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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - U-bolts and bullet connectors

I've got 2 PITA questions to help waste a few minutes.

Firstly, I've put a Spridget rear axle in a vintage car but the U-bolts are too short. The Spridget ones would fit but are 3/8 diameter where the vintage springs only have 5/16 holes. Any ideas where I can get U-bolts made in the UK? Can you make your own? Are they heat treated or are they made of anything special? Cut threads, obviously, if made at home.

Second question. When did Lucas first introduce the ubiquitous Bullet Connector? Someone else has asked me to find out.

Anyone?
r thomas

Iirc the triple M register had a discussion about the bullet connectors and concluded they are from the end of the 40's

No help with the u bolts.
Can't you drill the holes?
Onno K

Wait a minute....

You used the rear axle assembly from a midget in another classic car ???

Ive heard it all now... I dont know what to say...what car with less then 50 hp and the torque and burnout wheel spin of a lawn mower could this have possiable worked in....

mmm a yogo maybe, perhaps a 1984 ford french le'car

Sorry i dont have any help to offer... But thanks for posting ...it certianly makes for a good friday of ..WTF man.

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Prop
Vintage is the word you missed.
If I would take a guess it is a morris of pre war vintage
Onno K

I don't think the U bolts are anything special. Are you using the same clamping mechanism as on a spridget? Should be reasonably easy to drill the holes bigger if so, but you might have other constraints.

Have you got a pic of the beastie in question? (

lol Prop :D - I've been running 110 bhp through a standard back axle for 2 1/2 years now. It's still (touch wood) in the same number of bits it's supposed to be in.
Rob Armstrong

Unfortunately there isn't enough meat on the axle to allow the holes to be drilled oversize. There is barely enough to be safe with the originals.

I could get some rod and bend it after running a die up the ends but the worry is that choice of material spec and the removal of stress raisers from the cutting process. I assume original U-bolts have rolled threads?


PS Originally 19hp when new. Now kicking out about 30hp


r thomas

I'd be concerned about home made U-bolts with cut threads too.

Could you make up a plate that reinforced the drilled out axle?
Growler

That was a possibility but I'd need to grind all sorts off bits off of the axle to get the Midget U-bolts in. Not easy to describe it. The Midget bottom plate is a thick hunk of folded steel sheet with lots of material round the edges and there is space for the spring to fit easily between the 2 U-bolt sets whilst the Minor has the U-bolts VERY tight against the spring. The Midget has a thin folded steel piece above the axle to hold the U-bolts apart whilst the original Morris has grooves cast into the axle casing.

I'll try to get a photo.



You change ONE bloody item and......Grrrrrrr!
r thomas

I may be wrong (again) but don't you get extended length u-bolts in those lowering kits so it may be worth contacting the manufacturer of the kits to see if you can get them seperately - sometimes charm and good looks can get you these things or a good story about a 'vintage' car
Nigel Atkins

Grayston Engineering 'springs' to mind.

They do say that they supply trade customers only, though.

Follow the link and click on the "lowering kits" button on the left.

http://www.graystonengineering.com/suspensionpage.htm

And another...

http://www.brooksforgings.co.uk/u-bolts.asp
Dave O'Neill2

Another option...google 'leaf spring manufacturers'.

They all seem to supply or manufacture U-bolts.
Dave O'Neill2

there you go r thomas great info and contacts now lets see if you have the good looks and charm or rely on a good story :)
Nigel Atkins

I've e-mailed a few suppliers of springs-n-things so might get somewhere next week.

Meanwhile, my little one asked why I didn't just take a strip out of the spring, since there were so many of them (7 in total). I took the bottom leaf out which was only about 8 inches long and, presumably, not doing much. It all fits together but is only just 1.2 thread into safety.

I guess it will do for now.



Smartarse little sod!
r thomas

>>presumably, not doing much<< I'm not sure about that

>>only just 1.2 thread into safety<< 1.2(?), I'm not sure what that means either :)
Nigel Atkins

Doh. Should read "1/2 thread into safety". (Nut filled and a bit of thread sticking out)


That bottom spring leaf only touches the one above it if the suspension gets bottomed out so I doubt it gets much use. It'll certainly be OK to run it until longer U-bolts can be procured.

Next nasty job is wheel cylinders. I need 1 inch bore double-acting cylinders to donate their 'guts' to some pre-war backplates. Any suggestions? Landrover, Ford???


r thomas

Does anyone have some MGB U-bolts that they could measure. Someone has told me that they use a smaller diameter rod to make the U-bolt. I need 5/16 but somehow doubt that MGB ones are any thinner than Midget.

Thanks
r thomas

According to Moss, the U-bolt nut for an MGB is GHF223 which is 3/8" UNF
Dave O'Neill2

Hi Rob,
How is your back these days?
frogeye Gary

Thankks, Dave. Just as I thought. I've just ordered a set of custom U-bolts for £60. That ought to do the job!

Gary. Just got my medical certificate back from the CAA after having had some helpful 'coaching' from the Ortho surgeon on how to pass the exam without giving away that the back is still a bit knackered. Should be flying again in a month or two. Thanks for asking.




r thomas

This thread was discussed between 19/10/2012 and 23/10/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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