-
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
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
NEWB! 1st TIME MG OWNER HERE
- Thread starter importcars
- Start date
Share this page
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
I have also thought about retro-fitting a Honda fuel injection system to the engine... but i also like the idea of a header and some webers...
[/ QUOTE ]
Welcome!
There is at least one fellow here ("Morris")working on an injected Midget, but it is has the newer 1500 engine (no interchangeable parts with the 1275) so info might not be helpful.
A header can help, but not as much as you might like. These engine have three exhaust ports (siamese center port), so they are somewhat restricted from the get-go.
I doubt you would put "WeberS" (plural) on a 1275. It only has two intake ports (using one Weber could be done....but personally, I prefer the twin SU carbs, partly because they look cooler).
My personal favorite engine in these cars (and I have seen a lot of them, including rotary powered, Toyota powered, Ford powered, etc.) is a nice, moderately tuned 1275.
These cars are all about handling and nice road manners. A high-horsepower engine can throw the entire balance of the car off and make it a clumsy, difficult car to drive (at least in my opinion).
Every engine swap Spridget I've seen has turned into an ordeal. First, the tiny trans tunnel has to be torched out and the unit body has to be re-done (even for a Toyota trans)...then the rear has to be swapped...then the front A-arms/lever shocks can't deal with the added weight/stress...then the radiator area is too small to fit anything really worthwhile...etc,etc,etc.
I really like these cars, but part of what I like is the overall balance and the original engine is part of that (again, at least in my opinion). I felt that way with my first Spridget 35 years ago and I still feel that way.
By the way, some of the other guys mentioned it but you may have missed their point. Most Sprites and Midgets have square-arch back fenders, but you have fairly rare, "round wheel arch" car with round rear fender openings (called an "RWA"). You car is a bit more collectable due to the RWA feature.
OK, whatever you decide, G'luck with your car...I hope you enjoy it.
I have also thought about retro-fitting a Honda fuel injection system to the engine... but i also like the idea of a header and some webers...
[/ QUOTE ]
Welcome!
There is at least one fellow here ("Morris")working on an injected Midget, but it is has the newer 1500 engine (no interchangeable parts with the 1275) so info might not be helpful.
A header can help, but not as much as you might like. These engine have three exhaust ports (siamese center port), so they are somewhat restricted from the get-go.
I doubt you would put "WeberS" (plural) on a 1275. It only has two intake ports (using one Weber could be done....but personally, I prefer the twin SU carbs, partly because they look cooler).
My personal favorite engine in these cars (and I have seen a lot of them, including rotary powered, Toyota powered, Ford powered, etc.) is a nice, moderately tuned 1275.
These cars are all about handling and nice road manners. A high-horsepower engine can throw the entire balance of the car off and make it a clumsy, difficult car to drive (at least in my opinion).
Every engine swap Spridget I've seen has turned into an ordeal. First, the tiny trans tunnel has to be torched out and the unit body has to be re-done (even for a Toyota trans)...then the rear has to be swapped...then the front A-arms/lever shocks can't deal with the added weight/stress...then the radiator area is too small to fit anything really worthwhile...etc,etc,etc.
I really like these cars, but part of what I like is the overall balance and the original engine is part of that (again, at least in my opinion). I felt that way with my first Spridget 35 years ago and I still feel that way.
By the way, some of the other guys mentioned it but you may have missed their point. Most Sprites and Midgets have square-arch back fenders, but you have fairly rare, "round wheel arch" car with round rear fender openings (called an "RWA"). You car is a bit more collectable due to the RWA feature.
OK, whatever you decide, G'luck with your car...I hope you enjoy it.
OP
importcars
Member
Offline
i appriciate all the input!
threw a batery in it, hit the start and bang. started right up.... wont stayyyy running but starts and sounds very healthy.
im sure the original motor and tranny are pat of the feel of the car... no need to really make it FASSST bc i have modern cars for that... but freeing up some power is always good /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
so like a cam, free flowing exhuast, and rasise the compression ratio? i read somewhere that they are 7.5:1 c/r... wow... thats very low. i have run my crx boosted on 11.6:1 on 93 octane...
do most ppl just mill the head like .050" or a lil more to raise compression? or are you able to take that much off the head? or does it have to come off the block?
-Adam
threw a batery in it, hit the start and bang. started right up.... wont stayyyy running but starts and sounds very healthy.
im sure the original motor and tranny are pat of the feel of the car... no need to really make it FASSST bc i have modern cars for that... but freeing up some power is always good /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
so like a cam, free flowing exhuast, and rasise the compression ratio? i read somewhere that they are 7.5:1 c/r... wow... thats very low. i have run my crx boosted on 11.6:1 on 93 octane...
do most ppl just mill the head like .050" or a lil more to raise compression? or are you able to take that much off the head? or does it have to come off the block?
-Adam
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Nah, Jack, give it to him...he's ready......
Welcome to the board and the LBC club. I'm here in Tulsa as well. Not much going on with our local club. It's supposed to be the Green Country MG “T” Register. I've emailed the president on numerous occasions with little to no response about joining. Maybe they think the Midget 1500 doesn't qualify. Drop a line sometime, perhaps we can get together.
Marvin
Marvin
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Marvin - do you know an older guy in Tulsa - Alec Wilson - big into Studebakers?
OP
importcars
Member
Offline
hey, thanx for the book to look for!! im at amazon right now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
small world.. tulsa /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif cool man! its not driveable...YET! but it breathing a lil fire today makes me want to get it driveable REAL soon.
i have to overhual all the hydrolics.. brakes and clutch. and i have to free up/ replace all cables...
the engine starts and runs for about 3seconds, but in that time, there is no ticking, knocking, or smoke. very promising sign!
-Adam
small world.. tulsa /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif cool man! its not driveable...YET! but it breathing a lil fire today makes me want to get it driveable REAL soon.
i have to overhual all the hydrolics.. brakes and clutch. and i have to free up/ replace all cables...
the engine starts and runs for about 3seconds, but in that time, there is no ticking, knocking, or smoke. very promising sign!
-Adam
OP
importcars
Member
Offline
hmmmmm... may have to pull the main fuel line and see how its pumping.
its deff clicking tho. easy to hear.is that bad?
its deff clicking tho. easy to hear.is that bad?
Offline
Normal for it to "tick over" at about one second intervals. If it's hammerin' its brains out it may be suckin AIR... Float needles/seats may be gummed up. If it lit then konked out repeatedly, p'raps it needs some choke? The carbs have no accelerator pump, so "cold" the engine needs a larger quantity of gas by means of the choke linkage lowering the jet tubes (allowing more fuel volume past the needles).
Just think of those SU's as Mikuni's... only ~ORIGINAL~ ones! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
Just think of those SU's as Mikuni's... only ~ORIGINAL~ ones! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
OP
importcars
Member
Offline
i need to check the flow from the pump and inspect all lines on the car.
but i think it is more than likly gummed up carbs. the car hasnt been tagged since 94, the previous owner said last time it was started (5 months ago) it would run and die when the throttle was opened up.
im going to oriellys tomorrow to order a couple carb seal kits and going to clean them. hopefully the motor will purr like a champ after that.
also need to free the controls up, the throttle and choke cables are stuck solid. hopefully lubrication will do the trick, may have to replace tho...
also, i think i read somewhere that the 'finger catcher', or something like that, steering wheels were rare? i think my car has that in it... 3 chrome spokes with holes in the spokes... should i b proud of that? lol
thanx for all the help
but i think it is more than likly gummed up carbs. the car hasnt been tagged since 94, the previous owner said last time it was started (5 months ago) it would run and die when the throttle was opened up.
im going to oriellys tomorrow to order a couple carb seal kits and going to clean them. hopefully the motor will purr like a champ after that.
also need to free the controls up, the throttle and choke cables are stuck solid. hopefully lubrication will do the trick, may have to replace tho...
also, i think i read somewhere that the 'finger catcher', or something like that, steering wheels were rare? i think my car has that in it... 3 chrome spokes with holes in the spokes... should i b proud of that? lol
thanx for all the help
Hap Waldrop
Yoda
Offline
You won't find many parts for the Midget at your local parts store, maybe some brake parts, a starter but not much more than that. Parts are readily available by many mail order comapaies here's a quick run down.
Moss Motors, Victoria British, The B Hive etc. etc, stock replacement parts for motor, driveline, some performance parts and anyhting from to interior or about anything else you can imagine.
Winners Circle, Mini Mania etc., these companies specailize in go fast goodies for the motor and suspension.
Joe Curto: Su carb parts and technical advice on SU carbs, simply the best when it comes to where to get SU parts.
You can also check out my website, there are several companies out there that do what I do. I built complete performance and race engines, port and polish cylinder heads, lighten rods and cranks, build SU carbs, sell a few parts like alloy wheels and some trick and custom engine parts like pistons, cams. I also restore and build British Spridget and MGB race cars.
My advice is to not give up on the 1275 so soon, it's a amazing little motor that has alot of potential. This kind of car is not about straight line speed but rather the total package of handling mixed with power, these are light weight cars that weight half the weight of a CRX or Civic. I stiiting here at my computer desk and in front of me is a photo of me outbraking and passing a CRX, which I quickly leave behind, these cars will amaze you in what you can do with them, the sky is limit, so don't give up on that 1275 so soon, let this car teach how to make something better without just slapping a larger stock engine in there. You want to beat your buddies with thier Honda with your
Honda, let this car teach you how by learning engine building, suspension modification ect. I, myself know I get way more satisfaction form making something better than just swapping it for something else.
Now you can't achieve this on the street, for gas requirements and driveabilty reason, but with full out racing 1275, we can get 145hp and may them live up to 9000 rpms and beyond, now this doesn't probably dazzle you much by sport import standards, there are plenty of stock later model engines that can do that right from the showroom floor, but consider this, we triple the stock horsepower of 1275 with out turbos or superchargers or electronics, now apply that same type of prep to Honda with the addition of turbos and electronics and you can see the advantage you can pocess by learning your way around the inside of a motor. This little motor will teach you the basics that many young folks today are just missing out on.
I would highly recommend joinin g a British car club and going to some British car gatherings, don't be alarmed if you are the youngest person there, just rmember we all gearheads and these older folks can help you learn alot to spank your buddies with /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Moss Motors, Victoria British, The B Hive etc. etc, stock replacement parts for motor, driveline, some performance parts and anyhting from to interior or about anything else you can imagine.
Winners Circle, Mini Mania etc., these companies specailize in go fast goodies for the motor and suspension.
Joe Curto: Su carb parts and technical advice on SU carbs, simply the best when it comes to where to get SU parts.
You can also check out my website, there are several companies out there that do what I do. I built complete performance and race engines, port and polish cylinder heads, lighten rods and cranks, build SU carbs, sell a few parts like alloy wheels and some trick and custom engine parts like pistons, cams. I also restore and build British Spridget and MGB race cars.
My advice is to not give up on the 1275 so soon, it's a amazing little motor that has alot of potential. This kind of car is not about straight line speed but rather the total package of handling mixed with power, these are light weight cars that weight half the weight of a CRX or Civic. I stiiting here at my computer desk and in front of me is a photo of me outbraking and passing a CRX, which I quickly leave behind, these cars will amaze you in what you can do with them, the sky is limit, so don't give up on that 1275 so soon, let this car teach how to make something better without just slapping a larger stock engine in there. You want to beat your buddies with thier Honda with your
Honda, let this car teach you how by learning engine building, suspension modification ect. I, myself know I get way more satisfaction form making something better than just swapping it for something else.
Now you can't achieve this on the street, for gas requirements and driveabilty reason, but with full out racing 1275, we can get 145hp and may them live up to 9000 rpms and beyond, now this doesn't probably dazzle you much by sport import standards, there are plenty of stock later model engines that can do that right from the showroom floor, but consider this, we triple the stock horsepower of 1275 with out turbos or superchargers or electronics, now apply that same type of prep to Honda with the addition of turbos and electronics and you can see the advantage you can pocess by learning your way around the inside of a motor. This little motor will teach you the basics that many young folks today are just missing out on.
I would highly recommend joinin g a British car club and going to some British car gatherings, don't be alarmed if you are the youngest person there, just rmember we all gearheads and these older folks can help you learn alot to spank your buddies with /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif