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Chris Thanks for your input. Natural bodies and black painted arms seem to be the consensus. For longevity's sake I've decided to paint the bodies silver and arms black, so they don't look too yucky in a year or so's time. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26643... MORE
Jeremy I took your advice. I've etch primed the whole body's and will paint the body silver and the arms black. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26642... MORE
Ed You do make me smile and that has to be a good thing :o) I took your advice and enlisted the help of a next door neighbour, and we tackled it together. Me holding the steering rack down and heating the nut and him whacking the locknut with a cold chisel. It still took about 20 mins of heating before it decided to move! The locknut on the other side was so seized solid, it decided to break in half before it would turn! No matter same result - both locknuts off an undamaged TRE's and tie rods.... MORE
Roger Thank you for taking the time to reply, your information is much appreciated. I think I'll leave the body's natural and the arms black. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26623... MORE
I can only speak for my car, a'66 Midget Mk 2. As it originally arrived, the fronts were definitely left natural with the arms painted black, no question. The rears were also natural, but the arms were finished in what I think was probably a red oxide paint. The people who cared, fairly quickly painted them, however, as they seemed to be subjected to a real testing time under the rear wheel arches. "Roger Stinson" 26617... MORE
Nigel... I have used the "new" sealed tie rod ends for many moons now. On my PO'd Vizardized '74 I had to replace them at approx. 50K miles and this was a car lowered with sport springs, 5.5" wheels with 60 series and KYB Gas Adjust shocks, 3/4" roll bar...very stiff set-up so the sealed TR ends I got from Sports & Classics I'd have to rate as pretty good. Anyone know any reason why the sealed ends couldn't be tapped for a regular grease fitting? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26627... MORE
Hi guys Me again asking stoopid questions : ) Can anyone tell me the original finish on the front and rear lever arm shock absorbers? Were they left in a natural metal state or painted? My front ones are currently in a kind of silver hammered finish on the body and what looks like black on the arm. The rear ones seem to be in the natural metal finish (although covered in a white substance - is that Aluminium Oxide?) and the arms seem so rusty I cant tell what they were finished in. I think the arms were... MORE
Alan Really helpful advice, thank you. I think what I'll do is, order up some TRE's and then take your advice and =3D=0D grind off parallels on the existing TRE's, that should give me something to lock =3D=0D in the vice while I attack the locknut. Its interesting that Moss do not list the tie rod's as being available, min =3D=0D d you, they don't list the locknut's as being available either, except in the Spri =3D=0D te Mk1 Midget MkII brochure - interesting. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26610... MORE
Jeremy Yep, correct. Locknut won't move and neither will the tie rod end. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26608... MORE
Nigel... All the lever shocks I've ever seen (which is NOT to be interpreted as, "I've seen them all) were presented in a flat or semi- gloss black. However, I have heard they are also done in "natural" metal finish as they come from various aftermarket rebuilders. For correct info on this I would query Peter C. at nos@... ., our lever shock specialist and rebuilder. Now he has most likely seen them all and has accurate answers for your particular project? :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26618... MORE
Nigel, When being brutal with the steering rods / arms make sure you don't bend th em. Another effective way of making the track rod end flats useful is to grind the flats parallel and obviously closer together to be a good fit in a good open ended spanner. You should be changing them as a matter of course any way at only =A36:50 or each, so don't be afraid of damaging the TR ends per se. Alan Aside Track rod ends and steering arms (Thomson steering joints - trade name), Mo re items made on the Leamington site... MORE
Hey, I could be reading this wrong but I think this job is a three wrench/vise thing. You must hold the tie rod in the vise - a wrench on the tie rod end and then a wrench to break free the lock nut. The lock nut locks the end not the rod. Get what I mean? Jon That's how I do it anyway. I've got this far without a nut splitter, I think I'll persevere without one, and hold it back as a last resort. Thanks again for the advice. Nigel "Jon Paschke" 26614... MORE
Jeremy Thanks. The whole steering rack is off the car, which I guess is whats causing part of the problem. I'll ponder the cutting a slot in the nut when I really do resign failure! Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26592... MORE
I assume the track rod end (TRE) is still on the tie rod as well. If so then just place the TRE back into the steering arm and that will hold the tie rod solid. Failing the above don't grind the nut fully off. Cut a slot in the nut as close as you dare to the thread, maybe several, then use a cold chisel to open the nut up i.e point the cold chisel along a cord not a radius. "Jeremy Cogman" 26588... MORE
There's a little flat on the rod you can put a wrench on. It probably won't work. Use a pipe wrench on the tie rod end. Maybe you'll have to replace the tie rod end, maybe not. "Jeffrey Holmes" 26586... MORE
Hi guys Ok, I give in, how do you get that lock nut off tie rod? I've tried everything, I just cannot get a decent enough grip on the tie rod, to be able to exert enough pressure to get the lock nut to move. Any and all suggestions welcome. tia Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26584... MORE
Cap'n Bob, My you do go on. I can't process all of what you sent but I will speak to part of it. As the father of two boys (21 and 15)I know (first hand empirical) that the parents of children within 5-10 years of mine either way are the worst in a long time. This is my generation and they, as a group, suck! The catalog of selfishiness, over-indulgence in all areas, horrific judgement and evasion of adult responsibilities of all kinds is truly mind-blowing. All the silliness of the 60's and 70's was pounded into the wits... MORE
HI ONE FRONT SHOCK I REMOVED FROM MY CAR FELT DEAD BUT I HELD IT VERTICALY IN THE VICE AND WORKED IT BACK AND FORWARD THE AIR BUBLED OUT AND IT FEELS FINE. IT APEARES THAT THEY DON'T "SELF BLEED" WHEN FITED BUT NEED TO BE WORKED IN THE CORRECT ORIENTATION TO DRIVE THE AIR OUT BEFORE FITING. PREHAPS TRY THIS ON THE DUFF ONE AND IT MAY BE OK GOOD LUCK ROB "denniseagle2002" 26556... MORE
The fulcrum pin is of a stepped design and the two threads are of different diameters. I gave up on these cork washers years ago. They don't last long and I'm not convinced they do anything while they do last. I just make sure there is plenty of grease left round that area. "Jeremy Cogman" 26551... MORE
Terry I have a batch of those clips, they seem to work ok for me, I pop rivetted =3D=0D one onto piece of scrap steel and tried up the sill strip and it seemed to hold =3D=0D it in position. If I get time this evening, I'll take a photograph of one of the clips and =3D=0D post it in my folder for you to look at. Don't know enough about lever arm shocks to help you on that one. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26550... MORE
Terry... I am assuming you are working with a "rebuilt" shock under warranty?? If so, "good" rebulds are definitely hard to find...'cause very few know what they are doing or don't do a "proper" job. Go to www.gerardsgarage.com and click on Spridet and maintenance articles, wherein you will find an excellent piece on this "art" authored by Peter C. of Worldwide Auto Parts. Rebuilding levers is his specialty. The man does it right, and improves the product with modern materials while he does so. He can also provide optional valving as well. Instead of replacing under warranty, you MIGHT... MORE
Hi guys I'm just about to start putting the front suspension back together. Where the kingpin attaches to the Wishbone, there are two cork sealing washers. In my parts books both cork washers are the same external diameter but one is a larger internal diameter than the other. Anyone know the reason or significance of this? Is it something to do with the fulcrum pin? tia Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26547... MORE
Hi Trying to put the 'chrome' strip back on the sill of 1972 midget using new retaining clips. The ones supplied are far too small and fail to retain th e strip, good job I tried them first before pop riveting them to the sill. Anyone else had this problem or is this just a bad batch of clips. I get them from a local MG bit and pieces enthusiasts shop, think they come from same source as MGOC. I got an original BMC workshop manual for Midget/Spri te for =A310 from him yesterday. Just had to re exchange... MORE
which, if you believe in kharma, is as it should be. Intelligent we have not been... "psuedo intelligence" and "cowardly" would be more appropriately like it and now we are paying for it which, if you believe in kharma, is as it should be. Too many spoiled children running around with weapons, both here and abroad. So much for "political correctness" in terms of "tolerance and understanding". Time for the "good guys" to identify themselves and get together to practice a little tough love on the "bullies on the block" and put a stop to all this piss poor... MORE
LOL...:):) Margaret... I am not talking about the unawareness of childhood which allows a relatively carefree existence my good lady. I am talking about a mature adult with a keen sense of situational awareness who works with the positive while being totally knowledgeable with respect to the negative, yet has lived a carefree existence (as an adult) for the last 30 years!! :) It is not a matter of getting anything off my chest. You asked an intelligent question...you got an intelligent answer though you may not like what you hear! :) It is part of the reality that... MORE
