Discussion
Yes, I've seen Daves moggy drum mod kit and I was tempted, but I found a local 1500 midget that was being broken so bought the front brakes/sus from that. I didnt know he was running a standard radiator, so thats good to know. A re-cored one will definitely be on the list then!
I'm not 100% sure wether it does have matching numbers as I've never actually had a full rummage under the bonnet and compared it to the paperwork. I wouldn't be surprised if it's not all matching from historical swaps that may have taken place when Billy owned the car circa 50years ago, as I said he had and ran quite a few so wouldn't be surprised if there was some swapsies going on to get the best combo.
As for parts accrued to date:
- MG Midget 1500 front suspension, dampers and disk brakes/calipers (need overhaul)
- MG Midget 1275 rear axle with hardened half shafts, and hydraulic rear drum brakes. (Needs overhaul and building into an A30/A35 axle)
- MG midget 3.7 tall diff (as above)
- MG midget 1275 ribbed gearbox (looks really clean and suspect was overhauled not long before the car was broken, will give it a check over anyway)
- Morris ITAL 1275 A+ engine. I was told it ran fine before removal 10+yrs ago, but will rebuild and might spice it up a little bit. Low down torque is preferable to a revvy HO engine for road use. I have David Vizards tuning an A-series bible that I'm slowly making my way through before I remove any nuts/bolts.
I'm not 100% sure wether it does have matching numbers as I've never actually had a full rummage under the bonnet and compared it to the paperwork. I wouldn't be surprised if it's not all matching from historical swaps that may have taken place when Billy owned the car circa 50years ago, as I said he had and ran quite a few so wouldn't be surprised if there was some swapsies going on to get the best combo.
As for parts accrued to date:
- MG Midget 1500 front suspension, dampers and disk brakes/calipers (need overhaul)
- MG Midget 1275 rear axle with hardened half shafts, and hydraulic rear drum brakes. (Needs overhaul and building into an A30/A35 axle)
- MG midget 3.7 tall diff (as above)
- MG midget 1275 ribbed gearbox (looks really clean and suspect was overhauled not long before the car was broken, will give it a check over anyway)
- Morris ITAL 1275 A+ engine. I was told it ran fine before removal 10+yrs ago, but will rebuild and might spice it up a little bit. Low down torque is preferable to a revvy HO engine for road use. I have David Vizards tuning an A-series bible that I'm slowly making my way through before I remove any nuts/bolts.
Ambleton said:
Paynewright said:
Did you get my email about the book?
I’d upgrade it but make everything reverseable / keep components removed.
Book arrived on friday - nice little item and I look forward to making my way through it. Thanks again. I’d upgrade it but make everything reverseable / keep components removed.
We were up visiting the outlaws last weekend and we dug out a few A35 books and literature.
Original workshop manual.
Various other books and manuals:
A parts list from the mid 90s when stuff was still hand written and photocopied!
Next time I'm up I must take some photos of the car to share!
Original workshop manual.
Various other books and manuals:
A parts list from the mid 90s when stuff was still hand written and photocopied!
Next time I'm up I must take some photos of the car to share!
I currently own an A35 van. I have done the following upgrades.
1275 engine, ribbed box, 3.9 diff, midget discs, roll bar and front shocks. I have also added alloy rad, electric fuel pump and fan, led lighting and had the interior trimmed in nappa leather.
From looking at it, it looks standard. On the road, it sits at 70mph easily.
Future plans are to fit frontline suspension and gas dampers all around.
What a lovely vehicle to drive.
1275 engine, ribbed box, 3.9 diff, midget discs, roll bar and front shocks. I have also added alloy rad, electric fuel pump and fan, led lighting and had the interior trimmed in nappa leather.
From looking at it, it looks standard. On the road, it sits at 70mph easily.
Future plans are to fit frontline suspension and gas dampers all around.
What a lovely vehicle to drive.
austina35 said:
I currently own an A35 van. I have done the following upgrades.
1275 engine, ribbed box, 3.9 diff, midget discs, roll bar and front shocks. I have also added alloy rad, electric fuel pump and fan, led lighting and had the interior trimmed in nappa leather.
From looking at it, it looks standard. On the road, it sits at 70mph easily.
Future plans are to fit frontline suspension and gas dampers all around.
What a lovely vehicle to drive.
Nappa leather in an A35 van? Wow 1275 engine, ribbed box, 3.9 diff, midget discs, roll bar and front shocks. I have also added alloy rad, electric fuel pump and fan, led lighting and had the interior trimmed in nappa leather.
From looking at it, it looks standard. On the road, it sits at 70mph easily.
Future plans are to fit frontline suspension and gas dampers all around.
What a lovely vehicle to drive.
Sounds quite the machine - do you have any pictures of a build thread??
Unfortunately I went 'a bit far' with mine and there's a certain air of permanence about the modifications
The A30/35 is a car that I absolutely would love to own once again. Nothing as smart or modified as some examples in here, just a basic ‘as factory’ little car, a straightforward ‘peanut’. Had the experiences of ownership many many moons ago and it’s stuck in my memory bank. Paid £40 for a on the road runner, 4 bald tyres and drank oil like nothing else 
And yet it never let me down ever
Time to find another, but I expect to pay a little more than £40!!!
And yet it never let me down ever Time to find another, but I expect to pay a little more than £40!!!
I had an A35 van for a short while. It belonged to a friend in the navy who was abroad and I had it to use until he came home. It never let me down, but it was noisy, had average brakes (for the day) but had a charm that can't be denied. But I don't wanr another, unless I come across one full of budgie seed.
crankedup5 said:
The A30/35 is a car that I absolutely would love to own once again. Nothing as smart or modified as some examples in here, just a basic ‘as factory’ little car, a straightforward ‘peanut’. Had the experiences of ownership many many moons ago and it’s stuck in my memory bank. Paid £40 for a on the road runner, 4 bald tyres and drank oil like nothing else And yet it never let me down ever
Time to find another, but I expect to pay a little more than £40!!!
£40? You were done! And yet it never let me down ever Time to find another, but I expect to pay a little more than £40!!!
In 1971 I paid £20 for an A30 with tax and MOT. I ran it until the MOT expired and when it failed (oil seal gone on the diff, soaking one back drum and leading to an 'interesting' emergency stop on the test) I sold it without an MOT for £22.50 - result! That was my first and no doubt most cost effective step on the motoring ladder.
Chunkychucky said:
austina35 said:
I currently own an A35 van. I have done the following upgrades.
1275 engine, ribbed box, 3.9 diff, midget discs, roll bar and front shocks. I have also added alloy rad, electric fuel pump and fan, led lighting and had the interior trimmed in nappa leather.
From looking at it, it looks standard. On the road, it sits at 70mph easily.
Future plans are to fit frontline suspension and gas dampers all around.
What a lovely vehicle to drive.
Nappa leather in an A35 van? Wow 1275 engine, ribbed box, 3.9 diff, midget discs, roll bar and front shocks. I have also added alloy rad, electric fuel pump and fan, led lighting and had the interior trimmed in nappa leather.
From looking at it, it looks standard. On the road, it sits at 70mph easily.
Future plans are to fit frontline suspension and gas dampers all around.
What a lovely vehicle to drive.
Sounds quite the machine - do you have any pictures of a build thread??
Unfortunately I went 'a bit far' with mine and there's a certain air of permanence about the modifications
gdaybruce said:
crankedup5 said:
The A30/35 is a car that I absolutely would love to own once again. Nothing as smart or modified as some examples in here, just a basic ‘as factory’ little car, a straightforward ‘peanut’. Had the experiences of ownership many many moons ago and it’s stuck in my memory bank. Paid £40 for a on the road runner, 4 bald tyres and drank oil like nothing else And yet it never let me down ever
Time to find another, but I expect to pay a little more than £40!!!
£40? You were done! And yet it never let me down ever Time to find another, but I expect to pay a little more than £40!!!
In 1971 I paid £20 for an A30 with tax and MOT. I ran it until the MOT expired and when it failed (oil seal gone on the diff, soaking one back drum and leading to an 'interesting' emergency stop on the test) I sold it without an MOT for £22.50 - result! That was my first and no doubt most cost effective step on the motoring ladder.
my then girlfriend (now wife) wasn’t at all impressed either! I gave the car to one of my brothers when I finished with it for him to sell. He demonstrated the engine running and it wouldn’t switch off, disconnect battery still engine kept running? In the end he stuffed a sock into the carb inlet to stop the thing. My g/f (now wife) had an A35 back in the day. The back brakes were evil. Once stuck on on the Holy Island causeway with an incoming tide, another time stuck off in frosty weather.
If this were my car, I'd keep it as original as possible with the exception of junking the weird mechanical / hydraulic lashup on the back brakes & replace with a Midget or similar fully hydraulic setup.
If this were my car, I'd keep it as original as possible with the exception of junking the weird mechanical / hydraulic lashup on the back brakes & replace with a Midget or similar fully hydraulic setup.
In my teenage years, I own up to rolling my mate's mother's A35 - probably due to attempting a 90 degree corner at 30 ish mph. Ended up nose down in a ditch.
We were able to roll it back upright, pull the grass out of the wheel rims, polish the grass stains off the grey bodywork and delivered it home without suspicion.
A guy coming the other way stopped to help and said ' ..bet you thought you'd had it that time eh ?...'
Taught me an early lesson in driving prudence. Great little car.
Still smile today, same corner, this time in my Caterham.
We were able to roll it back upright, pull the grass out of the wheel rims, polish the grass stains off the grey bodywork and delivered it home without suspicion.
A guy coming the other way stopped to help and said ' ..bet you thought you'd had it that time eh ?...'
Taught me an early lesson in driving prudence. Great little car.
Still smile today, same corner, this time in my Caterham.
Sorry, just seen the recent replies!
As ever life gets in the way. I still haven't made space in the garage... I still have other projects on the go.
However it IS still stored at my wife's parents place - they've asked if I can make space before winter properly sets in... let's see...
I spoke to my MiL last weekend about originality and that I had already started to accumulate parts to upgrade it, a better gearbox, better brakes, a slightly bigger engine of the same type....
It then came to light that in the 60s it had been given an engine out of another 948 A35 and its gearbox and back axle arent the originals either. She seemed pleased that I wanted to sort the steering and brakes out as she said they never were up to much, even back then
I think she's softened a bit over the last few years and she now just wants to see it back on the road and if that means upgrades and safer driving then all the better for it.
I have, however, now finished collecting all the second hand bits I wanted for it. Anything else can be purchased new easily enough.
List of parts accumulated-
Ital 1275 A+ engine (needs rebuild)
Midget ribbed gearbox (will send away for recon)
Midget rear axle with hardened half shafts (hydraulic drums)
Additional Midget 3.7 diff
Midget front ARB
Midget front hydraulic discs and suspension
A40 mk2 Camgears steering box (this was the bit that was eluding me for so long so glad I've managed to source one)
The Midget rear brakes, diff and half shafts will be built into a spare a35 axle that's loitering at the back of the shed at my MiLs house. The spring hangars are in a different place so you can't just do a straight swap for a midget axle.
As ever life gets in the way. I still haven't made space in the garage... I still have other projects on the go.
However it IS still stored at my wife's parents place - they've asked if I can make space before winter properly sets in... let's see...
I spoke to my MiL last weekend about originality and that I had already started to accumulate parts to upgrade it, a better gearbox, better brakes, a slightly bigger engine of the same type....
It then came to light that in the 60s it had been given an engine out of another 948 A35 and its gearbox and back axle arent the originals either. She seemed pleased that I wanted to sort the steering and brakes out as she said they never were up to much, even back then
I think she's softened a bit over the last few years and she now just wants to see it back on the road and if that means upgrades and safer driving then all the better for it.
I have, however, now finished collecting all the second hand bits I wanted for it. Anything else can be purchased new easily enough.
List of parts accumulated-
Ital 1275 A+ engine (needs rebuild)
Midget ribbed gearbox (will send away for recon)
Midget rear axle with hardened half shafts (hydraulic drums)
Additional Midget 3.7 diff
Midget front ARB
Midget front hydraulic discs and suspension
A40 mk2 Camgears steering box (this was the bit that was eluding me for so long so glad I've managed to source one)
The Midget rear brakes, diff and half shafts will be built into a spare a35 axle that's loitering at the back of the shed at my MiLs house. The spring hangars are in a different place so you can't just do a straight swap for a midget axle.
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