Spridget Tech Talk (MG Midget & Austin-Healey Sprite)
can somebody please tell me that the crossmember that the steering rack mounts to (2x1) on a 72 midget is offset from the main subframe cross member.on mine it is closer to the bulkhead on the driverside then the passenger side by 1/2 inch or so.if this is not normal i may have to scrap the whole thing.i cant see where i would have to straighten this out.i know pics would help,every time i try i get a bad shock from the camara?????
Something does not sound right. The rack mount tube should be flush to the front of the spring mounts and parallel to the larger crossmember below.
Pete
The crossmember should be welded to the shock towers at the front edge on both sides. Although I had to modify the crossmember on my car this photo shows how it's welded in on one end, the other end should be the same. If the crossmember is welded on in the correct position then I'd suspect that the car has some major frame damage and may need a trip to the frame machine. Most good frame shops can pull one straight pretty easily.
thanks for the feed back.i guess ill have to take the rest of the front end off and see where it is bent.the welds at the spring mounts look good.the triangle gussets further back dont look bent either.
This diagram might help. You can take some diagonal measurements from the bottom and see if the frame is "tweaked" or not. http://www.ketcherside.net/chassis.htm
Thanks to Gryf Ketcherside of St. Charles, MO for the link.
The attached drawing is for a quarter eliptic car but the front diagonals should be the same as for the later cars.
thanks bill.i knew that i had seen that before.after i tear out the rest of the suspension ill have to get out the tape and see whats what.
Unsure if this will help. I cut this crossmember out of a rust bucket many years ago. Cleaning out my shed and stripping off the wire wheel parts. Rest go to j-yard. Maybe these pictures will help. Maurice
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/mgman75/temp%20photos/100_6510.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/mgman75/temp%20photos/100_6509.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/mgman75/temp%20photos/100_6508.jpg
mg man the third pic looks like mine.the rack looks offset.maybe im looking at it different,if the rack is offset,with the breakline under it it makes the cross member look offset from the side.thanks again for the feed back.
o.k. striped off the front end that cross member that the rack is bolted to is very twisted.my guess is a major front smash.this is a 72 RWA.do i scrap my dream of getting it back on the road or?? i thought maybe a 2x2 welded in with bolts going thru,to hold the steering rack?i know not stock but i dont think that i can get that piece any where.
If rest of car is good why scrap it if you can weld. Why not get a piece like I got cut out and weld in. If want it you can have this one for free. The rearward part of sheet metal is rusty but heavy part is ok. I am going to pull the wire wheel section off and rest is going to junkyard. Shipping is only bad part. Or I can cut off what you want. If want more pictures just ask. Maurice
I must be missing something, 'cos those components look ok. Is the rack itself bent?
no i have the whole front torn off now. where those circles are on the top of the cross member they are twisted and on the driver side cracked.ill try to get another pic tomorrow.the lower cross member is pushed up in the middle(probably from jacking up the car with out a block under it).
Bill:
A few of the pics on this page might help.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2203663/2
All I can see from your image is that the front frame horn is kinked and the lower crossmember has the usual abuse. Nothing on these cars a person can't cut, beat and weld back into submission. The lower crossmember is available as a repair panel, not sure about the rack mount, but I am sure a spare can be sourced from a scrap car.
No problem. I will get it cut out. I will not cut the square piece. I will cut past the square part. Do you need the rack mounts. They are good on it. Maurice
just the cross member out lined in the photo would be great.basically at the original welds would be best if that is not to much trouble.you can see where it is twisted and cracked at either end where it is welded to the shock mounts.thanks sooooo much again for your help.p.s. i think i got this pic post thing down now.
Very interesting damage. Now how do you suppose such a thing occurred without also messing up something else???
Engine dropped on rack (hard)?
im thinking some sort of crash.the driverside frame rail has a crinkle.also up by where the steering column comes thru the footwell there is some damage.i hope that once i cut out the cross member i can straighten things out????with my wonderful welding skills(zero)i can fix it.
I wish you were not so far away. You could use this. 74 and 78 in barn.
http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/mgman75/?start=100
