MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Electronic ignition

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the forum and to the midget fraternity but wonder if I could have some advice.

We're picking up our 1970, 1275 car next week and my wife will be using it as a daily driver.

1.Any advice on which type of electronic ignition to fit and what type/model no. distributor is likely to be fitted to our car? (i'm trying to order parts beforehand) My concerns are that I don't want it to breakdown on her whilst on her visits.

2.Would an electric aerial mechanism foul on the rear wheel or does it usually fit in the boot space.

Your advice is much appreciated.

Darren




D Jones

I am considering an aldon ignitor, they are a lot cheaper then the lumenition types, and in principal, work identically to the magnetronix. The ignitors come in at about £40ish form an american company but are distributed from the uk. This set up removes points and condensor so is a lot more reliable and consistant. Ken Harris is the man to speak to about these (he will also give you the company name! He is a maber on here so will be along soon Im sure)

Car is looking splendid (and if it is as good as it looks, is a bargain in my opinion!!!)

welcome to the forum, and more importantly to the wonderful world of Spridget ownership!!

The are loads of Brits on here, some very close to you, so its a very sociable place to be!!

Have fun with the midge!!

Let us know if you decide to give her a name (Mine is Ingrid!! Not sure how many others have names, but they do almost become friends with their charms!!)

BC
B Cavagan

Hi Darren certainly electronic ignition is a great help, I installed a lumenition system inside my existing distributor about 10 years ago and have never had to touch it since. However I have now moved on to a programmable system and so have removed it.

Reliability I am afraid a matter of a lot of things not only ignition.

To make an older car reliable means a lot of use and sorting out any niggles as they occur, eventually the niggles become sorted and the car becomes as reliable as a modern car. Normally some classic cars only get used occassionally and then their owners wonder why they always breakdown. Unfortunately until you and your wife start using this car you will not know how many of the niggles have been sorted already. Hopefully all of them, good luck. I am only in a little village near Scunny so if you need any local help give me a shout.
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

Welcome, Darren - Midget looks good.

I went for Lumenition - can be found cheapest on eBay - you need one for the Lucas 25D distributor (assuming it's the original that you have still fitted). Replaces the points and condensor - pretty well fit and forget (although you do still need to remember that there's a rotor arm under there). You'll need to re-check the timing as well.

Electric aerial will mount fine on the slim flat panel between rear wing edge and boot lid - see attached pic of mine before restoration.

Consider an electric fan as well.

One word of advice - are those stainless steel sill covers on your car? They look good to some eyes (not mine, I have to say) - but beware what they are hiding - or invisible trouble that they could be causing. Unless you take precautions, those covers can make perfect water traps, with rust quietly munching away at your sills.


Steve Clark

Thanks folks for the welcome and great advice and yes I will keep an eye on those stainless steel sill protectors! (I have already noted some rust bubbles but on internal and external inspection all seems reasonably sound).

We actually managed to get the car for £2700 and not the screen price, mainly because it needs a new hood and we recently purchased a D/duck from MGOC.

I think i'm gonna have my work cut 'tinkering' on the weekends but barring the carbs balancing and ignition sorting the engine seems ok. I'll keep you all posted (see engine pic).

thanks once again

Darren


D Jones

Darren,

I got a d/duck hood for my sprite years ago when I first put it on the road and it looked great when new and others thought so too, but given a couple of years and it faded and wasn't so nice. Maybe some preps are available to get the black back now but at the time I hadn't heard of any. Hope you enjoy the spridget experience.
David Billington

Looks nice and clean darren, and for a chromy, you got a good deal there (and the DD hood will make it look smashing, and may even be considered as 'free')

I have been thinking about the ignition on my car. Im still running on points and condensor and have not had wny hicups, but then I dont use it very often. Why not lelave t be for a while and think about 123 ignition which is programable, they arent cheap, but have heard very good things!!1 (about £170 from MGOC)

If the car is for daily use, have you thought about a hard top for the winter? Warmer and dryer!!

Happy motoring, and enjoy the tinkering and dont leave the rust bubbles too long!!!

BC
B Cavagan

I've got both, but prefer the Aldon one as it's inside the dizzy cap.
Don't bother with an aerial, your never hear the radio anyway.
Brad.
B Richards

What a nice ride....we have what Im assumeing is a similar thing to the aldon called a pertonix....I really love it install it and for get it...5 minute install all inside the cap.


As to the radio...you will need an amp and some high end speakers if you want to listen to radio while driving down road


prop
Prop

Hi Darren - Car looks great.

I think the ignition setup you're after is the pertronix (or Aldon) Ignitor. It's a 20 minute job to install and made a huge difference to my '72. I could never get it to idle well but the Ignitor made it easy.

The UK distributor is Aldon but it costs about 40% less if you order it from the US distributor (although they ship from a warehouse in the UK). Mine only took 3 days to arrive.

Go to http://www.vintageperformance.com/retrorockets/ and, assuming it's the standard distributor in your car (Lucas 25D), order the LU-142A. Price came out around £46.99.

Couldn't be easier!

Matt
Matt (at 'work...'

Thanks Matt for the advice and link re:pertronix - i'll definately be ordering from this site - what a great saving.

Cheers mate

Darren
D Jones

Another vote for not bothering with an ariel, its not worth drilling the hole in the body for!!

Music is a faint hum with roof up, and completely mute with hood down!!! Save the electric for some heated seats!!!!!

Them the fellas that I was thinking about retrorockets!!! Another thanks too from me Matt, I lost the link so couldnt get a hold of one!!!

BC
Ben Cavagan

Well worth the money:)
K Harris

mmmm cant seem to post
Prop

try using a satalite radio...with built in mp3 player
Prop

just use the ear plugs...and you can listen to 140 stations
Prop

ah theres the problem it wont take the link to sirius.com that has a portable sat radio

prop
Prop

here is a photo of the surius sat radio....





Prop

Darren, There are some threads in the Archive on this. I fitted a new electronic ignition system from BesTek and found it excellent. A search on E-bay should find one (search on A Series and BesTek). Not cheap but all new components. The guy at BesTek will set up the advance to suit whatever you want/have.

I agree with the comments about the aerial. You won't hear a radio and drilling a hole just gives the rust a head start. Have fun in the new ride! Chris
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

I just added a stereo to my '63 Midget this week. I can hear it just fine. Cheap Sony with 2 6" woofers, crossovers and tweeters. I had all the old stuff from a previous car, no antennae yet though, thinking maybe one of the hidden ones routed up behind the grill? Made the speaker deck out of plywood, covered in vinyl. Came out pretty good I think.



J Van Dyke



Hi, Darren,

Welcome to the best forum.The car looks good, I've a feeling you will be asking to drive it a lot, soon.
The Yorkshire area of Midget and Sprite Club will be meeting at The Chequers Inn,Ledsham, near South Milford. LS25 5LP. on Thursday 7th August. We start appearing at 19-00 and you and your lady would be made most welcome.

Arthur. Yellow '61 Sprite.
Arthur

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2008 and 02/08/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.