Milwaukee Midget

[fordboy628]

Weekend Update . . . . . part trois . . . . .

Sorry, no photos yet for this . . . . .

I'm thinking that in the real alloy adaptor plate, that the gearbox attachment fasteners need to be some type of hardened studs.

I'll pick up 10 - it looks like a pair of extra mounting holes may magically reappear once the plate is finalized.

midget,

I talked to the esteemed Mr. Wiggle Pin, and of course he still wanted to use flat head socket cap screws, mainly since it was his idea.   BUT, I checked the McMaster-Carr catalog, and guess what?   Not available fully threaded in the lengths required.

Whether they are available in said lengths from another supplier, in Gr 8, remains: unresearched.     Up to you whether you want to do the "snipe hunt" on this.    I'm OK with the studs.    I'm not OK with using "ungraded" and unknown manufacturer (Gr ?) bolts/screws.

Final mockup plate will be delivered to the "skunkworks" on Monday.    Photo shoot to commence, time permitting.

I'll order the shcs bolts for the starter mount.    I favor 1/4" over 6mm because the head diameter on 1/4" is .375 Ø Vs 10mm Ø (.390") for the 6mm.   Go figure . . . . .     Since the side of the starter needs to be relieved for bolt head clearance, smaller seems better in this instance.    It's going to depend on the thickness of the starter casting.

 
Fordboy

[fordboy628]

Happy Birthday Mr. Midget! ! !
58, an age I remember fondly . . . . . . .

SO, does this warrant a day off from Human Resources?

And, more importantly, will that "free day" be spent south of the "cheddar curtain" at the "skunkworks"? ? ?

    
Co-conspiritorboy

[Queeziryder]

Happy Birthday Mr. Midget! ! !
58, an age I remember fondly . . . . . . .

SO, does this warrant a day off from Human Resources?

And, more importantly, will that "free day" be spent south of the "cheddar curtain" at the "skunkworks"? ? ?

    
Co-conspiritorboy

Hey Chris

Many happy returns from the other side of the pond

Neil

Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk

[handyguy]

   I have used allen head in tight spots ..

[WOODY@DDLLC]

Another solar orbit completed! 
Don't let the hair thing slow you down! 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Another solar orbit completed! 
Don't let the hair thing slow you down! 

Ahhh - the science of hair products meeting laminar flow.

I may just grab the razor and be done with it.  Might pick up an extra mph in my MGB - if it ever gets warm enough for a top-down commute.

Thanks, Woody!

[Stainless1]

Happy Birthday Mr Midget.... 
Don't let gray hair worry your Rock n Roll... look at all the bands touring.... again...
I noticed Doc Goggles is getting lighter around the edges as well   
So my conclusion.... building LSR vehicles and racing causes that....

I'll toast your birthday later today.... I want to get a little car building accomplished first... 

[JimL]

Chris, I don't see the walk-in bevel on the back of the flywheel ring gear teeth.  It looks in the pics as if it is on the back side opposite the starter.

I have had to hand grind each tooth in situations where the starter changed position from back to front.  It is nothing precise; just enough bevel to let the Bendix gear start walking its way into full engagement. 

[Podunk]

Happy Birthday Chris,
Be happy you have hair no matter what color it is.
Terry

[Milwaukee Midget]

Chris, I don't see the walk-in bevel on the back of the flywheel ring gear teeth.  It looks in the pics as if it is on the back side opposite the starter.

I have had to hand grind each tooth in situations where the starter changed position from back to front.  It is nothing precise; just enough bevel to let the Bendix gear start walking its way into full engagement. 

That's a good catch - most people wouldn't have seen that degree of detail.

I'm aware of it - but not really too concerned.

The original Lucas engagement draws the pinion into the ring gear from the back, rather than forcing it out, as is the case with a Nippon or Denso style starter like this.

Yes, I should heat up the flywheel and flip it - but -

I've been running this style of starter on both the Midget and my MGB (almost 13 years) and have never had a problem.  I'd say half the replacement starters in my local MG club are also of this variety, and I know of nobody who has needed to address it.

[Rex Schimmer]

Mark,
Regarding your thread choice for the oil block, do you have a -10 "O" ring seal porting tool? Probably not but I'll bet you have a 1/2 NPT tap. I am not a real fan of pipe threads but a -10 port tool is probably $50+..

Looking good, the flywheel retention and location devices look good for at least 350HP+!

rex

[Milwaukee Midget]

Heads up, Mark - Fasteners are on order - hopefully you'll see them by Friday.

[Harold Bettes]

Mr. Tall Midget,

A very happy birthday to you.  

Enjoy your day and have a couple of fingers of The Famous Grouse to top it off. Sniff and taste and you will hear the pipers playing you a tune for your birthday.

I think I will now go upstairs and chase a bit of The Famous Grouse myself and will drink to your good health and more.

Regards,
HB2
still waiting for springtime in the Rockies

[Peter Jack]

All the best Chris. May your year include new records! 

Pete

[Milwaukee Midget]

Being 58 seems okay - but I've only had one day's experience at it.

All the best Chris. May your year include new records! 

Pete

PJ, Thank you for that.

If that happens, I'll be spending the better part of September sending out "Thank You" notes. 

And it will have been due in no small part to the encouragement, camaraderie, insight and support that I've received from everyone who has joined us here on this journey. 

This build diary keeps me to task.  I recommend it to anybody thinking about doing this, because without a document like this, it would be easy for someone like myself to become distracted and lose perspective.

In June, it will have been 10 years that I have been working on this project. 

On my wall, I have a thank-you plaque from my local MG club for an event we hosted talking about Bonneville, a Certificate of Appreciation from the New England MG T Register where I spoke about MG's land speed racing successes in Bennington, Vermont, four awards from various car shows I've taken the Midget to, a 2013 "Performance Award" from Speedweek, my "World of Speed" certificate and trophy, two timing slips from the last event at Maxton - and my favorite - my first "130 mph club" pass time slip - 22 mph and change. 

The car's been on calendars, magazine covers and blogs, and got me a pair of radio interviews.

For a car that I've driven less than 60 miles, it's taken me a lot of places.

And all of this time, Kate has been unwavering in her support.  And she likes to travel.

I absolutely LOVE doing this, and I'm grateful people still find it interesting.

Slim - Thank you for keeping this forum going.

Mark - Thank you for sharing your technical wisdom here.  If not for the facts, it would be like 10 years "Stupid Joke Friday".

To all of you.  Thank you.