Up-date on a little green Midget '77

[Ulf]

Update on a little green Midget '77

As you know I asked some questions about ignition and clutches etc little more than a week ago.

Now I have changed the switch and yes I did it the brutal manhandeing way with one person hanging on the stearing column while the other wiggled the cowl off (and later on). It worked well...

One thing that I found as I was looking under the bonnet was that the old ERG tubing had coroded to the point of braking off. My imideate action was to take it off and duckt tape the vacuum end while looking for a plug. I have yet to find one.

On the clutch side I have gotten the stuff needed for the changing of hydraulics and bleeding, so that will be done probably tomorrow (I work wed-sat and most sundays and tuesdays) depending if I can find a place to elevate the car.

I am pretty sure I will have to replace the clutch soon, but I am not keen on the idea of lifting out the engine since I do not have a location nor tools to do the job.
When the engine does come out, what else should I change or at least look at while it is out?

I also have a hunch I have to fix the suspension, I think it is tilting to the left. I hope this is nothing that has to go on the emergency list since the list of should do's and want to do's is longer than the car itself. ;-)

I will try and produce more updates and also see if I can remember to take a picture or two of the little miracle.

Btw I came in possetion of the Midget by the way of my Mentor who willed it to me. He thought I would be the best care taker of his loved automobile.
After having it in my care for two weeks and driving it for only a few days I am all in love with driving it. As all of you know just a five minute drive (like my commute) is a thrill in the positive way.
I cant wait for when the "harsh Californian winter" (light rains now and then and temperatures dropping into the 40s) ends and the never ending sunny days come back and the top can be folded for 8 months or so. I am not originally from California so I know how spoiled I am living here.

 

[drooartz]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

The lists never end, but they do get to a manageable length. A few things on, a few things off.

Engine removal is not that hard. I removed my first one from a 74 Midget a month ago, and it went pretty well. I've got a garage, so I wound up buying a cheap engine hoist for about $110. They're not too expensive to rent, either.

Good luck, and don't forget those pictures. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[ncbugeye]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

You can improvise a lifting frame for a winch with two triangles of 2x4s for the legs and a 2x8 beam set vertically between them. This could cost you as little as $25, or less if you can lay your hands on scrap wood from a construction site. Use the general principle of the shape of a sawhorse, but make it much taller and just wide anough to straddle the car. In an ideal world you'd put heavy-duty castors on it, but it can be dragged without them, carefully.

You can make a balance beam for gradually canting the engine as it comes out, but it'd be safer to buy that.

Then all you'll need is a pair of double pulleys and 50 feet or so of rope of at least 1000lbs rating, and VOILA, as they say. Alternatively you can buy a rope/chain winch with appropriate rating to attach to your lifting frame.

 

[bugimike]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

If you have a good solid rafter in the garage (assuming you have a garage)and a come-along winch suspended from it will work nicely for hoisting LBC engines. I did that for years! And lacking a garage, a tree with a good, stout, overhanging branch to hang the come-along from will also work (hence the term "shade-tree mechanic")! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[Ulf]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

Yeah, the assumption that I have a garage is all nice, but I don't have one.
I can maybe borrow time (not days) at a friends garage.
See how quickly time is of the essance?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

Is there a local British Car club you can join? There might be member (with a garage) that could help you out on a weekend.

And... many of our cars lean to the left. What other suspension problem do you suspect?

 

[Ulf]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

I am looking into "local" car clubs, Santa Cruz is a wee outside the normal paths.

The front seems a little shaky, not sure that is suspension. The most "alarming" thing going on atm beside the clonking if the clutch is disengaged quickly with torque input, is the fact that when I let up the gas quickly the car pulls to the right. Somewhere it feels like something is loose in the transmission.

 

[ChrisS]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

Check the u-bolts holding the rear end to the leaf springs. When i first got my car it was doing the same thing and the rear was moving around due to loose u-bolts.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

Or rusted spring hanger, or broken leaf.

 

[Ulf]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

I just walked out to the parking lot and I did not see a broken leaf (not same as there is none).

While out there I took some pictures, now I am going to try and find out how to uplad em.

 

[drooartz]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

Looks like a sound little car you've got there. Good luck.

 

[jcatnite]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

The sudden lane changing is most likely the ruber bits in the suspension being worn and old. It is most likely not one of the emergency "must do" items but it can get annoying. It will need to be addressed at some point. Welcome to the fray.
JC

 

[Ulf]

Re: Update on a little green Midget '77

I got the clutch and the brakes bled monday and the clutch seems to be better. It has now been in the rain and the top keeps dry except in the right front where it leaks in. I will have to fix that before next rain, it is good that it does not rain that much in Santa Cruz even during "rain season"...