OH MY HEAD - STILL

I am still dumbfounded by this entire situation ... let me re-cap:

removed exhaust/intake manafold to repair a vac. leak

In my rush to accomplish this I wasn't paying too much attentin to the studs ... after all putting it back together should be a snap ... WRONG!

I had six studs exposed and removed them all for replacement ... then I noticed I had EIGHT STUD HOLES ON THE BLOCK ... now which holes did I get these out of again???

I replace all 8 into the block and notice the two lower ones on hold the intake and don't even touch the exhaust ... HOWEVER once you put the intake in place you can NOT get to those studs. Not with an open end, not with any tool I have in my box ... is there a special tool I need???

It's a 1977 Midget and once I get this done I can take her out on the road ... legally!

Is this a 1500 Midget or a 1275? If 1275, does it have a single intake/exhaust manifold, or two seperate ones? Single or dual carbs?

If it is a 1275 (A-Series engine) the inlet and exhaust manifolds are held on by six studs. The outer ones only hold the exhaust, the middle 4 have a large bridging washer and hold both inlet & exhaust. I have no idea why there would be two extra studs!

If it is a 1500 - ask the same question on a Triumph site - they may know more about this engine than MG people!

There is a special tool for those two studs. It was a factory tool, but it's not avalible any more. You just have to deal with it. It's been a while sense I have had to deal with one, and I don't remember what I did. It can be done without the factory tool.

If I'm thinking about the same two lower ones that you are they hold the intake and the exhaust manifold, at least they do on my 80 Spitfire and I have had both manifolds on and off several times. You can only get to them with an open end wrench and you can only turn them about an 1/8th to a 1/4 turn at a time. With the Spitfire's bonnet open I can see them, but with a Midget I would think that the fenders are in the way.

It is a 1500 and it is the original ZU carb.

Factory tool huh? ... figures

Triumph site? Ok

Thanks for the help ... I love this site!