New Guy On The Block... Just Bought a 77 Midget. Not Sure Where to Start

Hello all. I Just bought a 1977 MG Midget. The gentleman who sold it to me had lots of extras he bought (radiator, Wheels, Lights, Carbs, Breaks and lots of other stuff.

The body is in pretty good shape although it does have a couple of spots that will require welding. My plan for this car is to completely strip it down, remove everything from under the hood, clean, weld, sand, and then start putting it back together.

My problem is that this is my very first car restore. I am extremely handy and have rebuild boats and built houses. But as far as cars go never tackled such a big project.

SO WHERE DO I START???

I would hate to do do things int he wrong order. don't want to end up doing something that will cost money or be counter productive.

any help is greatly appreciated and will be thanked for..

DB

Welcome to the forum. You will find LOTS of expertise on here and it abounds in "helpers." I have had my '77 for 14 months now, and have mostly ironed out all the bugs. It is such a pleasure to drive. Good luck with your restoration. Tom

First thing is thorough inspection of body for rust and to get a feeling for overall condition. The more rust = more $$. Though the cars are small, they are prone to rust due to age and exposure to the elements, which can lead to big $$$ to repair. Then check every major system for functionality. These are simple cars, with simple systems, but the more systems that don't work = more $$$. Check the engine for compression and the crankshaft for end play (front and back movement). The thrust faces on the rear main bearings tend to wear on these cars. Don't keep your foot on the clutch when the car is stopped and running. Use a Bentley or Chilton manual for specs. This will tell you if the engine is ready for a rebuild. After a good estimation of the car's overall health, then make a list of issues, prioritize this list, then get out the checkbook and let the fun begin. There are many mods, changes, upgrades you can do to these cars, so take your time planning, scan this site, and the Triumph side of the site as well, as you have a Triumph engine, and make a plan. Some of the mods are to remove the big heavy bumpers and retrofit chrome ones from an earlier car, or go bumperless, add relays to the electrical system, lower the car, delete the emissions equip, do a retrofit of dual HS carbs and LCB headers, drop in an overdrive tranny from a Triumph Spitfire, etc. There are not as many options for you as for a Camaro or Mustang, but almost. Try to use vendors who support this site and support our community for parts and advice as well.

Thanks Tom. Need to learn my way around this Forum. For now just reading the complete manual on Midgets. Will start tearing it apart in a couple of days. The car does not run. has holes in radiator but I have a new one, plus the wiring needs work. I am wondering if i should initially replace the radiator, and get it started to see what works what does not, or not even bother and just put it together right after I do the body work

oldag98:

Some of the things you mentioned I don't even know what they are. BUT that s the fun of it. a couple of weeks from now I'll have a wealth of knowledge. The PLAN is a must. will definitely do that. What do you think about the idea of stripping the whole thing first. then working and fixing the body and then putting it together one system at a time. Need to find an MG Midget club in MASS.

Upgrades sound great and I am sure I'll want some. Besides I already have bunch of new upgraded stuff like Chrome Bumbers and wheel covers. The rest I will have to learn about.

Using vendors who support this forum is an absolute. that's no problem

Thank you

I would definitely get it running first. After you drive it a bit, get a feel for what needs to be replaced and what you want to keep/not replace, set a baseline, get a bit of learnin' under your belt about what you can do to the car to make it better, modernize it, make it more reliable, or to get more performance, find good affordable parts, then a bottom up restoration/modernization is the best thing for you, so you will like the car, and for the car, so it doesn't sit for days every few months while you wait for this part or that part to fix an issue and so you don't get tired of something failing on you every few months. That said, there are a boatload of crappy parts out there you'd think were top of the line because of their prices. Spring and summer are just around the corner, so I'd drive it then, get a feel for it, plan a bit, do some research, make some lists, acquire some parts catalogs, etc. I think many, if not most of us, would do a bottom up restoration/resto-mod if we could 1) afford it, or 2) not drive our cars long enough to actually do it. There are many people on this site who have done just that, a total restore, so check for older posts to see all the restorations and the mods that have been done over the months and years. Check youtube for info and inspiration as well. If you already have the chrome bumper mod, then you are ahead of the power curve for one of the most often contemplated mods for these cars. There is also the dual HS swap mod, a modern electrical system with relays, more fuses, better switches mod, overdrive tranny swap, fiberglass body parts, roll bar, double din radio, modern/digital gauges, complete drivetrain swaps like the Jag V-12 swap, etc, etc.. You have just crossed over into the Twilight Zone of automotive possibilities... Being in Mass, you will have lots of time in the winter to do whatever you want to do. Finally, make sure your significant other likes the car too, as she is about to experience some competition for your affection, time, interest, finances, etc... These cars are in some way addictive, so be forewarned...

LOL.. She Just saw it.. Loved it. So in that department I am covered. Thank for the advise. I think I will do just what you said. get it running. test it see what it does and how it behaves. maybe install the chrome bumpers before the spring so that i can at least get my hands a little dirty. Also have to install new wire harness (that came with the car from the person I bought it from and the radiator)

Yes MASS has lots of clubs. I always see them driving around, So i am sure I'll have a few friends i could ask for help.

This forum is great.

THANKS AGAIN. Much appreciated.

Hey dan! im in the process of striping my 72 before sand blasting and rebuild! Im not an expert but i started with removing the interior (its a good chance to look at the floor and foot wells) oh sorry i took the soft top off first so it gave me more room and light! 2nd i took the hood, boot, doors, and wings off + rear lights. 3rd bumpers and radiator, oil cooler. You need to remove the front end of the car (front panel) which connects to splash shields and inner wings; there are 4 bolts which hold it onto the chassis, although mine had been welded on i cut it off! thats where i am so far, next is to get it on axel stands and remove engine and gear box then front and rear suspension, in what order im not sure(maybe someone can tell me).

one thing i would say is to put back all the bolts you remove so you know where they are even if your going to replace them! and re-use as many things as possible as things can get expensive very quickly!

oh lable all your wiring, takes time but worth it and take lots of photos for reference! easy to forget where things go!

before taking the dash out, its easier to take the steering coloum out, disconnect the back of the speedo and the water and pressure sensors on the engine!

good luck and welcome! ask as many question you can on here! no question is silly!

Welcome.

All good advice. I'm with Jeff, get it going and drive it first, especially since it is you first resto.

Take your wife for drives and your kids and anyone else in your life that constitutes your support group (but don't stress the car (or passenger!), make it fun... go to the park or a movie or something).

Why??? In the deep dark days of the restoration when it looks like your deadline is going to pass (again) or it seems like the work never ends or you are in the garage more than you are in the house (including sleeping!), the POSITIVE memories will prevent the project from ending up in the trash-bin or pushed into a corner and forgotten.

Seems silly, I know, but it is EXTREMELY important, especially if you are talking anything other than a tune-up, brake job and new tires.

I agree with everything said so far. The only thing I would add is get a restoration manual (I have two) and read it cover to cover, then use it as a guideline during your tear down. You will find that what looks difficult at first is actually fairly easy once you know where every bolt is located. Get lots of baggies and a sharpie pen, and if you remove something, take a photo first, put it in a bag, label the bag, and put it in a box. If at all possible put bolts, screws back where they came from, or put them in a bag, label, and use a cable tie to attach the bag to the part removed. ie..............remove a door hinge, put the screws in a bag, cable tie to the hinge, put the hinge in a box. I have seperate boxes for different things. Everything from the dash in one box, interior, trim, and so forth and so on.

Everyone here is very helpful (when you can get them to stay on topic, and not wander off. what ever you do, don't ask about oil!!!!) ::o


Larry

Yes. I am going to be organized as much as possible, starting with making my garage spotless (something it has not been since the house was built).
Already have bunch of zip lock bags and larger ones too with sharpies.

Now the Restoration Manual is interesting. I have 2 books right now but I think they are just manuals.
1. Haynes MGB 1962-1980 Roadster and GT coupe Automotive Repair Manual (green book)
2. Robert Bentley The Complete Official MGB 1975-1980 Drivers Hand Book. (red book)

Is there something else I should be getting? if so what is it called and where can I get it?


Everyone IS extremely helpful. I never expected such a response. I will do my best to stay away from the OIL questions... :-)

I use Haynes Restoration Manual for the MG Midget by Lindsay Porter. I accidentally bought 2 of them, so if you want one, let me know, I'll make you a good deal on one.

The other one I have is the Haynes Automotive Repair Manual for the Midget/Sprite 1958-1980 (sorry, only one of those, and you can't have it.lol
Both are good, but as usual, neither answer every question, but between both, and all the help you get here you shouldn't have any problems.

Good Luck, and have fun
Larry

I'd maybe also look at the BL Competition Prep manual and the new Sprite/Midget High Performance Manual (I think by Stapleton). Both of these will give you some ideas of things you might want to do to the car while doing everything that needs to be done to the car. Then maybe a book or two as you progress, i.e. a couple of SU books, if you go that route for carburation, etc. The trick is to have an idea of needs to be done, what you want to do, what you can do yourself, what you can't, and what you can/can't afford to do or have done. There are two mindsets with these cars, resto or update/upgrade. For your year model, there is little point in a restoration, as you won't end up with anything better than what one got in 77. I'd look at the mod/upgrade route personally. Get an idea of evrything within you ability to make better and then do so as you progress with the car.

OK. So it does look like I am going to do some upgrading. In-fact lots of upgrading. I just created a Journal entry with a list of all the extra goodies that came with the car. Not sure if any one it can be used for the upgrades but I am sure some of it is useful.

The books I listed int he previous message i did NOT buy. they came with the car.

however I did order from Amazon the following 2 books

1. Mg Midget, Austin Healey and Sprite Restoration Manual (Restoration Manuals)
2. Restoring Sprites & Midgets: An Enthusiast's Guide

A methodical approach is best in my opinion, as long as you truly appreciate what you are in for before you take on a project.

I hate to be a nitpicker,

but I just am a little confused... Your thread title says you have a 77 Midget, but when i looked at the list in your journal the picture posted is an MGB. Do you have a Midget, or an MGB?

OK NOW I am Confused. I have 2 old titles on hand from previous owners. VIN matches and here is the picture of it. On both of them it says Midget but maybe it was put in wrong??? how can I tell?

My 2 c.
the 1977 MG Midget VIN structure is:
GAN 6 UH 999999 G
GAN = MG Midget
6 = MK4 1500cc
UH = USA
192505 = serial number (188001 - 200001 - 1977 production)
G = unknown

For MGB see: http://www.victoriabritish.com/icatalog/mg/full.aspx?Page=9

mistakes on titles are distressingly common! If the picture in the profile is your car, then you have an MGB.

You can tell an MGB by the coved headlights. On the midget the front panel drops straight down from the headlamp.

the Midget has a flat vertical sill panel that runs from front wheel to back under the door, on the MGB this sill is rounded under the car.

the VIN number for a post '75 midget would start with GAN6

If the VIN Matches, G"H"N denotes an MGB. The H is for the B series motor, and the A is for the A series Motor Like Below.

G= MG
H= B Series Engine
N= 2 Seat Roadster
5= Mark III 1970-1979
U= US North American Market Left Hand Drive
H= MODEL year 1977
435092= Car Number
G= Abingdon Factory

Info from here on our own site, written by Skye
[url=http://www.mgexperience.net/article/mgb-vin.html][/url]

So I guess this will be my first Mistake. The second is ordering 3 books from Amazon on Midgets. I guess I cant hang out in this part of the forum. and I was just starting to like you guys :-)

Sorry to lose you Dan,
You can still hang out: Fix your mistake: sell the B and get a midget;)

Quite a few of us have B's, it's no big deal. The appropriate corrective measure would be to add a midget to your garage. >:D<

Glad I found out early enough. Thanks for noticing the picture and commenting and saving me lots of time and money. I'll be moving to the MGB side of the site but maybe my next one will be a Midget. THANK AGAIN FOR AWESOME COMMENTS

I think stripping it down is a good place to start, get the parts all cleaned up. This is where I probably where I start to disagree with some of the other guys. I think you can spare yourself a lot of aggravation buy putting all those parts into boxes and send them to me. PM For shipping address,

Hello Everyone!

I am a REALLY NEW GUY!

I used to have a sweet dark/orange 72 MG Chrome Bumper with a 1275cc back in 1981-83 Running 1984 to 1996 not running!

I had plans to get it running again and/or restore but...sold it because I needed the money when i got married in '96...boy could I kick myself for that now!


I hope to begin again...and learn as much from you all as I can...as my wife is a little skeptical right now!


I really appreciate just reading the questions and answers...and how accomodating and forthcoming with information everyone is!

I hope to join your ranks of "dirty hands" sooner than later!

Regards to you all!


Sincerely and Respectfully!


jeff


jeffrey R. Ward

New Castle, DE

I'm with Josh. Don't waste your investment in Midget books. Go buy a Midget RIGHT NOW!!!

Hahahahahaha!

I bought Grahame Bristow's MG Spridget restoration book out of Moss Motors and am very pleased with the contents, layout, expertise and humor offered. He gives you a very vluable insight on priorities; especially for tub-up reassembly which I'm just beginning after several years' hiatus.......and am I ever glad I labeled and photographed every thing!
Steve B., Sturgeon Bay, WI; late '74 Midget.

Daniel,

If you want to pass those Midget books down here to FL, I could use them.

I just bought my wife a `74 Midget!!!!

Well the same suggestions apply to the B as the Midget. I was about to send a photo of a Midget when I read you have decided on what you have.

Yup, if your car is the one in the picture of your profile, you have an MGB, not a Midget.

Thanks Mike...


I will keep you all informed of what is happening...


I did deal with BRG in Newark years ago...and you are right!...They (he is) are great!!

I hate to admit it but...I was contemplating a '61 Triumph TR3A...I found one from a good source...running great...etc...but...I think I am over it now!!!!

The Midget is in my soul I think!


Talk to you again!


jeff

Jeff and Michael have the best advice you will ever get- drive it first, as least for a few months.