[Spridgets] Trying to start up the old MG

[Gerard]

Kevin,

OK, I gotta chime in here... All great suggestions so far, however no  
one has mentioned that you will most likely have NO oil pressure after  
the car has been sitting for this long. Once you have followed all the  
previous tips, especially the Marvel Mystery Oil and old gas issues,  
you should not try to start the engine without first making sure it  
develops some oil pressure on the gauge. My experience is that no  
amount of cranking, even with the plugs out, will give you any oil  
pressure. You can try, but even engines I've tried to fire after  
sitting even a couple years will have already drained all the oil from  
the oil pump. With the pump completely dry, it will only suck more air.

An easy way to deal with the issue is to remove either the pressure  
relief valve or the banjo bolt at the oil filter bypass connection at  
the block. Both these are 15/16" hex head, located  at the right rear  
of the engine block, just below the cylinder head. The pressure relief  
valve is the one with the domed head and is below the filter bypass  
connection. If you remove the bypass one, there will be a spring and a  
small piston you will need to remove. Depending on the size of your  
little finger, you may be able extract the hollow piston by inserting  
your finger, otherwise, use a small magnetic wand. If you remove the  
banjo bolt, take care not to lose the copper washers on either side of  
the pipe connection. A few squirts of oil with an oil can or a squeeze  
bottle will usually do the trick. Reinstall whichever parts you  
removed and crank it with the plugs out until you start to see the  
needle move on the oil pressure gauge. Once you have pressure, and  
your carbs are de-shellacked of old gas, clean the plugs before re- 
installing and make sure you have spark. Depending on the  
environmental conditions where the car was stored, you may be  
surprised that it will start and run fine, though it may smoke for a  
while.

One more thing. The cooling system will probably need a good cleaning.  
There will be corrosion between the cast iron head and the aluminum  
thermostat housing and you could have enough rust build up in the  
system that passages are blocked. The thermostat will likely be toast  
too.  Make sure to flush the system well before letting it run for any  
length of time.

Good luck!

Gerard
http://gerardsgarage.com/

On Jul 14, 2010, at 11:00 AM, spridgets-request at autox.team.net wrote:

> From: Kyle Werner <kmwerner at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Spridgets] Trying to start up the old MG
> To: "Spridgets" <Spridgets at autox.team.net>
> Date: Monday, July 12, 2010, 8:24 PM
>
>
> Hey forum,
> I recently brought home my dad's MG midget 1970 (1275cc) and I'm  
> hoping to
> get it running and fixed up. I've been quickly going through all the
> interior stuff, but thats not my real problem.
>
> The car sat in my grandparents barn for 26 years with no starts or  
> anything.
> Right now, the electrical system works (surprisingly enough!), and  
> we have
> dash lights, horn, etc. all good. When i turn the ignition, the  
> engine lets
> out a loud click, and nothing happens.
>
> I'm going to get together with some friends tomorrow and do general
> maintenance, (oil, carbeurators, fuel, etc.) but does anybody have  
> any ideas
> as to where i might start with this?
>
> I have access to basically any tool you can imagine, and my plan  
> right now
> is to *carefully* rebuild the engine. I'm thinking that it is seized  
> up from
> the inside pretty good after a long wait.
>
> Thanks for any ideas,
> -Kyle Werner