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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 76 MIDGET WHEELS AND 76 SPITFIRE WHEELS

Can you put 76 Triumph Spitfire wire wheels on a 76 midget? Can I use the Spitfire hubs on the Midget to fit the Spitfire wheels? Thanks .....AL
AL MILLER

Nope! At least not as a simple bolt-up.
Spridget bolt pattern 4 on 4", Spit is 4 on 3 3/4".

FRM
FR Millmore

Why would you want to?
S.A. Jones

As previously stated the Midget PCD is 4" whereas the Spitfire PCD is 3 3/4" (as are all 'Small Chassis' Triumphs).

I actually looked into the possibility of fitting Spitfire front hubs to our Race Car (because I can source alloy hubs with whichever PCD I so require). However, while it would be relatively simple to machine the hubs to take bearings that would suit the Midget stub axle, the distance between the Inner and Outer bearing races is greater on the Spitfire than on the Midget so the hub would not fit.

Accordingly I now supply alloy hubs for the Midget that could be drilled for whatever PCD people want:


Deborah Evans

And:


Deborah Evans

And:




(Shown in comparison to a stock hub.)


Deborah Evans

Deborah,
almost as goo as mine!Also with any PCD.
He! He!

Howie


Howard Wright

Thanks Howie :)

They are shown there in their virgin state. I do them with varying brake discs (rotors for our American cousins) with the required bells for whatever calipers people are using (Wilwoods, MGB, Girling Type 16, Austin Princess, etc).

Currently we have them on the Racer with (just sub) 10" vented discs and Wilwood 4-pot calipers.
Deborah Evans

Al, it's not clear what you want to do. Do you want to convert your disc wheel Midget to wires? If so then you either need to get the correct pattern bolt on adaptors such as the ones sold by VB or Moss or some others or actually convert to the proper Midget wire wheel hubs and rear axle. The Spitfire bolt on wire wheel hubs will not fit, neither will the TR adaptors.
If you alread have a wire wheel car and are just wondering if the Spitfire wheels will fit then they might, but I believe that the spline area on the Spit and GT6 wheels is shorter than used by MG although the spline number is the same so they would slide on the hubs but the knock off may not tighten them properly.
Deborah, those hubs look great. Will they drill to take the Spitfire disc as used in the well known "big brake kit" without a spacer or would one still be needed? And what's the price if you don't mind. I doubt if I can justify that in the budget this year, but at least it gives me something to shoot for later. This year's budget is going for a balance bar and Wilwood master cylinders.
Bill Young

Bill if you want to save on the braking stuff check this site http://compbrake.co.uk/
cheapest i've found so far i just don't know about the shipping.

Onno "going split next year"
Onno Könemann

I had a talk with the Roadster Factory here in PA about this matter as they accidentally sent me Spitfire wire wheels instead of MG. I tried them on to see if they would fit. Yes, the wire wheels will fit the hub without interfering the brakes, but the offset is less than on the Midgets. This could possibly cause tire rubbing issues.
Ron Koenig

Thanks all for your comments. My inquiry originally started because I saw a 76 Spitfire locally for sale with wire wheels and only $400. I would like to put some nicer wheels on my 76 Midget for the right price. However, from this blog I learned that they would not fit and the $400 deal is now gone. He who hesitates looses!
AL MILLER

"Deborah, those hubs look great."

Thank you. :)

"Will they drill to take the Spitfire disc as used in the well known "big brake kit" without a spacer or would one still be needed? And what's the price if you don't mind."

Yes. I can supply the kit set up for 9" Spitfire discs.

A spacer (bell) would still be needed and would depend upon the calipers you wish to use. I'm assuming the Lockheed MGB calipers (or possibly the Austin Princess 4-pots)?

Alternatively I can set them up for the 9.75" GT6 disc.

Pricewise we are looking at 150 GBP for the hubs and around 30 GBP for the spacers (bells). The prices are based upon the fact that I have to mill them by hand and hence labour time is factored in - hopefully I will get access to a CNC Mill in the New Year which should lower the unit costs.
Deborah Evans

This thread was discussed between 16/12/2009 and 20/12/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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