MG Midget and Sprite General Out-Propping Prop - my panel conversion BBS discussion at British-Cars.org

MG Midget and Sprite General - Out-Propping Prop - my panel conversion

See the attached pic, which I just posted on Prop's 10-gauge console thread, but which I feel deserves its own space. It's been a hard winter, and I was itching for something to do with the Midget during the off season. Hence the conversion seen in the pic. And since Prop was kind enough to explain what all his gauges actually do, I suppose I should do the same. Firstly, the multipurpose throttle quadrant seen in the foreground. The first four levers are cabled directly to four SUs, meaning that each cylinder can be throttled individually. Normal acceleration is achieved by shoving all four levers at once, but individual throttles mean that I can balance the four carbs from the drivers seat. No more Uni-Syn, in other words. It's really quite clever. The next lever controls spark advance; the next one inserts a new set of crankshaft thrust washers from a bespoke cartridge of six, attached to the rear crank web, ejecting the worn set into the sump; the next lever invokes all-wheel drive, and the last lever pulls a nice pint of Old Speckled Hen. An interlock on that last lever prevents such dispensing while the car is in motion. The small lever by the passenger seat is the gear stick, meaning that the passenger is required to do all the shifting. On a related note, the left-hand control yoke steers the front wheels, and the right-hand yoke steers the rear. I have plans to start a Team Autocross event soon. I'll keep you posted. The bank of gauges in the center are all engine gauges... note that there are eight columns; there's a column for each cylinder, along with a backup for each. Information tracked is cylinder head temp, compression, exhaust temp, and which valve is burnt this week. The circular screens are Buick detectors - they display a blip indicating when large sedans, piloted by old people, are about to pull slowly out of side streets. The various electrical switches allow me to turn on all of the car's lights and accessories individually if the need arises, as well as turning on the fog and landing lights. The gyro horizons, or Spring Condition Indicators, show precisely how much lower the car is sitting on the drivers' side. I'm just doing my little bit to inspire Prop and give him something to shoot for. -:G:-

Gryf Ketcherside

David, here's another for you. Only in Miami!!

Phil Burke

No Prop, It's a BE. I hated it so much, I had to take the pics.

Phil Burke

This thread was discussed between 10/02/2011 and 19/02/2011

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