MG Midget - My First Classic
Discussion
You'll get there!
My goal for this week was for the car to go and stop, but not road-worthy, we'll see...
I'm guessing I've got a bit of wiring wrong somewhere, I'll look into that later this week.
Another good day in the garage:
Axle in, differential on, brake pipes on, and I'll be back out there after dinner.
I love being single at the moment, ha!
My goal for this week was for the car to go and stop, but not road-worthy, we'll see...
I'm guessing I've got a bit of wiring wrong somewhere, I'll look into that later this week.
Another good day in the garage:
Axle in, differential on, brake pipes on, and I'll be back out there after dinner.
I love being single at the moment, ha!
You won’t be single for long, as soon as you get the MG out on the road they’ll be queuing up for a ride!
Fast work getting you’re rear end back together and it’s looking very nice.
Would love to have a whole week to myself, no work, no dog, no other half. Would try and get the car complete in the first three days and then go for a nice road trip to enjoy it.
Fast work getting you’re rear end back together and it’s looking very nice.
Would love to have a whole week to myself, no work, no dog, no other half. Would try and get the car complete in the first three days and then go for a nice road trip to enjoy it.
Haha, I don't know about that, my ex-girlfriend hated it!
Thanks, it is good to have some big chunks of time to get stuck into it.
The differential now has oil, the handbrake cable is strapped and clipped on, the brake hose is on and the metal brake pipes strapped to the axle.
It's on its wheels again, and although I do have quite a bit of stuff in the boot it seems to be sitting a little low at the back end...
If it is sitting lower at the back I might contact the supplier of the springs to double check everything is ok with them (it's probably a new batch as they were on back order).
Or I'll consider lowering the front to match.
Thanks, it is good to have some big chunks of time to get stuck into it.
The differential now has oil, the handbrake cable is strapped and clipped on, the brake hose is on and the metal brake pipes strapped to the axle.
It's on its wheels again, and although I do have quite a bit of stuff in the boot it seems to be sitting a little low at the back end...
If it is sitting lower at the back I might contact the supplier of the springs to double check everything is ok with them (it's probably a new batch as they were on back order).
Or I'll consider lowering the front to match.
Well Martin, your girlfriend hated it because you were working or wanting to be working on it rather than paying her attention. However soon you will be in a situation where the car is something for two to enjoy, possibly three if you have a small dog that likes petrol fumes.
Hard to tell in pic of the car position how low it's sitting and what the front looks like, I personally prefer the lowered stance on the Midget however each to their own.
Hard to tell in pic of the car position how low it's sitting and what the front looks like, I personally prefer the lowered stance on the Midget however each to their own.
mathew-t6qh2 said:
Well Martin, your girlfriend hated it because you were working or wanting to be working on it rather than paying her attention.
Nah, she just hated old cars! 
ManorParker said:
Good work fella, Car looks Epic!
Thanks! 
I started today by pushing it outside and washing off 3+ years of dust, and there was a lot of it!
See what I mean about the low back end, this was when I first got it.
I think it looks better lowered too, but something isn't right, they're brand new springs!
Progress was a bit slower than it should've been today, largely because I just wasn't on good form today.
Also, I hate those stupid little clips that hold the wheel cylinders on!
I'm not that keen on brake shoe springs either, but they're in, and new rear bump stops arrived today so fitted those too.
Stainless steel exhaust system on.
Front anti roll bar on.
I also bled the brakes after fixing a couple of leaks and adjusted the handbrake cable.
I am getting quite concerned about the clutch now.
I tried bleeding it again and got plenty of bubbleless fluid through this time, but there's still no clutch.
Edited by Martin350 on Wednesday 15th May 21:55
I got the Eezibleed on it tonight and, yeah!
I don't think it's quite there yet. My drive is on a slight slope so I tested it by putting it in gear, taking the handbrake off, it didn't roll forwards, then pushing the clutch pedal and it did roll, so it's certainly getting there.
I tried starting it up again too but I think the timing was out and I flooded it, as I have fuel coming through and sparks from the plugs, but I think the battery needs replacing as it's not holding a charge.
One thing that was bothering me was the metal fuel pipe from the tank to the engine bay.
Where it curves under the rear bulkhead it dropped way lower than it needed to be, and I was worried it would catch on speed bumps or whatever, so I cut it (with a brake pipe cutting tool so no swarf) reshaped and shortened it.
It might not be 'original' but I feel better about it anyway.
I don't think it's quite there yet. My drive is on a slight slope so I tested it by putting it in gear, taking the handbrake off, it didn't roll forwards, then pushing the clutch pedal and it did roll, so it's certainly getting there.
I tried starting it up again too but I think the timing was out and I flooded it, as I have fuel coming through and sparks from the plugs, but I think the battery needs replacing as it's not holding a charge.
One thing that was bothering me was the metal fuel pipe from the tank to the engine bay.
Where it curves under the rear bulkhead it dropped way lower than it needed to be, and I was worried it would catch on speed bumps or whatever, so I cut it (with a brake pipe cutting tool so no swarf) reshaped and shortened it.
It might not be 'original' but I feel better about it anyway.
I made the decision not to pursue the rear spring/ride height issue and order a front suspension lowering kit, all of £12.90 posted!
Tonight I got that fitted and, although the rear wheel arch shape creates a bit of an illusion, the car is now level.
Call me a cynic but I suspect the springs I've been supplied are chrome bumper spec but part numbered as per 1500 model, maybe to satisfy a lengthy backorder.
Looking on the supplier's website just now the springs are once again on backorder
Anyway, I'm chuffed with how that has turned out, so it's all good!
Tonight I got that fitted and, although the rear wheel arch shape creates a bit of an illusion, the car is now level.
Call me a cynic but I suspect the springs I've been supplied are chrome bumper spec but part numbered as per 1500 model, maybe to satisfy a lengthy backorder.
Looking on the supplier's website just now the springs are once again on backorder
Anyway, I'm chuffed with how that has turned out, so it's all good!
Thanks!
I fitted a new battery yesterday, got the engine fired up again, added coolant and sorted a few minor leaks.
There are still quite a few little bits to address, mostly with the electrics which I hate, but the car did make its maiden voyage with me out of the garage under its own power!
The brakes are errm, different to my other cars!
On june 18th it'll be 40 years since being registered so no road tax to pay and no legal obligation for an M.O.T.!
Then I'll be taking it for a few proper drives, might use it for work sometimes when it's sunny.
I fitted a new battery yesterday, got the engine fired up again, added coolant and sorted a few minor leaks.
There are still quite a few little bits to address, mostly with the electrics which I hate, but the car did make its maiden voyage with me out of the garage under its own power!
The brakes are errm, different to my other cars!
On june 18th it'll be 40 years since being registered so no road tax to pay and no legal obligation for an M.O.T.!
Then I'll be taking it for a few proper drives, might use it for work sometimes when it's sunny.
I've got a few of the electrical bits sorted, so now most of the lights work, but I still have a slightly odd thing going on. Well, it's odd to me because I don't understand electricity!
With the battery connected but the key NOT in the ignition, the ignition and oil pressure lights are on. Then when I start the engine I can take the key back out and the engine will carry on running.
But, if I pull the brown wire off the top right hand terminal on the fuse box those problems are gone!
This wire goes to/comes from one of four terminals on the ignition switch.
I might have to dig out the dreaded Haynes manual wiring diagram...
With the battery connected but the key NOT in the ignition, the ignition and oil pressure lights are on. Then when I start the engine I can take the key back out and the engine will carry on running.
But, if I pull the brown wire off the top right hand terminal on the fuse box those problems are gone!
This wire goes to/comes from one of four terminals on the ignition switch.
I might have to dig out the dreaded Haynes manual wiring diagram...
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