My Midget Project's To-Do List

UPDATE: Just a quick update today...I got the radiator and alternator repaired and found out that both starters are bad. I've also reassembled the heater box and mounted it, mounted the grill, mounted the door mirrors, mounted the engine mount pedestals, and identified a bunch more parts I'll have to buy. Yikes. Oh, and the windscreen is all repaired and half-way installed. I just need another set of hands if I can ever coordinate that.

(28 September) The glass shop got most of the windscreen rebuilt for a considerably less price than they quoted me, which I can't complain about. However, they couldn't get the side post seals in. It turns out that the seals from both Moss and Victoria British are wrong, and can't fit the channels they are supposed to go in (I ordered a set from both). Today, I dropped the windscreen off at MG-GM Classics here in Knoxville (865-966-2877) and he's going to have a go at it. Theoretically MGB seals should fit, although they are shorter. Let's just hope they don't come off the same roll as the Midget seals.

I also got all the parts for the motor as well as all the machine work done. I brought those parts home a couple days ago. I found a machine shop right around the corner with reasonable prices, and they seem like pretty nice people. They are doing a little bead blasting for me right now. The only problem, which I had predicted, was that the head is cracked. We shipped it off to Chattanooga for an expensive weld repair. I also decided to paint the block Ford Red because it would look decent with the purple color. The original block color appears to have been black, but who wants a black motor? Anyway, the block was bored .020, and I got the 9:1 compression ratio pistons, which is the extent of the modifications I will make. A guy at the machine shop offered to assemble the bottom end for a bargain price, so I may let him do it.

(7 August) I took one or two looks at the complexity of the windscreen, contrasted that with my schedule, packed it up, and took it to a shop to be rebuilt. Pricey but convenient and predictable. I'll let you know how it turns out...

I'm finally back full-speed on the purple car. Once the gold car began to deteriorate, I decided no more money should be sunk into it until the purple car is back on the road. So I went out and bought an industrial strength fan for the garage as well as a big piece of soft carpet to park the Midget on (much more comfy than concrete, and a better trap for dropped parts). I'm unpacking all my parts and starting to compile a to-do list. Below you will find what's on the list. Things will get crossed off as they are completed. The list is nowhere near complete, but gives me some nice goals.

I've decided against any type of motor conversion at this time. I just can't bring myself to butcher the car. Any conversion that doesn't involve butchering doesn't lend itself to enough of a power increase to justify the work. Maybe the gold car can undergo the knife at a later date...

Here we go (in no particular order):

• Hook speedo to transmission
• Obtain mounting bolts for brake lines - engine compartment
• Clean and sand front bumper mounts
• Mount front bumper
• Mount new grill
• Locate side marker light and mount
• Rebuild windsreen with new seals
• Attach windscreen
• Reassemble the dreaded doors
• Hook and mount bonnet release cable
• Ignition switch\key (rekey? new switch?)
• Reconnect heater hoses under dash
• Locate dash mounting hardware in pile of parts
• Figure out which panel to be cut by upholsterer (long story)
• Finish mounting interior panels
• Carpet
• Mount seats
• Mount headlights
• Lens screws for side markers
• Sun visors
• Machine/buy motor parts
• Reassemble motor
• Install motor
• Motor mounts & brackets
• Clutch
• Horns
• Assemble and attach heater
• Rebuild radiator
• Find out about practical engine performance mods
• Locate and attach license plate lights
• Send in (renew) registration
• Bleed brakes
• Attach glovebox
• Locate/mount top hardware & seals
• Rebuild alternator
• Rebuild starter