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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1971 RWA height from ground

In another thread, Matt commented:
Roly, your back end looks very high! I had that trouble till I found my front leaf spring hangers were on upside down.


So I went and had a look and they are correctly installed. Then I went and ploughed impotently through Haynes, Practical Classics and the BL manuals. And then a trawl through the archives found Andrew stating his were 23.5" to the middle of the arch. Mine are 24.75". Maybe it will settle down as there clearly there was a lot of dismantling/reassembly work carried out on the car during the last 12 months.

The question is what would one think is the optimum height from ground to the middle of the rear round wheel arch?

Should I even be concerned? I am 14 stone so ground clearance is helpful to the wellbeing of the exhaust...

Thanks

Roly
Roly

Roly if the car is basically level then the height is of lesser importance other than affecting the center of gravity. The thing you don't want is the rear much higher than the front which will reduce the built in caster angle and lead to poor handling. If the springs are relatively new then they will tend to settle with usage. If the lower edge of the rocker panel to ground measurement is within 1/2" front to rear then I wouldn't worry about it for a while. Any more and I think I'd consider making some lowering shims to fit between the spring and axle. You should be able to fit about 1/2" of shim without having to get new U-bolts, anything more than that and I'd get a lowering block kit.
Bill Young

Roly,
The back of mine used to be much the same height off the ground as yours. (the front was too!) I never really noticed until I went to MGCC Silverstone and saw her in a line of other midgets and she looked like she was on stilts. One front and rear lowering kit later and I have dropped to about 23 inches at the top of the rear arch and handling has improved immeasurably. To do it properly I should probably go for new springs front and rear but from what I hear spring supply is a very hit and miss affair at present.
Here's the before and afters

Before:


Matt 1275 Bucks

After:


Matt 1275 Bucks

PS I wouldn't worry too much about the grounding. I weigh more than you and its fine!
Matt 1275 Bucks

Living where you do, I'd get that suspension as high as I could...
Geoff Mears (1970 Midget)

Matt

thanks for the images.

---
Geoff

When the river comes up there is an Amphicar that comes out and plays.

Roly
Roly

Matt 1275 Bucks, nice car, what year & colour is it? Is the paint original.

Thanks

Paul
P R Clark

Paul,
Thanks. Its a 73 and dare I be facetious and say "green"? Actually I am pretty keen to find out the exact colour as I need some touch up paint. It's a heritage reshell done by the PO and whilst I have a fairly comprehensive rebuild file and have spoken to the chap the only info on the paint colour was on the painters invoice for "brg - darkest shade" I have to say I've seen darker!
I'm looking forward to Spridget 50 and finding some other BRGs to park next to to compare colours and find out paint codes!

Matt
Matt 1275 Bucks

Matt,
I think your colour is GN29.

Looks similar to my BRG colour - attached photo - now a little more complete.

Any body want a 10" steering wheel !

Richard.


richard boobier

Speaking of Amphicars... on my way through Southern California a week or so ago, I happened to notice an older model Corvette in a guy's driveway... Parked next to it was a vehicle under a tarp... with propellers ;-)
David "Only in SoCal!" Lieb


David Lieb

Richard,
It looks like you're right. If I blacked the sills and put it back on Rostyles we could have twins! Maybe for Gaydon!
Matt 1275 Bucks

Matt / Richard,

The colour is similar to my own car although I too don't know the exact shade as it was repainted by a previous owner. Hence my question.

I would have guessed at BLVC25 but tough to be sure without a paint chart & the vehicle.

I'm having a Heritage shell delivered next month & need to choose the colour soon.

Thanks

Paul
P R Clark

My '71 Sprite was also redone by the PO. He told me it was BRG. I took the car to match the paint at a paint shop and the closest match was Triumph BRG 1974. GN29 was a shade lighter.

Steve
Steve Church

Paul,

Are you going on the visit to the factory on the 19/20th March ? may see your shell in build that would be brilliant !
It was advertised on this board a couple of weeks ago.

I was undecided and bought a couple of aerosols from Moss before i finally chose mine.

Richard.
richard boobier

Richard, regret I'm not going on factory tour. Can't afford a new shell & a day off work!

Keep an eye open for one with a "no holes" rear valance. That's the only distinguishing feature of mine.

Enjoy the trip, please post photo's in due course.

Regards

Paul
P R Clark

This thread was discussed between 27/02/2008 and 07/03/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.