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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Not an April fool rev1

Chaps

Further investigations after my...ahem...mishap of bashing the front end in after a low speed shunt. I measured the distance from centre to centre of front and rear wheels both sides. Nothing in it, so I am assuming the chassis is still straight....

However, the steering rack mounting member is bashed in on the driver side - so that is a cut out, and weld in the new member, Tracking and maybe camber is way out after the shunt, so as the steering rack will have to come out anyways this is no big deal. I also have 2 new TREs to fit just in case - may as well..

One query. I ordered the parts from Moss, and instead of the 1 foot long or so chassis front leg requested - item 4 IIRC - they sent the entire chassis rail, item 3 about 4 foot long. I am hoping I just cut what is required and weld on to the X member? As aforestated - this part is not structural, but it takes the ARB, so as long as the weld is good then all should be fine? Thoughts welcome.....




Oggers

Yes just cut the length you need and weld it properly, will be fine.
David Smith

Oggers,
it might be worthwhile reinforcing the underside around the ARB mounts before fitting. Especially if you are inclined to spirited driving and/or have fitted an uprated ARB (which is a good modification in its own right) If you don't upgrade those ARB mounting points they are liable to tear out after a while.

A good way of doing this is to use a thicker bottom plate to the chassis leg extension. Or, as you are fitting new, you could add a second skin, maybe extended back to align with the rear of the cross member box. Cut a slot in this to fit closely around the ARB mount and then seam weld around this and along all the edges.
GuyW

Thanks chaps - particularly Guy for the value added tips....
Oggers

Thanks for the thanks Oggers ;-)
If you are cutting a repair piece off that longer length make sure you cut the correct length. Sounds obvious I know, but even a fraction too short and when you fit the ARB the drop links will touch the leading edge of the wishbone. There isn't a lot of clearance normally so it doesn't take much to create unnecessary problems!

The critical dimension is the position of the ARB mount, rather than the overall length of the repair section. If the repair piece is correctly manufactured, then overall length would be perfectly satisfactory to measure but I wouldn't be confident enough to rely on that. Measure from the front cross member to the ARB mount on the undamaged side and match the new component dimensions to this.

End of lesson. ;-)
GuyW

Guy

As always, much sense here. My sincere thanks again. Fornt suspension is the Frontline set up, but all advice wholly relevant.

Cannot wait to finish the thing off and give it a blast. Spring has sprung up here in the Tundra. Glorious weather, ideal open top motoring. Other midget may well be up for sale. Pity really as if I had the room, it would be staying. Put much effort into it.
Oggers

This thread was discussed between 13/04/2018 and 15/04/2018

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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