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MG Midget and Sprite General Brabham Climax Midget BBS discussion at British-Cars.org
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MG Midget and Sprite General - Brabham Climax Midget
| Can anyone share any info on these cars as I have one and am in the process of a restore with the possibillty of the original engine. |
| a ward |
| Sorry no but I can offer that, if it has Brabham attached, it will be good! |
| Roger T |
| Intriguing! Please post pics if you can. -:G:- |
| Gryf Ketcherside |
| Im assumeing "Climax" is the engine If that is correct, you need to talk to Deb Evans of Pristess Race engines, She is a high athority on this engine Ive talked to her a number of times about a vary spacial climax race engine she was building last winter,,,,I get the impression its he favorite of all engines Deborah Evans, Priestess Race Engines, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, pr.engines@tiscali.co.uk Ive never heard of a Brabham Climax Midget, can you post some pics, It sounds like a fun car Prop |
| Prop |
| OMG... How lucky are you....Look what I found a shop manual for the car you have (Brabham Climax Midget)...Thats un-Freaken-real! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-MIDGET-1961-1979-CLIMAX-MK-1-2-3-1275cc-1500cc-/190423273760 Good luck Prop....Im pretty sure you NOW owe me...LOL |
| Prop |
| I have a road-test from Modern Motor March 1962. It doesn't have much techical info and has a low-contrast pic of engine bay... suggests 83 bhp (80% more power than standard) and ~110-112mph top-end. Accel time to 50 is halved. Was the Kseries conversion of its day (or vice-versa!). I can scan and email article if you like. Send me an email (first.last@btinternet.com) A |
| Anthony Cutler |
| here is a mag, from 1961 that has extensive road testing for the car as well called "autosport" ebay #310192662846 Prop synopsis.... This is a UK weekly magazine entitled Autosport dated December 29th 1961, 36 pages, which reports in detail on the weekly happening in the world of new cars rallying and other motor sport. The magazine started in 1950, and is now one of the most respected sporting magazines published. In particular in this very old and now rare issue there is: A comprehensive road test of Jack Brabham’s MG Midget – Climax! Rally review for the 1961 season A fully illustrated report of the Rand Grand Prix A review of the Formula One Lola A profile of Stan Newton Rallying Austin Healey 3000 on front cover |
| Prop |
| Prop Very mature of you not to list any site found by Googling 'Midget Climax'. Found this BTW on Midget50 Downloads: "I am looking forward to the meeting.I am making good progress with the restoration of my Midget,it is the original Brabham/Climax car 751 VPF .The body work is finished and it goes to the paint shop next week.The engine an original Climax 1220 is well under way,the car when I found it had lost its original Climax engine and was fitted with a 948.However the correct mountings were still there.As I’m sure you know there is still a lot to do,but I do not intend to miss the 50 th,so “see you there” kind regards David" A |
| Anthony Cutler |
| I ran a short article in the January 2009 Mascot (page 17 & 17) written by David. I hope that this links to it ok. http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/members/Mascot/mascot_pdf/2009/January2009.pdf |
| Gary lazarus |
| That should read page 16 and half of page 17. |
| Gary lazarus |
| Hi all thanks for the comments I will post some pics asap, I have had the car for about 6 years now and it is currntly running a mk2 engine, am always on the lookout for info as it all adds to its value and history. I do have one eye the fwe workshop manual on ebay and as its my birthday soon the wife may open her purse. Also had an eye on the climax engine on Ebay too but it is an FWB series so not truly authentic as it will be 1480cc not the fwe 1220cc. I managed to purchase the car with a good collection of history and have collected alot of items of memorabellia along the way over the last few years, I have aquired an original sales brochure for the brabham conversion, the plaque is still on the engine bay and I have the original log book with the fwe engine change showing. To top it all of the car is very much original and is only run in good weather, as it was dry stored for 16 years of its life, sadly after the climax engine was removed... Sorry I could waffle all day, will stick som pics up of it up this evening if anyone is still intersted. thanks again to all Ash |
| a ward |
| My mate Roy, who now lives in Cornwall had a Climax Midget in the late sixties. He's been looking for news of it ever since.... His had a glass fibre front, possibly a Lenham, and he says it was extremely quick, with lightning steering. 90mph in third gear!. I think it was red. The engine is 40lb or so lighter than the A series. Love to know the registration number, just in case...... This was a London registered car I think. He still runs a Midget with a Fiat twincam fitted (also very quick). David le V. |
| D le Versha |
| Hi the reg is (1962) 4736PL, afraid its not red and no fibreglass front so unlikely its the one. Would be interested on production figures and how many are still around, if you friend could shed any light on it. Last time i got any info it suggested as little as 20 cars were converted! but no evidence to support this. Ash |
| a ward |
| hmmmm if Prop has been googling midget climax and set off Midget50 website - I shall have to "have words"! You can get back copies of Autosport from their offices if you want that article. |
| rachmacb |
| Thanks for that rachmacb I have managed to obtain 2 copies one is stored in a sleeve in my file and one is for my garage wall, when I get round to framing it. |
| a ward |
| Hi Ash, I would love to get more details for a potential feature in the magazine (Mascot) would it be possible to email me editor at midgetandsprite club dot co dot uk Thanks in advance Gary |
| Gary lazarus |
| be very careful 'googling "Midget Climax" !!! |
| Nick Sayle |
| Hi see my email address above and drop me a note of what you need to know. Do you think people would be interested? My club membership has lapsed i'm afraid so dont realy keep up with whats going on too much, Am always at work as I work 6 days a week and also have a 2 and a half year old so mg time is restricted abit. |
| a ward |
| People WILL be interested - and I hope you're bringing it to Midget50 next year - no membership required :)! It's at Burghley House, so, not too far from Leicestershire ;) Wish I had a garage ............... |
| rachmacb |
| As long as your posting pics which I can Assure you we ALL want to see...we will not make an issue of your lapsed BBS membeship...8^/ Prop |
| Prop |
| ahem.............. pics please :D thankyouplease. Pete (Midget & Climax in the same sentence isn't wrong) Moore |
| PeterJMoore |
| FWB was 1480cc. The FWA (at 1098cc), FWB and FWE (at 1216cc) are rare beasts indeed these days. Your best bet if you can not find original parts (and are not willing to shell out the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ these variants command) is to use a derivation of the FWMA, ie the Imp engine. These can be easily stretched to 1150cc and, if you can afford the crank, 1220cc and 1260cc are possible. Having said that, you would be looking at around 6000 (dependent upon spec) GBP for a well built Imp motor. Currently I build 1040cc and 1068cc FWMA derivatives for racing. Another option might be to utilise an FWP out of an old Green Goddess Fire Engine (these appear on EBAY from time to time). This has the same stroke as an FWA but a smaller bore. By re-linering you should be able to approach the capacity of an FWE (since the FWE used the FWA crank in the FWB bore). And yes Prop, Climax Engines ARE my favorites! Gotta LOVE a loud, screaming, Climax! |
| Deborah Evans |
| gotta love the basis for one of the best F1 engine's in history! |
| Onno Könemann |
| "one of the best F1 engine's in history!" Yup, the FWMV - basically two of my engines on a common crankshaft. :) |
| Deborah Evans |
| Hi deb Thanks for that, I can tell you no alot about these engines, would the fwb at 1480 fit the midget as the more i think about it I am more tempted to do this it would give me the look I want and better performance than even original spec. |
| a ward |
| Hi again deb after alittle of advice, would any of thes items on ebay be any good? 280538713218 or 220643895102 |
| a ward |
| The FWB would fit the Midget since it is quintessentially the same block as the FWE. Without looking at your car I can't say offhand whether you would have to change the engine mounts, and I'm guessing you will need to machine the flywheel for whatever clutch you want to use. The FWPs on those EBay pages, IMHO are overpriced. I would expect to pick up one for around 50-60 GBP. Especially given that they are 1020cc 35 bhp (same output as a stock FWMA 875cc Imp engine) and will require work to produce a road engine. This is going to mean re-linering (possibly custom liners), custom pistons, head work and a custom cam, plus the problems of sourcing bearings (although this can be overcome). So you, again, are getting into the price region of a competition spec Imp motor. Having said that, original FWEs go for mega bucks because of the Lotus fraternity (they were fitted to the Elite and some Lotus XIs. TBH if you can get an FWB then go for it, bearing in mind spares are not cheap and the fact that only around 35 were ever built (most engines masquerading as FWBs are in fact FWBP motors which were the de-tuned version for the later fire pump - 700 being built). Any Climax motor is going to cost you money because, while they are brilliant, spares are hard to get hold of and have to be remade or adapted. |
| Deborah Evans |
| So what transmissions do you use with these engines like on the 2 ebay motors. It dosnt look like a direct fit with a Midget 4 spd ribby is there a 5 speed that will work Prop...Id love to have a loud screaming climax |
| Prop |
| It should be a direct fit Prop - The Climax uses a 6 1/4 clutch just like the Midget 1275. The gearbox input shaft spline arrangement on a Climax is the same as a Midget. The only difference is the spigot bearing. Personally I'd use the AP 7 1/4" ring drive clutch {which is what I use on my race motors) as opposed to the F3 lug drive clutch. |
| Deborah Evans |
| I have a feeling that Lotus used the B series (MGA) gearbox in their Climax powered cars? Prop - why would anyone spend all that money to make a period correct modified car and then fit a modern 5 speed in the car....? JB |
| James B |
| Prop - why would anyone spend all that money to make a period correct modified car and then fit a modern 5 speed in the car....? A period correct modified car from 1969...why upgrade? Mmmmm, you have a point! LOL. Perhaps the best modification would be to REMOVE the period correct modifications and bring the car back to pure factory stock... Considering how much work and money that type of modification is going to take, you might as well go all the way with this modification and stick a 5 speed in there. After all wheres the fun of a heavily modified pure stock midget Prop... Eccentricness equals Midget Creativity for swa, or (E=MC square) |
| Prop |
| I would love to know what happened to all the fwp engines we had at west yorks fire service. 100's would have disposed of when we changed to nissan micra engines. |
| Shawn |
Finally got some pics but are low res as they would not let me post the others i have already taken.
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| a ward |
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| a ward |
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| a ward |
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| a ward |
| Vary nice ward, I like it... Just a thought...have the seat piping redone from white to red, and get some glass paint and paint the gauge and other non- essential lights red...so you have a red glow while driving at night Agian, vary nice! Im glad its your car, You will have to share your secrete for keeping orginal for so long un-molested, Id never survive the temptation beyond a week, Im glad you can. Prop |
| Prop |
Here is a photo which shows what it would have looked like at the beginning ...
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| J.E. Davies |
... and another
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| J.E. Davies |
... and another
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| J.E. Davies |
| Middle pic of last could be me, most evenings and weekends, when not driving BRB.... ;) Would have been great if BMC had used this conversion as super-spite option... A |
| Anthony Cutler |
| Middle pic of last could be me, most evenings and weekends, when not driving BRB.... ;) You brits are an odd lot. Sunday Coats and Ties when operating a lathe/milling machine ...LOL |
| Prop |
| Prop Jack Brabham is an Aussie not a Brit... ;o) Not sure he did a lot of lathe operation at that stage of his career... JB |
| James Bilsland |
| Wow.... That went up quickly lost me a couple of hundred ago, especially as I would have still had to spend another 5 - 600 on top to get it in the midget. |
| a ward |
This thread was discussed between 30/07/2010 and 02/08/2010
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