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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Mystery Holes

Does anyone know what the centre pattern of holes are intended for? I have carried out a re-shell using a heritage shell, I'm sure the original shell didn't have these holes but it is 6 years since I stripped it down!
A Potter

Sorry forgot photo.


A Potter

Hi A Potter

I'm only guessing but as the holes are located in the bottom of each strengthening 'depressions' (can't think what these are called) in the floor, I think they have been drilled to allow water to drain (they are the lowest point). I can't think of anything else they might be for (I have a Heritage shell and no holes!).

Chris
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Chris
that is one theory. I suppose the previous owner could have drilled them for some strange reason, although they do look very uniform. The shell was purchased in 1997 (for £1860 would you beleive), I the bought it in 2006 after the project fizzled out, thanks for the theory.
Andy
A Potter

I would also go for the drainhole theory, although they're probably just as likely to let water in as let it out.
Dave O'Neill2

And soggy carpets! I'm inclined to block them up with grommets or nuts and bolts. Any other sugestions?
A Potter

not sure my heritage shell had any holes, but if it did i think i would have used them for holding the front to rear brake line and or fuel line, but appreciate that wouldnt fill all of them
p bentley

I used the horizontal holes in the seat mounting channel with the spring clips for fuel lines, brake lines went through transmission tunnel. Maybe the holes are for american spec cars, don't they have an extra fuel line, thought that also was fixed to the seat channel though. Hmmm.
A Potter

I would have sworn blind that my 1994 heritage shell didn't have any such holes but then found this picture....
I don't know what they're for either, presume they're for drainage but have filled them with grommets.
Jeremy


Jeremy 3

Nope ... i dont think they are for drain holes !!!

They are for the winners circle panhard rod.... I had to drill holes like that to attach...

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

In my Heritage shell there were some additional holes in the floor - used as part of the jigging process in the manufacture I believe.

R.
richard boobier

I've got a feeling it's a way of telling a Heritage shell, there are 13(?) holes but as you can tell I'm a little light on detail

I'd go with Richard asnswer
Nigel Atkins

Like it Prop!
Jigging process Richard - good to see the Heritage guys are happy in their work!
Jeremy 3

Don't they dip Heritage shells? Maybe it is for draining off the excess whateveritis.
Guy

BMH stopped dipping bodyshells when they lost the facility with the demise of the Rover Group.
When a group of us visited the factory last year we were told the shells are now sent to a local outside source for a primer finish which meant the internal box sections were no longer treated. I note the current price for a shell in primer is £6750, WIIRC is a slight decrease from the previous figure.
I can't recall seeing extra holes in the floorpan before and suspect, as already suggested, they are PO made.
Have a look at this link to see if you can spot 'em!

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/BritishMotorHeritage-midget.htm
Derek Stewart

It timed out before I could correct myself!
The link shows all!
Derek Stewart

Assuming that the Heritage shells are made using the original jigs and presses etc., they should be the same as mine and on mine the centre line of holes are not drilled, but pressed out downwards which leaves a lip protruding down on the forward edge thereby supposedly preventing water from coming in as the car is driven, but allowing any water that has got in from other places, to get out. I can't put up a picture as the floor is now covered by carpet.

Bernie.
b higginson

Interesting pricing.
When introduced, the fully panelled and electrophoretically dippped Midget Heritage shell sold at £2,185.50 (Feb, 1992) 20 years later that has risen to a whopping £6750 and only sprayed in primer.

By comparison, MGBHive were selling brake discs at £10.95 and a front wing at £175 in 1992, these have risen to all of £12 and £385 respectively.
Guy

WOW, I am hugely disappointed to hear that BMH is no longer able to get their new shells e-coated.

Not only does a dip coating get into all the cavities (as long as the angle and time in bath is done right to eliminate air pockets, that is), but the electro-coating process additionally aids in the bonding of the primer to the steel, and the thickness of the bonded layer is extremely consistent (aiding in final paint top coat quality, as a side benefit).

E-coated parts typically pass successfully through 1000 hrs of salt spray testing, even when scratched first (the zinc rich primer helps heal scratches). Compare that with zinc-chromate plated parts (like all of the fasteners), which only typically survive 172hrs in the same test, before red rust is visible.

The failure of the Rover group has added a new dimension of sadness to itself.


Norm
Norm Kerr

Interesting link Stewart as the first photo of the floor doesn't show the holes but the next one does, which is then repeated in subsequent photos. So it's something which happens at BMH but the reason remains unclear.

On the price front, in 1994 mine cost £1860 + VAT which is £2185.50 so a now price of nearly £7k seems pretty steep.

Jeremy
Jeremy 3

Like Jeremy I could have sworn we didn't have holes in our heritage shell, but yes they are ... though seem to be further to the oustide than the others shown!

When we received our shell (about 5 years ago) it was primer-only, and of such bad application it couldn't be called primer - bubble & flake more like it. So we had to have the whole lot stripped off and start again.
Paul Walbran

BMH need to smile sweetly at the Honda chaps just down the road.
Jeremy Cogman

They don't look even do they? Wonder if it's an apprentice's first job to drill them?
Jeremy 3

This thread was discussed between 09/05/2012 and 11/05/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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