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'63 Midget research

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Jeff, don't be so quick to throw in the towel. A tranny swap isn't the end of the world, and good units are available in the $200 range.
I wish <span style="text-decoration: underline">MY</span> '63 looked that good!
Jeff
 
That's a very pretty car! when I was researching my last car (the Intrepid that is) I read somewhere that when you buy a used car, you can count on $1000 in the first 6 months of deferred work the PO knew about but didn't want to do. still looks like a blast once a few things are sorted. And, BTW an engine pull on a Midget is a driveway job and about 26 nut & bolt connections
 
That's a nice looking car. I picked up a spare ribcase transmission for my car for $150 plus shipping (about $200 total), there's lots of them around. Pulling the engine and transmission is not too difficult. Heck, I've done it twice and barely know what I'm doing.

I'd try draining and replacing the transmission oil as a first try. It's cheap and easy to do, and might help out.

If you don't like the wood dash, you could always cover it with black vinyl (that's how the originals were finished). It's a simple and cheap task, and would make the interior look more original. The wood dash doesn't look bad at all, just a thought. And I love that steering wheel. Neat.

What ever you decide, take a day or so and catch your breath. You did get a good car, just a few things to sort out. Hang in there!
 
I like the dash. It's OK. And the rest of the car is just beautiful. If it's only a trans, of course just change the oil first, but I've also had a few ribcases give up on me. On that car, the engine and trans are easy to remove, and a used or rebuilt trans isn't hard to find... in America.
 
And if you can read a decent manual, these trannies are a pretty straightforward rebuild...nothing too complicated...Could be something as simple as a worn detent ball or worn out synchro. I think a loose shifter fork would give you problems getting into gear as well as popping out of gear. I would recomend finding a replacement tranny, and then rebuilding the one in the car at your liesure! You will learn how the tranny works and still get to enjoy usage of the car in the meantime and wind up with a spare tranny when you are done!
 
And if you can read a decent manual, these trannies are a pretty straightforward rebuild...nothing too complicated...Could be something as simple as a worn detent ball or worn out synchro. I think a loose shifter fork would give you problems getting into gear as well as popping out of gear. I would recomend finding a replacement tranny, and then rebuilding the one in the car at your liesure! You will learn how the tranny works and still get to enjoy usage of the car in the meantime and wind up with a spare tranny when you are done!
 
jvandyke said:
I don't know what I'll do. I have tons of tenacity but I also know my limits. I do not have the facilities for an engine pull, let alone the experience. And frankly, after spending countless hours on that Opel, I don't know if I have it left in me. I wanted to spend all I had on as good a car as I could get so I could just enjoy it as it was. Yes I could do it but it'd take me weeks and only 50/50 chance I would screw it up and have to do it again. I'll stop by University Motors and see how much $$ it'd take to have them do it. Crap.
Seller gave me the impression he didn't really want to part with it. As much as it kills me, I'm willing to give him a few hundred to take it back and let me off the hook.
Maybe it'd be wise to take the car itself into University for a proper diagnosis. I let it cool down and tried again but where 4th should be, there is no where to go, just not there.

PS
Loose shifter arm? Something simple like that would sure be nice!
Click to expand...
Where exactly are you located?
 
Long thread, but earlier he said

"west Michigan, Hudsonville, near Grand Rapids, right near University Motors"
 
Ah, thanks....

Reason I asked is there's a place near here in Madison, AL that specializes in tranny rebuilds...they have a mechanic who flies over from the UK from time-to-time & stays a couple of months while he builds nothing but trannys.
 
John at University Motors (extremely patient and helpful I might add, took the time to show me a gearbox they have with a cut away mocked to show me what probably went south).
For them to do everything: pull motor, rebuild gearbox and put all back together would easily best $2,000.
So anyway, we'll see. I can gear myself up (pun intended) for a baptism by fire and pull the motor and tranny and rebuild it myself. Just reeling with disappointment yet.
Tonight I'll at least drain and refill the box. Am I right that 20/50 engine oil is a good choice? Can't hurt, can't help either let's face it.
Looks like it's got a header, Weber (which didn't feel all that well tuned I might add).
 
How much for him to just rebuild the gearbox?
 
I believe he said that alone would be $700 or so. If I'm remembering it correctly. I'd think by the time I was that deep into it I'd just go all the way and do it myself. Unless I find a known good one for sale, as mentioned earlier, then I can put it in right away and rebuild mine for fun.
 
You might be able to find a "known good" tranny from someone that swapped a 5-speed into their car. Or... go ahead and do a 5-speed swap. Then your money is going towards increasing the fun factor (and value) of the car.
 
the parts to repair yours surely wouldnt
run over $300...
go look at the online MOSS and Victoria British catalogs....z
 
Parts shouldn't run over $250 (I know - that's what I've got in a total rebuild of mine)....rebuild labor should be around #400......so $700 isn't out of the realm.
 
I peeled back the carpet, found a rubber inspection cover plug, removed it, took out the fill plug and started filling. Got somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 quarts in there before she started dumping it out. Not sure what the capacity is but that couldn't have helped matters.
Buyer's remorse is easing away. It really is a very nice little Midget, I think I'll give rebuilding it a go.
Everyone in the family needed a ride tonight and the wife drove it too. They all love it and are mad at me for being pissy.....so, guess what, they get to help me fix her up!
 
Chilton's says a 4 speed in a 1098 should hold 2.7 pints/1.35 quarts.
If so, it was running dry and it could have been far worse.
I guess if you have to pick a gear to loose, 4th is a good one, don't really NEED it.
 
Good move, check all the other fluids as well and do a full lub.
 
jvandyke said:
I peeled back the carpet, found a rubber inspection cover plug, removed it, took out the fill plug and started filling. Got somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 quarts in there before she started dumping it out. Not sure what the capacity is but that couldn't have helped matters.
Buyer's remorse is easing away. It really is a very nice little Midget, I think I'll give rebuilding it a go.
Everyone in the family needed a ride tonight and the wife drove it too. They all love it and are mad at me for being pissy.....so, guess what, they get to help me fix her up!
Click to expand...
When my daughter was 14 she helped me disassemble her 1st car, a VW Karmann Ghia...when she was 15, she helped me put it back together.

Now, her husband & male friends all say she knows more about cars than any of them...& it was great quality time for us - & we still have that Ghia...she won't sell it!
 
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