Tyson's 1971 MG Midget

tykluss18 · Post by **tykluss18** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 9:55 pm

So here it is! This is as it sits now, still at the previous owner's house. Tomorrow I'll be bringing it home and getting to work. I've got to get the brakes working by the end of the week so I can move it out of the garage and into it's home in the driveway.

I'm thrilled its a chrome bumper and a California car. It seems to be virtually rust free and the engine/trans have been recently gone through. So tomorrow starts day two and I couldn't be happier.

Tyson

tannyo · Post by **tannyo** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:22 pm

Nice little car. More photos please. What's the engine compartment look like? The interior?

tykluss18 · Post by **tykluss18** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:01 am

I'll get some up tomorrow when I bring it home!

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:31 am

Hey, that looks really clean! Great looking car, and a perfect jumping point into the sickness of British sports cars. Can't wait to see it on the road!

tykluss18 · Post by **tykluss18** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:05 pm

Day 1, Brought it home

cleaned out the messes of extra parts started it up no problem and realized I had a pretty serious fuel leak. The plastic hose (rear jet) on the SU closest to the firewall is cracked from age and I still am waiting on my moss order for the brake master cylinder.
As i'm going through it i still haven't found anything more than surface rust.
Here's a shot of the interior and the "custom" dash

I had to label the toggle switches to keep track, the wiring under the dash is a mess. Between my dad and I we got everything hooked up temporarily since I am going to return it to an original dash.

The engine bay is pretty good, engine and trans were recently gone through. Only things missing are the air cleaners for the SUs, which are in a parts box, and the ducting for the heater.

As far as getting the brakes to work properly, we took off the wheels and inspected everything, and while I had the drums off I changed the wheel cylinders.
So most of the day i tinkered around and found out what parts I need and what parts I can use. The coolest finds were a set of brand new floor mats (still in the plastic) a cover for the top when it's folded down, and the cage style round air cleaners. Im excited to do more on it tomorrow and I'll keep everybody posted. Still thinking of a name for her though and can't wait to drive it, (hopefully thursday.)

Tyson

matstng · Post by **matstng** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 10:40 pm

Nice find Tyson,
Hold on to that garage spot as long as you can.

Post a pic of the driveway with the garage open. How about a pic of the complete collection?

Let me know when you're ready to drop in a V8.

Did that just get me banned?????

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:34 pm

You can also leave the dash pad off and finish the metal backing. Some cool mods have been done on MGBs that way. It gives a nice vintage look and saves having to buy the padded cover. See here for inspiration if you decide to go that route: http://www.mgnuts.com/modifications/interior/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fifty Six MGA · Post by **Fifty Six MGA** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:45 pm

Sweet car. My dad had a CB Midget when I was a kid, and it was my fond memories of riding in that car that put MG's on the short list for me when I was considering my first classic car!

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:26 pm

matstng wrote:Hold on to that garage spot as long as you can...

That's mamma's garage spot and we are getting her car back from the shop today, so the Midget will be banished from the castle...by order of the Queen!

spitfire · Post by **spitfire** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:25 pm

What a cool project could be really fun to finish.

I have to say those homes look a lot like a neighborhood I know in Riverside off Van Buren.

tykluss18 · Post by **tykluss18** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:48 pm

So no pictures today but I did get the wheels back on, the sticky E-brake fixed and let it back on the ground. Fixed my rear SU jet fuel leak and the bypass hose leak, we synced the carbs by sight and let her run. Little rough at first but after a little while it sounded great. Found an annoying squeak though due to some inner front fender panels that were missing some bolts. Next thing on the list is that squeak and im still waiting on my brake master cylinder

We'll see what I get done tomorrow before heading out of town!

VWNate1 · Post by **VWNate1** » Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:01 pm

Looks pretty nice ! .

What's the status now , three months later ? .

matstng · Post by **matstng** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:28 pm

Progress is always good. One thing at a time and it'll be done before you know it.
Just ask your dad about his MG.... OK, maybe that wasn't the best example of speed but you know what I'm saying.

VWNate1 · Post by **VWNate1** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:04 am

Sports Cars are NOT about speed ! .

They're about sporty driving.....

.

Larry Kluss · Post by **Larry Kluss** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:57 am

VWNate1 wrote:Sports Cars are NOT about speed ! .

They're about sporty driving..... .

Nate, Matt was referring to the speed at which I restored my MGB, not my driving style. It took me 26 years to finish the car.

tykluss18 · Post by **tykluss18** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:26 pm

So, I haven't updated this in a while but I figured it's about time I do it.

This is what the dash looked like once it was off and we started work on the electrical.

And here's it after!

I also did some work restoring the wheels, here's the before and after.

I converted it to older style taillights because I like the earlier car look.

This was the first bypass hose blowout...managed to get it home

Since then I've gotten new tires, hooked up the fresh air duct for the heater, color sanded and buffed some paint that was oxidized, got a cover and a few other little things here and there.

Here's a picture at her first car show!

And here is how she sits now!

I'll try and update it more regularly from here on out!

tannyo · Post by **tannyo** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:28 pm

Very nice Tyson.

malcolmr18zoy · Post by **malcolmr18zoy** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:08 am

Hey Tyson,
Do you like the fish-mouth grill? I have a traditional grill for cheap, if you want it.
Malcolm

Martin Keller · Post by **Martin Keller** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:11 am

Tyson,

I too have an MG Midget but it is nowhere as nice as yours.
If you want to work on it and make it look as good as yours I would not mind at all.

Here is a photo of it as it sits waiting for some TLC.

: MHKs 1973 MG Midget.jpg (93.09 KiB) Viewed 30734 times

Post by **Steve Simmons** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:19 am

It's looking really nice, Tyson. You really rescued that poor thing.

Fifty Six MGA · Post by **Fifty Six MGA** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:54 pm

Tyson,

I may have to call you about the color sanding. My car has some pretty bad oxidized paint, and I've been tempted to try color sanding, but I'm scared.

Your midget is turning out really nice....

Geoff

VWNate1 · Post by **VWNate1** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:08 pm

Looking very good here !

.

I think the Traditional Grille plus a front bumper will make it look really sharp .

A very good job you're doing here overall

.

tykluss18 · Post by **tykluss18** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:42 pm

Thanks All!

I love the car and am looking forward to putting some real miles on it!

And Nate, I took off the bumper the day I got it

I like the look a lot more.

Geoff, as far as the color sanding goes I just gathered the courage and started on the trunk where it was the worst...You find out very quickly if you're doing it right

Tyson's 1971 MG Midget

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