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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Can someone take some measurements for me?

Hi folks, hope you are all well.

If someone is out in their garage today, could you please take a measurement for me? I am looking for front of footwell to suspension mounting and/or front of footwell to damper mounting plate bit (as per picture).

Thanks!
Malcolm

Malcolm Le Chevalier

Hi Malcolm

I measured mine at:
Footwell to suspension mounting = 21.5cm
Footwell to damper mounting plate = 26cm

I wouldn't like to swear to this being very, very accurate but it is probalby to within +/- 2mm.

Hope that helps

Chris
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Malcolm,
Thought I would double check. On both my cars the measurements are 221mm and 260mm (Frog and 1275, but they should all be the same. All measurements +/- 1mm

I am measuring from footwell front to the rear face of the suspension mounting bracket. Not sure why it should vary from Chris' measurements. All 4 measures on mine are the same, within 1mm. But both have had extensive repairs so maybe they are all wrong!
Guy Weller

..... oh I hate this car!

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Why, what are your measurements? It shouldn't be that critical anyway, so long as the shock mount and suspension bracket are correct, relative to each other.

On my cars I replaced the inner wheel arches, including the triangular web piece which pretty well dictates that dimension back to the footwell front.

Just finished off the welding to fit my scuttle top/ firewall on the Frog. Quite pleased with that bit!
Guy Weller

Ach... I think my car is 1/4 inch too short!

I should have noticed when I did passenger side, (and checked it, as the front end has had a lot of repairs as you may know if you have followed progress over the years!) but it was the very first bit I did and I (with hind sight) didn't have a clue what I was doing and letting myself in for. I just kind of bodged the triangle bit and wheel arch to fit.

I got it to fit but really shodily and I was never happy with the welding on it so I was coming round to the thinking of cutting that bit out and re doing it, so I think I could do some more re-constructive surgery whilst I'm at it.

If a jobs worth doing...

Malc.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Probably more critical that the two sides measure the same.

And I would check too the distance from the front of the footwell back to the face of the rear bulkhead - both sides the same? The overall distance between rear bulkead (therefore the front mount for the rear springs) and the suspension mount for the front suspension is what matters. More important than where that footwell front falls between the two.
Guy Weller

aye, the front is straight and both sides measure the same.

Just bought a new triangle/wheel arch structure to fill the gap in my picture and it doesn't fit. The other side didn't (about 2 years ago) and I bodged it. But as I get further on and more competent about this restoration lark I am wondering if I should go back and do it properly this time.

Malc.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

So your footwell front is too far forward? Why would that matter particularly so long as the longer measurement back to the rear bulkhead is the same for both sides, and both sides are the same.
Guy Weller

No, I think the chassis rails are too short due to a front end replacement. If the footwells were too far forward things wouldn't have tied in with the floor and there would have been 'errors' all the way backwards.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Ah, I see. I didn't realise you had replaced the front chassis rails. Or at least cut them through at some stage. Mine were pretty solid so I had those dimensions pretty secure. I just replaced the bottom plates of the chassis trails and the front cross rail.

With the cross member I put in some additional strengthening webs and closed it off with a thicker steel plate as it so often gets used as a jacking point and gets damaged so easily.
Guy Weller

It wasn't me, it was someone a loooong time ago. Front half of the car is red (and pre '74) back half is yellow and I assume '76! but the less said about all this the better. Yes I bought a pup!

It is better than when I first bought it... The chassis rails weren't even straight!

Guy, out of interest, which bit of Cumbria are you from? My wifey to be is from Wigton and I am down every now and again.

Mal.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

South. Near Kendal. Coincidentally, I know Aberdeen quite well too. Owned a house there for a short while some years ago.
Guy Weller

This thread was discussed on 16/02/2013

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