MG Midget Being Broken Which Model Do I Need

[Morris Mike]

Hello,
I have been offered either a 1972 1275cc Midget for spares or a later 1970`s 1500cc model.
Which one do I need for parts to fit my Morris Minor Van i.e front disc brakes,engine, and rear diff etc.?
What other parts would be useful.?
Any information greatly recieved.

Regards
Morris Mike

[IslipMinor]

The 1500 engine and gearbox are Triumph based, rather than A-Series, and use completely different mounts on the body, I believe? Also the engine has a poor reputation for longevity.

The 1275 engine and gearbox is a very simple swap, and will basically drop straight into the Minor. The Midget 3.9 diff is a good idea, but the front disc brakes will need an adaptor plate to fit the calipers to the Minor suspension upright. The discs themselevs, with the Midget hubs, are a straight swap.

The adaptor for the caliper is shown below, if you would like a copy of the drawing, please let me know:
[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

The Midgets should be rebuilt into new shells! Not raped for parts...... I fail to see how a 1970 car can be 'later' than a 1972 car. And - Spridget discs are feeble wee things - doubtful if they will be any advantage over 8" front drums..... But yes if you must - the 1275 engine is far superior to the Triumph 1500.

[Morris Mike]

I think you must have got some smut in your eye whilst reading or your cap fell over your eyes.... I said a later 1970`s car meaning the decade not the year.
i.e The 1970`s they were the years by heck.!!!
The first car is a 1972 and the second 1978. It is well past saving. Where do you think all those 1275 engines,gearboxes and uprated diffs come from anyway.? Poor old rotted out MG`s.


Kind Regards
Morris Mike

[mike.perry]

Guilty as charged

[bmcecosse]

Hopefully - I trust the engines come from nasty old Marinas........ You can always put a Midget into a new shell - no matter how far gone - and then it's worth a whole lot more than the sum of the parts!

[brucek]

It is interesting though, that by and large, Midget prices are somewhat lower than Minors these days - especially when compared to the Traveller and Convertibles. A real shame that this is the case. Mk 1-3 Midgets in concours condition are averaging about £5,500 wheras Minor Convertibles fetch between £5750 - £8000 and Travellers between £5,500 and £7,500 - according to Classic Cars.

Agree with BMC - lets hope all the 1275 engines come from Marina's - there must still be a few of those around sitting in a barn or a breakers yard surrounded by a pile of rotten bodywork

[mike.perry]

Hopefully - I trust the engines come from nasty old Marinas........ !

The Marina Owners Club might not agree with your sentiments!!

[brucek]

Not only have they got Messrs Clarkson, May and Hammond on their hit list - they may have a few of us now too

[bmcecosse]

Oh my - I'm SO worried........... If any of you have actually driven a Marina.......... I did - once - a hire car (only one left) from Birmingham to Glasgow (plane canceled due to fog) - and it was quite the very WORST car I have ever driven. On reaching Glasgow I got back into my Capri - what a relief...... How they could ever produce such a ghastly car in every sense is so beyond me - did they never think to test drive the cars being produced by the opposition???

[Bazzalucas]

Here in the States a '78 Midget would have had a 3.7 diff- well worth checking out!

[Morris Mike]

Good news ... all you Midget lovers...I purchased a 1972 MG Midget for spares to upgrade one of my Morris minor vans,
the MG Midget arrived Saturday afternoon,when i went outside to have a quick look at it before the car was unloaded I thought they had delivered the wrong one.
Upon inspection it was a very good example,the bodywork is totally solid,having had a restoration before being laid up.
This morning i gave it a good powerwash to remove years of grime,after a short time the engine was running,then cutting back and polishing the paintwork started.
Tomorrow the brake and clutch master cylinders will be given some attention,the brakes overhauled and other items checked over then down to the MOT station. Photo`s to follow.
There were 25 other cars where this came from,including a very early Morris Minor saloon,one of the first built.
Someone in the Morris minor owners club has aquired it.

Morris Mike

[bmcecosse]

That's a better story! Well done.

[Sparticus]

Morris Mike! Where is this place?! I would love to salvage some parts from a dieing Midget, i ask for forgiveness from bmcecosse for my sins !

[irmscher]

Heathens

[bmcecosse]

I suspect the Minor values are improving due to general better 'usability' - and perhaps better insurance arrangements. Spridgets are nice enough -IF you can get behind the wheel......

[Mazdav8]

Hi all;,
I' just looking at the drawing of a caliper bracket to fit Midget discs to minor.
It was uploaded by Islip minor in 2012.

You cannot use this drawing for manufacture because the dimensions are wrong.
The important holes are double dimensioned.. ie the horizontal and vertical dimensions are there, but the distance between holes is also there.
This is very bad. Manufacturing Drawings must be dimensioned such that anomalies like this are avoided
A check using Pythagoras reveals that these dimemsions do not comprise a right angled triangle. Thus the component cannot be made to these dimensions.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

The drawing is fine - and has made many a bracket.........