Not stupid!
Although the heater valve is a more common source of trouble on MGs, it
sounds like you've got a leaky heater core. This means removal and a trip
to the radiator shop for some soldering. Or it may be deemed beyond hope
and you'll need a new one. Haven't done it on a Midget but I believe it
uses a similar Smith's heater box to the B. First you might check the
ends of the water hoses where they attach to the heater core; perhaps you
just need to tighten the hose clamps.
As for the emergency road kit, there were several good posts on the
subject some time ago. Search the list archive at:
<http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=mgs>
NAMGBR has also printed a good list in the Driver. Perhaps it's on their
web site, as well.
Michael Walter had this to say:
>Last August I acquired a '79 Midget. Seems like I spent most of the rest of
>the summer waiting for a M/C. Didn't get a lot of driving in. However, the
>car ran without incident. My confidence level is very high.
>
>Now my question. Actually 2 questions.
>
>1. When I open the petcock to allow water into the heater core, I get a
>couple small puddles under the heater core. I think I rmemeber reading
>somewhere that MGs are notorious for this. Is that true (the claim, not my
>seeing it)?
>
>2. I want to take it to the Twin Cities next year. That's about a 2 hr
>drive from here. What should a guy pack, in terms of an emergency repair
>kit, when setting out on the road? Hopefully by then I will have my list of
>road helpers from NAMGBR, or somewhere else. I placed my name on the list.
>
>I hope to get some fun miles in next year, if my wife lets ME get behind
>the wheel.
>
>
>
>
>=========================
>Michael Walter - Winona, MN
>mwalter@luminet.net
>http://www.luminet.net/~mwalter/
>
>"There is a price to be paid for owning a piece of automotive history"
>old truck (his) - new Honda (hers) - '81 Harley (his)
>'79Midget (to be decided)
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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