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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Valve Cover and Clutch

Yeee haaa. I finally had the time to resurrect my 67 Sprite MKIV. It needed a new head gasket. It is replaced and doing fine. I cannot believe that it fired right up after almost 8 years! A couple of squirts of starting fluid and away she went. Well, almost...
The clutch master cyl has been problematic for as long as I have owned it. I have "rebuilt" the gaskets twice but they keep failing after a couple of seasons. So, now I have two questions. First, are there any original suppliers of the old style master cyl? I have the 2 master setup. One for brakes. A smaller one for the clutch. They look like tin cans. I saw the newer replacement on Moss but, gawd, that plastic thing looks terrible. Any advice?
Also, are there any tricks to the valve covers? Can you double them up? My gasket leaks and always for a little bit of oil. I would like to stop it for good.
Appreciate the help.
Marty
MP Peck

I cant offer any help for the clutch master then maybe it needs resleved and rebored to spec

On the valve cover gasket... dont over tighten, as that will distort the cork

What I do, is silicone/RTV the cork to the valve cover permanently, then smear a layer of white lithium grease on the bottom of the cork then place and tighten down, and your good to go, the next time you need to remove the valve cover remove the 2 bolts and knock the V cover with a wooden mallet to knock it off, then just add a fresh smear of white lithium grease and re install... repeat as necessary many times over...

and it seals very nicely

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

You might find a NOS master cylinder for either system on eBay. They are not common as they only used that design for one year. An alternative is to have both MCs rebuilt at either Apple Hydraulics near Port Jeff or White Post Restorations in Virginia. This will put your car down while that is happening. Another set of MC's will shorten the down time. I probably have a set that you could use if you would pay the postage both ways. I would want your old ones back.
J Bubela

Thanks for the advice. I will try the lithium grease trick. I just bought some black RTV and I have a new cork gasket so I will give it a shot. Regarding the master cyls, I will probably buy the new (ugly) one for $60 from Moss and then have the old one rebuilt as time and money allows. Thanks again.
Marty
MP Peck

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2015 and 10/08/2015

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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