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New Project - RWA Midget

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RickB

RickB

Yoda
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My son Peter and I will be building a car from a bare shell just delivered from Southern California.

Thanks to BillM, who keeps dragging Spridgets to my house, and to my very understanding wife who doesn't seem to mind that I now have 4 of the little beasts here, we have a brand new addition to our family.

A rust free '73 Midget tub I bought for $100. Bill was taking his MGA to San Diego so the return trip was with an empty trailer, he swung by LA and picked up the shell for me. BTW he did the trip with his new Datsun 210 with a 5 speed transmission - apparently those little cars are real work horses!

I paid a bit extra ($60) and the PO threw in a pair of doors, the front valance, a couple rear shocks and a pair of leaf springs.

So I am thinking the first thing I'd like to do is roll it up on it's side and make sure the undercarriage is all good then clean it up and spray on something to protect it.

For any who have done this, is there some preferred way to make sure I don't damage anything - lay down some foam rubber or something?

What's a good product to put on there? Roll on or spray on?
Bedliner, or what? Haven't done it before (I'm going to be saying that phrase a lot).

Pictures of it in our shed:

tub_home1.jpg


tub_home2.jpg


tub_home3.jpg


tub_home4.jpg
 
Looks like a pretty nice shell Rick. I've flipped over quite a few (for restoration) but never on mattress, tires, what have you. If you really want to work on the underside, I recommend you flip it over, "rotisserie" style. That couple mean a couple engine stands or something like this:

https://gerardsgarage.com/Garage/Tech/rolloverframe/rolloverWS.htm

Years ago, I built a rolling cart that would hold a bare chassis either in the upright or inverted position. Inverted only requires a couple of additional, removable braces. I put most of it together with 3" drywall screws, so it quick and easy to modify/make changes.

The easiest, fastest way I have found to invert a car is to securely mount a couple eyebolts to my ceiling joists in the garage and hang two come-alongs from them. A 6 foot 2x4 attached to the frame horns using original bumper mounts from a square body car and the same idea at the rear. Put an eyebolt in the center of each 2x, just tight enough so that it can rotate freely. Raise the car approximately 3 feet off the ground and with one person at each end, rotate the car and let it down on your cart, while one person keeps the car steady. The rear half is where all the weight is, so the person with the most strength should be at that end.

Having on a cart is particularly useful when space is limited as you can roll it into a corner when you are not needing access to work on it. Below is my current project. I can roll it in and out of the garage in a matter of minutes. Flipping it over takes about 20 minutes, if that.

I can add a link for the cart build if anyone is interested.

As far as undercoating, it depends on how much you want to spend and how much trouble you want to go to. I have used 3M rubberized, paintable undercoat with very good results. This time, I used a tint-able, bed liner with hardener. It requires an air compressor at about 75 PSI, and a special "body-shutz" gun to apply. Also very messy with the amount of overspray you will have as it's not nearly as controllable as with the spray cans. You need to mask areas you don't want covered and cover floors and surrounding areas with drop cloths. You'll have a very hard time getting it off places it's not wanted.

DSCF5003Bugeye.jpg
 
Nice looking work, Gerard. My shop has never been that neat!! Rick I've got lots of parts you may need though the shipping may be prohibitive.

Kurt.
 
I rolled my shell up on it's side to paint the bottom. Used some styrofoam blocks covered with towels and anchored it to the wall. My friends (helpers) thought it was one of the craziest thing they had heard of until it we'd got it done- very easily!
 
Spritenut use to roll them over in the grass in his front yard.
 
Nice - Thanks Gerard.
Your shop does look great, mine is barely shelter but it's what I've got.

I rearranged things today and winterized my Sprite.
Now I have room to get to my little workbench.

Kurt, I may take you up on that if I can't find things closer.

I am thinking there will be some derelict rubber bumper midget with no motor come along I can get the rear axle and front suspension from. I'm keeping my eyes open for that. I know I need a thousand other little bits so I'm really going to have to keep looking.

Here's a picture from today, doors just sitting there and an old pair of seats. Trunk lid loosely sitting in place.

tub_home5.jpg
 
Jack - thanks for that.
I wondered how Frank did it, makes sense.
 
Rick,
I've still got some parts left over from a '70 Midget that I'm trying to get rid of. Some stuff I'd be glad to GIVE you if you'll cover the shipping and a couple things I'd like a few bucks for...
What do you need?
 
Rick, I bet that with a few 2x4s you could build a second deck over that body to stack another without suspension (striped) on.

A few longish 2x4s like 3 would let you slide it right up with a couple friends to help.
 
Jack, you are going to get me in trouble with the wife!
I think I had this discussion with Bill already, how many tubs can you fit in a 12 x 24 shed?
At least 8.
Not the best formula for wedded bliss.
:smile:
 
Steve, the thing is bare as in no front suspension at all, no gas tank.
The only "extras" I have is the pair of doors, a pair of rear shocks, a pair of rear springs, and a front valance.

My parts car will provide me with tail lights and a bunch of odds and ends.
 
Disks in the front.
But wires, not bolt on wheels.
 
RickB said:
Jack - thanks for that.
I wondered how Frank did it, makes sense.
Click to expand...

I also made a rotisserie out of 2X4's - can send you the plans if you'd like. Looks like a very cool project!

Now, while I'm part of this conversation, a suggestion. (Mostly cause I've always wanted to but will likely never get the chance) I believe that the square bodied Midgets rely heavily on first T-Birds for design queues - especially the front ends. I have always dreamt of taking a square bodied Midget and doing kind of an homage - I think you could build something very cool and unique - especially as you are essentially staring from scratch.
 
They strange.
 
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