Hi Everyone.

[pankeyg]

My name is Gary and I am reacquainting myself with a 1978 MG Midget which I acquired as a "fun" car while attending college about 22 years ago. My dad has been caring for the car for the past 20 years and I have just shipped it from Ohio, USA to New Hampshire, USA. My dad couldn't keep up with the care and now it is my responsibility.

Dad has taken good care of the car. The interior is great. It has a new folding top. New exhaust. No rust - been inside. I am replacing the tires as we speak. A tune-up was performed last week. I believe it requires some carburetor work. The car idles fine but sputters when going from 1st to 2nd gear. Once it is in 4th gear everything is fine. The handling is fun and awesome!

Can someone explain why the car has only four gears? It feels like I could use a fifth gear?

Thanks. I look forward to reading all of your posts. I'll send along a picture soon.

 

[jcatnite]

Welcome to the fourm...there are more people here that know there way around British Cars than you would care to shake a stick at. I know what you mean by saying it seems as though it could benefit from a 5th gear. The engine was designed to run at a bit higher rpm than we are used to these days. I think they are pretty happy cruising around at 4 or 4.5K. A lot of guys are putting 5spd datsun transmission behind the older crome bumper engines but I'm not sure if there is anything out there for the 1500. If there is I'm sure someone will be along shortly that has tried it...lol
Again, Welcome
JC

 

[jcatnite]

Oh I forgot to mention, there is a forum called "spridgets" where most of the midget and sprite owners hang-out. On this one most of the conversation is about the bigger cousins to our cars...even though the advice is sound and usually still applies in some manner or the other...
JC

 

[John Moore]

Welcome,

My first car was a '78 midget. I drove it in Highshool and college. I will attach a photo of it. Also in the collage is a photo of me in my Dad's midget when I was a kid. JC is right, the real HP in the engines is in the higher RPM's. I now have a '70 MG. Enjoy your MG, they are lots of fun!