1978 MG Midget Restoration/Rebuild/Project/ProbableMoneyPit
Discussion
A big thanks to everybody kind enough to share pictures to remind everyone how tatty mine is, excellent!!
Managed a few bits on the car today, first I gave it a very much needed vacuum. Had a quick peep under a few carpets and the floor doesn't seem that bad, 1 small hole so far but i'm sure I can make a few more..
Next up was to strip the car of the rubber bumpers. Everyone says it but I cant believe how heavy these things are! Must be a good 20kg each? Personally I think it looks much better now anyway.
Lastly after a few under bonnet checks and tightens I tried to start it up. It burst into life fine but wouldn't idle unless I held it on the accelerator - not sure if its a case of its very damp, the fuel is stale or if I haven't got the choke right (this is my first car with carbs and a choke!). Happy its starting so well though.
One thing I did notice was it has an aftermarket oil cooler fitted. Is this a necessary mod?
Couples of photos (look how nice the weather has been) and one next to my daily drive.
Managed a few bits on the car today, first I gave it a very much needed vacuum. Had a quick peep under a few carpets and the floor doesn't seem that bad, 1 small hole so far but i'm sure I can make a few more..
Next up was to strip the car of the rubber bumpers. Everyone says it but I cant believe how heavy these things are! Must be a good 20kg each? Personally I think it looks much better now anyway.
Lastly after a few under bonnet checks and tightens I tried to start it up. It burst into life fine but wouldn't idle unless I held it on the accelerator - not sure if its a case of its very damp, the fuel is stale or if I haven't got the choke right (this is my first car with carbs and a choke!). Happy its starting so well though.
One thing I did notice was it has an aftermarket oil cooler fitted. Is this a necessary mod?
Couples of photos (look how nice the weather has been) and one next to my daily drive.
Looks better than the one I run for none years.
Oil coolers are recommended by a lot of people as the 1500 is a three bearing lump & the bearings are a bit undersized for the power. Having said that I got mine when I was 21, drove it like a 21 year old in a sports car & it never had any engine problems without one.
It'd be interesting to see how they got the overdrive in as it doesn't fit in the Midget tunnel, so I was told by everyone anyway. I've heard the usual 'fix' is a bloody great hammer to adjust it out half inch or so.
Still miss mine, it was a brilliant little car. I only sold it as I discovered bikes & wasn't using it.
Oil coolers are recommended by a lot of people as the 1500 is a three bearing lump & the bearings are a bit undersized for the power. Having said that I got mine when I was 21, drove it like a 21 year old in a sports car & it never had any engine problems without one.
It'd be interesting to see how they got the overdrive in as it doesn't fit in the Midget tunnel, so I was told by everyone anyway. I've heard the usual 'fix' is a bloody great hammer to adjust it out half inch or so.
Still miss mine, it was a brilliant little car. I only sold it as I discovered bikes & wasn't using it.
Hooli said:
Looks better than the one I run for none years.
Oil coolers are recommended by a lot of people as the 1500 is a three bearing lump & the bearings are a bit undersized for the power. Having said that I got mine when I was 21, drove it like a 21 year old in a sports car & it never had any engine problems without one.
It'd be interesting to see how they got the overdrive in as it doesn't fit in the Midget tunnel, so I was told by everyone anyway. I've heard the usual 'fix' is a bloody great hammer to adjust it out half inch or so.
Still miss mine, it was a brilliant little car. I only sold it as I discovered bikes & wasn't using it.
Thanks for the info, I'm learning all the time! The photos do flatter it a touch but its not a complete wreck (hopefully). I work in the Motorsport industry so having an oil cooler makes this car even cooler...Oil coolers are recommended by a lot of people as the 1500 is a three bearing lump & the bearings are a bit undersized for the power. Having said that I got mine when I was 21, drove it like a 21 year old in a sports car & it never had any engine problems without one.
It'd be interesting to see how they got the overdrive in as it doesn't fit in the Midget tunnel, so I was told by everyone anyway. I've heard the usual 'fix' is a bloody great hammer to adjust it out half inch or so.
Still miss mine, it was a brilliant little car. I only sold it as I discovered bikes & wasn't using it.
Once its tucked away i'll look into the overdrive some more, see how its done.
Will have a look into that anti roll bar mod, thanks. Suspension overhaul/conversion is on the cards for sure - brakes have to come first though as it may as well not have any right now...
No proper progress to report martin, I've been messed around big time with garage renting although as of today I'm hopeful I've found somewhere.
All I managed to do today was assemble the fleet... Not quite a millionaire collection but I'm only 23 so it'll do!
No proper progress to report martin, I've been messed around big time with garage renting although as of today I'm hopeful I've found somewhere.
All I managed to do today was assemble the fleet... Not quite a millionaire collection but I'm only 23 so it'll do!
Ah, this brings back many memories with the 'Bs and the Midget which I have owned in the past. I am sure that you will have fun 
.
There are some great pointers here but I do have a few suggestions.
If you end up rebushing certain parts I would only use SuperFlex or SuperPro bushes (both (well, almost) are the same people to an extent). Besides lasting ages they locate things well without being harsh and cracking prematurely, the latter attributes being something every man and his dog blindly say about poly bushes in general.
Enjoy the work! What is the story with the 205?
.There are some great pointers here but I do have a few suggestions.
If you end up rebushing certain parts I would only use SuperFlex or SuperPro bushes (both (well, almost) are the same people to an extent). Besides lasting ages they locate things well without being harsh and cracking prematurely, the latter attributes being something every man and his dog blindly say about poly bushes in general.
Enjoy the work! What is the story with the 205?
Yes, you did the right things, looks much better bumper less. Weight is the enemy so great to strip out what you personally don't care for.
You will have to be ready to ignore a lot of purists who seem to flock to the classic MG's, telling you that you have an obligation to originality for no obvious reason other than their own hang ups.
So much potential with these. Frontline developments do some interesting things to them....
Keep us posted.
You will have to be ready to ignore a lot of purists who seem to flock to the classic MG's, telling you that you have an obligation to originality for no obvious reason other than their own hang ups.
So much potential with these. Frontline developments do some interesting things to them....
Keep us posted.
Looks a great buy for £1200!
My 11 year old son has decided not to spend his savings on an Xbox one, but is now saving like mad to buy an MG Midget in the spring!
i am researching the market and there is a lot of chod out there with some fantasist pricing, so you have done well by the looks of it.
As far as I can tell the Midget was never sold with overdrive, but some were retrofitted with the Spitfire O/D, that and the oil cooler tells me that someone lavished some cash and love on this baby in the past!
My 11 year old son has decided not to spend his savings on an Xbox one, but is now saving like mad to buy an MG Midget in the spring!
i am researching the market and there is a lot of chod out there with some fantasist pricing, so you have done well by the looks of it.
As far as I can tell the Midget was never sold with overdrive, but some were retrofitted with the Spitfire O/D, that and the oil cooler tells me that someone lavished some cash and love on this baby in the past!
[/URL]alolympic said:
Yes, you did the right things, looks much better bumper less. Weight is the enemy so great to strip out what you personally don't care for.
You will have to be ready to ignore a lot of purists who seem to flock to the classic MG's, telling you that you have an obligation to originality for no obvious reason other than their own hang ups.
So much potential with these. Frontline developments do some interesting things to them....
Keep us posted.
Frontline do but IMO some of their modifications are either overgloried or actually worse! Reducing castor on a car which not much caster for a start anyone? :lol: I can only wish I was joking about the last one! However, they do sell some great kit You will have to be ready to ignore a lot of purists who seem to flock to the classic MG's, telling you that you have an obligation to originality for no obvious reason other than their own hang ups.
So much potential with these. Frontline developments do some interesting things to them....
Keep us posted.
.IIRC are you on another forum with quite an awesome Toledo Sprint?
.It's good to see you have some space to work on the car
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