Well, here we are starting week three on the MG. I've got the front sheet metal off, engine and trans out and going to take out the seriously rusted battery tray today. The heater core housing is a mess and it needs some attention as well.

My goal this weekend is to get the engine compartment as clean as I can get it so I can start sanding it down to bare metal. I'll put the pressure sprayer to it and hopefully get most if not all the grit and grime off.

After several false starts I have finally begun the refresh of Morris the Midget, my 72 RWA.

Today I removed the windscreen, hood and both fenders. I found more rust than I cared to find. Plus when taking off the RH wing, I found a steak knife and the fuse box cover.

Had to use an air chisel and sawsall to get a couple of the fender bolts off. Valance panel is a mess. All bondo and rust.... ack ...

Chap

The 72 MG-Werks has begun.

I have ripped out the entire front disc brake system. Rotors, hubs, calipers, the whole nine yards. I've taken out the brake box and have replace the brake and clutch master cylinders.

I had ordered a complete brake tube kit from Moss, but upon inspection the front brake tubing is in remarkably good shape! That saves me a "hobunchawerk".

The brake and clutch pedals have been removed, cleaned up, painted and ready to go back in today. The pedals were nearly rusted stuck on the pivot bolt. The bolt has been cleaned up and will be lubricated when re-installed. New return strings and pedal pads have been installed on the refurbished pedals.

Going to pack the front wheel bearings today and start reinstalling front brakes. I had thought about spiffing up the roadster and using caliper paint. But I reconsidered. Then yesterday, while at the parts house getting parts to fix the daughters Jeep, I saw two cans of Krylon "Farm Implement Green". The cap color was very close to the OD green on MG engines so I thought, what the hell. I bought them and now the calipers are green! Hahaha, we'll see if that farm implement paint holds up to the rigors of an MG roadster. I thought that green would be different that the yellow and red seen on many cars. And through the wires, it may sorta-kinda be cool looking.

Anyway, it's off to the "Open Aire MG Garage" and back to work......

Updated .... 06.30.08

Weekend well done. I'm happy!

Well, between this weekends thunder storms, power outages and honey-do's, The 72 RWA Project has finally seen some action. At one point, I even had to pull out the Coleman propane camping stove to make coffee!

My main goal with RWA is to get it mechanically sound, safe and road worthy. This is not, nor will it be a show car. It will be a daily or at least, an every other day-ly driver.

This weekend I have installed all new front disc brakes. Everything went together well. The only real snag I hit was the banjo bolt on the drivers side caliper was munged up at bit. Taking no chances of wasting a caliper, I've already ordered a replacement. The other concern I have is I retained the original front hub wheel bearings. I'm not happy with the grease packing I did, so I'll wind up yanking them back off and doing it again. Sure wish those hubs had a grease fitting. Oh well.

I pulled the entire brake box and pedal assembly out. I replaced the brake and clutch master cylinders. That was a trick. Not much room in that pedal box for fat fingers! The pedals have what looks like a babbit insert and both pedals were corroded up on the pivot bolt. After getting the pedals out and off, I found the pivot bolt fairly well pitted. I've ordered a new one as well.

After getting to stopping points on the brake system, I took the pressure sprayer and cleaned the rear brakes and axle housing. Is that an aluminum pumpkin? Sure looks like it. All nice and shiny now! Nothing except cleaning took place on the rear brakes.

I know the RWA has some electrical issues so I played with that a while. A PO somewhere along the line got into it and I'm finding the ever popular "OOPS'es and WTF's?". And some DPO found it necessary to paint every freaking wire so now I have to clean paint to see whats what. I hate when that happens.

I do have a question RE: electrical....

The vast majority of electrical connections are done with bullet connectors. The factory bullets are made of a nice rubber. Any idea where I can cop these nice connectors? Anyway, as I work my way through the wiring, I'm using lacquer thinner to clean what the PO painted.

Well, that's the first weekend report on the 72 RWA report.

Well,

It starts this weekend. Morris the Midget is currently on jack stands and wheels off. I've ordered a boat load of parts including a complete brake system overhaul plus normal maintenance items; hoses, belt, tune-up. As well, I've ordered a couple of goodies and chromey things to please the eye. Things should start rolling in next week!

In the meantime, as the Morris hasn't been on the road in at least four years, I'm removing the radiator and heater core this weekend and sending them out for testing and re-core if needed.

So it begins! I haven't turned wrenches since I sold my big red Beastie of a Bronco a few years back! Now, that one kept me busy!

LC
05-29-08

A formal introduction to get things going.

I am not unfamiliar to MG Midgets though it has been a number of years since I've owned one. Rather, "she" owned me. I was broke in by a beautiful, flirtatious little '66 British Racing Green model. And she demanded my attention more often than not. However, her demands were rewarded with countless hours of driving exhilaration and sheer pleasure. I sold her after starting a family as is unfortunately, the way it goes in numerous similar cases. Baby carriages do not sit well in a Midget.

After years, decades of thinking about my little BRG honey, I bit the bullet and reclaimed my memories by purchasing a '72 RWA on a whim. The deal was righteous, paper work in order and soon enough I had another LBC sitting in the driveway. Only this time, my little ones are Grandchildren! I call them "The Smallsville Gang". They absolutely fell in love with the "new" old MG Midget.

The middle grandson was in awe of the Midget from the moment he laid eyes on it. And after scoping it out in great detail, opening doors, testing the steering wheel and looking under the hood, he noticed the nomanclature, "MG" on the deck lid. He asked me what "MG" meant and of course, I replied, Morris Garage. (As a side note, I am a musician and have a nice stable of guitars. I name my guitars. I have Ruby, RubyToo, Scarlet and Rose to mention a few.) So it came as no surprise, as I watched it being mulled over in his little head, when No. 2 grandson said, "Grandpa, I think we should name the MG, Morris". That only made sense to me! "Morris", it is.

And this will be the Journal of "Morris The Midget".

Chap
05/26/08