Not Knockin' Spridget Guys, but...

[tony barnhill]

...every time I work on one of mine, I'm reminded why I prefer MGB's!

MGB radiator removal: remove 2 hoses that are easy to reach (you don't even have to jack the car up), remove 4 bolts, lift radiator out....half hour max - more like 15 minutes!

'63 Midget radiator removal: place car on jack stands, remove 2 radiator hoses 1 you can barely get to, remove temperature sensor that's been in the radiator forever, remove grille, remove 4 bolts that really do require a little person to access, lift radiator out...took me 1-1/2 hour!

Might as well's so far:
1) radiator to shop for cleaning/repairs as needed
2) new radiator hoses
3) new thermostat
4) new steering rack boots

.....& I'm just getting started!

(Anybody need to see a photo?)

 

[Bugeye58]

Re: Not Knockin' You Spridget Guys, but...

Tony, the radiator is probably the worst job on a Spridget.
Everything else is pretty simple.
Pay attention to the bypass hose between the head and the water pump as long as you're there.
Jeff

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Not Knockin' You Spridget Guys, but...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Pay attention to the bypass hose between the head and the water pump as long as you're there.[/QUOTE]
Yep, just finished it...gonna add a new one to my list....

carbs off, intake off, exhaust off, generator & distributor off, all hoses & wires disconnected....everything in engine compartment ready to loosen the motor mounts...

...tomorrow afternoon I'll go underneath & undo the trans mounts, driveshaft, hoses, etc. & it'll be ready to pull...

Might as well's so far:
1) radiator to shop for cleaning/repairs as needed
2) new radiator hoses
3) new thermostat
4) new steering rack boots
5) motor mounts
6) trans mounts
7) rebuilt distributor from Jeff @ Advanced Distributor on shelf
8) new oil cooler hoses (heck, all hoses!)
9) new pull starter switch on shelf

 

[mccalebr]

Re: Not Knockin' You Spridget Guys, but...

Ha, Tony, that's the charm of the Midget...kinda like getting in and out of one, compared to a B.

Ray

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Not Knockin' You Spridget Guys, but...

Well, Jack just called me & gave me the good news & the bad news....unlike an MGB I don't have to remove the driveshaft - that'll save somw work...it just slips out of the trans....that's good news!

Bad news: I've gotta drain the transmission unlike the MGB trans which you don't have to drain to remove....

 

[terriphill]

That's the reason you see so many more MGB's than Midgets...I figure people start out thinking they want a Midget and then they begin working on one!

 

[tony barnhill]

hehehehe....

Here's how she looks right now:

& I think the "might as well's" are about to get out of control...here's the car before I took the bonnet off:

& before I took the luggage rack & antenna & fender mirror off:

....&, you know, I hate to pull an engine & reinstall it without at least looking inside....I've had this little car for years & have never done anything except drive & enjoy it...maybe I need to at least refresh the engine while I'm installing a new clutch...rings, bearings, water pump, timing chain, oil pump, gasket kit....& Hap could rebuild my carbs....& I might as well redo the suspension while I've got the steering apart to redo the boots....

Now, here's my engine number: 10CC DAH 29683

Jack says its a 1098 w/Cooper head, special cam & larger carbs!!

 

[jlaird]

Yea, might as well. Shucks, won't take much longer.

 

[tony barnhill]

So, Jack, I think I'm beginning to decipher my engine number (& in the cobwebs of my mind, I think somebody else told me some years ago that my car had the improved engine):

10CC DAH 29683

10CC = 1098 "Big Crank Engine" w/2" main bearing diameter & 59bhp @ 5750rpm & 65lb ft torque @ 3500rpm...& the head has 1.22" intake & 1" exhaust valves w/improved porting & larger bore exhaust manifold

DA = Floor Shift, Center Change Gearbox

H = High Compression of 8.9:1

29683 = Means I have a '65 engine in my '63 car.

 

[tony barnhill]

Jeff - my typo...its a "10CC"....I'm gonna pull the valve cover tomorrow & will tell you the head number then (though I really want to go out & do it now!)

Remember: I'm not a Midget guy! I'm learning as I go.

 

[Bugeye58]

Tony, the 10CG engines had 1 7/8" mains, used in '63~'64.
The 10CC engines, commonly referred to as "big crank 1098's" were used in '65~'66.
The last serial number for the 10CC engines was 52908, built in September, '66.
The DA in the number means it has a floor shift, center change gearbox.
Jeff

 

[tony barnhill]

So, my 10CC is a '65 engine!! Gets better all the time...I'l go back & add the DA info...thans!

 

[Bugeye58]

Tony, the build date should have been in April,'65. The head should be a 295.
Of the 1098's, this is the best to have.
Jeff

 

[tony barnhill]

I'm heading for the garage right now.....

WOO HOO!!! Head is 12G295 &, man, that valve train looks sweet, clean, no gunk.

Carbs are AUD 73's which are HS2 SU's
I've gotta keep this thread!

 

[kcbugeye1275]

Tony, be careful on the "I'm gonna do just a little more while I have it apart" thought process. That can turn into a lot of work, but you are the man and know that. A driver is a great thing to have, and when you remember that, I know you will stop at a point of reason. Look forward to seeing everyone a drinking a cold one this summer at the Lake. Warm thoughts on a cold winter night.

 

[Bugeye58]

Tony, those are the '63 carbs. '65's had AUD136's on 'em.
Virtually no difference to them, other than the needle profile. AUD 73's used a GY needle, 136's had AN's as standard.
Jeff

 

[Jayrz]

Oh you REALLY need to change a waterpump on a Lotus Elan sometime! Or maybe change the rotoflex joints on the driveshafts.... You'll then realize how much you loved working on that Spridget.

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Tony, those are the '63 carbs. '65's had AUD136's on 'em.
Virtually no difference to them, other than the needle profile. AUD 73's used a GY needle, 136's had AN's as standard.
Jeff [/QUOTE]
Saw that when I looked them up, Jeff....now I've gotta look to see what needles they have in them....but that's irrevalent - tomorrow I call Hap to let him know they're coming his way...he'll know what to do when I tell him about the engine.

Tony, be careful on the "I'm gonna do just a little more while I have it apart" thought process. That can turn into a lot of work, but you are the man and know that. A driver is a great thing to have, and when you remember that, I know you will stop at a point of reason. Look forward to seeing everyone a drinking a cold one this summer at the Lake. Warm thoughts on a cold winter night.

Don't you know it....I'd always planned on refreshing the paint before "50th" just because I wanted to get rid of the luggage rack, aftermarket fender mirror & radio antenna...

...as my plan gells tonight, I'm thinking: refresh the engine while its out just because I don't know its history (though its strong & has great oil pressure), let Hap redo the carbs, install my new distributor by Jeff Schlemmer, redo what is worn on the suspension & brakes to tighten everything up, sandblast & paint the wire wheels w/new tires (the tires on it now have lots of tread but they've been on it as long as I've owned it).....interior, top & side curtains are almost perfect & I love the Nardi wheel on it so there's nothing to do in there.

Jack says about 3 weeks....hehehehe

 

[Bugeye58]

Sounds like a lot of work for a clutch change! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
Like <u>I've</u> never done the same thing. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Jeff

 

[tony barnhill]

hehehehe...so, should I think about converting to a 1275 double timing chain? Or is that possible in the Midget engine?