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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Securing GRP front

I'm just trying to get to grips with how I'm going to secure my one piece GRP front on my car and want to pick other owners grey matter.
I know there are several types of latches and fittings, I'm trying to weigh up which to use and how effective they are.
I've looked at Aerocatches and Spitfire catches along with all sorts of straps and rubber stretchy things. I'm so undecided on which to choose.
There is also the question of how to secure the bonnet at other points to avoid wobbling about.
What methods have you used and what were the pros and cons?
Bob T

Hey Bob,
Still wondering what to do about my other midget (a complete bitsa) and will probably use grp front like you. What is the 1500 EFI under the bonnet in your car and what drive train did u use?
Dave Squire (1500)

If you are not going for the tilt forward option I had rubber stretchy things down to the sills, bonnet pins through the hinges and a piece of angle iron across the top of the radiator cowl (1275) with bonnet pins through it. Never came off until I crashed it !
Mike
m fairclough

Bob,

See the image for what I did to mount the bonnet on my frogeye. I used Spitfire catches as can just be seen in the photo. The frame is steel and mostly 1" x 1" 16swg ERW and connects to four pick-up points of aluminium T section bonded into the bonnet. The pivot points are the 2 front bumper mounts. I made the frame like this as I had seen various which just bolted to the front valance and that area is flexible and quite weak and ideally would be reinforced if to take bonnet mounts. Someone queried the weight of the frame and I worked it out at about 6.5kg.


David Billington

Dave: My car has a Triumph "boat-anchor" engine as originally fitted by the factory (albeit slightly modified) bolted to a Ford type 9 and a 3.7 diff.

Mike: It is a tilt forward jobby and I thought protruding bonnet pins were now outlawed?

Dave: Nice frame I can see that must hold things nice and rigid. The Spit catches are slowly becoming the option I favour. Good ones aren't cheap now though.

To be more precise, I'm going to use a flip forward front and when it was fitted before I noticed that it tended to wobble around at speed despite bonnet pins and side catches. One pic I have from a track day at about 60mph shows the bottom of sides buckling out with the underbonnet air pressure. I'm trying to avoid this happening again.
Bob T

Bob,

I believe it does the intended job and holds the bonnet securely. The Spitfire catches I used were 2nd hand and I changed IIRC the bottom single fixing to 2 ears either side at the bottom to match the top. The standard Triumph body catch was used and needed IIRC a 1/4" or 5/16" spacer from the sides of the footwell. The IoW frogeye used IIRC Renault 5 bonnet catches, one either side on top of the footwells, which can't be seen externally and provided an internal release via cables. Many cars used a similar design such as the Lancia Beta, I had one great car shame about the rust, where a pin drops down into the catch mechanism to latch.

When I get mine back on the road I'll have to look for some more Spitfire catches as I think mine are past saving so I'll have to look if available new or get good old ones or investigate another option.
David Billington

Ho Bob, good to see you have ventured into the garage again...

I'll get you some pics of my front end tomorrow night. I've got the s/s spring catches to the sills, 2 on each side, I really like the look.

By the way, how hard is it to fit a type 9 to the 1500? I've acquired a locost chassis, and I also have a 1500 engine and 4 speed box kicking about that I was thinking about putting in it. Trying to build the car as cheaply as possible, so unfortunately no bike engine this time :-(

Matt
Tarquin

Hi Matt, I would appreciate any pics that might help me decide.

The key to the type 9 conversion is the adapter plate. If you can acquire one of those, the rest is plain sailing. Use the original bellhousing and modify it then just bolt it together. Clutch is original cover plate with an Avenger centre plate.

So you acquired a locost huh? what happened to the V8 project? Still under a dust sheet?
Bob T

guys i have the adaptor plate,clutch slave cylinder mounting and centre bell housing bush for sale.
Gary
gary knowles

Hi, I was looking at some triumph bonnet latches on google. I have fitted a pair to my MG midget GRP front end, the only problem is Im not sure where to put the catch plates on the car and I can see how they work securly.
A Fairbairn

Hi Bob, pic attached. This is on the return from Le Mans, 900 miles without a hitch on a fresh rebuild, ace! And that included 4 hours at 85 on the way back from Portsmouth... Brill oil pressure.

Anyway, you can see the s/s catches on each side. I also put some pegs into the top of the sill i.e. rivnuts into the sill, then chopped the head off some s/s bolts and domed the top which were then screwed into the rivnuts, so the f/g front had something to locate into.

Ah projects, where would we be without them. The V8 has turned into a V6, using the V6 from an MX6, which is what another guy on here is doing too. Bought an MX6, and an adaptor plate to mate it up to an MX5 gearbox. Just got to get the engine out but work keeps getting in the way.

The locost was supposed to be a project with my nephew, who reckons to be interested in cars. But as usual, he hasn't got in touch so it doesn't look like thats going to happen, so I can build it how I want! The plan is to try and spend as little as possible and use all the crap I've got in the garage. I did originally think of using a Reliant 850 engine in it to make it as light as possible, and cheap insurance for him, but I doubt that will be powerful enough for me.... So I'm thinking about this 1500 engine and box, as I do have a type 9 under the bench. But it's not meant to be a motorway cruiser so 4 speeds will probably be enough.

How come you have dusted the midget off?

Matt


Tarquin

Why have I dusted off the Midget?
Hmm, I guess I got fed up with it taking up dead space in the garage. I want it to be my fun car again!

Those spring catches look like they do the job well - I think I want to find something more "oem" looking.

If you're trying to build your locost on a real low budgetI I'd agree to reckon on sticking to the 4 speed.

Still looking forward to that V car at a show. This summer maybe??? ;-)
Bob T

This summer? ha ha ha! Only if I trailer it!

Once the 1380 midget is running properly, it's coming out of the garage to live outside to get some regular use. Then the V6 can come home and I can crack on with it.
I think I have some of the Herald catches somewhere, the bits that fit on the footwell side that the bonnet ones latch onto. Let me know if you need them.
Tarquin

This thread was discussed between 25/03/2013 and 28/03/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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