1971 MG Midget Rover K series build

[edk83]

Right here we go, decided this should have it's own thread rather than taking over my Allegro build thread.

Always fancied a spitfire or midget, they just look like fun little cars. Now I'm fairly well versed on the Rover K series engine about time I built one in rwd format.

This is actually the third midget I've bought, possibly becoming a fetish. The first was a bronze 1275 car with the round wheel arches, this turned out to be wayyyy more rotten than the seller let on so was sold on at a loss to purchase something else.

The second car I bought I had the a member of the midget club go and look at before I sent the seller a deposit, a 1500cc 1979 car. I still have this one, nearly finished refreshing all the brakes and suspension, the new paint job on it however is hiding some very questionable filler and now bubbling in places. it also runs very well indeed, so not the right car to be throwing a good amount of money at doing a build.



So this brings me onto the 3rd Midget I've bought, a mostly restored 1275 car painted ford red, but someone had pinched the engine and box for a hillclimb car, perfect.

[edk83]

A few more pics of the new girl currently under the car port I whipped up for it last week. 

[edk83]

So I see this project taking a couple of years, I'm thinking a 135 spec 1.8 K series on itb's would be quite nice. Decided as I'm keeping the yellow 1500 as well for now I'm spent up at the moment and I wouldn't start buying bits for it yet....

Doh, but then you start having a "quick" look what's about!

Modded Type 9 Ford box, Caterham bell housing, starter, clutch kit all acquired! Also today ordered the prop, engine mounts and gearbox mounts. Skint!

Sort of the issue with well proven engine swaps, it's too easy to just order kits. But do I want to be dangling an engine and box over it for 2 weekends in a row trying to figure out my own mounts like my last project? Maybe not. So that should be everything in the bag to get the full drivetrain mounted! The gearbox mount I believe needs bolting and welding to the tunnel, will have a look sometime after it arrives.

Any pointers from fellow K series migetears would be appreciated


 

[steve1275]

There is a facebook group for K and Zetec engined Sprites/Midgets which would be well worth joining, a lot of sensible stuff on there.

[shandylegs]

I went a similar route, V6 box and all Caterham components. People have supposedly done the change in a weekend, but I bet they were still revisiting it years later!

There are loads of little things to take account of to get it right, but having followed the All-agro build sure you'll be fine.

Has the gearbox had the tailshaft shortened to keep the gearstick in the same position as a standard Midget? - If doing it again I would go down this route.

I've got 100's of pictures so shout if you need anything in particular, but mine was a 1500 shell so a little different to yours.

[edk83]

Yes that has been done, the box has been stripped and checked, main output bearing is new and a new long output shaft that has also been shaved down the 15mm or so. Not the neatest tig welding but it's a job hopefully I won't have to do, believe the box to be a 2.0 Sierra as it was a short output shaft box.

Wondering if the big rubber boot on the output shaft end stays or not, I guess I'll find out down the line!

Mounts and prop have been ordered so hopefully test fit it at some point and then strip everything off the car once it's moved into the garage.

[shandylegs]

No, no donut is required the prop slides directly into the back of the box. Presume you know hat you'll need a spigot bearing and shim for the back of the engine for the input shaft to be supported (and that the early K Series differed in that respect).

[edk83]

I've seen it mentioned, I'll be using a later mems3 block, maybe even a Kavatchi from an mg6.
They are £12 ish on the qed site?

[edk83]

Still gathering bits together but parts are amassing 



Was struggling to get the laptop to read it as it didnt come with any cables, usb not working nor a serial lead, then I read that they pin them different just to be annoying

whip the soldering iron out and it's talking, cool works then so can go on the maybe used later shelf



Keeping dry

[cjhillman]

Great build thread! Will look forward to seeing how this goes. Do people do this kind of swap with Spitfires? I never see much modding of them. My Dad has a 1500 and I guess the Midget & Spitfire 1500 were close relatives towards the end?

[jasellan]

Aug 19, 2022 16:42:31 GMT cjhillman said:

Great build thread! Will look forward to seeing how this goes. Do people do this kind of swap with Spitfires? I never see much modding of them. My Dad has a 1500 and I guess the Midget & Spitfire 1500 were close relatives towards the end?

I am attempting a Ford 1.7 into my Spitfire MK IV soon and have read a couple of builds online of similar swaps. Both are light, fairly reliable and fairly punchy engines so I hope more find their way into classics to make them more user-friendly!

The Emerald is a good addition to this build for sure, tried and tested.

[edk83]

Well then, choices 

I was thinking of flip front and some wide arches, however it would be a bit silly to change the already restored bodywork of the red car.
So build plan was going to swing towards a fun road car, maybe a non vvc small valve K series on itbs, nothing over the top.

But I do like arches on these Midgets....
So deposit paid on this race prepped shell! But which one do I build?! The wife says I can only choose one lol

The yellow car would have to be a vvc at least, It already has some of the uprated suspension that I'd need anyway.
Yellow is also my first colour choice for a midget! Choices!

[steve1275]

Saw that shell advertised elsewhere. Looks a really good choice, just check that offside chassis leg for corrosion, it normally gets most of the coolant dumped on it when being drained down and rots from the inside. Love the colour! (well I would)

[edk83]

I'll have a look, gearbox support will be chopped out and strengthened anyway so will be on the lookout for general rot.
The floors have extra plates welded in all tied in with the cage, so should be a better base for higher hp car, which from prev experience they always end up as! 

More midgety bits!

[edk83]

New project arrived, the blue donor TF in front is running piper cams and itbs, now if I just reverse it into the midget hard enough, job done lol?

[edk83]

Awesome 13x7 wheels should fill those arches better.




En24 uprated shafts

[edk83]

Well then choice made, the red car now has gone over to a new owner on the Isle of Man to replace an upturned hill climb car.
The yellow car has been moved out of the rain.

[mrbounce]

Love a Midget. And a fast Midget is brilliant. Those wheels = awesome.

[edk83]

I have new wheels on order, 2 inches wider than these that came with the car

[merlind100]

Where did you source the exhaust manifold please