[Mgs] questions about '78 MG Midget

[Dodd, Kelvin]

Have your friend engage the clutch while you look at the front crank
pulley. Look for thrust movement of the crank pulley.

Thrust washer failure is extremely common with the 1500. Any thrust
movement will cause the rod bearings to wear our prematurely. Replacing
them and checking the thrust surfaces should be normal maintenance every
40,000 miles.

Other than that the engine is pretty solid. Poor maintenance and thrust
loads from the heavier 1500 clutch gave these engines a bad name, but if
this is addressed the engine lasts well.



Kelvin Dodd



> -----Original Message-----
> From: mgs-bounces+doddk=mossmotors.com at autox.team.net
> [mailto:mgs-bounces+doddk=mossmotors.com at autox.team.net] On
> Behalf Of Eric J Russell
> Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 8:57 AM
> To: mgs at autox.team.net
> Subject: [Mgs] questions about '78 MG Midget
>
> A friend has asked me to resurrect a 1978 MG Midget that has
> sat un-used for a few years. His hope is to have a decent
> driver. It appears quite rust-free and deserves to be driven.
>
> MGA's I know. MGB's I know. But I've never owned a Midget.
> Any gotcha's to be aware of?
>
> My plan is to clean it up, change all fluids, fresh gasoline,
> adjust timing & valves, rebuild the carb and the brake system
> (IMO a car that won't start is inconvenient but a car that
> won't stop is deadly) and give it a go.
>
> It has the single S-Z carb. I'm not sure if it has an auto or
> manual choke. I'd prefer a manual choke. Can the auto be
> (easily) changed to manual?
>
> Is there a better option for carburation - similar to back-dating our
> '78 MGB to dual SU's?
>
> Eric Russell
> Mebane, NC
> http://home.mebtel.net/~ejrussell