Long un-driven MG Midget
Discussion
Hi,
First post here!
A family friend has offered me her old MG Midget.
The car has been standing unused for about 8 years!
It was garaged for the period and the bodywork seems pretty good, so I am not too worried about that.
Any suggestions on what could go wrong mechanically given the long period stationary?
I presume that all the rubber parts and fluids will need replacing...
Cheers,
-- Josh
First post here!
A family friend has offered me her old MG Midget.
The car has been standing unused for about 8 years!
It was garaged for the period and the bodywork seems pretty good, so I am not too worried about that.
Any suggestions on what could go wrong mechanically given the long period stationary?
I presume that all the rubber parts and fluids will need replacing...
Cheers,
-- Josh
8 years eh?
Tyres for sure. Battery for sure. Ignition leads almost certainly. Petrol definitely. Oil will need flushed and changed. Radiator will need flushed and changed. It's a very simple job to take the water pump off, so I would check that it rotates round too while you've got the rad hoses off. They might have split where the jubilee clips sit.
I would take the spark plugs out and clean them up. While they're out, I would turn the engine over by hand i.e. either by putting the car into 2nd and pushing it along a flat road to turn the crank round or by putting a large socket onto the end of the crank with an old torque wrench / suitable long lever. I'm sure someone a bit more expert than me will be in a better place to advise.
Clutch plates may well have seized together too after such a long sit.
Suspension bushes might be alright, but you won't really know until you can move the car and see how wobbly it is. Bearings might be in a similar way. Brakes may have bound on - the front calipers aren't so bad as you can take the pads out and push the pistons back and forth with copperease to free them up, but the drums will be a different matter. Steering wise, you'll need to check the gaiters at the ends of the rack to see if they've perished and therefore lost their grease.
Wiper motors / mechanism often seizes up over time too.
Was it left with the hood up? If so, at least the hood will fit although you might have to lubricate the frame up to get it to drop properly. And I would clean the rear window up with hot water and then fold the hood while the window is soft / less brittle too.
The good news is that all of the bits are dirt cheap!
Tyres for sure. Battery for sure. Ignition leads almost certainly. Petrol definitely. Oil will need flushed and changed. Radiator will need flushed and changed. It's a very simple job to take the water pump off, so I would check that it rotates round too while you've got the rad hoses off. They might have split where the jubilee clips sit.
I would take the spark plugs out and clean them up. While they're out, I would turn the engine over by hand i.e. either by putting the car into 2nd and pushing it along a flat road to turn the crank round or by putting a large socket onto the end of the crank with an old torque wrench / suitable long lever. I'm sure someone a bit more expert than me will be in a better place to advise.
Clutch plates may well have seized together too after such a long sit.
Suspension bushes might be alright, but you won't really know until you can move the car and see how wobbly it is. Bearings might be in a similar way. Brakes may have bound on - the front calipers aren't so bad as you can take the pads out and push the pistons back and forth with copperease to free them up, but the drums will be a different matter. Steering wise, you'll need to check the gaiters at the ends of the rack to see if they've perished and therefore lost their grease.
Wiper motors / mechanism often seizes up over time too.
Was it left with the hood up? If so, at least the hood will fit although you might have to lubricate the frame up to get it to drop properly. And I would clean the rear window up with hot water and then fold the hood while the window is soft / less brittle too.
The good news is that all of the bits are dirt cheap!
Good advice above
Unless you're getting it at a very good price I'd recommend going for another one that's already working well with plenty of recent history, servicing and maintence
Before you buy the car buy the owners Handbook so that you know what you're letting yourself in for http://www9.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgo...
my usual blurb below for potential or new owners:-
Plus parts catalogues to see where things go - http://www9.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgo...
You can get suppliers catalogues for free to get you started but in my personal opinion they’re not as good
Use the car regularly - to get used to it and sort out any wrinkles
Do a full and proper 36,000 miles service only miss out items that you have 100% proof have already been done very recently, including;
g/box and back axle oils
brake and clutch fluids
coolant
dissy cap, rotor arm and leads (buy good quality ones)
http://www.distributordoctor.com/rotor_arms.html
fan belt
Check the age of your tyres if they are 5 years old or more replace ASAP regardless of tread depth
Every few weeks check your horn and wipers work (no problem if you use the car regularly)
Follow regular checks, servicing and maintenance as per owners Handbook
Drive in all weathers, the Midget hood should be very watertight if fitted correctly and the heater is more than adequate, if working correctly, for the small cabin
Unless you're getting it at a very good price I'd recommend going for another one that's already working well with plenty of recent history, servicing and maintence
Before you buy the car buy the owners Handbook so that you know what you're letting yourself in for http://www9.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgo...
my usual blurb below for potential or new owners:-
Plus parts catalogues to see where things go - http://www9.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgo...
You can get suppliers catalogues for free to get you started but in my personal opinion they’re not as good
Use the car regularly - to get used to it and sort out any wrinkles
Do a full and proper 36,000 miles service only miss out items that you have 100% proof have already been done very recently, including;
g/box and back axle oils
brake and clutch fluids
coolant
dissy cap, rotor arm and leads (buy good quality ones)
http://www.distributordoctor.com/rotor_arms.html
fan belt
Check the age of your tyres if they are 5 years old or more replace ASAP regardless of tread depth
Every few weeks check your horn and wipers work (no problem if you use the car regularly)
Follow regular checks, servicing and maintenance as per owners Handbook
Drive in all weathers, the Midget hood should be very watertight if fitted correctly and the heater is more than adequate, if working correctly, for the small cabin
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