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Hi All, I just wanted to rant about the shoddy condition of the Midget that i am restoring at the moment. This is my first Midget i have ever owned and have always wanted to have an MG. So I purchased one about two months ago which was mechanically sound ( apart from the clutch) but is a bit shoddy bodywork wise. I ordered the replacement sills (inner & Outer) and started work today removing bits for the job. So where does the frustration come in to it you ask. A weekend spent taking a car apart is 'fun'... MORE
Hi, I am looking to purchase some tools to go with my 1965 MKII Midget, but I am not sure whether I need Whitworth spanners, AF spanners or both. I did find in the driver's handbook a very short list of tools that came with the car, as will as a list of additional tools available as a supplement. Also, the same supplemental tool list is shown at the Midget&Sprite Club at the following URL: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/sprite/spritetools.htm I note the list includes AF Spanners rather than Whitworth. Does this mean that my 1965 car would not have hardware requiring Whitworth... MORE
Hi, Peter... I am no 1500 guy but I've been following the thread on the discussion of longer studs needed for certain valve covers produced for the 1500 Spit motor. I just came across something in my TriumphTune performance manual which apparently deals with this. TriumphTune (TT) Part #105123 "On late 1500 models after '78, longer studs will be required wherein tube nuts are fitted as standard" This pertains to valve covers, all using the standard gasket. Sounds like what you may be looking for? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 32602... MORE
"Has anyone encountered this?" Yes, Martin...Glen Burns on the autox spridget list encountered exactly this problem..hairline crack(s) in the metal holding the jet...subject of a post of his of about two weeks ago I think. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 32600... MORE
Hi Drew, My BMC workshop manual for my Mk2 Sprite gives the working load as 750 lb. and the spring rate as 271 lb. in. FWIW they state that the free length is 9.4 in. and the mean coil diameter is 3.625 in. Nelson HAN6L11639 "Nelson Wittstock" 32589... MORE
I'm installing Grose jets into my HS2s and if I set the float to the right height per the manual I get fuel dumping from the bowl vent. What is the correct height to shim the Grose jet to? I've never had a problem with the standard jets before. Martyn "Martyn Eastwood" 32558... MORE
Bob i have no plans of removing the seat, just the plunger that sits infront of the spring. After taking the spring out the metal plunger (valve) is still inside playing a bugger to come out. Captn, we did think of your suggestion as a possible solution but couldnt qite immagine the consequenses. You recon this is ok do you! PS! i have also ordered the new spring to suit the steel ball valve. As far as i remember when fitting it the original valve was made of aluminium which is rather a soft metall compared to steel, i... MORE
Oh... You're right across the Sound from me (Stamford, CT), Mike. So I guess I know the temperatures you're running in, eh? :) Well, you've definitely got the right oil for the season for sure, and an excellent brand at that. And you haven't got an oil cooler thermo- stat (oilstat) problem 'cause you've got no oil cooler, so we'll forgoet about this as a possible source for low pressure. OK...we'll await word on the accuracy of the "sender" for the light. BTW...from the TriumphTune Performance Manual, 5th edition by Terry Hurrell (Spitfire engines)..... "For all models it is... MORE
G'day Nelson Well I wouldn't go as far as Biff. Standard is 7" and with anything more than .060" oversize (1/16") you run out of rear brake adjustment WELL before the linings wear out. In Oz we can get oversize linings (thicker material on the shoe) that will allow us to go to about .080" oversize drums, but I know in some countries o/s linings are not available. Now you may think that the rear brakes don't do much anyway, so this isn't really a problem. But consider this. The front discs will only work when there is pressure... MORE
Hi All. We've been installing new brake shoes on my '79 Midget. When we got it all apart and cleaned everything up, we discovered that the cable for the hand brake system was "too short" and had been applying pressure to the right rear wheel. (Which is apparently what made that side wear so badly) We removed the cable and found that the plastic coating was badly deteriorated and broken, so we removed all of the plastic until we can get another cable. However, when we re-installed the cable, it was still too short. My husband thought that maybe... MORE
Hi Pete, Looking at the 1500 parts book, it appears that the valve cover stud does nothing but hold the valve cover. It's not like the rocker arm studs. So why don't you go out and buy a longer stud to do the job. When I need a longer bolt, I go get one!!! Paul A "Paul Asgeirsson" 32518... MORE
Some drums actually have the maximum size cast into the metal inside. David 32501... MORE
Nelson, 7 inches is standard inside diameter of new drums. Anything beyond 7 1/8 inches inside diameter is not usable. Biff Jones '59 Bugeye 'Kermit' '61 AH Sprite 'Ole Gray' in the "Healey Book" '71 Midget 'Freebie" http://sprites2.homestead.com/ "Biff" 32498... MORE
OOps. I was mistaken. I do have one of those hammer driven impact wrenches too but the screw has an allen head and the tool only has Phillips bits. If I can locate an allen bit I'll give that a try. Nelson "Nelson Wittstock" 32458... MORE
Thanks to all for the comments on the tire replacement. I'd like to go with a slightly wider tire just to fill in the wells a little and now that I know that they shouldn't cause a problem. I thought we were so close to finishing the car up this weekend and preparing to haul it home. All we wanted to do was simply replace the rear springs. But, as the karma has been with this one, the task turned out not so simple. We ended up having to break the bolt in the front bracket of each side... MORE
Fellow listers, Any 1500 listers out there who have done a clutch replacement? I am at the point of refitting the new unit and all three of my manuals instruct me to mount the drive plate with the side saying "flywheel" towards the flywheel. Great logic except mine doesn't say anything. Neither does the one I'm replacing. If someone knows how to tell which way round to mount the bloody thing I'll have my engine back installed in a jiff. Webfoot Leisure.com rob@... 866-530-9801 toll free " robbiesg@... " 32396... MORE
David, The seals stop oil draining down the stem of the valve, deflecting it from the edge of the guide. Fairly primitive as they don't actually create a seal as such because they are pushed up the valve stem a bit (by the amount of valve lift) So if the head is awash, the oil floods onto the exposed valve stem below the seals and they no longer work. (sorry if that sounds patronising - not intended) Guy "Guy Weller" 32334... MORE
Brad, my rebuilt 1275 smoked blue and I followed all sorts of advice from list members to get it right before I finally fixed it. Of many "cures" attemted, the two that made the most difference in my case were: 1. Replacement of the rocker shaft. Too much oil was leaking out of the rocker bushes. It was apparent by running the engine with the rocker cover off. I left the cork gasket seated on the head and let the engine run at fast tickover. It leaked so fast that it soon created a lake on the top of... MORE
Most auto supply stores sell a nifty little metal pan that you can slide under the dif! Works great and is probably the easiest and cheapest fix. Cheers, Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 32345... MORE
Hi Rob could you please pass on any information on fitting fibreglass front , rear and doors as i'am thinking of converting my 1968 mk 4 sprite . Regards Bob Hi Bob My first recomendation is dont! Unless you are a masochist with unlimited time buckets of money and infinite patience don't do it. Now if you are stupid enough to still be reading this the front end is a doodle just take off the wings move the wiper motor (it hangs over the edge of the bulkhead and will foul the bonnet when it is lifted) move the... MORE
Terry, disregarding the pre-'69 facelift bigger bumpers, there were 2 or three different spring bars fitted. The first type AHA9455 went up to about July 72 (Chassis no. GAN5 123730) From the illustration in the BL parts book, this would appear to be the old one you took off, as it looks like it has more bends in it than the later CHA42. The third type was only fitted to North american market cars, in conjunction with the big rubber buffer overriders. Did you get anything which indicated the part number with your new one? As for which way... MORE
So the task is done. 6 hours worth of labor, I had the A arms with the king pins installed, and almost a grand later, the car drives smoothly again. Moral of the Story?? GREASE YOUR SUSPENSION OFTEN!!! We all let things slide, but this is one thing you should not forget. Sure, I saved a bit on time and trouble over the years, but lost the handling that made the car a blast to drive. I took it down the worst road in town, and it didn't make a sound. The ride was fairly smooth considering the road... MORE
I am in the middle of changing the front suspension on the 68. I am catching my breath, and allowing the spring pans and disc brake backers to dry from being coated with fresh paint. Thank you to Peter for the new shocks, I will have the cores on their way to you this week. Btw, I was missing the bolt on the right shock that keeps the trunion bolt from turning, I hope this isn't a big issue. Just Ed, the parts are great, everything is going on fine!!! All the bolts coming threaded through the bushings, eliminated... MORE
Nigel I had the same thing happen to my trip odometer. It broke off where the shaft was cross drilled just outside the main body of the odometer. If you have access to a metal working lathe it is a simple job to make a small shaft coupling and a new knob. I did it with mine and made the new knob a little larger so it is easier to grab. I posted a photo in the photo section of the group if you care to look at the way I did it. It is under "Odometer Knob." Actually... 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
