MG Midget...V8 in disguise… Super Sprite

MG Midget...V8 in disguise… Super Sprite

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Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Thursday 25th July 2024
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Today I was able to spend two hours checking and tracing wires....and the engine fired up! This was with the "spare" Lumenition power module.
I then spent another two hours getting my SU fuel pumps to work and pump fuel, then another hour checking the four Weber carbs, and the engine ran again for short while.

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Friday 26th July 2024
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Needless to say it is a huge boost to get the engine running again after its long, 12 year, layoff. In fact it is even longer effectively, as I stopped running it regularly back in 1995 ish. I then used it briefly when we moved house in 2001, then for a couple of RWYB in 2011 and 2012. Then it was resprayed and de wired, but never restarted until now.
From running yesterday there are a couple of small fuel leaks to sort out, not surprising as seals and gaskets have dried out and shrunk.
There are the wires and connectors to the front lights to sort out as well.
I should also thank the folk on here who have provided support.

C5_Steve

5,096 posts

112 months

Friday 26th July 2024
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Just discovered this thread, well done for getting it up and running again! What a cool little thing.

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Friday 26th July 2024
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Thanks Steve, this is a very quiet section on PH and I wondered about putting this thread into the Readers Cars section, but then I thought I would stay in the quiet!
Fuel leaks sorted with a couple of old fuel pipes and a tee piece replaced. The engine now ticks over but I have not yet put the radiator back and or put coolant in, so that will be the next big test!

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Monday 29th July 2024
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Another couple of hours getting the electrics sorted at the back of the car and finding out what odd wires under the dashboard do. It is slowly coming together but there are only a few days left before the Kelmarsh show...

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Tuesday 30th July 2024
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A good day! I got the engine started then decided to try my old Lumenition power module before I took it off. I wired it as per the working spare.....and it worked absolutely fine. So it was obviously me with my dewiring and rewiring making a mess.
Still the engine ticked over for a couple of mins and I found another couple of leaky petrol pipes - so they were replaced. Then I put the radiator back on and filled it with coolant, no leaks so I fired it up and still no leaks.
I then tried putting it in reverse but the clutch wasn't disengaging. I stopped the engine, put it into reverse and started it with the clutch down .... and it all freed off so I moved it backwards and then forwards - all good but the brakes are peculiar with the brake pedal staying down - I suspect it is a rusty pivot, so I can check that tomorrow.
I also welded up one of the hood brackets that had broken when I tried folding it and that joint had rusted solid, all good now.







Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Tuesday 30th July 2024
quotequote all
It will be noticed that the hood is not attached to the windscreen frame. I had made two special clips for that job, as the standard fittings do not work with the front of the roll cage against the top of the windscreen.
Can I find those clips???
So that's another job to make two new ones - then I will find the originals!

C5_Steve

5,096 posts

112 months

Wednesday 31st July 2024
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Sounds like you've had a very productive few days with fixing things for free so of course losing the hood brackets was the universe balancing it all out rofl

Great progress.

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Thursday 1st August 2024
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Thanks Steve.
Steadily getting more electrical bits working but I did buy some cheap side/indicator light fittings and now that I am actually trying to connect them they really are poor quality - so at some stage I will need to buy again....I really should know better!

C5_Steve

5,096 posts

112 months

Friday 2nd August 2024
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Flying Phil said:
Thanks Steve.
Steadily getting more electrical bits working but I did buy some cheap side/indicator light fittings and now that I am actually trying to connect them they really are poor quality - so at some stage I will need to buy again....I really should know better!
Ah it's hit and miss with those, my girlfriend just picked up some side repeaters for her 350Z that were dirt cheap and actually they're brilliant. Smoked and sequential, plug and play! I was shocked, very simple connectors that plug into the bulb holder but for the money you can't go wrong. But I've also seen some absolute shockers rofl

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Friday 2nd August 2024
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I took the Sprite out for a short local run ....and it got there and back!
The brakes are poor so I will be bleeding them and the shock absorbing is poor so I will check the oil level in the front lever arm dampers.
It is looking hopeful for driving to Kelmarsh Hall on Sunday...

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Saturday 3rd August 2024
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Yes gear oil has gone into the dampers! Bubbles came out of one calliper and now I have a firm brake pedal. So some more tidying today, ready for an early start on Sunday.

Thanks again for the support on here.

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Sunday 4th August 2024
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MADE IT!





I decided to put the ram pipes back on...for the "Oh My God" comments and the big bulge bonnet - as it had the reg no on! It went there and back with no problem.
I still have a fair few wires to reconnect though....

C5_Steve

5,096 posts

112 months

Monday 5th August 2024
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The bonnet is hilarious rofl Absolutely love it.

Acorn1

958 posts

29 months

Monday 5th August 2024
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Fabulous! biggrin

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Friday 9th August 2024
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Thanks Acorn and Steve.
The process of rewiring continues with trying to put a multiplug at the front of the car to connect easily to either of the two bonnets. I have an old Alfa 164 loom which has donated plugs and wires....I just have to solder it all together in the correct order.



abzmike

9,524 posts

115 months

Friday 9th August 2024
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Aa a former Midget owner, love to see the view out from the driving seat - Suspect it's a little one sided... wink

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Thursday 15th August 2024
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Here you are Mike - on the road again tonight.

abzmike

9,524 posts

115 months

Thursday 15th August 2024
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Flying Phil said:
Here you are Mike - on the road again tonight.
Cheers - not as bad as I feared!
I recall driving my old Midget around 20 years ago, and feeling very small… would feel a lot worse now with everything else being bigger.

Flying Phil

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

154 months

Wednesday 21st August 2024
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The trip out last week was to meet up with fellow MASC members.