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Hi guys, Very happy to report I now have a good clue to the hard/no start problem on my full race 948 set up. Noticed that after a few seconds of cranking and some coughs while the motor nearly started, the ignition light went out. Pulled a plug and sure enough, Nice spark for a few seconds of cranking, then the ignition light goes out and nothing. on subsequent tried the light goes out immediatly when cranking and no spark at all. After cooling for a while I get the light and spark for a few seconds again. The... MORE
Hi David and Kay Just found my Lindsay Porter book on Midget and Sprite. The Serial number ( chassis #) will be on a plate on the left side of the engine compartment under the air cleaner. This will show you what year it is. The 61 will have a number between GAN1 101 and GAN1 16183. A number higher than that starting with GAN2 16184 will be a 62/63 and will go up to GAN2 25767. Hope this helps. Hope you picked it up by now. Enjoy Ian "mcalpine" 31742... MORE
On my way back from dropping my kids off at school this morning, I met a guy with a gorgeous 1969 TR6. Turns out his lower back problems are preventing him from fully enjoying the car so he wants to sell it. It's immaculate inside and out AND for those of you who'd ever dreamed of a Sunbeam Tiger or a TR8, it has a professionally installed 350 Chevy engine and auto trans AND a Corvette rear end. The car is a sleeper and looks complete stock until you open the bonnet or start the engine. Anyone interested in... MORE
Too late - it's already been done - John Cooper did it with a Mini, and the factory did it with a Mini Moke (Twinni Moke). Neither of them were that successful (probably because they only had 60 or 70 psi oil pressure) David PS why bother locking the rear steering? it'd be much more interesting having both ends steer, and none of that wimpy Honda 4WS where they only have a limited amount of lock at the rear! "David Jacobs" 31614... MORE
I finally got time to go a little further into my stuck in first sprite problem. I still would like to drive it around while I save up for the 5speed conversion. Which by the way seems to be better for the "fabricatingly challenged" than are the other options, although that big ole Toyota dual overhead cam job looks like fun. I removed the Gaiter retaining plate, Gaiter and draught excluder (sheesh, looked like the shifter housing and rubber do dad to me.) I think some parts are missing. Like the thrust button and spring. Looking down into the... MORE
my 79 1500 was smelling like gas badly. Noticed the water controlled choke was basicaly hanging by one screw. So, like a fool, I disasembled the choke while I was in there, just to see if everything was ok. Now the stupid part: I'm not sure if I lost it, or if it was never there, but there's no heat mass. Now my question is, it's nice and warm here in NH now, being spring and all; Do I even need a choke, or can I just seal off the holes in the carb? and how hard is it... MORE
Why stop there, lets go all the way. There were several conversions in the '80s (I think Renault???) where they set up an unlimited rally car where they hopped up the front engine, front wheel drive, then built an identical engine/tranny drive and put it in the rear. Just connected the throttles and the shift linkage and clutches together. They locked the steering in the rear and presto. a 500 or 600 HP rocket ship 4 wheel drive rally car. And if you blew an engine, you could still keep on driving!!!!! So all we have to do is... MORE
Hi As a sideline to the techy questions and to satisfy my curiosity...... I was just wondering what stories there are about how you guys came to be so into Midgets. They don't really seem like the first choice of car for the wide open roads out there. (or have I seen too many movies!?) I know that America was the main market for MG's since the TC and that they have a huge following over there, but why a Midget as opposed to say a Mustang or a Camaro? I'd love to own a Mustang, but trouble is... MORE
Neil, Remember that the taller top gear you can get in the tranny is good for cruising but also allows you to run a higher ratio rear end which will allow better acceleration in sprints and hill climbs and still have enough top speed for highway driving. I used to use the Morris pickup truck diff (5.38:1 if my feeble memory serves) for autocross with great success but I sure needed a taller top gear or overdrive. I suffered on the freeway at about 6,000 rpm at 55 Mph, but it really did scoot through the gears!!!!!!!!!. Cheers, Bob... MORE
Anybody every take the column out and just shorten it? On my 73 it seems it could be 3-4 inches closer to the dash. The fellow customizing the black one did what I think is a very attractive dash. That type of dash, with a shortened column should give us more room, no? Robert Houston Texan in New Mexico There is a general place in your brain, I think, reserved for 'melancholy of relationships past.' It grows and prospers as life progresses, forcing you finally, against your better judgment, to listen to country music. - Kary Mullis rbhouston@... 31509... MORE
G'day Martyn "Stumbling" on initial acceleration is also a syptom of running lean as you crack open the throttle. Once you get to cruising, the combination of damper springs, metering needes and adjustment might give you the right mixture, but the carby piston could be lifting too quickly as you try to accelerate. Try dumping the oil in the dashpots and putting in 20W50 engine oil. avagoodday Colin "Colin@SpriteParts" 31444... MORE
Alan Gram... Except for removeable racing set-ups I've seen nothing that would help you in the tilt-wheel dept. Opting for a 12" or 13" "flat" rather than "dished" steering wheel should help to a great extent, though. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 31469... MORE
Try a slightly smaller steering wheel. It makes life a lot easier. I am only 6 feet 1and a 1/2 inches tall, but it made it a lot easier, even for me. Oh, and its probably a lot cheaper too. R "Roger Stinson" 31443... MORE
Can anyone help? Looking to purchase both aluminum mounts for a Midget or Sprite steering rack. Marty Cooper 59' Bugeye Round Rock, TX Martin Cooper 31416... MORE
My son and I have finally finished the Sprite. Now we're work on some final tuning. The engine is a 1098 with a VP3 cam and 1.5/1 rockers, carbs have the rich needles and stiffer springs at Cap'n Bobs suggestion which I agree with. I can get it to idle at 1000 or so but when pulling away it sputters and stumbles. It will rev freely in neutral. Does anyone have an idea what the problem is? Ignition parts are new. Thanks. Martyn "Martyn Eastwood" 31400... MORE
Great Day!!! Thanks to all for all the good advice. We are on all four wheels with the rear suspension in correct geometry. Many thanks to Ed at justbrits for the phone call last night that got me on the right track!!! Ice almost of the lake, Chris Craft needs an outing, Red Wings win, MG on four wheels, almost 70 degrees in northern Wisconsin, what a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steve Quandt "smquandt" 31386... MORE
Hi all As discussed in the previous thread my 1500 is totally standard bar the K&N filter, which was fitted and set up by the MGOC on their rolling road. However it has always been a bit hesitant, especially pulling away from cold. I also noticed it yesterday when it was fully warmed up and I was driving along at about 40.Ipressed the pedal down to accelerate and there was a definate hesitation, almost like turbo lag. Naturally I checked under the bonnet to see if some wag had fitted a turbo, but alas not! When I bought the... MORE
Hi all, just thought id ask you all what u think of putting fiberglass wings on my 1500? Main reason would be they are cheap (relatively) and don't rust. are they any problem of putting fiberglass wings on a midget? Another plus i suppose is that they are lighter thus increasing BHP per ton. OR rather than wings would a whole front end be better? Just wondering probably never get around to it but i like to know all my options! Cheers Ben Ben Lawlor 31342... MORE
Just crawled out from underneath the car. I believe that the springs fall into the poorly manufactured category. I took one off and tried to see if I could change the radius by jumping on it, no change. My next move is to reassemble then enlist a friend ( very heavy friend) and my son on Saturday. My son and I will force the shackles to the rear then afore mentioned heavy friend will stand in the car. I'll keep you posted. THANKS FOR THE HELP!!!!!!! Steve Quandt "smquandt" 31341... MORE
David, You are probably correct if the shackle is in a vertical position, but I think if the spring eye is at all in front of the shackle mounting, then as the car settles the spring eye will be forced forward and upwards at this point. I do remember when I put new springs on mine this is exactly what happenned. The solution was to lift the weight off the spring and use a pry bar through the shackle link to flip it over to the rear. I think the cause of this is poorly manufactured aftermarket springs that... MORE
Surely if the direction of force (and resultant movement) of the spring eye is below the shackle top pivot, then the shackle will take up it's correct position under load. To do otherwise, the spring eye would have to be moving towards a point above the shackle top pivot, and this would be unlikely to happen unless the springs were out of shape to the extreme. Regards David "David Jacobs" 31339... MORE
Guy has it right I bet. You need to lever the rear spring shackles back so that they're at least vertical - preferably pointing back a little. Then load HEAVY concrete slabs in the boot (trunk) and leave for as long as possible for the springs to settle down a little. Hope this helps. Steve Clark Southampton, UK "Steve and Sue Clark" 31337... MORE
Yeah. It probably will handle good that way...:) I live in an area that has steep drive ways and I like my cars "looowww". The two things never mix so that's why Im going air ride. I haven't ran my Midget yet with the air ride suspension. Iv only had the car for about 8 months and 4 of those months its been in my shop being "tricked out". I do have air ride in the front of my 85 supercharged Toyota MR2 and Tokico 10 way adjustable shocks on all 4 corners and the car rides surprisingly very... MORE
Iv installed a 13" "dished" steering wheel in my Midget. I could get a flat wheel but I think that the best option for me would be to go with a removable wheel. It will also add some security as well. Alan Gram "Alan Gram" 31513... MORE
Steve, Just a thought.... Take a look at the rear attachment points of the spring. The shackle should slope down rearwards from the mounting bracket to the eye on the spring. I think it is possible with new curved springs to get them fitted such that the shackle slopes forward and the spring eye is in front of the mounting point. Once fitted like this they wouldn't naturally flip over to the correct position. The result is a high ride height and axle moves forward a bit. Guy "Guy Weller" 31334... MORE
