• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Got a deal on a 79 MG Midget

Share this page

A

abnovak

Member
Offline
Ran across a 79 MG Midget and bought it on a whim for a song. In really good shape with a little work. The guy who had it really didn't know anything about cars. This is my first entry into British Sports cars, except my dad has a 74 1/2 MGG (now I have something to share with him). I am normally a Mustang guy.

The car was in storage for quite a few years and wasn't correctly preped for long term storage. It will not start but the engine and rockers turn freely. I know its not getting any fuel from the tank or pump.

Here are the steps I plan, in order
1. Pull and boil the tank
2. New fuel pump
3. New filter and hoses

Carbs are not my strong suit, especially non US designs, so I will probably have a pro rebuilding it for me. Before I go there, any other suggestions? Also, I worry about finding the right Carb guy locally in Colorado.

Any suggestions on place I can send the carb to for a rebuild, in the US?

My mustang forum is a godsend. Looks like this will be too. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
if you don't mind - how big of a deal was it? Mine sat for about 16 years - put a new fuel pump on it and it started right up. . . . . one thing i did was manually pump gas through the lines to clean them out, then i blasted some air through them. Just would hate to see your rebuilt carb get packed with crud from the lines if you're taking the time to boil the tank. welcome to the forum, and you'll have plenty of fun with your car!!! BTW, i turn more heads with my crappy MG than my buddy in his 68 mustang, lol - maybe cause i'm so darn good looking though jk
 
spent $1200. colorado car (which is excellent for rust but bad on rubber/seals) with great body,interior and rebuilt engine 5000 miles before it went into storage.

had this same problem with my mustange (66 cnvt) which sat for a long time. hopefully, new pump and boiled tank will be enough like it was on my stang. will only do the carb if i have to after checking these first.

who do u recommend for parts?
 
well, two major vendors are moss (mossmotors.com) and victoria british (victoriabritish.com). sometimes local shops can order or stock parts, but i use these two. best first step would be to pick up a haynes manual and order a catalog from each of these two vendors - i find the exploded views of the car offer plenty of help when assembling/disassembling parts. great price for that MG - make sure you grease the suspension ball joints and check the trunion bushings - when they go bad they ruin the A-frame. since you're used to working on the mustang - get ready for some busten knuckles with all the new space constraints - lol. . . . . have some fun with it
 
Back
Top