint for the hood frame? Thanks in advance. Tede "tede4uk" 32070... MORE
Ah, at last, some empirical facts to check! Thanks David. Actually, those figures look to me like quite a lot of resistance (wind + rolling) combined with not a lot of momentum ( mass X speed ) Maybe my car is pretty standard in this respect after all. By comparison, I know that on the more or less level road into the local town I could accelerate my Padded Cell up to about 70 and then coast for over 1 1/2 miles before it had slowed to 30. The game was to judge when to come off the power... MORE
I know if I ask this group, someone can suggest as to whom to contact to get my disc brake calipers rebuilt and a possible prices. Martin Cooper Martin Cooper 32054... MORE
