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Nick Feakes
USA
3376 Posts |
 Posted - 15/03/2013 : 15:51:21
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Simon Johnston has kindly sent me a scan of an article titled "Tuning the MG Midget" from the magazine "Modern Motor Repair".
The article is attributed to Cecil Kimber!
You can find the article in:-
"Document downloads - Technical - Miscellaneous"
Thank you Simon
Nick
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DickMorbey
United Kingdom
3677 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 17:42:30
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Thanks Simon and Nick. I remember reading this some time ago and it does offer some interesting insights.
The engine that is being tuned appears to be a J. The practices and clearances mentioned seem a little different from what we have become accustomed to ...
I am sure that CK knew what he was talking about but could some of our experts comment on the following:
Rockers: 4 thou for both?
Head gasket sealant: In the absence of gold size, what do people generally use these days? Grease? Wellseal? Heldite?
Plug gaps: 18 thou? (Seems too close)
Points gap: 20 thou? (Seems too wide!)
Dick
PA/PB 0743
Nr. Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, UK |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6137 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 18:15:27
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| The pictures also seem to confirm the absence of return springs on the choke levers! |
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tholden
United Kingdom
1638 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 18:28:48
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Hi Dick
This article was re-printed and available from the library for many years with copies of all the "works photos " on the rear. It is probably still available. Yes it is a J2 engine.
I dont remember seeing a recomendation to set the rocker clearances at 4 thou the original advice for the J2 was 6 thou for inlet and exhaust. However if you can get away with 4 thou it may well improve performance marginally !
Gold size and grease is the old school recomendation but most people will use a modern sealant such as Wellseal today.
18 thou was the original recomendation for the early type of plugs but as you suggest the clearance used today for road use is normally 25 thou with modern plugs which have vastly improved.
Similar comment applies to points gap - original recomendation was 15 to 20 thou but most people probably set closer to the lower figure today.
Times move on but it is an interesting article written by the man himself.
TH |
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DickMorbey
United Kingdom
3677 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 18:52:52
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Thanks Terry, and indeed as regards points, dwell meters seem to be in vogue these days!
Dick
PA/PB 0743
Nr. Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, UK |
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Oz34
United Kingdom
2542 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 19:50:59
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Many thanks indeed Simon & Nick.
Interesting after previous discussions on gearbox colour that in fig 7 the ali casing is quite definitely painted. I stick by my original comments that, A) Why would they carefully paint the steel parts of the box before assembly on a £200 car? Surely they would paint the completed lump? B) I doubt that they would have used an etch primer (were such things available then?), so the paint on the ali part would not have lasted long.
Dave |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6137 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 22:05:11
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| And talking of painting alloy parts, the oil filler swan neck in fig 9 also looks to be painted. |
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tholden
United Kingdom
1638 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 22:46:01
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Dave and Simon - correct on both counts.
TH |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6137 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2013 : 22:55:01
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| And the colour was ...? |
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BobRichards RIP
United Kingdom
238 Posts |
Posted - 16/03/2013 : 17:00:05
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| Look out for Terry Holden's 1984 Yearbook Tuning Article reprinted (with updates) in the next Bulletin, due out soon(ish). |
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Peter Scott
United Kingdom
1240 Posts |
Posted - 16/03/2013 : 20:35:44
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Bob
I guess that it will be well read. We are always interested in reading articles, by those we trust, on tuning or rebuilding. 
Peter |
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