project 1968 MG Midget - Bodywork repair and welding

[Noel Tidybeard]

https://classiccarhub.co.uk/tech/mg-paint-colours.html

[Homersimpson]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

What colour is this? I quite like it and I think this might be what going on mine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135473567444

 

Is it Riviera Blue? https://www.mgmidgets.com/cars/mg-midget-mkii-in-riviera-blue/

 

[Homersimpson]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

I'm way over my head in panel cost already on this. It's going to have to be a DIY respray. 

The thing is though that the ebay one might look nice but be a load of trouble under the surface, at least with this one you know its solid.

[SiC]

21 minutes ago, Homersimpson said:

The thing is though that the ebay one might look nice but be a load of trouble under the surface, at least with this one you know its solid.

But I could be driving it now! 

I'm very tempted to not put in the reversing lights on mine. 

[Homersimpson]

1 minute ago, SiC said:

But I could be driving it now! 

I'm very tempted to not put in the reversing lights on mine. 

Indeed and then next winter you might be in for another weldathon

When I restored my 1962 MK2 Sprite back in  2000 I replaced the rear panel and it came with flat sections (not indents as such) for the reversing lights, I filled over these to lose them as the car didnt have them originally. 

If your car came with them I would probably fit them unless its a huge amount of work.

Also you mentioned before that your car has the 'wrong' wings with the lower indicators, turns out my 1962 does as well which I only found out because some rivet counter pointed it out at a show and couldn't understand why I wasn't bothered 🤣.

As long as both sides are the same I wouldn't worry, a friend of mine did a midget and he ended up with one of each which did look a bit odd. Not sure he ever realised and I didn't mention it.

[SiC]

12 hours ago, Homersimpson said:

When I restored my 1962 MK2 Sprite back in  2000 I replaced the rear panel and it came with flat sections (not indents as such) for the reversing lights, I filled over these to lose them as the car didnt have them originally. 

If your car came with them I would probably fit them unless its a huge amount of work.

That's the exact same panel on mine. There were two options on that read heritage panel, stamped holed or no stamped holes. The stamped hole version is for the later slimmer bumpers which have the holes in a different place. So I'll need to drill holes for the bumper (something I'm not looking forward to doing) and if I want the reverse lights, cut the holes for them. 

I just find the reverse lights a bit garish especially as they're big on the back. Not sure why they decided it necessary to fit two either!

12 hours ago, Homersimpson said:

Also you mentioned before that your car has the 'wrong' wings with the lower indicators, turns out my 1962 does as well which I only found out because some rivet counter pointed it out at a show and couldn't understand why I wasn't bothered 🤣.

Another thing @PhilA pointed out to me and I can't help but keep noticing is that often Spridgets put two of the same indicator/side light clusters on the front rather than a left and a right. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. Often see it on other cars elsewhere even in museums. Maybe for a while only one side was available?

You can see it on mine even back in 1996 when the car was a magazine feature. It's also how I know most of the mods it has (like seats, etc) have been on it for a while.

[Ian_Fearn]

I remember that issue of PC so well! I was more into Max Power as a teenager but this was one of 3 magazines given to me at the time that got me hooked on classic cars.

Always enjoy progress updates on this.

[SiC]

And the arse is done*!

Probably needs a bit more shaping with filler but I'm happy how the wing panel join under the lights have turned out.

Ground down the underneath welds. Horrible job doing this sort of thing under the car. Even managed to burn a bit of beard hair from a rogue grinding spark.

Paint to protect not to make pretty. I'm seriously considering having the shell blasted to clean off the various layers of paint.

Next job is to drain the fluids down, remove the diff/gearbox/engine and flip onto it's side. Pretty sure I'm just going to get a pack of 2x4 from B&Q and make up a rotisserie. 

 

* Its not quite done. I need to fill these corners out. Not sure if I want to do this way up or when it's on its side.

[Matty]

3 hours ago, SiC said:

I'm seriously considering having the shell blasted to clean off the various layers of paint.

I know it's £££s but after all the hard work imagine how great it would look to bare metal it and then have it sprayed by a pro. 

[EmmaJNation]

12 hours ago, SiC said:

 

 

 

 

Next job is to drain the fluids down, remove the diff/gearbox/engine and flip onto it's side. Pretty sure I'm just going to get a pack of 2x4 from B&Q and make up a rotisserie. 

 

 

The other common alternative is a pair of engine stands, one either end; they’d have to be reasonably beefy ones if the engine’s still in though. But you could sell ‘em afterwards.

[purplebargeken]

Brilliant progress mate, wish I was nearer so I could give you a hand, I really enjoy this type of stuff.

[N Dentressangle]

9 hours ago, EmmaJNation said:

The other common alternative is a pair of engine stands, one either end; they’d have to be reasonably beefy ones if the engine’s still in though. But you could sell ‘em afterwards.

I made one with some scrap wood and a scaffold pole, plus some cheap castors off Ebay

[Matty]

21 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

I made one with some scrap wood and a scaffold pole, plus some cheap castors off Ebay

Suprising how much weight  timber will bear long as its braced proper 👍