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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Automatic Midget?



Hi,

For various reasons I can only drive an automatic car. This may seem a silly question, but is there any way that an MG midget can be converted to automatic?
It's a car I've always wanted to drive and I have the opportunity of buying an unrestored one.

Many Thanks for any advice
Amanda
A Adams

there are romurs of several automatics,,,aperantly the tranny came out of a marina, montegro???...or some such


your best option is getting an 1980's toyota trecel / Datsun 1200 rear wheel drive (or similar car) with an auto and have the engine and auto installed into the midget...

the easist way is just to learn how to drive a clutch.... once you go to a manual...you will never want to go to an automatic agian.

If your handicap....let us know...we wont laugh (out loud) (sorry that was bad)...but Im sure we could come up with away to modify the stick to suit your needs...let us know....love a chalange!!!

prop
Prop



Thanks for that.
Just wondering. Would it be possible to put the engine and autobox from an automatic mgb gt into a midget?

Amanda
A Adams

Yeah, sort of....

the Mgb engine is extremely heavy, lots of cast iron, so the suspension has to be really beefed up, even then its going to oversteer really bad and be hard to drive....then the footwells would need alot of cutting to get the iron beast to fit,,,,but at the expense of leg room....if you go that way. Id talk to "bill young" as he has managed to fit a v-6 in a midget...so he would be the one to talk to about doing something like that ...just post a thread under genral topic of midgets asking for bill young

with the datsun sunny 1200 there where a bunch of them that came out with an automatic...plus the A12-A15 engines where almost a dead on copy of the 1275...but where about 60 lbs lighter and had about 20-40 extra horse power...should slip in with out alot of modifying or cutting

If you dont mind my asking ....why do you NEED an automatic tranny anyway.

prop
Prop

here is bill youngs car...he has a T5 5speed manual, not a auto like I was thinking...but I cant imagine there being alot of differance....


after all if your sticking large round ball up a chickens no.2 hole it really dosnt matter if the ball is a basket ball or a bowling ball, its still going to be a hard fit.


http://www.britishv8.org/MG/BillYoung.htm


prop
Prop


Hi,

Looks like a pretty good car!

I need an automatic as I was in a smash with my motorbike a few years ago, and my clutch foot doesn't work as well as it should!

Thanks for the advice, I'll give the MGB idea a miss.

Amanda
A Adams

Hi Amanda. I have a magazine article from 'Enjoying MG' in 1997 describing an IOW Frogeye converted for a chap who lost the use of his legs in a paragliding accident. He used an autobox from a Morris Marina/Ital which also used the A and B series engines.

He sourced the box through the Marina Owner's Club and funnily enough the conversion was done local to you by Murray Scott-Nelson in Scarborough.
Jordan Gibson

Just be clear he had the box bolted to his 1380 A Series, not a B lump. Scanning the article it seems the mods are anything but trivial, requiring a lot of work to get the box to fit in the tunnel.
Jordan Gibson

Amanda

The issue is that all modern small autos are front-wheel drive, so you're left with the last of the breed front engine RWD autos from the 1980s.

The only RWD auto cars in the UK these days are BMWs and Mercs. It migh be worth looking at these, e.g. take a look at BMW 316/318i autos from the mid-90s.

Maybe an engine & box conversion to get a good auto-bax is better than a BL 80s box? If you're going to have to modify the tunnel, you might as well go he whole way?

Just IMO!

(At risk of being disloyal... there were auto MGBs made in the 60s... and what about auto MX-5?)

A
Anthony

Ford Sierra auto using the bits you'd use to do a manual conversion?
Jeremy Cogman

Amanda -- there are firms who modify cars for people with (please excuse the word) disabilitites who can fit an electric clutch actuator - that way you would have a switch for the clutch and a regular gearchange!
there is a firm near me in Batley West Yorks that does just that!
not sure if it could be fitted to a midget, but its worth asking!!!
Mick - nearly ready to paint

I wish you lived close to me, as I have been wanting to do a project just like this for sometime for a situation just like yours.

IMHO....I truly belive modifying the clutch is definatly the way to go...its such a simple system...As Mick made note of, I really think an electronic seloniod in place of the slave cylinder with a push button on the streering wheel....would be incredable easiy to do...definatly far cheaper....

Ill do some checking over the next week, and see what I can come up with.

prop
Prop

I think there is no reason why an actuator couldn't be fitted to the clutch on a midget as the mechanics are so 'pluggable'. There's no real reason why an electric piston couldn't replace the slave cylinder.

I'd speak to engineering firms or creative engineers/mechanics who'd be up for it for a challenge. I know my mechanic down in Sussex would do such a modification just for the fun of it.

With so much technology these days there's no reason why you can't have a pressure sensitive button on the wheel so you can compensate for clutch wear etc.

I think it's well within reach.
Rich Amos (1330cc Blaze Red '72)

I guess there are still a lot of Dolomites 1500 auto boxes around? That perhaps could do the trick. I'll find it tempting myself, but have to get these from the UK as there are mostly only Dolly 1850s around here in Holland.
Perhaps a possibility for a Midget 1500?

Rolf 1977 1500

Try Jim Doran in Coventry, 02476 460833. Ask for Jim or Dan and tell them what you want. If there is anyone out there who can do this for you, and properly it is them. Tell them Neil from Illston and Robson recommended them to you. Both of them are into bikes, so you'll be well in there! If I get chance I will tell them you are going to call.

Cheers
Neil
Neil Williams

Amanda, did you ever think when you first posted that within hours you'd have gear heads from around the world brainstorming on how to solve the problem and get you in a Midget? Hope someone can come up with a viable solution for you.
Bill Young

If you're dead set on full auto I reckon MX5 running gear or a Sierra box is the way to go.
Not an easy or quick job tho...
Bob T

Id say your right bob, if you do that route Id recommend the mx5 lots of those around and well built...probably be harder to install then a sierra but worth the time and expense.


prop
Prop

Having held an automatic trans from an MX5 in my hands, I sincerely doubt that it will fit in the tunnel of a Spridget. They also aren't that great of a transmission and parts availability is terrible since most folks bought 5-speeds.

David "glad to see that automatic Miata go" Lieb
David Lieb

Amanda.

Firstly may I welcome you to this BBS and hopefully, Midget or Sprite ownership.

As, like us, you are in North Yorkshire, we would be delighted to also welcome you to our friendly group of Midget and Sprite owners and enthusiasts. If you would like to email Anita (my G/F) at:

spridget(dot)girl(at)ntlworld(dot)com

replacing the (at) & (dot) with the appropriate symbols, she will then email you with what is happening in the area. We are based in Knaresborough should you wish to call by anytime.

As for the Auto conversion, anything is possible (within reason) and I'm sure the Sierra auto box would certainly be a consideration.

Please feel free to ask any questions on this board, you will get many and often differing answers. In time you will get to know many posters both here and around the world, if you are going to 'Spridget 50' this Saturday, you will have a chance to meet some of them. (I think we may have a spare seat or two if you would like a lift down). Don't forget to check out the 'Midget & Sprite General' section too.

Mark.
Mark Boldry

in the states the the box most commony used for a 5 speed conversion is from a '79-82 datsun 210. This was offered as an automatic. You may be abole to fit it without modifying the body.
S.A. Jones

What's the issue with the leg and the clutch?

Range of motion or the load? Both?


If you've still got some use of the limb, meddling with the clutch pedal pivots and master cylinder - and a remote servo as used on braking systems - is super easy and often enough to get by.

Modify the clutch pedal for half the throw by halving the pedal ratio (move the pivot closer to your foot) and reduce the load by vacuum-servo assisting the clutch?

200 quid in bits, 300 quid in a reasonable fabricator/junior engineer's time to do.


Another unusual (and don't loan the car to anybody!!!) but doable one is switching the clutch and throttle pedals around. Brake and clutch with the right leg, accelerate with the left (or a hand control - this can be made super light)


Far more fun than an auto, and so much cheaper to do too.
ma cosic

BL made 1.3 A series auto Marinas using a Borg Warner box (type 35 or 65?). Unless the box is really big, it shouldn't be too tricky.
Clive Berry

Amanda -- Where did you go???
Mick - nearly ready to paint

Hey Amanda,

You need to speak to these guys:

Nottingham MG Centre
Unit 13, Colwick Business Park
Private Road No2, Colwick
Nottingham
NG4 2JR
Tel: 0115 961 5283
Fax: 0115 961 1493
Contact: David Wheeler <NOTTMMG@AOL.COM>

MG-ability - Classic Sports cars for the DISABLED DRIVER, including better door access, hand controls, boot modifications for wheelchair storage, servo brake systems, full automatic transmission conversions for Midgets, automatic clutch systems for B's, Midgets and MGF's and you can drive this system on an automatic driving licence. All this as well as MG sales, full workshop facilities and parts.

Good luck with it :)
wildmg

If I was confronted with this problem I would work on the motor driven clutch actuator. I see this as a realitively easy engineering solution that has many benefits

The biggest benefit would be that it could be easily fitted to any existing vehicle so would require very little modification

The motor would have to wind at a high speed to achieve the power required to thrust the clutch actuation. It would also for safety sake be able to Depress quickly and Release slowly to avoid stalling. I see this as a function of 2 voltages.
Bob England

Would the torque characteristics of an A series be enough to pump the converter on a Ford Autobox? it might be marginal.

If you're going the semi auto route (auto clutch) I would suggest a pneumatics are employed, for ease of installation, response to control input and costs. A small compressor and a receiver tank could be hidden in the boot, and the slave cylinder swapped for the biggest bore cylinder that would fit in there (this might be the catch, there may not be enough room). Clutch operation would be by a quadrant lever on the column behind the steering wheel by the right hand, leaving the left to stir the gears, the hand grip strength required could be negligible and the lever would turn with the wheel. The alternative would be to have a lever (like a push bike brake lever) on the gear stick, but this makes simultaneous steering and clutch input tricky.....

or buy an MGB (most people can't tell 'em apart anyway...) and you can stick a v8 in it to make up for the slushbox.

or you could spend a few grand on a sequential quaife type 9 dogbox, get rolling on the starter motor and practise clutchless changes...
robnrrugby

This thread was discussed between 20/05/2008 and 23/05/2008

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