MG Midget Forum

Welcome! Sign In Register

Please Sign In or Register to Search

Convert 76 midget to wire wheels

Posted by Dadicus

Want to advertise your business in this space? Click here for more information!

Topic List Forum List Newer Older Start New Topic

Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #1
Dadicus Steve Thompson Lansing , Mi, USA 1966 MG Midget 1976 MG Midget 1500	Posted: September 11, 2012 08:48AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 60

Ok , just bought a 66 Midget donor car for bumpers , luggage rack and front springs to lower car , got thinking about the wire wheels , what would it take to change mine over?
BTW , 66 is pretty complete , missing front bumper and grille when I bought it but most everything else there , will be looking for new home for the rest when I get what I need off it.

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #2
200mph Mike J Lake Norman, NC, USA 1965 Ford Ranchero 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite 1967 MG MGB 1969 Austin-Healey Sprite 1974 MG MGB → more	Posted: September 11, 2012 10:08AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 3,974

Steve,

You'll swap the front hubs, (or the entire kingpin/hub assembly, if that's easier) and then you need to swap the entire rear end assembly... its not too difficult if things arent too rusty. The 66 has a 4.22 rear end gear, which will mean better acceleration but 10% higher revs on the highway. You can use that center section or swap your 3.90 center section in. Its just nut and bolt work.

(If you want to keep the 4.22, I can buy your current center section). smiling bouncing smiley

While you are at it, I would replace the brake hoses and the wheel cylinders in the 66 rear end... or, you can swap in the rear brakes off your car, they are the same.

When you ditch your rubber bumpers, you can simply swap over the front fenders off the 66. Thats a lot easier than trying to graft its parking lights onto your fenders. . In both front and rear, I would simply run with no bumpers... the result is a cleaner "competition" look, and no work/cost involved.

You can cut the area under the 66 taillights and graft them onto your car. Others on the site have cut out the squarish "bumper mount bulges" on the rear panel and smoothed them like the earlier car. Too much cutting/welding to easily transfer the 66 rear panel.

Mike

"When I was younger, I thought about "sportscars" all the time. Now I only think about it every 15 minutes or so." Anon.

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #3
Dadicus Steve Thompson Lansing , Mi, USA 1966 MG Midget 1976 MG Midget 1500	Posted: September 11, 2012 12:59PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 60

Thank you Mike.
I will move most of my parts over , since the last 3 years were spent in a ground up restore. Now that it is done I have the bug to improve , including header , Monza exhaust , and a set of dual SU's and manifold that I have scrounged up over the last 2 months. I will prolly use my center section since this car actually makes the 57 mile each way trip to work most days , but will let you know if I stay with the 4.22 ratio. Not happy with the paint job , new paint this winter so that will be the ideal time to graft the corners in. Luckily the donor car when building mine was a steel bumper car so the mounting holes for the front parking lights are already there.

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #4
pmcmain Paul McMain Kokomo, IN, USA	Posted: September 11, 2012 01:59PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 803

One more thing in addition to what Steve listed is the rotors on the WW cars is different than steel wheel cars. I converted my '72 over to wire wheels.

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #5
mjamgb michael anderson NORTHERN NEVADA, USA 1954 MG Magnette ZA 1967 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG Midget	Posted: September 11, 2012 04:17PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 6,395

Is the e-brake mechanism the same on the two cars? I thought there was a change in there somewhere.

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #6
James E Jimmy Campbell Bedford, Va, USA	Posted: September 11, 2012 06:37PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,673

I think you are right Michael, the brake cable he has now goes to one brake then a rod to the other side, the older ones have 2 control rods.

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #7
Dadicus Steve Thompson Lansing , Mi, USA 1966 MG Midget 1976 MG Midget 1500	Posted: September 11, 2012 10:04PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 60

Guess this means at some point I will need to break the news to mama that there may not be as much room in our 1 stall garage at the condo as we expected , sounds like I will be keeping more off the donor car than anticipated. her g6 drop top will survive being outside while I do the conversion.

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #8
mjamgb michael anderson NORTHERN NEVADA, USA 1954 MG Magnette ZA 1967 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG Midget	Posted: September 13, 2012 02:55PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 6,395

Hahahaha!

Hope whe's the understanding type.

OTOH, my beloved has "survived" parking in the driveway for 15 years as I sllllooooooowwwlllyyy rebuild my Magnette!

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #9
refisk Rick Fisk Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite 1979 MG Midget 1500 "Party Midget"	Posted: September 13, 2012 03:37PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2,239

I've been married for 30 years. My wife has never been able to park her car in the garage, as it's always been full of Spridgets, motorcycles, etc. You just have to start 'em out right at the very beginning. thumbs up smiley

Rick

Reply Quote

Re: Convert 76 midget to wire wheels #10
midget special david greenhalgh river edge, n.j., USA 1976 MG Midget 1500	Posted: November 25, 2012 04:00PM Registered: 6 months ago Posts: 16

i gess you changed your car fom disc to wire on the rear i was going to just change the axles and the two hubs but some members tell me the differentials are different any advice

Reply Quote

Topic List Forum List Newer Older Start New Topic

RSS

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!

Members Sign In if you've already registered, or
Register a New Account
Registration is free and takes less than a minute

MGB & GT · MG Midget · Buy, Sell & Trade · Vendor & Group Buy · MG Engine Swaps · Original MG · MGA · MGC · MG Magnette · 1100 & 1300 · T-Series & Prewar · Modern MGs · MG Motorsports · MG-2013 Event · Member Meetup · Other Vehicles · Off Topic · Clubs

Having trouble posting or changing forum settings?
Check the Forum Help File (FAQ) or contact the webmaster.
View the archived version of this thread.
Built using Phorum Open Source Software

The MG Experience

www.mgexp.com

MG Midget Forum

Convert 76 midget to wire wheels

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!Members Sign In if you've already registered, orRegister a New AccountRegistration is free and takes less than a minute

Join Our Club

MGExp Menu

—

Adjust Text Size

More to Explore

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!

Members Sign In if you've already registered, or
Register a New Account
Registration is free and takes less than a minute