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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Worthwhile improvements

Chaps

A shameful and barefaced pillage of your collective knowledge and experience, but as I have little knowledge of midgets, wholly justified.

I wonder if some of you gents could thus impart - in your opinion of course- what are the top 5 cost effective modifications and the one luxury which would not break the bank.

This is apart from keeping it properly serviced and in good nick all round.

Naturally I expect this to vary wildly, but perhaps a common theme could emerge and thus be of some use.

My limited starter for 10, in no particular order

Mods

Polybushes - esp at rear
Electronic ignition
Electric fan
Decent tyres
Damper mods to suspension ie Spax --not sure about this as a worthwhile mod

Luxury

Anthracite minilite style wheels from MGB hive...











Mark O

RAC mmebership!
Graeme W

5 speed conversion. Depends on your bank balance though, unless you do it yourself. Some people here have done it very cheaply indeed by not buying a kit.
Lawrence Slater

I'd agree re: the polybushes, especially as rubber parts can be of dubious quality.

I'd disagree to telescopic shocks - good lever arms in good condition work well - add an additional top link (e.g. from Peter May) and they are even better, especially under braking. A panhard rod is good for spirited driving, and I'd suggest lowering the car and adding stiffer front springs as a worthwhile handling mod, too. Probably more improvement than changing the shocks.

I'd add a rolling road setup à Peter Burgess to the list too. I haven't had one, but I will as soon as Peter sets up his French facility O_o

Electronic ignition is probably a good one, an electric fan less so (though I have one).

Afterwards it depends on what you're after - more performance or just reliability.

For performance, I'd suggest a good cylinder head, manifolds and possibly hi-lift rockers. If you're taking the engine out the list gets even longer.

Servicing the whole thing does make a helluva difference (cue Nigel...)
Philip Dodd

Oh - and of course, there are books with this stuff in it. Daniel Stapleton's, to name the guilty :) I have 2 copies of 2 different editions of it.
Philip Dodd

May I recommend Mr Vizards "Bolt-on Performance Priority Guide"(p456) of which No.1 is K & N pancake filters with stub-stacks.
M J Chapman

Decent Halogen headlamps.
Thicker polybush mounted front arb.
Electronic ignition (fit and forget, the best 70 I've spent!)
Mintex 1144 brake pad, they make a considerable difference when bedded in.
A few gallons of high octane fuel and then you're good to go.
I forgot a nice woolly hat, scarf and gloves for those crisp winter days.
Matt1275Bucks

Cost effective:

smaller steering wheel
better seats
telescopic dampers - IMO far far better than levers
exhaust - single box RC40
MGB carbs & metro big valve head on A series


K series, do it yourself and it is incredibly cost effective.
Rob Armstrong

since you're in scotland, electric fan, my fan only rarely comes on.

personally,
If you want spax, electronic ignition, 5 speed box etc,
buy a more modern car..??
If your lever arms are good leave them.
Complete dizzy and carb rebuild, best improvement I have carried out.
Carb and cylinder head mods are correct for the period and fun to do.
Make sure your heater works well...Scotland after all..?
Agree about well sorted brakes and mintex pads, midgets are fun cars and good solid braking definitely adds to the sensation.

other than head mods, the above can be carried out for a few hundred pounds.


M F L Sherrit

my head mods cost 35 quid for a second hand MG metro head, and a set of grinding stones. Then it's just a question of annoying people (housemates while at Uni in my case!) while grinding away.
Rob Armstrong

5 speed conversion
Panhard rod and addco front sway bar
Poly bush
Hi lift ratio rocker arm 1:5
Alloy wheels

Or....sub subitute frontline kit on barry king premium wishbones


Luxury..... Tilton Master cly for both brake and clutch, as well as a big brake kit of mgb calipers on spitfire rotors and all lines replaced to stianless steel braided lines on AN fittings

Or

1st generation Mazda RXZ rear axle with the disk brakes rated to 250 hp and a positrac

Thats my 5 and luxury... With subs

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Matt....I think you nailed... Serious style points, Id add to your list...proper wicker picnik basket with a setting for 4 and nthe wool blanket.

*** I forgot a nice woolly hat, scarf and gloves for those crisp winter days. ****

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Well...pleased to say I have most of the easier suggestions, as well as the Type 9, 5 speed box. Just done a whole heap of engine maintenance stuff, so that should satisfy Mr Atkins in that department...

Polybushes seem a must, and I am interested in the Peter May top link as mentioned by Philip ---bolt on job???

As for tailoring, I already have the leather sheepskin flying jacket. Winter up here now you know...guess I just need the goggles/helmet ....
Mark O

I think that a thicker anti-roll bar is a cheap way of creating better handling (11/16th) together with polybushes all round. The best change I made was to fit a HIF44 carb (great fuel economy and no more trying to balanvce twin carbs).
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

For the top link it's pretty much bolt-on. On later cars you may have to cut away a small part of the inner wing to make room for it. That meant moving the hard brake line an inch or so, but I did both sides on mine in a couple of hours, and I'm no whizzkid. You may not have to do any of that, in which case it is very "bolt-on" :)
Philip Dodd

I agree with Chris:

- 11/16 ARB and MG Metro carb/manifold

Both easy and instant immprovements (relatively cheap, to).

A
Anthony Cutler

This thread was discussed on 15/10/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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