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In the UK we have a TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, He hosts a weekly car show and gets to drive all the exotic cars. He drifts and smokes the tyres every time he goes out. W*nker. alan "alan.east-jones" 30192... MORE
Well I have too admit after much soul searching and observation I do like the new midget I bought. I am eating alittle bit of pride here when I say that it is better built than my beloved X -19. There Its out and I can move on now! I have since sold the X and I am concentrating on the MG only. What an amazing car. Alot of fun to work on and drive. Am I just lucky? my Mg has alomost no rust drives well and seems to need little work, all of the electrical functions but... MORE
Esteemed Listers, It will be sunny and in the 50's in Chicagoland this weekend and it's time to get serious about McGee the Midget again. I have cleaned and beautified my first SU and re-assembled. Much to my disgust the throttle link/jet assembly is very sticky. This is my first crack at messing with SU's as the car came with the ZS 150. My only thought is that the needle may be sticking and/or bent. Would appreciate any input from those more familiar with SU's than I. Hints as to what to replace on a rebuild also appreciated. Don't... MORE
Rob C. "Stickyness" IS usually the sign of a jet (or slightly bent needle) not exactly centered. SU makes a "Tuning Tool Set" ($15?) which has a jet centering tool which will line this little critter up perfectly. If this doesn't free things up, most likely a slightly bent needle, then. It is important to keep the same suction valve with the same suction chamber. I am told these are "matched" at the factory. There should be no sticking between valve and chamber when these parts are clean of all varnish/fuel deposit which may have accumulated over use/time. Cap'n.... MORE
Jim, I like the idea of color coded lines. (Sorry Nigel) I think it has a "Wow Factor" of 4.6. Post photos. Cheers, Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 30159... MORE
I have 2 main mechanical issues I will need to fix before doing any real driving. (I have many other non-mechanical issues, some even just mental). 1. Brake pedal needs "pumped" to build up pressure. Once I pump it a few times I can hold it down and it stays firmly (doesn't go all the way to the floor no matter how hard I push). Before I pump it, it goes all the way to the floor. When I let off the brakes, and drive for a bit, I need to go through the whole process again. I don't... MORE
Sports & Classics (Darien, CT) No internal ducting with these. :( Speedwell or MiniMania has alum. ducting avail though for those cars with stock rad. set-up. Me...I'll fabricate something for my non-stock alum rad. :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 30133... MORE
I have a 73, and a 74. They had only sat for about a year each, however I did have a 62 that the previous owner had run since 1987 and then only for a couple of months, almost 22 years total except for that short period . . . There are things you can count on fixing and replacing when they sit that long . On the 73 I disconnected the fuel line from the float bowls, stuck it in a jar and turned on the key to activate the fuel pump to see how the fuel was... MORE
David By safety I was more refering to driver saftey than car strength, in that a hard top offers more protection from low flying tarmac than a soft top, it always shockes me how many (even top level competitors) press against the roof when they roll a car, this being a thin piece of tin or even canvas between you and 100mph tarmac. There are also several rules about drivers arms/heads not being able to get out of a cockpit in the event of an accident Regards Chris Valentine Dunlop Motorsport maybe in general, but in the specific arena... MORE
maybe in general, but in the specific arena of MG club racing, there would be no safety derived advantage in using a hardtop (especially a 'race weight' one) as it doesn't provide any structural strength, unlike a saloon or factory built steel hardtop/coupe; and with short races with no driver changes, this rule would not be a factor either, so Nigel's theory of superior aerodynamics would appear to be the logical one. Regards David "David Jacobs" 30125... MORE
Rob I've pondered this one myself, I must admit. Mainly because I've always really hated the look of the standard OE hardtop that is fitted to the later Midgets and Sprites. For some reason in my mind - it just doesn't look 'right', it looks ungainly and an 'afterthought'. However the original BMC and Healey Hardtops for the Frogeye and early MKII Sprites and MK I and II Midgets looks 'right' and elegant. I've never actually sat down and analysed the differences between these hardtops, but the earlier one in my mind just looks 'curvier' and more 'sporty' whereas... MORE
Rob I've pondered this one myself, I must admit. Mainly because I've always really hated the look of the standard OE hardtop that is fitted to the later Midgets and Sprites. For some reason in my mind - it just doesn't look 'right', it looks ungainly and an 'afterthought'. However the original BMC and Healey Hardtops for the Frogeye and early MKII Sprites and MK I and II Midgets looks 'right' and elegant. I've never actually sat down and analysed the differences between these hardtops, but the earlier one in my mind just looks 'curvier' and more 'sporty' whereas... MORE
Thanks Guy, As you, I tend to believe they were bolted down through the carpet which served as a sponge to trap water and rust them. I'll take your lead and coat the bottom of the rails with something to prevent rust and mount them on rubber strips and split the carpet around them. "Don May" 30090... MORE
Morning, Does anyone know if from the factory the seat rails were installed on top of the carpet or directly to the floor board and the carpet installed around the rails? Have seen it both ways but that was on previously owned cars so have no reference to factory practice. Either way . . . in all the cars I have and had the seat rails were very prone to rust. Don "Don May" 30086... MORE
Hi John, Just want to thank you for telling me about checking Macgregor for my side curtain felts. They arrived yesterday and should work out nicely. I wound up paying a third less than I would have with Vicky Brit even with international shipping. I'll be checking them out again for other items as my restoration continues. Thanks again, Nelson "Nelson Wittstock" 30063... MORE
hey unfortunately a relocation out of the country is frocing me to sell my 75 midget. the car is in good body shape with one small dent behind the license plate and a small tear around the jack hole on the drivers side. i have the title. the engine is all there but we took it apart and it needs lots of work. i was going to get another engine and put it in there but lack of time does not permit. the interior is there but its dirty and the head rests have no vinly on them. this... MORE
TJ, After I removed the seats I am now faced with the same project you are doing, scraping the rust from the floor pans. Not high on my list of fun projects. The forward foot well areas had heavy coats of undercoating under the carpet and did not rust but under the seats I have some clean up to do, no serious rust areas but some and needs to be cleaned and painted. Trust you are on the road soon. Don "Don May" 29965... MORE
Yeah, I made the mistake of coating the foot well in paint thinner before I started scraping again last night. I feel kinda dumb today. It's raining here as well today, thankfully I have a couple of weeks until the Midget will be ready for the road. Unfortunatly, it looks like another weekend at work, thus taking away more time that could be better spend being more productive on the car. (Anyone know of a company in the midwest looking to hire a VERY high end geek?) TJ "TJ Tryon, Jr." 29946... MORE
On at Stoneleigh this weekend - I drove past the sign this morning http://www.heritage-motorsport.co.uk/ See the MG midget rally cars in action, if not, watch the rest of the class ic rally cars on the special stage in the Royal Agricultural Showground. Al so classic circuit race cars - all categories. Cars and bits for sale etc e tc Photos of last weekends MG Resto show at Stoneleigh will be downloaded this weekend. Including the Black and White Midget and Sprite Clubs stand. (If you were there you'll know what I mean.) Also a very clever , very fast,... MORE
Hi Dan, Sounds like you are making good progress on car. My 62 Sprite is also in multiple pieces and is an ongoing project. Haven't got to the engine yet this time but I have completely rebuilt it many years back. All of the hardware was standard American threads except my SU's that have Whitworth. I am curious as to what you were referring to when you said "I did the rear main modification to it (the one using JB Weld)." That's a new one to me. My current activity is sorting hardware as I just bought replacements nuts... MORE
Duncan I've just finished renovating my hood frame. I decided not to strip it back to bare metal like most of the other parts I've done, but to just give it a thorough rub down and coat of primer. The joint areas were the biggest pita, with paint not adhering correctly, but I fixed that with rubbing them all down again and spot priming them with etch primer. Then finished it with 3 coats of gloss black - looks pretty good now. I then spot riveted back the upper hood material 'stays' and the inner 'pop studs' - looks... MORE
From: amukdigiphoto [mailto: amukdigiphoto@... ] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 5:42 AM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Restoration website Duncan Thanks for the link. It looks remarkably sound, although that's difficult to see from the pictures. Any reason you left the windscreen on? Space? Nigel "Duncan Sinclair" 29904... MORE
Guy Grrrrrrrr...I'm trying to get it finished! Moreso now that summers winging =3D=0D it's way towards us and I'm really hoping to be driving it this summer! I wouldn't mind a 'light' restoration next, I'm not sure I would want to go =3D=0D through this process again! Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 29895... MORE
My Mk3 Midget, (Ava) has the same problem. The hood is very difficult to clamp down. Sometimes it takes two of us to do it. It's a lot better now than it was 10 years ago when I had the rebuild. New body shell, original hood frame, new hood. It's also easier when the weather is warmer, and I daren't even think about putting the hood up in winter. I've broken too many nails to try that again!! Margaret South Lincolnshire (UK) "May you be in Heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you're dead" mmbrock88@... 29889... MORE
Chris, yes, they're listed as the same part for Bs and Midgets, though the part number is a different one now from the one in the old factory parts book, so it's possible they're not exactly as they used to be. Mine has been really tight since it was fitted about 10 years ago - I keep hoping the hood will stretch and get easier to get the clips fastened, but I've come to the conclusion it's not going to now! I think careful adjustment can make it better though. Regards David "David Jacobs" 29876... MORE
