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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - MGB dampers

Does anyone know if it is possible to change from midget to MGB dampers? It seems worthwhile and cheaper than tube dampers, but I have never seen how well it works in practice.
Will it need an adapting plate or are new holes drilled and tapped? I'm not sure if this would be strong enough as the damper is also the upper link.
BH Harvey

Kent Midget & Sprite Club meets this coming Sunday 24th July 2011 at Angel, Addington, Kent.ME19.5BB lunchtime from 1200hrs
I am bound to get some flack for this but we didnt get to meet when you picked up the parts from my place, that I left out for you, and I have lost your e-mail address. If you are free this sunday lunchtime pop along for a chat.
Alan
A Anstead

Other than the second top arm for trunion support I can't think a a good reason to go to all that trouble when there are a lot easier alternatives. Plenty of good lever shocks around from the various sources either new or rebuilt and relatively easy mods for better support already tried and perfected. Unless you are racing and really need the adjustability and anti foaming that tube shocks offer good lever arm shocks with heavy duty valves or even the adjustable ones from Peter Caldwell do a fine job for sprints although might have some foaming and fade issues on endurance races. Fine for fast road use though as I can attest.
B Young

I don't know the details but I do know that it has been done, as in the 70's it was used a means of triangulating the top arm to handle the braking loads.

Because the mounting holes are completely different, there are certainly simpler ways of achieving that today, and probably less expensive if you are paying someone to do it.
Paul Walbran

I recollect this being done. A mounting plate is first bolted to the original shock bolt holes and the MGB shock then bolted to that mounting plate. I also recall some concerns about the suspension geometry that results. However, if the mount to chassis plates are slots it is possible to adjust camber (which is impossible with standard lever arms).
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Chris H has this correct. I ran this set up on my car for the first 2.5 years of competition. it is a great setup especially for hills and sprints. our events over here have lanes etc so I decided to go to a more serviceable set up. I have the adapter plates and shocks here and can have them copied for you if interested?

these have been designed with 2 degrees negative camber built in so turn in is awesome at any speed!
WDT Corry

Corry, I don't suppose there is a template for the adaptor plates.
Using MGB dampers just looks like a neat, simple solution, unlike tube shocks imho.
BH Harvey

This thread was discussed between 20/07/2011 and 23/07/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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