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Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you?

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RickB

RickB

Yoda
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Hopefully some of the stuff I've bought off ebay will arrive by the end of this week. I'm taking Friday off and then Monday's a holiday and I'm adding Tuesday to it.

The weather seems like it's going to cooperate, if you can believe the reports /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

I hope to get my front suspension lowered, cut off the old front bumper mountings & plug them and then put in a 60's style grille & grille badge, and finally put on a chrome back bumper. I think I'll also paint the back bottom where it's black to match the brown - that will look more natural.
I need to touch up the black area on the bottom sides as well, there were a couple scrapes that have some surface rust - gotta take care of that right away.
If the stuff doesn't arrive then I'll replace my shifter knob & do the cutting & plugging in anticipation of the new grille. And do the painting. I really love that Rustoleum spray paint!

What are you guys (& gals) doing? Any plans?
 
Sounds like good plans Rick, please take pictures!!! I'll be doing the same jobs, and I need the help! hehe...

I'll be installing headers and a DGV, and cleaning up the (very, very little) surface rust I found under the driver-side fender.

-D
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Prepare to find some rust under the front bumper.
I only had a little, easily sanded down & Rustoleum'd /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

I love the curvy shape of that valance without the bumper!
 
Thursday doctor appointment about the cordozone he pumped into my shoulder last week. Friday cut the grass. Saturday pack & all day Sunday flying to Europe.
 
RickB said:
What are you guys (& gals) doing? Any plans?
Click to expand...
Wife and child are away, so technically...anything I want!
Seriously, be tinkering with the Midget saturday, it's still not 100%, then the Champagne British Car Festival (in Illinois) is all this weekend, so I'll venture over there on sunday.
Monday I'll be doing all the things on the honey-do that should've been done saturday and sunday!
 
If all works well, I'll be finishing the disassembly on my 1275, and maybe packing up some bits to ship to Hap for work.

Saturday I'm picking up the buyer for my bike at the airport (he's riding it back to Kansas from here). Hope that all goes well. Gig on Sunday as well, but I'm sure there will be some time for garage work as well.
 
Did you know the first American Memorial Day parade was held at a race track? OK, it was a horse racing track, but still.....

Anyway, since it's the Memorial Day weekend, we'll surely go to a Memorial Day parade....and of course, we'll be thinking of those folks who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I bought a poppy for an old fella this morning and I asked him where he'd served. He told me he was in the Korean conflict. We talked for about 15 minutes and it was fascinating. No matter what your views on warfare, it's worth talking to some of these old vets. They have great stories and they may not be around us much longer.

But, not much car work.

The Spridget is all ready for BeaveRun (in 2 weeks).
I'll be working on the Twin Cam Escort today and Friday (I'm pulling the trans).

We'll be traveling (visiting family) the entire Memorial Day weekend in the (ugh) mini-van.

To all: Have a pleasant holiday, drive safe and don't eat too much!
 
Grill install end of week and raceing sunday.
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Oh, hey I was thinking of looking for a new Grill...
One of those shiny stainless steel models with about 750 square inches of grilling surface...

Anybody know of a good sale?

So maybe I can install my Grille and a new Grill this weekend /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Forecast is rain here, so I don't know how much driving will be done. Isn't there a couple little ole races this weekend. Also, my Royals have been winning the last week and a half(7 of 9). My older son is home from college and his TR 6 has been stored elsewhere, so I imagine we'll get it started and bring it home. That will mean cleaning and rearranging the garage because both cars go in on one side.
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Hmmmm.....I did some work on the Bugeye today....I had to replace another snapped axle (I'm telling you Rick.....stock up on axles!!). /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif The official tally so far is two completely broken ones and one that is twisted (these are the "strong" ones too!).

I found a good 3.90 diff, so I might buy it and swap it in tomorrow or Friday. It will be nice to have the lower RPM's on the highway again. The 4.22's with the Datsun A15 set-up is just geared too high to to be comfortable.

Saturday is a nice long cruise with the local British car club. We are driving from Loveland over Trailridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park and over to Granby for lunch. It should be a very fun time.

Sunday is the Indy 500, so I'll probably watch that.

Monday is the 29th annual Bolder Boulder 10K run (quite possibly the best 10K race ever). I've been doing it since 1988.....it's become my yearly 'get off my butt and do something healthy' event.


That pretty much sums up my weekend!
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

I'll probably do some little stuff on Ole BugI, (got a bunch of stuff I've been accumulating off ebay!) maybe sort and store misc parts in the garage (that always leads to a bit of clean-up/reorganization!) And I've got this mural I've been working on that I must finish. Will take time to watch some racing though!!
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Well the PO replaced at least the engine & tranny - maybe he put in a new rear end too.

How do I identify it? The usual way?

Take pictures and post them here?

(that's what it usually comes down to)
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Rick if you look on the top of the diff. unit right adjacent to the flange there should be a # stamped into the casing. ie 10 42, or 10 39 that should give you the rear end ratio, I believe! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Mike,
Can you see that while it's mounted on the car?
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Cut the grass, and sort out a minor electrical problem on the '72. Probably do some bits on the mighty Fiat, and sort through some parts to see which 1275 block I'm going to build up.
Relax.
Jeff
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

It's hard to see with the diff installed on the car, but you might be able to find it. The stampings are typically light though and some are hard to find even with the diff off. Then there is the paint (like mine)....it makes it even tougher to see the numbers.

If you crawl under the rear, look for where the brake line attaches to the diff housing. The stamping is right above that on a boss. I would hope that yours is a 3.90......your Midget should have come with that ratio from the factory, but you might also have the "elusive" 3.73 ratio.

A 4.22 will have a 9/38, a 3.90 will have a 10/39 and a 3.73 will have an 11/41 stamped into the case.

Here is a pic....hopefully it helps.

The only other way to know the ratio is to remove the diff and look at the numbers stamped into the crown wheel.

6920_.jpg


6921_.jpg



The axles are a different story. I believe the later Midgets used a harder steel and have NP 806 (I think this is the number/code) embossed on the flange that attaches to the hub. Mine were this numer and they are the ones I am breaking and twisting. I might drive my car too hard.....who knows? You may not ever break an axle if you don't beat on it too much.

I would still have a spare in the boot....."just in case".
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Bugeye58 said:
Probably do some bits on the mighty Fiat,
Click to expand...

Hey Jeff......which "mighty Fiat" do you have?

I have a couple of 850 Spiders taking up space in the garage myself. You don't get much more "mighty" than a Fiat 850! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
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