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MG Midget and Sprite General - Self-revelation

I'm currently working on my engine rebuild and just yesterday when I got back inside from the garage to hit the books since there's still some things I'm airy about, I realised that I actually have no idea of what I'm building..

Because frankly I have no previous experience of spridgets and I really don't know what to expect of it once it's done. This car is my first ever rebuild and the project has taken enormous proportions in comparison to my original plan... I've only driven it like two times and then it was only running on three cylinders and with one carb clogged up, not a sensational experience I tell you.

I've had the thing for almost three years and know that allot of progress has been made but I just don't feel it right now, and what if I won't enjoy it once it's done if I ever get done. Even though I love the look of it, But you don't own a car just to look at it do you?

Can someone just please tell me that it'll be all right? Lol


//Alex caught in the "winter depression" or something
Alexander Sorby Wigstrom

It will all be allright!

My firtst midget was a dump which needed considerable welding before the doors would close!
After one summer holiday several trackdays and a lot of daily use it was realy gone.
Engine smoked gearbox made silly noises most of the wirewheels were toast and it needed a new body.
But I was hooked!
Got a better midget and and it has kept me bussy ever since and taken me every where I wanted to go.
Building engine nr3 for it now and still plenty of other plans.

Hate the midget sometimes but always love it
Onno Könemann

The midget is the only car that can take you to the heights of ecstasy and the depths of despair ..........
rachmacb

Alex,

While you work this winter on your Spridget think about that warm spring day when you will be driving with the roof off. I'm sure you have read it here on this BBS many times, it is magical!

Rach,

Depths of dispair! Bleeding the cluch line is close, but really isn't that bad, is it?

Regards,

Larry C.
Larry C '69 Midget

Alex,

Don't despair!!

My on-going "Restoration" will celebrate it's 28th Birthday next year!! The car has not turned a wheel since 1984.

Your Mk1 looks pretty special. Racing history and what looks to be an early Speedwell bonnet.

You will get there, my friend, and when you do.... YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Stay with it.

John Shep.
John Shep

It'll be fiiiiine.

My gearbox change turned into a full on K series conversion, and in the middle of that I thought AARG what have I done and got sad that it'd never be finished. And that was only an 8 month project - you're not the only one!

as others have said, when it's done it's soooo gooood. The first drive after a restoration gap is just unreal.

Every car that needs attention has the capacity for

>>the heights of ecstasy and the depths of despair<<

the P6 is worst for this 'cos it works most of the time then throws massive paddies and doesn't.

chin up, it'll be fine! Dark evenings don;t help either :)
Rob Armstrong

Lol Larry, if the clutch was in to be drained, I'd be halfway to the ecstasy end!!!
rachmacb

Alex

You said,

"I have no previous experience of spridgets and I really don't know what to expect of it once it's done."

"Even though I love the look of it, But you don't own a car just to look at it do you?"

Nope you own a car to drive it, not spend your life either looking at or fixing it.

DON'T get TOO bogged down on the details. Get it basic and going, and then DRIVE it. Sort the refinements later. If you try and do it ALL in one go, you will feel as you do now. That is, you will lose sight of the point.

"don't know what to expect of it once it's done." ??

Expect to drive a comfortable and reasonably quick go cart. You can chuck it around and abuse it, and actually you will find it is pretty tolerant, and pretty tough too. Dont think it has to be wrapped in cotton wool and nursed. Drive it hard and you'll get more fun.

So stand back. Look objectively at where you are. Ask, how much more do I NEED to do, in order to get it back on the road. Then do just that amount. Doing that will reignite your engery and lift your mood,-- winter or summer. :)




Lawrence Slater

Thanks to all of y'all that's why this forum is so great, And John, keep at it ;-)

Rach I think I've worked my way around the clutch bleeding process, fitted a Clutch hydraulic concentric slave with a stainless hose out through the beelhousing to make the bleeding accessible.

Well Lawrence I'm afraid it's to late for that.
When I got the car I planed on just getting it running and driving it for one or two summers before starting a bigger restoration but even though it looked allright it was just to far gone for that. Both engine and gearbox made metallic slamming noises. So I decided to get a 1275 and rebuild that instead just for the fun of it. And it's almost impossible to find a working gearbox early or ribbed over here so I actual went with a ford type 9 in the end. I know, many would go with Datsun in a mk1 since less modification is needed but I didn't know this at the time. While preparing the body for paint it turned out that it at some point was wrecked... HARD (I assume that the bonnet was added in relation to this) this has led to extended body work And after that it's been adding up with the car stripped I found some rust in what seems like the worst spot to weld at and that still needs to be attended, I've added a disc break conversion to the full resto of suspension I'm planing this winter since both front and back are off the car. At this point I've been at the same spot for ages, but what I need to do is finish what I started.

A well I guess I'll have to suit my self for the extension of the build but as you all say it will probably be a nice ride once it's done.
Alexander Sorby Wigstrom

Alex I've been restoring my frog for around 2 years and I know exactly what you mean, you reach a point where you don't seem to progress at all. You keep finding more bits that need doing before you can progress, it's a plateau and suddenly you'll find that you are descending down the finishing slope and fitting parts rather than, SH!T MORE RUST!!!! Don't despair, just plod along and you'll get there.
Then it's fun and some frustration all the way!
Graham.
Graham P

Hi Alex.

""Thanks to all of y'all that's why this forum is so great, And John, keep at it ;-)""

Yep we all wear rose tinted glasses.

The reason I like Spridgets is because when I was just leaving school I had a Frogeyed Sprite. I then bought an MGB and a Midget but always lusted after an MGA.

Nowadays like many others nostalga is my motivation and I now own an MGA a Midget and an MGB and love driving them all, are they better than a modern car? frankly the answer is no! I also own an MGF and that is a far better car than any of the others.

A lot of new enthusiasts have joined the MG fraternity over the last 10 to 15 years due to the MGF and I know of a number of them that from time to time decided they would like to try something older. Most times that to my knowledge ends in tears!!

Alex if you think the drive in your car will compare with a newer vehicle then you will be disappointed, however if you want to feel good cruising around on holiday with people wanting to see your car then all will be fine. Oh and I like modifying cars as well and these cars are just made for modifying.

Bob Turbo Midget England

Bob..... is the Green MGB yours?????
Rob Flint

Sadly not Rob, it is a 4.0l V8 that was fully restored and is in actual fact Primrose yellow. (I do know some people however who borrow such vehicles and claim to know everything about them and even ownership!!)

No mine is a red BGT that I got for a knock down price from a chap in Burton Stather. :)
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

You will need a bigger garage! you 'in' tomorrow...
Rob Flint

No I am in Birmingham tomorrow and at work Sunday morning, how about a hour or so sunday afternoon?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

"Well Lawrence I'm afraid it's to late for that" lol Alex.

Then consider yourself trapped for life. I'm a 34 year lifer now, and I didn't expect to keep mine for more than a few months. 30 years from now, you'll be saying the same thing too. LOL
Lawrence Slater

Cheers... will limp round....
Rob Flint

This thread was discussed between 17/11/2011 and 18/11/2011

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