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MG Midget and Sprite General - A Mild Case of Depression!

Hey guys,

All those that have undertaken big restoration projects... can you tell me how you kept your motivation?!

Maybe it's the constant crappy weather up here in Aberdeen, or I need a break from the car but I'm fed up with the crappyness and the rustyness of it all. The floor I was so happy with getting in I now think is slightly on the cock so everything is 2-3 mm away from lining up properly. Bugger!

I've never even driven or ridden in a Midget, I'm wondering if it is all going be worth it or if I should just go and buy an MX-5! :-o

Sorry to moan rather pointlessly, I just needed to vent! Hopefully I will cheer up tomoz, and if not, I'm on holiday next week so that should help. :-)

Thanks for listening!
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Believe me, and SWMBO will confirm, I know exactly what you're going through. 5 years off the road, between things that didn't go as planned and a lack of time. Jobs in the garden/house stacking up and me thinking I should just sell the damn thing for whatever I can get for it.

Then 2 months ago it passed its test. Oh boy, sitting in it is far more fun than lying underneath it. But a lot of the satisfaction is that I did it, and I did it myself. I know the car well, I know which bits might be problematic.

It made it worthwhile, though I doubted many times like you are now. Get a friend or other car nut to help out, it motivates a bit - organise a weekend with like-minded individuals and feed them bbq and beer (once they've finished!) in exchange for help or even just good advice.

I'd hardly driven a Midget when I started on mine, and it certainly, most certainly, is worth every minute, even the worst of them.

Don't know if that'll work for you, but it did for me.
OrangeSpyderMan

Good to take a break from the project now and again, the holiday should do the trick. Yes the effort will be well worth it when you're done. Both in the personal satisfaction of haveing something you are pleased with and also in the fun of driving a Spridget. They aren't the fastest cars around, but definitely the most fun. Miata's and MGBs seem like big luxury cars in comparison to the light and nimble feel of a Spridget. I find myself almost leaning into the corners like I was on a motorcycle when I'm driving mine, it's that type of feeling.
B Young

Just look at pictures of it when you got it and think wow! I've done all that!

We've all been there at some point, mine was when I had my midget with all it's insides gutted out and chopped up with the angle grinder to fit the K in, when all it really needed was a new ribcase gearbox...

following your progress on this BBS it seems you're doing a great job with a lot of rust to start with, certainly it's more of a project than mine was!

I made a list, a proper one, with stuff you've al;ready done at the top so you can tick it off first, then you have a clear end in sight.

maybe Prop could send you some of his brain.... :p
Rob Armstrong

Focus on just one bit at a time. That way, when you have completely repaired that part, you have passed another milestone and can congratulate yourself on your progress.

Also, try watching that video of Liz Bartlett's restoration. It is a real motivator when your spirits are lagging! I've lost the link for the moment, but its on U-tube if you look.

And finally, without question,you really do live in the very best part of the UK for Spridget driving roads. Keep that in mind. A holiday in your newly finished car up around the north-west coastal roads will repay ALL of your hard work in a single trip!

Guy
Guy

"I've never even driven or ridden in a Midget, I'm wondering if it is all going be worth it or if I should just go and buy an MX-5! :-o"

The sensible person would have spent circa £1,500 at most on a reasonable MX5 and enjoyed the time driving it.

Others buy a Midget and do a few little jobs on it and then find it needs a little bit more work!!!!!!

Mike Auther's Midget website advises you to purchase an MX5 if you want less hassle.

If everyone thought that way it would be a bit boring!

eddie



Eddie Cairns

I don't really want an MX-5, I can't be bothered with the maintainece work... that I would have to do on my hair style in order to fit in with the MX-5 image! ha ha

Ordered some more metal... spending money always cheers me up!

Cheers,
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Malcolm I've never fully restored a car more rolling restorations or more accurately putting right what was done before by POs and garages, dealers and parts suppliers

in the early '90s I got a good Spridget, late '90s I got a (brand new Mk2, Mk1 are better) MX-5 kept it 15 months before changing

fours years ago I got a Midget for a price that would have bought a very good Mk1 MX-5 and what I've spent in four years on the Midget I could have got another 1 ,2 or possibly 3 decent Mk1 MX-5s - but I've still got the Midget

the MX-5 is a great car I always have recommended them - but I've still got the Midget
N Atkins

Malcolm

If you have never driven a Midget, you really do have something to look forward to at the end of your labours.

And 2-3mm is probably at least as near as a Heritage shell!
Dave O'Neill 2

Malcolm, find someone to give you a ride/drive and you will soon know why you need to hurry up and get it finished. The gaps let the water out!
Col.
c pearce

Depression, huh thats childs play...how about suicidal nut freak...hahaha

I can so relate

For me, this site has been my salvation, but yes take a break, then when you come back, treat it like a part time job work no less then 1/2 hour nor any longer then 1 hour per day 5 days a week, you need to do this at the same time everyday, dont allow any disruptions, next do only one project at a time, if its body work, then do only the fender and no other panals till its complete for paint, then move to the next panal

The reason I say 1/2 to 1 hour per day, cause the time constrant makes you focas and it leaves you fresh for other life projects,,,(tea party with your 6 year old daughter)

But you will be shocked at what you can accomplish...and it will keep you fresh, cause ut wont feel like your spending all your free time in an endless pit

What your trying to do is creat mini weekly componet victories, instead of a huge win of the war...take your wins where ever they exist...post picks of your acchivments and ask for pats on the back...thats one thing this bbs does exceptionally well, and the people here are just a godsend for times like this and also good for advice

When I funally drove my car after the new engine on new years eve.day...i cried like a little girl, it was one of my top ten most favorite days of my entire life, and im 46

Prop
Prop

Join one of your local clubs - find out that we've ALL been there (or, indeed, are there :(!) and go out for a drive in one and see just how superior to the mx-5 they really are ;)

It is hard, especially when you're on your own, as Prop found out. It's all very well to have this, but, sometimes you need to have someone to drown your sorrows with - work out ideas - and celebrate the little victories, and we are lucky as there is a network of owners around the country - yup, even in the sparsely occupied bits :)

Chin up - it'll come
rachmacb

Prop speaks the truth for once. Structure the time properly. Focus on one job at a time.

Sometimes you've just got to shut the garage door and leave it for a bit.

And I wouldn't worry about things being out of line, unless it's a concours then as long as it's solid without rust then it will be fine.

Another trick you could try is having another fun easy project on the go on the side. e.g getting the trim sorted out, refurbing the dash, polishing the chrome, then put all finished items away safely, then when the time comes that you need them, there they all are waiting for you. Even tarting the engine up etc etc. They are fairly quick to do and don't involve too much heavy thinking. Takes your mind off the shell.

Or if all else fails, get to the pub and chill out a bit!

Matt
Tarquin

Great advice above, from everyone.


after walking away, sometimes, the hard part is getting started again


Here is what I do: I decide to "just go out to the garage to do one, little, thing"

Every once in a while, doing that, will draw me back in (the words of Michael Corleone). And, if it doesn't, well, then, I close the door and go back into the house until the next time.


Norm
Norm Kerr

Sit in the car.

Hold imaginary steering wheel.

Click and play.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBKUQPjQ16I ...or... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbQumQPqt8o&feature=related

Good karma restored. Get welding!
rob thomas

I dare not sit in the car incase my ar*e goes through the floor! ha ha! I did enjoy 'pretending' to drive it when it was still relatively together.

Thanks for all the advice guys, deffinatly feeling better about it all today (although I haven't been to the garage yet!). I have a plan in my head, by the end of the weekend (before I disappear on holiday) I am going to have my chassis rails straightened up/fixed up and looking beautiful! ha!

I will post pictures when it's done and you can marvel at my amazing bodyworking abilitiy! Perhaps...

Cheers all, hope you have all been enjoying the nice weather!

Malcolm

M Le Chevalier

Malcom.....Straighten the chassis rails you said ????

I hope your not refering to that section at the vary front of the chassis rail thats bent upwards...that slight bend in the chassis rail is supposed to be there...other wise your front suspension is going to be screwed up if you make it level

Traqin,

This is not my 1st time ive been correct, I was correct on an issue back in may of 2009, please dont distort my record ...

Hahaha

Prop....2 times now a winner, hoping for 3 times
Prop

Prop,
I think from memory that Malcolm has a problem of the chassis rails bending DOWN, from the front of the footwells!

Guy
Guy

OUCH!!!

That dosnt sound good
Prop

well remembered guy! yeah, disasterous repair job by one of the 16 previous owners! They were bent downward forward of the footwell (rather than striaght) so the end was an inch lower than it should.

There isn't anything illegal about having two different halves of a car is there... assuming I'm not tax dodging or anything? :-)

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

P.S. and I make sure they are welded together properly so it's safe! :-)
M Le Chevalier

Malcolm - what you need is a nearby Midget owner who can show you what you are missing. I would volunteer but Devon and Aberdeen are a bit too far apart!!!

Is there anyone North of the Border willing to give Malcolm a taste of what he is missing?????????

Dave
Dave Price

That's a coincidence Malcolm. I have owned my Austin Sprite for more than half of its life, but when I acquired the car I was also the 17th owner!
Guy

This thread was discussed between 27/06/2011 and 28/06/2011

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