Discussion
Hi All
I've been on the TVR forum for a while. Bought a Midget yesterday off eBay! Always wanted one, all I can say is what a great little car. It's a bit rough around the edges but goes well.
Apart from some dodgy paint all I can find wrong at the minute is a badly worn prop shaft UJ. Does anyone know the part number for this please? Or the best place to source one or maybe two? Can't see the gearbox end at the minute!
It's a 1979 1500.
Cheers Karl.
I've been on the TVR forum for a while. Bought a Midget yesterday off eBay! Always wanted one, all I can say is what a great little car. It's a bit rough around the edges but goes well.
Apart from some dodgy paint all I can find wrong at the minute is a badly worn prop shaft UJ. Does anyone know the part number for this please? Or the best place to source one or maybe two? Can't see the gearbox end at the minute!
It's a 1979 1500.
Cheers Karl.
Karl,
see the loads and loads of posts offering info on these cars, many are from me and I keep repeating the same things - because it's what's required
use PH Search or just go back through the pages of threads here and on classics and heroes forum
many suppliers give free paper, download and on-line catalogues (there are errors, copied off each other, so like with all sources of info check and cross reference any info you get with at least one other reliable source)
UJs are easy, most good motor factors will have them or MGOC Spares, Sussex Classic Car Spares, etc., etc.,
keep a note of your car (chassis/VIN number) as although the cars look the same there were many parts changes
follow above to advice or just discover at your own joy/time/cost/hassle/expense/experience
the Midget 1500 should be reasonable nippy and handling and can be very reliable what normally makes them slow, poor handling and unreliable is previous owners
... and present owners
one example, MGOC Spares
universal joint GUJ101 £7.50 - (or GUJ115 for greasable £9.50) - http://www.mgocspares.co.uk/acatalog/MGOC_SPARES_P...
see the loads and loads of posts offering info on these cars, many are from me and I keep repeating the same things - because it's what's required
use PH Search or just go back through the pages of threads here and on classics and heroes forum
many suppliers give free paper, download and on-line catalogues (there are errors, copied off each other, so like with all sources of info check and cross reference any info you get with at least one other reliable source)
UJs are easy, most good motor factors will have them or MGOC Spares, Sussex Classic Car Spares, etc., etc.,
keep a note of your car (chassis/VIN number) as although the cars look the same there were many parts changes
follow above to advice or just discover at your own joy/time/cost/hassle/expense/experience
the Midget 1500 should be reasonable nippy and handling and can be very reliable what normally makes them slow, poor handling and unreliable is previous owners
... and present owners
one example, MGOC Spares
universal joint GUJ101 £7.50 - (or GUJ115 for greasable £9.50) - http://www.mgocspares.co.uk/acatalog/MGOC_SPARES_P...
And you went for the version with the Spitfire engine too - good choice ;-)
If you have engine questions don't be shy about trying the Club Triumph forum - its free - and you'll find everyone very helpful.
Use good oil - my recommendations would be valvoline VR1 20W50 or Penrite 20W60.
If you have engine questions don't be shy about trying the Club Triumph forum - its free - and you'll find everyone very helpful.
Use good oil - my recommendations would be valvoline VR1 20W50 or Penrite 20W60.
Thanks for the info Guys
As luck would have it I was looking for a Spitfire when I strayed across this little beauty. I've had eight Spitfires over the years. But fell out of love about eight years ago following a nasty bought of tin worm!
I then went to the dark side of seven type kit cars. Now into the even more dubious world of 1980's TVR's. But I've always wanted a Midget and think this one is a keeper. It's had a very bad paint job at some point in its past. But I hope to rectify that this year.
Cheers Karl.
As luck would have it I was looking for a Spitfire when I strayed across this little beauty. I've had eight Spitfires over the years. But fell out of love about eight years ago following a nasty bought of tin worm!
I then went to the dark side of seven type kit cars. Now into the even more dubious world of 1980's TVR's. But I've always wanted a Midget and think this one is a keeper. It's had a very bad paint job at some point in its past. But I hope to rectify that this year.
Cheers Karl.
Hi Karl
welcome aboard
Re the UJ, wot Nige says, most local car spares shops will have these and probably for less money than dedicated MG shops
Nigel will keep on about the handbook too, but in fact it's not bad advice to get one in
The 1500 Spitsrust's engine isn't too bad if looked after properly either
My mate Bob has a home brewed EFi in his 1500 and it goes like stink
My A series Midget was doing 113 (on a certain West Country runway) when he hauled past me and slipped away into the distance
Enjoy the car and use it lots before the "doing stuff" worm bites you and the car goes into a garaged decline for some time
bill
welcome aboard
Re the UJ, wot Nige says, most local car spares shops will have these and probably for less money than dedicated MG shops
Nigel will keep on about the handbook too, but in fact it's not bad advice to get one in
The 1500 Spitsrust's engine isn't too bad if looked after properly either
My mate Bob has a home brewed EFi in his 1500 and it goes like stink
My A series Midget was doing 113 (on a certain West Country runway) when he hauled past me and slipped away into the distance
Enjoy the car and use it lots before the "doing stuff" worm bites you and the car goes into a garaged decline for some time
bill
perdu said:
Hi Karl
welcome aboard
Re the UJ, wot Nige says, most local car spares shops will have these and probably for less money than dedicated MG shops
Nigel will keep on about the handbook too, but in fact it's not bad advice to get one in
The 1500 Spitsrust's engine isn't too bad if looked after properly either
My mate Bob has a home brewed EFi in his 1500 and it goes like stink
My A series Midget was doing 113 (on a certain West Country runway) when he hauled past me and slipped away into the distance
Enjoy the car and use it lots before the "doing stuff" worm bites you and the car goes into a garaged decline for some time
bill
Thanks Billwelcome aboard
Re the UJ, wot Nige says, most local car spares shops will have these and probably for less money than dedicated MG shops
Nigel will keep on about the handbook too, but in fact it's not bad advice to get one in
The 1500 Spitsrust's engine isn't too bad if looked after properly either
My mate Bob has a home brewed EFi in his 1500 and it goes like stink
My A series Midget was doing 113 (on a certain West Country runway) when he hauled past me and slipped away into the distance
Enjoy the car and use it lots before the "doing stuff" worm bites you and the car goes into a garaged decline for some time
bill
As you say I'm planning to do little more than drive for a while. Just spent the best part of four months, shall we say "Improving/maintaining" my TVR350i. Did think of moving into the garage with a sleeping bag at one point
. With a bit of luck that will be back on the road the weekend ready for Chatsworth.I've got to sort the UJ's on the Midget but hoping not to do much more for a few months. Then it will be prep ready for paint. If I can find someone reasonably priced to blow it over.
Cheers Karl.
Spitfire2 said:
My Spitty leaves all my mates midgets standing ...... In a straight line. But show them some corners and the midgets scamper away 
sounds like your mate's Midget's are maintained to the usual classic ownership standards rather than the proper standards narh, just joking that sounds about right if all cars are of the same standard
Karl,
Triumphs, TVRs, 7 type cars - all sounds familiar to me, I drove a fellow club member's 350i once, I'm short enough to have had the top of the windscreen over my head, his had the very lightest power steering I'm not sure it was geared right
as for Midget (and TVR) the more you drive it the quicker it'll get better, I'm all for getting all the regular servicing as soon as possible leaving more time for enjoyable driving rather than constant repairs at home and the worst roadside repairs, I've had enough of them to know it full service first
nta16 said:
Spitfire2 said:
My Spitty leaves all my mates midgets standing ...... In a straight line. But show them some corners and the midgets scamper away
sounds like your mate's Midget's are maintained to the usual classic ownership standards rather than the proper standards narh, just joking that sounds about right if all cars are of the same standard
Biggest danger on the 1500 engine is the bottom end as with the long stroke of the 1500 the 3 main bearings can get hot. Using only top notch oil is a good defence. On a Spitty I'd recommend a wider radiator but I don't think that's an option on a midge.
thorough (hot as possible draining as long as possible) oil (& filter changes) on an internally clean engine
plus fully clean (internally and externally) and fully operating coolant/heating system with fresh coolant
and blocking off the oil cooler in cold weather or better still fit an oil thermostat
these all help
and enlarge the oil galley to head when possible
plus fully clean (internally and externally) and fully operating coolant/heating system with fresh coolant
and blocking off the oil cooler in cold weather or better still fit an oil thermostat
these all help
and enlarge the oil galley to head when possible
Spitfire2 said:
Catching them up on the handling front these days too
you might not catch mineif someone else was driving it
you can over do the 'improvements', I've made my car less sharp on the handling to make it more practical for the type of roads I like and general use and to make it more 'pleasant' to me to drive and in the right circumstances to be more fun
Nice to see some praise for the 1500 midgets :P, They're cracking little cars, pretty reliable too, only had a clutch slave and fuel pump fail on mine, also as mentioned they're quite torquey and its noticeable on hills :P
I would recommend greasing the front suspension regularly, say every few months, as surprising how fast it can wear!
Cheers
I would recommend greasing the front suspension regularly, say every few months, as surprising how fast it can wear!
Cheers
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