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First - will someone who has experience resolving off-idle stumble with a Weber DGV on a 1275 please post me off-list. General parameters: 1275, std bore, stock cam, head milled, Crane optical ignition, header. Use an aftermarket electric fuel pump with a pressure regulator set to 3.5 pounds. Engine has never idled this well in the 33 years I've owned it (even as low as 700rpm), idle set at 900rpm, performance above 2000 rpm is excellent. It just stumbles in the 1500 - 1700 rpm range when you hit the gas. Makes double- clutching a bit dicey. Have done... MORE
ALL OF YOU.....GET A LIFE.... I'm trying, Bob!! :) Did a "shoot" down in the Big Apple today and came back to overhaul the SU's and install AH2 needles based upon plug color while using H6's.... time will tell!! Oh yeah....I also fed the cat! O'Reilly Factor at 8:00 and then we'll see...long day! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 24151... MORE
Hey!! I go down to a "shoot" in NYC, get back, do a little work on the carbs, get back home for some dinner and tune in on the list to find.....what the hell is going on?! :) But just to let you know...IMHO you have your priorities in order! :) If my cat attacks you or your kid, you definitely have my approval to kill the cat, obviously. And if you are starving and need to kill an animal to live, I'll load the gun for you. Dogs are great animals. I'd have a German Sheppard (and my... MORE
In between all the I wish I had not posted that posts I was able to re-install the steering column cowl on the 73 Purple Midget (Black Tulip) Then worked up my resolve to break out the MIG welder and tack one of the fenders back on the Bugeye bonnet. Some of the tack welds look fairy close to the real things. Took the 73 out for a run down the block and back for the first time. Bit of a noise maker in low but ok in the rest of the gears. The engine is very strong, all... MORE
Hello all, new to the list, new to Midgets. Question: I've got a '77 that backfires between shifts under heavy acceleration. I know why; there's excess fuel being dumped into the exhaust between shifts and detonating; I just don't know the cause. The 2 possible causes I've come up with is the air pump is supplying air to the exhaust when it shouldn't (bad valve?) or the non stock exhaust the car has (just 1 tiny Walker muffler) is allowing the fuel laden exhaust to reach air before sufficiently cooled. Which of these are more plausible, or is there... MORE
G'day Brad The valve stem diameters are the same. You can squeeze 1275cc valves into a 1098cc head (12G295) if you want to, but you will need to open the combustion chamber up quite a bit to allow gas flow around the valve, or you are defeating the purpose. Really no great advantage. 1275cc head will fit on 1098cc block, but if you have a high lift cam, and/or 1.5:1 rockers, the exhaust valves will hit the top of the block face. You will need to machine a crescent out of the block, up to .100" deep (I just... MORE
Colin... The cylinder liners then, actually make the engine "stronger", in terms of less bore flex, thus making for better ring "control" and therefore more horse- power, all else remaining equal? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 24087... MORE
Valve stem diameters are the same for 1098 and 1275 (and 948) engines. So are the rear plate gaskets. If by front gasket, you mean timing chain cover gasket, that's the same too. As to the moving liner, the only way to salvage that block would be to find (or have made) a liner with a sufficiently larger OD than the one in it now. That may not be possible or practicable, so that block may be scrap. I'd rather have a bored block than a sleeved one anyway. "Jeffrey Holmes" 24077... MORE
Well, Nigel... Your searching for something here but it's not about the 1500 or a correct way to modify or sort the handling on a car. With respect to the 1500, It's mostly all add-on stuff to the original type so the mfgs. could extend the life of the type while meeting later day safety standards. As such, all "earlier" prior specs and parts are available so it's not as though one is dealing with a new type. So, none of this is really rocket science as I am sure you know, though some bending here and there may... MORE
Brad... Those sleeves are machined to a press fit, just like press fit piston wrist pins. So I don't think they should be movin' before the pistons do, as in your case, but I'll let Gerard, Frank and the more experienced and "current" engine guys speak for me..they know a lot more about it "hands-on-wise" than I do. The only disadvantage of a "sleeved" block as far as I know is in the area of heat transfer, wherein the sleeved application is at a disadvantage in this respect. The CC blocks are of the stronger variety (as you already... MORE
Well, Rob... Vicky B. offers a rear spring lowering kit at a very reasonable price so you wouldn't be out much if this approach didn't work. I think the Ford Sierra 5 speed is what Guy Weller has used or is currently using....and.... .....refering to fellow spritester Daniel's handy, dandy informative book, we find (Pg. 63) that "Frontline Spridget, Ltd. has a sseparate kit, with special adapter plate that allows conversion to the Ford" Sierra 5 speed gearbox. On Pg. 144 Daniel further kindly provides: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/frontine Also, if the lowering blocks don't work you might try Motobuild, Ltd. for... MORE
"....an occurence you may not be able to predict, perchance?" LOL! Quite possibly, Nigel! :) But nothing that couldn't be handled with a little "chassis tuning" subsequent to a little experimentation in a vacant lot, eh? :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 24067... MORE
Pilot Bob, I can testify from direct experience, those rubber bumpers weigh a ton! They can't have done the car any favors for handling or performance especially with the ride height raised an inch. My car in addition to losing the bumpers is running 1275 front springs with an unaltered rear. Haven't pushed it much yet but I imagine the front/rear height differential will be a problem. I'm also running 165/70 x 13 tires on 5.5 inch rims. The 1500 does vibrate a bit as the revs climb but a bag of nails? The roughest range is 3000 to... MORE
Well, Rob... The one I drove was a '75 with about 30K on it at the time. It ran 50psi and ran pretty smoothly right up to 4.5k...I didn't take it any higher....not my car! Most engnes have a "vibration period" or two within their rev ranges. Nothing to worry about usually...they just normally run more smoothly at some rpm's within the range than they do at others. Turbine engines are the same way. My own '74 had been lowered 1" all around (quite the street rod!) so I really felt the height difference but the handling of this... MORE
Dave C. The 7/8" bar was actually an upgrade as Guy Weller replaced the thinner stock bar which his 1500 came with from the factory (5/8"?).....I had simply misunderstood a post of his mentioning a 7/8" bar. This came from last week's discussion which originated with a lister asking whether it was worthwhile converting a 1500 rubber-bumpered car back to chrome bumpers, attendant handling issues of same, etc. I had no idea these rubber bumpers weighed in at about 100lbs EACH? Their protective qualities notwithstanding that's quite a bit of weight to carry around for a car with relatively... MORE
I have owned both. The 1500 was more torquey but rattled like a bag of nails when the revs climbed. It had a 7/8" front bar that controlled excessive oversteer and could be driven through corners quite nicely so long as you didn't loose nerve and lift off. I drove with and without the bumbers and the only noticable difference was it felt more "lively" with them off. It was definately faster. The 1275 is without a doubt the nicer engine. When the revs climb it roars through the K & N and howls at over 5000 throgh the... MORE
Neil Well first off the bumpers weigh approximately 200lbs, the rear springs were recambered to bring the ride height up to 1 inch to bring it up to the correct height for the bumpers as a result of this - roll stiffness at the back end has been reduced and there is more tendency to oversteer. Couple this to the fact that the throttle on the 1500 is a lot more sensitive than before, add in the extra power of the 1500 engine, take the bumpers off making it a lot lighter, push that car hard into a corner... MORE
Things at work have finally settled down from the past few months. We have gotten a second weekend off in a row, and I was able to get the mechanic from the truck shop to come over to my house this a.m. at 8:30. Some of you know, the 68 Sprite locked itself into first gear a while ago. It also had the original engine it rolled out of the factory with still in it, all smoking and original. If I am to repair the tranny, I will replace the engine, if only temporarily, to fix the original one.... MORE
"That' what I mean about 'unpredictabe handling'". Nigel, my friend! How "unpredictable"? YOU just predicted it, yourself! Read your own post.....thus, a 3/4" front bar would straighten the matter out in a hearbeat along with maybe a little tweaking of the fore/aft tire pressure ratio. NOW...without the 200lbs of bumpers, the more responsive "pedal" and increased torque of the 1500 and you've got........? :) Ah Hah!!:):) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 24031... MORE
Don, I currently own a 1500 and have done for about 8 years but only driven 1275's (in various states of tune) so I don't know how objective my observations are but here goes... For standard vs standard the 1500 certainly has more torque and IMO is perhaps easier to drive around town in traffic althought at pretty subective i guess. It also has syncro on 1st. However, although (well mine at least) is silky smooth even at unadvisably high revs the 1275 always seems to me more comfortable reving very high. not to say the 1500 won't but... MORE
G'day all See below. Then,for you budding astrologers, I just have two questions: 1.. How does this statement make sense: "At modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye." 2.. Times of the day are quoted. Does it matter where in the world you are? avagoodday Colin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars, an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity... MORE
Sure, Mike... I already have the outside air intake hole fabricated and a 4" rubber tube for the mailbox I bought to be used as a "cold air box". I will "fashion" it once I have decided whether to stay with the double SU set-up or go with my 45 DCOE. Gotta do a little experimenting with various choke sizes on the Weber first, though. The box will breath engine compartment air in the winter months and cooler outside air (for better performance) in the warmer months. Best of both worlds! :) Paint your box with whatever paint/ color... MORE
Hello there I am currently finishing of a restoration that someone else had started of a UK model 1978 1500 Midget. I was wondering if any one with a similar model had any photos of where the courtesy light switches are mounted on the door posts and also any info about the boot lamp and switch. I have the wiring information it is just the physical locations as I have no information to where they should be located. thanks in advance for any help Kris "Kris" 23907... MORE
Hmm... I would look for a K&N filter to use within the air box and turn the box into a "cold air" box by running appropriately sized rubber tubing to it from an outside air source. Cooling of the induction air charge makes for HP!! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 23923... MORE
The phone rang at 7:30 am Sunday morning "I'm stranded in Angles Camp, Jr. died," Jr. the name he gave the 63 Midget I sold him. "I just need a around town car." He said when he bought it. He had owned a Midget before and I was confidant I was not selling to an innocent in the ways of classic British cars. I had made clear that since I retrieved it from a carpentry work shop where it sat on blocks for twenty years and brought it back to life that I had not driven it over five... MORE
