MG Midget in distress.

[DavidApp]

Not a Morgan. I saw 2 at the British Car Fayre in Atlanta. One was a 1965 and next to it was a 2019. They looked like twins. Small differences but overall identical. The Owner said "Why mess with Perfect"

This strip is about 3/4" square across the bottom of the seat back used as a tack strip to hold the seat cover. Lots of very small staples holding the seat cover in place.

Got the recline mechanism working in both seats. One was frozen solid but when I stripped the second seat I found it worked. I could then see what was wrong with the first seat.

David

 

[Jim_Gruber]

IIRC there were wood spacers under the DS and PS Seats so seats would move on the sliders.

 

[SimonB]

SO glad you are restoring this one. It would be very easy to strip it for parts which are worth more than the $400 you perhaps paid, (not least the gearbox, diff/axle, even engine just for rebuild), so good for you. As has been mentioned almost all mechanical parts are available for decent prices, so the bodywork will be the major work.

Please put twin SUs back on there. Setup is not as hard as some may say, and they look just right. The exhaust manifold is freer flowing than the original, and when you return it to twin-SU format then the correct inlet manifold will remove the need for what looks like a botch to get the exhaust manifold tight against the head.

I used a rebuilt kit about 20 years ago on the 4-speed in there now. Not too tough, but I replaced it with a 5-speed kit later to reduce the revs at higher speeds. I'd not mess with the gearbox unless you know for sure that there's a problem.

 

[DavidApp]

Hello Simon

I just hate to see restorable cars being cannibalized for parts.

I have just bought a pair of SU carbs with manifold. Also an exhaust manifold. I may try to see if I can use the headers nd get an exhaust pipe at a local shop. Picked up a spare wheel at the same place.
Going to contact Joe C about the carbs as there is a lot of wear on the throttle shaft.

Getting the heater box sand blasted so I can repair the rusted mounting flange. It is nice to get one part done painted and put away. It means you are on the road to a finished car.

David

 

[JPSmit]

If I knew you worked at this rate you could have just come and worked on mine

A very common exhaust modification for Spridgets are Harley Davidson mufflers - go to a shop and they will often give you 'take offs' for free. I think mine cost me $25 for a pair. Nice roarty sound and stainless as well. Apparantly there is a plug you can punch out for better flow but I have never felt the need.

 

[SimonB]

Hello Simon

I just hate to see restorable cars being cannibalized for parts.

I have just bought a pair of SU carbs with manifold. Also an exhaust manifold. I may try to see if I can use the headers nd get an exhaust pipe at a local shop. Picked up a spare wheel at the same place.
Going to contact Joe C about the carbs as there is a lot of wear on the throttle shaft.

Getting the heater box sand blasted so I can repair the rusted mounting flange. It is nice to get one part done painted and put away. It means you are on the road to a finished car.

David

I'm with you David. It hurts me to see 50 year old cars stripped and then thrown away, though clearly some not recoverable. And a nice RWA version you have there too . I'm partial to them myself, and have spent hundreds of hours doing many (many) mechanical repairs, tweaks and upgrades since I got mine in c'93. It never ends, and I certainly wouldn't want it to!

The 5-speed gearbox was one of the better improvements (though some would say it's heresy to do such a thing, thought it's reversible). And I've enjoyed adding practically all of Frontline Developments suspension and brake kits for Midgets over the years... > Performance Parts - Frontline Developments <. All of it purchased from them directly when in England on vacations/business trips, vs. the somewhat higher cost approach of via Moss.

You're a smart guy to make progress even in relatively small chunks to keep it going in a positive direction. Great psychology . I'll bet you have an excellent list!

Regular updates here with your progress will allow me to enjoy your work vicariously....

 

[Bayless]

Hello Simon

I just hate to see restorable cars being cannibalized for parts.

I have just bought a pair of SU carbs with manifold. Also an exhaust manifold. I may try to see if I can use the headers nd get an exhaust pipe at a local shop. Picked up a spare wheel at the same place.
Going to contact Joe C about the carbs as there is a lot of wear on the throttle shaft.

Getting the heater box sand blasted so I can repair the rusted mounting flange. It is nice to get one part done painted and put away. It means you are on the road to a finished car.

David

I agree completely. This is my gear cover that I painted even before we borrowed the fork lift to get my Sprite down from the top shelf.

 

[DavidApp]

I don't know if it is a saying but if it isn't maybe it should be.
Every Marathon starts with the first step. I may have mashed up another quote there but you get the gist.

My TR3A instrument panel taken a month after I brought the pile of parts home.

David

 

[SimonB]

I agree completely. This is my gear cover that I painted even before we borrowed the fork lift to get my Sprite down from the top shelf.

Now I'm jealous as I've not improved my gear cover. Added to my list

 

[SimonB]

I don't know if it is a saying but if it isn't maybe it should be.
Every Marathon starts with the first step. I may have mashed up another quote there but you get the gist.

My TR3A instrument panel taken a month after I brought the pile of parts home.

David
View attachment 73245

It's a thing of great beauty David. Spackled paint even?

 

[DavidApp]

Thank you.

It looks better in the car with all the gauges and swithes.

David

 

[equiprx]

It's a thing of great beauty David. Spackled paint even?

Does anyone know why it is so difficult to get rattle can krinkel paint to krinkel?

 

[Bayless]

Never used rattle can but regular krinkle paint I used years ago had to be put on really heavy.

 

[DavidApp]

What I used was rattle can paint. Put it on heavy then I seem to remember using a hair dryer or heat gun to get it to wrinkle.

David

 

[DrEntropy]

We've used rattle can "Plasti-Kote" wrinkle paint with good results. An advantage here is the Florida sun. The MGB dash and a console finished with it that I made to accommodate voltmeter and clock, along with switches for driving lights, air horn switch-over and some under-dash courtesy lights.

 

[Bayless]

I was working for an industrial clock company at the time and we did have an oven to bake dry the painted clocks . Doc yours looks great too.

 

[DavidApp]

Very nice job on the MGB Dash.

David

 

[Basil]

Have to admit, the DPO did try to keep it running!

I seem to remember when Berthe Benz drove her husband's first auto (1888), and repaired the fuel line with part of her silk stocking.

View attachment 72921

Whatever it takes.

Just saw this pop up in the picture slide show. Tom, is that your new daily driver?

 

[DavidApp]

I have somewhere to work on the MG Midget now. So I am about to find out what I have taken on. I have managed to find a pair of SU carbs and manifold to replace the webber and dubious manifold that the car came with.

David

 

[JPSmit]

looks like a great shop! well done