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New owner/Introduction-already formulated question

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caseyjones955

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Good day all. I have just purchased my first MG, 79 Midget "special" yellow/black. I love this car already. I do have a couple questions about the guts. Trans: all gears shift through and work well (except reverse which grinds and must be held in) 1st gear has a rattle and vibration in the shifter, all other gears smooth and clean/quiet. This trans is supposed to be a new "racing trans" but doesnt look to new. Also considering replacing the badly mangled exhaust w/a cat conv, resonator AND muffler. Looking at header and small flowmaster. Maybe the weber carb conversion.
Any tips/whisdom on the trans or engine performance would be greatly appriciated. I understand cars and have a fair amount of wrench time behind me but Im totally green on these seemingly great rides.

Thanks very much! (ps, didnt find anything on trans gear rattle in archives)
 
Welcome Casey.

Your Midget is considered a "Spridget" and would probably get more replies on the "Spridget" section of the British Car Forum (AH Sprites and MG Midgets are largley the same car, hence "Spridget").
Most of the folks on this "MG" forum own MGBs, MGAs and the earlier "T" series cars (with not too many similar parts to a Midget).
Confusingly, newer Spridgets (like your 1500 Midget) use the Triumph Spitfire 1500 engine and trans (which means that you may also get some tips for your car on the Triumph section of British Car Forum.
There is a plastic socket in the shifter that will wear and can cause problems (and ratteling) in the 1500 Spitfire/Midget trans, but it can be pretty tough to fix in the car and may require removal of the engine and trans to do properly. If it's not too bad, you may want to live with it. The fact that your car won't stay in reverse makes it sound like this problem (I had it in mine, so I pulled the engine/trans to fix).
Also, check to see that your motor mounts and drive shaft bolts are OK (also, look at both drive shaft U-joints to see if they are worn)
Good luck.
 
Welcome new guy, glad to have you here.
 
I was unaware of what a spridget actually was. Its a very cool replacement for the street legal Manx I just sold to pay for school. Im really liking this car so far. Just like the Manx, I almost never see one on the street. South Dakota does not seem to subcribe to anything other than trucks and conformist yuppie cars /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks for the welcome and valuable information. I will have a look at the Spridget board

Sincerely,
Tony
 
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