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Trying to get back working on the 1974 Midget

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I have started the task of reassembly.

My first issue is the brake master cylinder rod and retainer are way too corroded to use. I got a new Master cylinder but looks like the rod ic not available. Any ideas on a replacement?
I did find what I think is an Austin Healy part BHA 5132. Would this fit?

David
 
Found one on Ebay. It has a part number BHA5132. It seems moss does not carry important parts. The adaptor for the clutch master cylinder hydraulic line is not available on the moss site but is listed in their printed parts listing,

Future Me wishes that Past Me took more photos as I dismantled the Midget. All the photos i have seem to miss the critical part I am trying to see how it goes. My zip lock bags have cryptic notes on them as well.

Making progress on the reassembly.

Ran the engine on the stand for about 20 minutes today. First time with the radiator cap on and the water pump developed a leak. Easier to change it now than in the car.

David
Midget reassembly.jpg
 
I understand your wish for better photos. I bought my Sprite as an empty shell with nothing attached and 20+ boxes of parts. It has been a challenge.
 
It is getting close to time to buy tires for the midget. What are the recommended size and any makes that work better than others?

David
 
Regarding the fuel tank. I have bought a new tank and am waiting on the 1/4" copper/nickel line to arrive so I can make a new fuel line. Do I need to connect the vent line from the tank to the charcoal canaster or just vent it some other way?
David
 
DavidApp said:
Regarding the fuel tank. I have bought a new tank and am waiting on the 1/4" copper/nickel line to arrive so I can make a new fuel line. Do I need to connect the vent line from the tank to the charcoal canaster or just vent it some other way?
David
Click to expand...
I got a new tank and it didn't have the fitting for a return vent line. I removed the charcoal canister and plumbing and just have a vented gas cap
 
The tank I have seems to have the fitting in it. Any advantages in using it or just go with the vented gas cap?

David
 
DavidApp said:
The tank I have seems to have the fitting in it. Any advantages in using it or just go with the vented gas cap?

David
Click to expand...
Not sure that I can answer that but a couple of observations.

1. I blocked the vent pipe coming from the carb that the return line would have been attached to. Big mistake. Essentially it meant the fuel couldn't flow properly so the car wouldn't run except in gulps. (Imagine the way water comes out of a jug when you turn it over.) Not a big deal but it took a while to diagnose. Thus gas fumes are going out to the air. The charcoal canister would be better environmentally but I am not sure it makes a huge difference.

2. I am not sure if you can even get replacement charcoal for the canister (realizing you might just leave it out completely.

3. I have more than once contemplated putting fuel injection on the car in which case a return line is fairly (though not completely) essential.
 
My charcoal canaster is complete including a full load of charcoal. I think that I will run the vent line from the fuel tank to the canaster. The book shows a fuel trap between the tank and canaster. I presume this is to prevent liquid fuel getting sucked into the canaster? As I have no trap can I may make a substitute can and mount it in the boot.
Any idea what the vent thread is on the fuel tank.
David
 
Needing to order rubber parts for my doors I started with Moss UK but found they were out of stock of one side quarter light rubber and do not have prices in US $ any more. British Parts NW parts list seems to be a mess as is MiniMania and Rimmer does not list anything for quarter lights . So it looks like it is back to Moss US The last rubbers I got there were TRASH. Had cuts in them where they had attempted to clean up the molding.
Any other sources of MG Midget parts?
David
 
The rubbers I got from Moss US a year or so ago were such a bad fit it took me many hours of trying to trim them so the windows would close. I don't know if Macgregor has them but if he does I think they would good quality.
 
I did get some rubber parts from Macgregor but he does not do the quarter light rubber seals. I started to think that I may stick with the ones in the car but found that they were crumbling. One side looks like it may work.
Anyone had luck or heard about MCOC Spare parts in the UK?
Is there a copy of the Midget parts catalogue on line anywhere?

David
 
A photo of the quarter light rubber from moss.

I am finding it easier to run the fuel and vent lines with the car inverted.

David
Quarter light rubber.jpg
Fuel and vent lines.jpg
 
lines look great - rubber not so much. Probably the best parts catalogue is probably the Moss website. I have ordered from MGOC over the years - always good service.
 
DavidApp said:
Thank you.
May give them a try. Moss does not use MG part numbers in their catalogue.

David
Click to expand...
Not sure anyone does any more. Other than things like master cylinders and the like. I do recall years ago on this very forum a person ordered a wire harness from Victoria British (now owned by Moss) and the part arrived with a Moss part number on the label. So many of these things are sourced from one location (often China) and are sold through all the suppliers - MacGregor seems to be an exception.
 
DavidApp said:
Thank you.
May give them a try. Moss does not use MG part numbers in their catalogue.

David
Click to expand...
You might try Little British Car Company's website. No pictures, but they cross reference factory part numbers to Moss numbers.
 
The rubbers I got from Moss US a year or so ago were such a bad fit it took me many hours of trying to trim them so the windows would close. I don't know if Macgregor has them but if he does I think they would good quality.
 
I did contact Macgregor and he said he did not have them. I asked on the other forum for the names of suppliers of quality MG parts. One name that came up was Brown & Gammons in the UK. Their website is nicely and easy to navigate. I ordered several door parts from them. I will let you know how they look.
David
 
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