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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Quick removing front end

Maybe I'm imagining it, but was there a thread from someone who had done a quick mod so that the front end could be quickly removed for maintenance etc.? Done a quick search in the archives and can't see anything.....
Nick P

I made some quick release hinges


Dave O'Neill 2

and fitted...


Dave O'Neill 2

Mines very similar to daves
I remade some archers garage brackets with a removable bolt the section that fits to the bonnet uses an anti rollbar bush bolted in place inside a folded flat plate housing.


Dave Pratt

Nick,

I remember that Lawrence made a quick release radiator a year or so ago. A quick release front center panel (grill surround) sounds vaguely familiar to me too.

Charley
C R Huff

Cheers chaps - although I don't have a fibreglass front end, just the regular metallic.

Because the front end is bolted to the wings / valance etc. it's a bit of a faff taking it all off to get good access into what will be a very crowded engine!! Just looking to simplify it somewhat....
Nick P

Nic....

iff you study the front clip... i think its possiable to weld the entire thing togather as one unit and put it on a central hinge to open...

my thinking was to make a hinge like a childs sea saw toy and place the fulcrom ovrr the wheels so the entire bonnet can tilt back and with a jerk can lift the unit and have it slide sit back on the end at the front

its heavy idea but counter wieghting i think its doable

just one of my ideas i was playing with several years ago but never presued it further then the imagiantion phase

prop
prop

>>and with a jerk can lift the unit and have it slide sit back on the end at the front<<

So you need a jerk Prop.

Look no further. I am your man. Hahaha!
Greybeard

Haha.... sure why not... haha

prop
prop

I've made mine so that the radiator is now forward and lower than the steering rack - basically it's right under the front slam panel.
It allows easy access to the front of the engine and allows engine removal without removing the rad.
It's a nice mod and it's all in aluminium but it was a long old job - weeks of frustration, measuring and fabricating! If I ever bend it I'll probably go down the one piece front end route.
john payne

Hi John
I have just changed to a similar system with a wide radiator but further forward and lower down so it sits directly behind the frgeye grill.
I find I get the problem of heat soak much more than before. When you switch off the engine the water stops circulating so the heat makes its way to the top.
My thermo switch for my electric fans is in the top hose so what happens is that the fans work continuously for a long time as the switch says its hot but the fans cool down the already cool coolant in the radiator at the bottom of the system.

You can fix this by turning the engine over after a minute or so to pump some coolant around but not ideal.

Are you getting this issue ?

To stay on topic I have a one voice front end which comes off with 4 screws and a multi plug which does all the lights, indicators etc
Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

Andy, yes I suppose I do get that a bit but to be honest it's usually been blastng uphill at 7000rpm a minute before I turn it off! On a normal road run it does it a bit but not all the time, I usually turn off the battery cut out to stop the fan using flattening the battery.

Mine is still the standard midget crossflow rad so I already have a expansion tank set up. Have you added an expansion tank to yours or found a rad that has one built in?

I suppose one way we could avoid the fan running on issue is to have the fan control relay switched by the ignition.
john payne

This thread was discussed between 28/04/2016 and 02/05/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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