1500 Midget HS4 conversion

[mgblue79]

Hello all!
New to this forum, not new th MGs. Got my first Midget (a '75) almost 20 years ago. Have had the most recent one (a '79) since 1999 and am in the process of the second full restoration on it thanks to a woman in a puckup truck.
This time I am taking my time and doing it the way I want. The first time turned out nicely, but it was quick and didn't cover all the things I wanted, anyway...I have drilled the flywheel, made new suspension bushings from nylatron, in the process of scraping all the undercoating and welding all the weak and missing spots, powdercoated just about every under hood bit, etc., etc., on to my question.
I am also planning on the dual SU conversion. I have the Euro spec exhaust manifold on it and have the Euro spec intake and carbs as well as the correct air filter housing. The conversion will be performed by an MG shop with experience in doing this. However, before I take it and before I repaint it I want to create the relief needed for the rear float bowl but I'm not sure exactly where to do it. I know the general vicinity... Does anyone have photos or measurements showing where to pound or cut the gusset that interferes with the bowl?
Any help greatly appreciated.
John

 

[Morris]

If it's the bowl getting in the way. Couldn't you just use HIF4's (as used in the 72-74 MGB). It doesn't seem to me that it would make a difference in performance. I don't know alot about SU's, so maybe the pain involved in adapting the HIF4s to work on the 1500 manifold is greater than the pain involved in cutting your frame.

Anyway, here is a link to someone who has done the HS4 conversion https://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/midget/midget_overdrive.html

 

[mgblue79]

I thought about that and talked to the shop about it and I forget why but it is more of a problem than beating a dent into a frame support gusset. I know I have seen pics before when Midget Web was still up but that was a long time ago (Midget Web R.I.P.). I'd rather not pound any unnecessary dents into the car anywhere and definately not after I go through all the trouble of fixing and painting the engine bay. My body man might have some opinions on that as well..
Thanks for the link.
John

 

[Thor]

I put the dual HS-4 setup on my 1978 midget last year. Really have enjoyed it and it wasn't too difficult. The American version had to have a cross member welding in this area and this I am told is what makes it necessary to either make a cut in the passanger footwell area or find a small steep angled intake manifold. I can't help you much with the intake manifold but can tell you I just used a sawsall and cut out a triangle shaped section, flipped it over and because I don't weld used epoxy. Worked great but I did hate to alter the car that way.

If you want some photo's I have some on my website. It's
https://www.visn2.com/MidgetRestorationHx2005.html

At some point I need to pull the engine and at that point I will actually weld it properly and paint the engine bay as well.

Hope this helps you.

 

[Mike H]

I have the HIF4's on my '78. I did have to make a cut out in the passenger footwell area.

Mike

 

[Thor]

MgBlue79,

I would image using HIF-4's instead of the HS-4's would allow you not to cut into the passanger footwell since the fuel bowl is underneath the carb itself. The HIF series is a more modern version of the HS series. I was desiring to have my midget look like what the British were actually using on the midget over in England at that time. I also found of set of dual HS-4 carbs that were reasonable in price.

I suppose it has much to do with what your preferrence are: If you go with the HS-4's you will either need to make a small cut in the passsanger footwell or find a smaller more angled intake manifold and have it look more authentic or use the HIF-4 series which will allow you to not cut the passanger footwell plus give you the benefit of the more modern HIF series. By the way I really like the HIF series carb. The 2 things I would double check into is the price of setting up the HIF-4 series. I've seen dual HS set ups (used) for the midget but don't recall seeing any HIF ones so you would need to cross match from a different series car and adjust accordingly or get each unit separately then mount them to the manifold. If you do that however I think there are specific carbs designed for those positions meaning front and rear. I am not sure about the throttle and choke linkage either but hopefully Mike H can give you more info on all of this.

Good luck on the project.

 

[mgblue79]

Thanks, Mike and Thor. I already have the HS4s from a breaker in the UK, so I'm kind of commited. I also have the option of a set of 4 Kheins behind some clutter on top of a cabinet in the shop I work out of, but that's a whole different can of worms...The shop that will be doing the work has told me I simply need to pound out about .25" of clearance along the bracket in the top left (looking from the front)of the engine bay, but they did not have one in at the time I last spoke to them to tell me where along that piece I need to do it. I have thought about grinding the piece out and welding it back in lower. Any thoughts on that?
Oh, Thor, looking correct or original is somewhat important. I have the idea that the home market/Euro spec cars are how these should be set up and that is the direction I am trying to go in. Obviously I can't or won't do some things like convert to RHD, but I hope to lower it back down to where it belongs and have contemplated changing over the wipers from the US style 3 wipers to the home market 2 that go in the opposite direction of ours. Silly little things, I know. Some things I can do after the restoration, some things would have to be done as part of the body work/paint. I tend to get a bit fanatical about this car when I get working on it. That seems fairly common among our community, though.

BTW, off this topic, can I upload photos to a post directly from my computer? I have pics of what I started with, how the 1st restoration turned out and what I have done since I have been working on it for the latest resto.

John

 

[tdskip]

Any pictures yet?!?!

You can attach them pretty easily when you go to submit your post by checking the box for pic's right above the submit button)

 

[mgblue79]

Pics
Ok, the attachment shows the part I have been wondering about. The talk about cutting the passenger footwell has me a bit confused. I was of the understanding that the piece in the photo is what gets in the way.???