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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - What did you get done the weekend of 20 April?

Gonna start this one cuz I be happy. Replaced the front suspension bushings and front wheel bearings on the Bugeye today. No big surprises, thank goodness! One little surprise in that the PO had already converted it to roller bearings, but I already had rollers to put into it, so it woulda happened anyway. This way I don't have to find a loverly place to store another set of spacers for the theoretical next owner ;-)

Tomorrow is Miata Day. We put the set of rear KYB AGX adjsutable shocks on Trish's Yada last year, but we never got around to doing the front set. Another friend from the Miata club needs to do her shocks, too, so they are coming over tomorrow so we can shock the neighbors. Weather was much nicer today than predicted... I hope that does not mean that tomorrow's weather will suffer accordingly.
David "ever the optimist" Lieb
David Lieb

Got the back portion of the carpeting installed (glued) and am heading off to the Ancaster British Car SHow and Flea Market tomorrow to locate some more "parts". I have a list so hopefully tomorrow I get to be "happy" too! lol

THIS is the year my car hits the road after 14 years... I SWEAR!

Chris
Chris Elkerton

I cut out the last of the rusty bits!! NO RUST LEFT!!

Just gotta finish welding in the new panels then paint and rebuild
Mick - nearly ready to paint

Chris...I've been swearing too! lol
dave c

Well, yesterday I took the engine and gearbox out. Separated the gearbox and made some alterations to my concentric clutch slave cylinder / clutch release mechanism. Partially stripped the gearbox, removed a collar, turned it through 180 degrees and replaced it. Reassembled gearbox and refitted it all back into the car. Admired my son's new tvr (#3)
Then this morning refilled the fluids and took it for a test drive. Runs perfectly although at first it had a unusual noise - a very loud irregular clattering every time I came to a halt. Mystified at first but now cured!
Guy Weller

Beware of problems that "cure" themselves!!!
If the requisite blood offerings have not been made, they tend to come back with interest at the worst possible times ;-)
David "sadder but no wiser" Lieb
David Lieb

Didn't actually say it cured itself, although it did. But definitely fixed!
Guy Weller

OK, Guy, now the suspense is killing us. Care to be more specific? Or is it a tad embarrassing?
David "seeking the self-healing" Lieb
David Lieb

Yes David, a trifle embarrassing!

The noise was cured when the car spat a heavy 19mm impact socket out in the road. Where was it? - INSIDE the clutch bell housing! Every time I braked it was thrown forward and then thrashed around by the rotating flyweel, making that characteristic noise of "how the hell did I manage to leave that in there". Because of my concentric slave cylinder there is a vacant opening in the bell housing where the clutch lever arm would normally go and fortunately it ejected from there before it got jammed between the clutch cover and the alloy bell housing. Could've been expensive!

Oh, isn't life fun!
Guy
Guy Weller

As I am fond of saying, "Better to be lucky than good"! Or as Shakespeare said, "All's well that ends well." I assume you found the socket?
David "19mm would not be my first choice of soocket to lose" Lieb
David Lieb

Just finished the Sunday Autotests in a local college car park. A great way to spend a morning, though right at the end a chap managed to roll his car. Ouch.
Nick

5 litres of petrol all over the garage floor Found a small pin hole it the top of my fuel tank.. Tank out now looking for a good used one ..

One thing after another!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IAN Pickering (68 Midget) Getting There!!!!

Guy

what did you do with the concentrical?

Is it summat I need to consider?


?
Bill

I checked the tyre pressure and drove mine round 700 miles of scenic Missouri roads. :-)

The Wiz

Bill,
Clutch wasn't quite fully disengaging. Added some extra washers between the CI nose piece and the alloy mount to move the slave forwards a fraction. It has improved the change a bit. I wouldn't have bothered if I wasn't having to take the box out again for the other correction. That done, my home-rebuilt type 9 seems pretty good.

Guy
Guy Weller

No midget work today but replaced the rear brake pads on my wifes Hyundai Coupe and flushed all the gunge out of the washer bottle (after I'd removed all the wing liners etc to get to the washer bottle)
Mark
Mark Whitmore

Refitted the door trims and furniture, including new handles.

Refitted the crash bar and attached the dash

Replaced the numberplate light and rear light surrounds

Found my new wheels won't fit

Failed to find the source of the battery drain

Took it for a drive!

Nigel
N K Baker

Ian

I have a decent 1500 tank in Warwick if its of any use to you.

Cheers Carl
C Bintcliffe

No Spridget work for me today, either, but we did get Trish's front shocks updated to KYB AGX adjustables on her Miata as well as changing the oil and installing a front strut brace. Tim and Pat came over and they installed KYB AGX shocks on all four corners of Pat's Miata, too. Got to use lots of tools ;-)
David "the apostate" Lieb
David Lieb

1st day off (sunday) in several weeks....found myself just completely lazy ....slept till noon...messed around here on this site till 2 oclock....finally went to the shop and organized a bit more and decided I need more crendensa file cabnits for storage in the shop...its certianly coming along...cant wait to get it all finallly set up..

prop
Prop

Went for a drive with my MG car club to the National Memorial Arboretum. Looked at all the memorials to all the people who were killed in the services since WW2. Reflected on the folly of mankind - and my stupidity in having adjusted my ignition timing earlier in the week and screwing up the running of my car. I'll be adjusting the ignition again next weekend.
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Carl yes the tank is of interest to me mail me and we can sort something out ian.pickering7@ntlworld.com loose the midget!!!!
IAN Pickering (68 Midget) Getting There!!!!

Took part in the local motor club "Drive it day." About 50 classics converging on Keswick to stick two fingers up at those who would take our old cars off the roads. Did a 45 mile circuit over three passes in the western Lake District, all at about 25 mph behind a 1930s Bentley. Loads of nice old stuff in Keswick, including Daimler Darts, and E Type, a few Austin Sevens, a couple of old Lotus', one Sprite; but mine was the only Midget. I'm glad I didn't get a "B", they're common as muck.

Drove home over Whinlatter pass somewhat quicker than in the morning! Then fitted new side screen rubber. Top day.
Ben

set the tappets, i have always used the rule of 9, but was told it was done properly by getting the cam on overlap on 1, setting both 4's etc. It sounds a lot quieter. I tried the MG Metro carb and manifold, and it fits without fouling the bonnet. I will now check it's condition, scource a bell mouth and filter, and relieve the manifold flange to the same thickness as the mainiflow lcb. i had to fit another bonnet securing device for the scrutineers. I fit a strap on the left front. The bonnet catch then unwound itself, so I have adjusted that.
Shawn

No Midget work, but I did take part in the Missouri Endurance Mini-rally, as mentioned by The Wiz above. I was a co-driver and navigator with Don Gatheman in his '69 BGT, and even though we cleverly managed to come in a solid last, we had a fine time doing it! I'll get my photos posted one of these days.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Fitted stick-on number-plate on front panel below grill; removed the old bumper mounts I was using for the earlier plate.

Bought the plate and number separately. Slight but easily resisted temptation to create my own 'personal' plate from the letters BBLR138... the immunity to speed cameras would be offset by the lack of a 'get out of jail free' card, unless someone can assure me that the Monopoly ones work in real life.

The sun has just come out for the first time for weeks. Won't now be fitting rowlocks on the door frames next weekend.

Guy's story gets my vote for top top of the weekend!

A
Anthony

Saturday I finished cutting the floor out of my RWA shell (only to find some hidden corrosion - isn't there always).

Sunday I took the wife to the garden centre then blew the turbo out on my landrover.
g jackson

Cleaned up the earth straps/battery and starter motor contacts to try and cure slow turn over issue when first starting. It's improved a bit but think starters on it's way out :(.

Then checked all the lights/ wiper blades etc etc getting ready for its MOT next Friday (finger crossed etc).

Finally looked at my nice shiny new polybush bushes which I've just got for when I pull the front suspension apart. Not planning on doing this until after Spridget50 as I'm sure to do something wrong which will take forever to sort.
Rob Higgs

BTW, now that I have done a little driving on the nice blue polybushes in the Bugeye's front suspension, I am quite happy with them! The PO had hard nylon bushes on the lower inner pivots and the metal/rubber on the upper trunnion.
David "happy camper" Lieb
David Lieb

Popped on a new rear axle hub gasket (triumph of hope over experience). Then seat squabs to the upholsterer for new foams today.

Off to Motoscope on Friday for new fuel line, sundry other bits and hopefully (please God please) getting something done about the bloody back end commotion.
Jordan Gibson

Gryf, that was a most impressive result - just remember next time - *least* miles wins. :-)

The Wiz

On Saturday, managed to get the engine started, after approx 18 years..... it runs!!!!!
Lots of oil pressure, battery charges, water temperature gauge not working, fuel leaking from the float chambers.
sorted all this out, got a ball park setting for timing and mixture and then had to leave it to go out and celebrate.
Started the engine on Sunday, and water gushing out all over the garage floor....:-(
the tee piece on the pipe from the inlet manifold corroded through... (Midget 1500).
Fortunately, I have a spare manifold, but it looks like it has had a hard life. Waiting to get new gaskets etc. MOT in 2 weeks with luck.
Fingers and toes crossed for Spridget 50.

Alan
Solihull, West Mids.
A Pritchett

I sepertaed the inner and outer wing when trying to remove the springs, and identified the side of the car I hadn't completely cut out and replaced two years ago when it disolved all over the garage floor. Panhard rod was a bugger to remove, but now everything is off the back of the old midget.

Bits of car are off the garden and placed artistic like back on the shell which is now like a huge draw that I can pull in and out of the garage

This week I'm going to be stripping down the axle and cleaning the pieces in anticipation of someone else doing a lot of work to make the new shell nice and shiny.


Anyone else going to the kit car show in two weekends time?
Will Munns

Is that the show in Vegas?
David Lieb

I did yard work, but while i was doing it i thinking how i am going to get the miata seats i just got off ebay installed
mike ulmer 1

>>> Gryf, that was a most impressive result - just remember next time - *least* miles wins. :-) <<<

Yeah, yeah... ;-)

I've already been looking back over our route trying to figure out how we could have done it in 50 fewer miles. Alas, we just weren't cunning enough. But next year... watch out!

Again, ;-)

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

One thing I will say Gryf, running the rally in Don's GT does show incredible guts. :-)

The Wiz

Mike,
I would recommend cutting off the alignment points on the bottom of the track. Also be VERY careful not to drill holes through the fuel lines.
David "BTDT" Lieb
David Lieb

http://www.stoneleighpark.com/what/whatinfo.asp?ID=819422569845

Step off the plane and stright up to stoneleigh park
Will Munns

Got my 1979 Midget on the road AGAIN...busted valve spring and head gasket put her on the disabled list...but we are on the road again...
P Farrell

>>> One thing I will say Gryf, running the rally in Don's GT does show incredible guts. :-) <<<

Ha... that thought crossed my mind, too. But even though the car is definitely a work in progress, it didn't put a foot wrong during the whole adventure.

And I took comfort in the fact that even if it did bite the dust, it wasn't MY car!

(Kidding, Don!)

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Went to the local MG club's drive it day rally. Mainly B's but a few interesting cars like a Mustang and a Bentley. Was good to get out on some bendy roads again.
Went for MOT today and only needed a new wiper blade to pass, so hopefully all good for 13 months.
L Drew

Refitted Axle, Diff, carriers, half shafts, brake shoes and lines, handbrake and prop. Started replacing the front brake discs and calipers (with KAD 4 potters) and new hoses.

MOT next week if I get time, still need to take the engine out at some point (rear oil seal) but that can wait until Spridget 50 is out the way...
K Harris

I knew I should have kept quiet about just fitting a hub gasket...


On the plus side my re-foamed seat squabs collected today are jolly good. Great not to be sitting on the seat's baseboard anymore!
Jordan Gibson

This thread was discussed between 20/04/2008 and 22/04/2008

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