MG Midget in distress.

[DrEntropy]

Wish there'd been the Royal Restoration floor pans when I did the MGB back in 2005~6. Had to drill and set up the seat anchor points and fettle the "Heritage" tins to fit. Chris' pans seem to be the cat's PJ's by comparison.

 

[DavidApp]

Not according to the e mail I got from someone who got a set of floor pans for his Midget. Said the stamping was not sharp and they were too long. Also no holes for the spring hangers. They would not accept returns either. Were the thicker sheet metal which would be a plus.
If you look at the Midget pan photos you can see that the depression for your feet is only defined at the very front the rest is just bowed.

David

 

[DrEntropy]

If you look at the Midget pan photos you can see that the depression for your feet is only defined at the very front the rest is just bowed.

Ah. Never had to do a Midget pan, wouldn't know about that until too late!

 

[DavidApp]

Always good to get first hand reviews on parts.

David

 

[DavidApp]

Got the drivers side wing off today. The only surprise was the piece of wood and adjustable wrench laying in the bottom of the wing cavity. There is no rust in that area and the wing looks great as well.
Borrowed the brake pipe flaring tool today.

David

 

[JPSmit]

wood don't rust

 

[DrEntropy]

Looks as if that Crescent wrench has held up well, too.

 

[DavidApp]

It is a cheap Crescent wrench. I will have to remember to watch out for tools disappearing down there. The TR3 has a similar trap but it is confined to small tools and bolts.

I did find out that the brake line fittings are not all the same. Seems the front brake line nuts at that 5 way valve are a bigger thread than the rest of the nuts. I had to cut the old ones off and reuse them. The lines for the Brake MC to the 5 way valve.

David

 

[DrEntropy]

Nice job of duplicating the lines, David. That's always fiddly work. Kinda like snake wrestling!

 

[DavidApp]

Thank you. I hope they will fit when I get to that point. Trying to decide which side of the pipe the bender should go was a bit like trimming your beard in the mirror. I always turn the scissors the wrong way.

I did make a tool to get my pipe straight before I started with the bending. The dowel is only to demonstrate how it works.

David

 

[DrEntropy]

Trying to decide which side of the pipe the bender should go was a bit like trimming your beard in the mirror. I always turn the scissors the wrong way.

I did make a tool to get my pipe straight before I started with the bending. The dowel is only to demonstrate how it works.

It always seems to take that double check with the bender, as in itself it's a diabolical device!

Your tubing straightener goes "one step beyond"!! A scaled down version of the same principle the machine used for oil well tubing 2.50" diameter and up, where I'd worked in a steel mill as an inspector decades ago. A sixty foot long piece of that material if bent, sounded like a trainwreck going through that thing.

...and is that a Bogen 3033 camera tripod at the top of the photo?!?!

 

[Bayless]

You do really nice work David. Oh, I do agree on the pipe bender. It is diabolical at best.

 

[DavidApp]

It is a Manfrotto 3160 distributed by Bogen. I got that years ago when out daughters were at school and I did a lot of videoing. Got tired of the cheap tripod slipping or breaking.
I made the bender from parts salvaged from one of the machines the company I worked for made. When ewe did an overhaul on the machine those guide rollers got changed and for some reason they always changed the shafts as well. I would keep some thinking they will come in handy one day. They did.
The best bender I have is the simplest one. The other 2

David

 

[DrEntropy]

It is a Manfrotto 3160 distributed by Bogen. I got that years ago when out daughters were at school and I did a lot of videoing. Got tired of the cheap tripod slipping or breaking.

I recognized the legs and quick-release locks. Got my Bogen 3033 well before Manfrotto & Bogen got together, did an "Ala Carte" combo with the 3126 fluid head. Have their monopod and "Magic Arm" as well. Good stout pro gear!

I made the bender from parts salvaged from one of the machines the company I worked for made. When ewe did an overhaul on the machine those guide rollers got changed and for some reason they always changed the shafts as well. I would keep some thinking they will come in handy one day. They did.

Still amazes me the way some things were (and some still are) tossed well before their time. Good for you in re-purposing those!

 

[DavidApp]

I have a bad case of Pack Rat. I hate to see good stuff go in the trash.
I am still using steel scraps I picked up at work 20 years ago. When we overhauled a machine all the nuts and bolts were changed. At the end of the day they were collected up in cardboard boxes. I brought 3 or 4 boxes home and sorted them. Set up for life with Metric nuts and bolts. The same with drill bits. I would bring all the dull bits home and resharpen them. I was told on several occasions that they will never drill again once they need sharpening.
My mothers favorite saying was "Waste not want not" I still have some of her letters typed on unfolded envelopes. That was from the days when nobody would think of buying a ream or box of copy paper.

David

 

[DrEntropy]

We grew up with parents and grandparents who lived through The Depression, the same mind-set has been inherited.

Or mebbe we just picked it up from watching crows... "Ooh! Shiny! Could be useful some day!"

 

[DavidApp]

I had some of my formative years in Southern Ireland. There was a small store run by an old lady who would wrap up your purchase in brown paper and tie it up with string. As you left the store she would remind you to "Bring the paper and string back" Looking at the string on the parcel it usually had several pieces tied together. When you returned the piece of string it got tied to her ball and wound on waiting for the next customer.
She was recycling long before it was in style.

David

 

[DavidApp]

The Rotisserie is taking shape. Should have it in operation in a couple of days.
The new floor pans are on the way from Ashley Hinton in the UK. Had good reviews on his parts. I will let you know what I think when they get here.

David

 

[DrEntropy]

You're turning it into a work of art, David!

 

[DavidApp]

Thank you. My welding is improving. Lack of practice. The second tower is done and the turning device seems to work.

Got the passenger side wing off and was very pleased to find no rust behind it. No tools or wood either. When I got the letters off the side there seems to be some kind of pocket left in the steel. Is this replaceable or should I try to get them out?

David