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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Can you ID this Midget part?


I'm looking at a 1966 MG midget that won the SCCA G-production national championship back in 1978. (Please see below.) Its front shock absorbers have been modified in some manner I'm not familiar with... with a knob and some plumbing added.

Both shock absorbers look the same, and I suspect the plumbing connects them together. Were these period performance/aftermarket shock absorbers? Are shocks like this still available? Who made them? How did they work?




Curtis Jacobson

Read this book and find out what's available today..


Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

Yes, those shocks are indeed still made. They're from Peter Caldwell - link here:

http://www.nosimport.com/

He modifies original-spec shocks, upgrading them, and fitting adjustable external valves in place of the original. He might not show the adjustable shocks in his online catalog, so send him an e-mail for details.

David Lieb's fitted some, as I recall, and has had some very good things to say about them.

Cheers,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

I don't know whether originality (and by that I mean competition originality) is important, but many of the components fitted to the car now would not have existed back in 1978...

Looks like a nice tidy well engineered race car from what I can see. The lever arm conversion allows adjustment of front damping which is always a problem on Spridgets where you have to run lever arms to comply with the regulations - Funnily enough I was looking at a set of these on Peter May's bench last Saturday morning...

Only thing I can see on the car that I don't like is that it doesn't appear to have a crank damper.

Regards

James
James Bilsland

We have these shocks on our rally midget, highly recommended if you cannot go to tubes. Only thing I would sat is give them a coat of paint before fitting.
d brenchley

Curtis,
Yes, Peter Caldwell of World Wide Auto Parts converts the stock shocks into adjustables for both the front and the rear of Spridgets. No, the plumbing does not connect the two front shocks together a la original Mini Hydrolastics; it bypasses some of the internal passageways and routes them through an adjustable valve.

Recently, Peter has found a new fluid for these which seems to reduce heat fade in them.
David "shocking news" Lieb
David Lieb

Fluid that reduces heat fade... maybe that is what I need. After a few hours on the interstate my car get very bouncy.
Trevor Jessie

On the I-Road??? Last time I drove through your neck of the woods on the I-Roads, my shocks weren't really doing much. Not like Road America where your shocks never get a break. The pictures you sent in for the calendar had the bonnet down, so I don't recall whether you had the Peter-Built adjustables... do you? If so, you can probably send them back for a transfusion.
David "Or drive them up to Madison" Lieb
David Lieb

NO, not adjustable, but I was wondering if he found a fluid better for stock use. The roads that give me fits are the concrete interstates that have not been "surfaced". They are uneven enough that sprite's suspension get quite a workout just going in a straight line. There was one section (now resurfaced) that actually would bounce the sprite in a harmonic fashion at about 70 mph such that it was impossible to drive at that speed. It didn't phase the midget with uprated springs.
Trevor Jessie

The set on Peter May's bench would most likely have come from Nosimport and I know they are compatible to fit with Peter's Damper link. Err also in this book!

And the publisher has a 45% discount offer on at present


Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

We're using the Redline suspension oils. Several different weights, and can be mixed for more variety. We haven't had any reports back, yet as no one's been racing, but all the data indicates it should make a big difference. Silkolene should work, too, but I can't get the weight I wanted in the US. Trevor, if the shocks are working when cold, try the Redline stuff. their 10W should do for a road car. Peter


Peter Caldwell

Peter

Do you need any core units? ;o)


Dave O'Neill 2

LOL, no, we don't them at the moment. So long as people return the cores for the shocks we ship, we do ok. There may come a time, though. Actually, the scrapper is coming by next week to pick up about 1600 pounds of scrap zinc bodies. He comes every year at this time, and we always have that much. Shipping is so expensive.

Peter
Peter Caldwell

Peter, what price are your adjustable dampers and any idea on shipping to uk?

Thanks
John
John Payne

John, thanks for asking. I've replied directly to your email address. Peter
Peter Caldwell

Thanks Peter, just read it! Will get back to you after I've had a check on exchange rates, shipping etc.

John
John Payne

Just one thought that might be relevant to others here. If ever the dampers needed reconditioning would that be possible at a UK specialist (such as Peter May) or would they need returning to you?

John
John Payne

John, fair question. On our standard rebuilds, I have a lifetime warranty. Free replacement, shipping expense TO us is the customer's only outlay. Bit expensive across the pond. I haven't had any of these fail, but I suppose I could supply the bearings and seals we use if that were to happen.... and instructions. We change how the shock is built, so any experience with original shocks wont apply. Does that help?

Peter
Peter Caldwell

John,

In my experience best to stay away from UPS unless you want an extortionate handling/brokerage charge, the last time was a $90 item that got about £10 VAT and about £12 for UPS. Another time the charge was more than the goods. I don't know if they list it on their website. I can handle the VAT and duty being added. I was told about this by one US supplier and they shipped the order DHL, instead of their usual UPS, and DHL charged about £1.50 and the VAT was about £65.
David Billington

David,
I am glad to hear that UPS shafts people in both directions ;-) UPS is the worst for international shipping IMHO. I bought a 123/Mini distributor from a Canadian company. UPS not only charged me for shipping and for customs, they also had a separate fee simply for driving across the border.
David "not quite so paranoid now" Lieb
David Lieb

Thanks Peter, as long as I know that they will be repairable somehow. Will speak to someone at work about shipping or possibly bringing them over for me as we have a few US workers here.

John
John Payne

John I am booked to go to the States at the begining of April if nothing better turns up.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

I think shipping is a better idea. I can ship a filled shock, better than you can carry one on a plane. They frown on carry-on oil filled piston-y looking things.

Peter
Peter Caldwell

Hi
I really feel for you guys-
Here in Aust. We are allowed up to $1000 worth of import at a time duty free or $500 if posted express freight At times I have gone over the limit and have been told vintage cars and parts (30+years) are duty free?????????
Might pay to check with Customs and see where you stand.
I've never had a problem with US Postal , Had a little bother with FEDEX and customs over the value of a package once, but it turned out that it came express freight by mistake lowering my duty free allowance. Probably my communication of what to mark the package at fault there cost an extra $200 Cheers Willy
WilliamRevit

This thread was discussed between 09/12/2009 and 12/12/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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