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FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild
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FreddieS
Posted 22/4/2010 2:46 AM (#551492)
Subject: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford		Well, had this car for ages, its been family owned since like 1975 or something, originally my dad restored it about 30 years ago now and it was dry stored for 10 years before I bought it off my dad.

Towing the Midget with my old 90 (wish I never sold the 90!)


Fitted with a willspeed manifold (too higher angle, fouled the bonnet) to test it


A big mess from a lovely squirrel living under the bonnet.


After driving it around at my nans for a bit (stupidly long driveway!) I made a little video of it running with the wrong manifold and HIF44


The car got thru its MOT having fitted a HIF44 with titan motorsport manifold, I used it as much as I could and during driving it the manifold fatigued and the exhaust fell off so had to drive it back with no exhaust! (30 miles with a very, very loud soft-top with no power as it had no backpressure!)







Having got a new manifold on it I used it for a while, but it then ended up parked in the garage as it was running rough, compression test showed 2+3 were low, so headgasket!

And that brings us up to date! I bought a recondition 12G940 with hardened valve seats, fitted dual valve springs and drilled the heater tap area.



Halfway thru fitting dual valve springs


before painting


after painting


Jordysport
Posted 22/4/2010 5:33 AM (#551504 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild
Elite Veteran

Posts: 672
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Location: East Devon		Looking good,
I need to rebuild my engine soon, probably going to go to 1380

Going to Classic Lemans in this baby??

FreddieS
Posted 22/4/2010 5:46 AM (#551509 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford		Havent planned any trips as of yet, the only thing planned is the cars MOT, on Monday, so its going to be a fun few days rushing to get it done!

It should pass the MOT, it really hasnt done that many miles since its last MOT due to the compression issues so hopefully it'll pass and then I can focus on making it look and handle better.

I was going to rebuild the spare 1275 ive got here for it, but weighing up the costs of building a good A-series (and maintaining reliability) against fitting a K-series... K-series wins all day long (especailly bearing in mind ive got a freshly built up 1400 sat in the shed!)

Jordysport
Posted 22/4/2010 5:55 AM (#551510 - in reply to #551509)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild
Elite Veteran

Posts: 672
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Location: East Devon
FreddieS - 22/4/2010 11:46 AM

Havent planned any trips as of yet, the only thing planned is the cars MOT, on Monday, so its going to be a fun few days rushing to get it done!

It should pass the MOT, it really hasnt done that many miles since its last MOT due to the compression issues so hopefully it'll pass and then I can focus on making it look and handle better.

I was going to rebuild the spare 1275 ive got here for it, but weighing up the costs of building a good A-series (and maintaining reliability) against fitting a K-series... K-series wins all day long (especailly bearing in mind ive got a freshly built up 1400 sat in the shed!)



Yeah, i did once look into Kseries, but it was quite costly when going to 5 speed box etc, iirc they use type9.
Could you run me through it as i have forgotten and having a kseries would be more likley to be reliable. thanks
FreddieS
Posted 22/4/2010 10:27 AM (#551537 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford		Got some work done today, stripped everything off the top end and got the head off, as suspected headgasket had gone between 2+3 and the exhaust valves were toast! Have started painting the engine (no pics yet) and will finish that tomorrow, need to pop over to moss to pick up some bits like fan belt, thermostat housing.





Edited by FreddieS 22/4/2010 10:30 AM
MG mad
Posted 22/4/2010 2:30 PM (#551575 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Expert

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand		Looking good Freddie, nice basis for a K conv. Get it going!

I would say don't worry about the 1400, it's useful in terms of getting everything lined up initially etc, but just go the whole hog and chuck a VVC in it. Some guys have been known to do the conversion in a weekend using kit parts from Frontline, but we took much longer and, we believe, have ended up with a much better car for it. Some links to my brothers build diary, not yet finished but shows some of the reinforcing we did around the tunnel to fit W57 gearbox - better than the Type9 a) shorter, so gearlever comes out where you want it, b) stronger, c) good ratios (note W57 and W58 very similar bar 5th, W55 not so good in this respect). But it is a bit heavier, and there are not off the shelf bellhousings so you will need an adaptor plate made to fit a K series bellhousing - we used R65 modified to fit VVC flywheel as it's shorter the PG1 and got the engine further back. We also sat engine upright, primarily so that VVC actuator would clear bonnet (mine was the first VVC K Midget I believe), but also ends up with a purer weight distribution on the front end, and also more scope for exhaust. This meant modifying the footwell slightly to fit the VVC plenum, which in turn required a modified steering column with an MGB universal (useful note: Metro column splines fit MGB column universals).

Frontline front susp mods are a good basis, mine's a bit different in that I have double wishbones and coilover shocks, but it's quite a bit more work and involves significant welding, which has to be got right (ie don't leave it for the panelbeater who thinks near enough is good enough - never is for suspension). Rear use standard springs, tramp rods (be careful here - tramps rods are easy to get wrong and cause oversteer issues) and panhard rod is plenty, and cheap enough. Frontline RTL is nice, but not essential on the road.
Jack of Hearts
Posted 23/4/2010 2:11 AM (#551601 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Track Slag

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Location: Washington		I love old MG's good luck with the build Freddie,

I was looking at a MGB GT the other day to throw a vvc lump into lol
JamieS
Posted 23/4/2010 4:48 AM (#551611 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild
"MG Metro 1300"

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Location: Warwickshire, UK		Looking good money.. I vote v6 vtak nsx power
FreddieS
Posted 23/4/2010 5:47 AM (#551615 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

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Location: Guildford		Well the car wont be getting MOT'd on monday, as Moss didnt have a fan belt in stock, so ive had to order one online which will arrive on monday or tuesday, never the less, it gives me more time to tidy the car up before bolting it all back together!
JamieS
Posted 23/4/2010 8:30 AM (#551624 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild
"MG Metro 1300"

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Location: Warwickshire, UK		Could have tried your local halfrauds?
FreddieS
Posted 23/4/2010 9:34 AM (#551637 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford		Did, but they dont have any in stock and they wanted £20, where as ive just bought 3 for just over a tenner
FreddieS
Posted 23/4/2010 12:57 PM (#551648 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford		Sorry for the random updates, just trying to make a decent log of progress -



JamieS
Posted 23/4/2010 1:31 PM (#551652 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild
"MG Metro 1300"

50005000500100
Location: Warwickshire, UK		Cant beat a decent progress log.. i went to my polo earlier and completely forgot to take pictures of my new interior
Metromartin
Posted 24/4/2010 6:29 AM (#551698 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


MP Admin

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Location: Gloucester		If I owned one i'd drive it way more!! nice car!
FreddieS
Posted 24/4/2010 8:23 AM (#551704 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford		I would love to drive it more, alas, ive not had the cash to fix it properly therefore havent fixed it yet, will be on the road within 2 weeks
FreddieS
Posted 28/4/2010 8:56 AM (#552192 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

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Location: Guildford		More stuff arrived today, alas, about 20 minutes after it arrived I realised I still forgot to order some bits! So ANOTHER order has been placed!

But the heads nearly done, I found an old chrome rocker cover I had laying about (instead of the black alu one in the early pictures) as I feel its more period and suits the black cylinder head a bit better

Got to finish painting the block asap as then when the rest of the bits I need arrive I can actually get the car done!



New exhaust/inlet gasket (later turbo style) studs, washers and brass nuts


Before giving the rocker cover a clean, luckily it wasnt pitted, just dirty


Basically ready to go on


awww yeha
R100_vvc
Posted 28/4/2010 9:32 AM (#552198 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Expert

Posts: 2029
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Location: sittingbourne, kent		Nice n shiny thats what i like to see, good work
shep123
Posted 28/4/2010 9:51 AM (#552202 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


White R100

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Location: Isle of Wight		i bet that rocker cover took a while to shine up
GroveD
Posted 28/4/2010 10:01 AM (#552205 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


MORE DOOR DRIVER

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Location: Stocksfield...Newcastle. 		awesome
FreddieS
Posted 28/4/2010 10:04 AM (#552207 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford		Nah it was chrome, just mega filthy from being sat in in the shed, so all it took was some chrome/metal polish and it came up buetifully

Need to decide ASAP as to wether I paint the engine bay while the engines this stripped down.
MG mad
Posted 28/4/2010 1:38 PM (#552241 - in reply to #552207)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Expert

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand
FreddieS - 29/4/2010 7:04 AM

Need to decide ASAP as to wether I paint the engine bay while the engines this stripped down.


If you're serious about going K series, wouldn't bother as you'll need to do some cutting (esp battery box/heater area) when you do.
FreddieS
Posted 28/4/2010 1:52 PM (#552247 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

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Location: Guildford		Yeah but that wont be for another year or two as due to being unemployed everything has to be on a mega tight budget...

Saying that ive just placed another order from MGOC, going to do as much work as I can and just get a few more miles out of it (and actually get to some MG meets!
FreddieS
Posted 13/6/2010 7:41 AM (#558201 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

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Location: Guildford		Been working a temp job with stupid hours to get some money in, so havent had any time to work on the midget, but yesterday I got motivation (of going out in my dads MGB Roadster, and seeing a fair few midgets on the road enjoying the weather) so decided today I would get as much done as I could.

Last night I set out at rebuilding the distributor and heat-wrapping the exh manifold so I could just throw them on with no delay, got them done pretty quickly and then this morning set out to build the engine, alas, when I was doing a parts check realised I didnt have any bloody head nuts, despite my dad telling me he definatly bought a set, so ive got as much as I can without them done. Picture time


Finished painting the engine -



threw some studs into the appropriate holes -



whacked a non-bypass hose waterpump on -



slid the head on -



dropped the heat-wrapped manifold on -



put the titan motorsport manifold and HIF44 combo on -



refurbished dizzy and new silicone leads go on along with the rocker cover just for a "finished" mock up, I like



how it sits, all I need is the head bolts and some rocker pedestal studs



List of things left to do -

Rocker pedestal studs, bolts etc
Valve clearances
Fit dynamo + fan + belt
Fit radiator + hoses
Fuel hoses
Throttle/choke cable
MOT
Tax
Insure
Drive
Rolling Road setup
MG mad
Posted 14/6/2010 12:13 AM (#558279 - in reply to #551492)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Expert

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand		Hi Fred, I would recommend two things if you want to improve performance somewhat: a) ditch that filer, they're crap. Go for either a remote one, or at worst a bigger paper one. b) ditch the silly 3:1 hockey stick exhaust, not one of BMC's best ideas. Moss do a fairly decent LCB extractor which is quite good for an off the shelf one. Improves things no end.

BTW, how close is the top of the carb to the bonnet? On Dad's UK midget, he has problems with the carb touching on hard accel/decel (ie autotesting), with the Mini Spares manifold and HIF44, even though it clears when stationary. Now has a dimple in the bonnet.
FreddieS
Posted 14/6/2010 9:14 AM (#558324 - in reply to #558279)
Subject: RE: FreddieS MG Midget - The rebuild


Elf eating dog breeder

Posts: 10531
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Location: Guildford
MG mad - 14/6/2010 6:13 AM

Hi Fred, I would recommend two things if you want to improve performance somewhat: a) ditch that filer, they're crap. Go for either a remote one, or at worst a bigger paper one. b) ditch the silly 3:1 hockey stick exhaust, not one of BMC's best ideas. Moss do a fairly decent LCB extractor which is quite good for an off the shelf one. Improves things no end.

BTW, how close is the top of the carb to the bonnet? On Dad's UK midget, he has problems with the carb touching on hard accel/decel (ie autotesting), with the Mini Spares manifold and HIF44, even though it clears when stationary. Now has a dimple in the bonnet.


That airfilter was thrown on as a last minute resort about 2 years ago, I bought it when it was in the moss "cheap as chips" bin and it cost me a grand total of 99p along with a fair few other bits that I grabbed, even if I didnt need em! I want to get a rampipe and ITG "sock" and enclosure kit, whats your view on them?

Also, yeah, I know, i hate the stock manifold but ive got to sort out my money situ, i saw the Moss LCB in stainless when I was at moss a few months back and I fell in love with it, will probably opt for the stainless one as its only a bit more money and it'll obviously last longer! How long do you reckon the primaries (or are they secondaries? f**king 3 branch lol) collector should be? would you say the same as a metro (i.e. collector under the pass seat or near abouts?)

Im using a titan motorsport manifold, designed specifically for the midget with a 10deg angle instead of 15, I hoarded a few up when I was lookin so ive got another in the shed and sold one to a local guy who has a midget! Its got good clearance, has never knocked and has about 1-2" of space, even when pushing it properly it doesnt knock so I presume it clears properly
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