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Your input on engine specs

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vagt6

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I found a rather nicely restored '74 MKIII Midget on Hemmings with a long list of engine mods, listed below. It's listed on Hemmings, located in Arlington, VA.

I'd like input from engine gurus on the driveability of such and engine: is this a good street engine?; Do you see any anomalies with the list of mods, below?

Your comments, please:

<span style="font-weight: bold">Engine:</span> Isky lifters, pressure plate, cylinder head machined to 0.0600, ā€˜mildlyā€™ ported, 3 angle valve job, Rim Flo intake and exhaust valves, competition head gasket; Winner Circle timing chain and gear kit, bored to 0.020;ā€ Cooper ā€˜Sā€™ pistons 9.8:1 compression ratio, VP7 Performance camshaft ā€“ 103 degree BTDC @ intake full open, 0.010ā€ over main bearings, standard rod bearings, new cam bearings; polished aluminum head cover.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Drivetrain, Etc.: </span>Distributor, header, other engine parts during rebuild including vacuum advance, radiator core, ANSA exhaust, competition header, brake pads, cylinders, shoes, rotors, water pump, master clutch and slave, master brake cylinder; Rivergate 5 speed conversion (Datsun B210) transmission, ring gear, Rivergate speedometer conversion kit, special driveshaft yoke and U-joint.

The rest of the car seems extremely nice. New paint; tube shock conversion; disc brakes; leather seats; Minilites; much more. Price seems in line with the current market values, maybe a little low.

What do you think?

Thanks, guys!
 
Whee, drive it like you stole it.
 
That all sounds really good.
The 5-speed deal is very nice.

As you know, the body is the trick on these cars.
How are the sills? Especially behind the front fenders and just in front of the rear wheels.

The trick stuff on the engine sounds OK, but for a street car, it is less important (to me). Just a normal, rebuilt 1275 would be just as appealing to me.
The high compression ratio may force you to retard the timing if normal, high-test street fuel pings (it might).

I like the tube shocks (even for street cars).

Overall, if the body is good, it sounds promising. This may be your open-air ride in '08!
 
I'd agree with Nial -- if the body is sound, that will be a great drive.
 
I don't think the CR is really too high, but I don't like using stainless valves for a street car.
Also the VP7 cam is a Vizard unit from APT described as a mild street cam. I don't have specs on it, but I know Vizard prefers 107 degree centers (he refers to this in his book). If it's set at 103 degree on the intake, it's been advanced 4 degrees (better low end performance).
The car looks nice in the picture.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/mg/midget/605458.html
I have a lot of friends in the lbc business in Arlington, but I don't recognize "Roger and Kemc"
 
Agree with above, IMHO the price seems a lil high
 
Great input, guys. Donn, interesting about the 4 degree advance. Would that tend to make it run a bit rich??

Price is high, but the car seems better than new. The "Cars That Matter" price guide (Jan-April '08) indicates $14,900 for a concours (#1 on a 1-4 scale) MK III. For a #3 point car, price is listed at $7,900. This car is between those numbers. So, it's a retail price, essentially.

I'd bet the owner has a lot more in it than $11,000. Heck, the leather seats are $1K+, alone!

I'll drive and inspect it on Saturday.

Keep the input coming, guys, this is excellent info.
 
$11k seems a bit high to me for a Spridget, even with the modifications and apparent condition. In the end, though, the car's price is based on what you want to spend -- that's all that matters. Should be a nice driving car if it is as it looks in the pictures and description, and if it's worth the cost to you, go for it.
 
It all sounds very streetable and well thought out, except for the money wasted on the tube-shock conversion. Sounds like a driver to me.

Glen Byrns
 
You could not build that car for 11K even if your labor was free and you were given the car. The question to ask is: Do I want to build it myself (my way) or do I want to take care of a completed car. Is it close enough to what you would make for yourself, if so, then buy it and save 2 years of work (fun).
 
Blue book it and add a couple of bucks for the Mods
 
I Like, thought the 74's had a black grill with the MG logo, and hey who stole the visors??

Looks good to me, love to have the 5 speed!!
Ɛan
 
I am not a fan of the tube shocks. And I was running a VP7 cam but it was just too lumpy of an idle and a bit too much for everyday street use. I also had about the same engine specs with that cam.
 
Lumpy, is there such a thing as too lumpy at idle? Got to love the sound of a lumpy race motor.
 
Spridget noob question:

Where do you jack a Spridget up from the front? Place the jack under the frame next to the engine?

Gotta check that front suspension. :square:
 
No. Under the frame cross member in front of the engine. Use a 1x4 about 6 inchs long between the jack and the frame.

I would bet that if you look you will find that this part of the frame is in fact domed upwards from previous jack jobs.
 
I decided to let this one pass. Guy would have taken $9,000, allegedly. I didn't go to inspect it, but it seems like a very solid example.

Just not for me. I'm waiting for another. In fact, I may postpone my search until my new garage is constructed, hopefully by about mid-summer. The, the new Spridget will have a nice, warm bed to sleep in. :wink:

It's not easy to pass up cars like this . . .
 
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