My daughter bought a MG Midget with torn apart engine. I Picked up an 87 Coupe last week (it was supposed to be an 88 for my chop top project) with a GREAT running iron duke in it. Anybody know of a Fiero Iron Duke going in a 79 MG Midget?
Reason for thought is Engine is free (to her). I think go back with MG engine (for now).

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Why fight to be accepted by people you don't actually want to be like?

It should be fairly easy

Grab a 5spd from a 3.4 Firebird or like, get the driveshaft modded, mount it, and wire it all up

I know that the engine is free, but seriously, an iron duke in an MG??? If your going to go to the trouble of swaping engines in the car, step up and put an Ecotech in it, that would wake up that MG.

Cheers Beers n Gearz. Joe

What the heck does an ecotec have anything to do with what he was asking? lol

It's his daughters and doesn't run, sounds to me like he just wants it to run, be reliable and cheap

quote Originally posted by RideZiLightning: It should be fairly easy Grab a 5spd from a 3.4 Firebird or like, get the driveshaft modded, mount it, and wire it all up

i havent heard of this particular swap, but i think Lightning's got a good sugestion. i doubt the MG has a computer so the wiring should be pretty straight forward if you throw in the whole Duke wiring harness. i think the most difficult part of the swap would be the driveshaft delimma as i don't know what it would entale to modify it. if you do this you should make a small build thread in he O/T section. i wanna see lol. after i get my indy up to par, i'd like to pick up a Triumph Spitfire and throw in a 7mgte

It just needs to be shortened because the new trans is longer

Most guys that do it usually spend $150 at most to have it done

A duke in a midget! You're almost doubling the HP. But you are also almost doubling the engine weight. Check you engine height and length see if it will clear the hood and radiator. Cooling will be a big issue The midget didn't have much radiator capacity. I've seen a 327 V8 in a MGB so anything is doable.

Dave

A Midget is worth some money repair the original engine or get another. Dont swap a duke in it it is uglier for a start Try keep brands with brands eg a Rover or MG motor not a GM motor.

quote Originally posted by 2farnorth: You're almost doubling the HP. But you are also almost doubling the engine weight. Dave

Seriously. See about getting each engine weighed or see if you can at least find some rough numbers on the weight of each engine for comparison purposes. You may need to bone up the front suspension a bit to keep from bottoming out or you masy even be required to fit some sort of power steering apparatus to overcome the added weight on the front tires.

well not a duke but here is a 2.8
http://www.britishv8.org/MG/BrentLancaster.htm

and here is a 454
http://www.britishv8.org/MG/TomDiCenzo.htm

This is a good place to look at different swaps
http://www.britishv8.org/Photos-MG-Conversions.htm

phreakboy4 you are a "godsend". I agree with the Aussie that restored, these have more value. This one is not of the caliber that you would want to restore. Similar in restoring an old beat-up 87 Fiero coupe with no options and 4-cyl auto. It would NEVER be worth what it would cost to get it back in prestine shape. I have been pushing her towards a MG engine for "speed to drive" and do a conversion later.
Now I'd heard of both the 2.8L V-6 engines going in to one of these. The Ford 2.8L and the Chevy 2.8L. I like the idea of the eco-tech but she is wanting to keep costs down (at this point).
I used to be into "strict restorations" bolt heads had to be the right stamp on the intake type of picky, when I was into mid-year Corvettes and GM muscle cars. Now, almost the opposite. SO if I can put a 3800 SC into a Fiero chop top, why not a engine swap with a MG? Also looking into "flipping" the trunk and making a rumble seat in the rear of the MG.
I guess my dyslexia (sp?) is acting up again. MG-GM looks the same to me on engine swaps.
Thanks again for all of your help and support and yes I will do a "build" on it in here as I want others to see the "mess" I have gotten myself into. Oh BTW, my daugther works on cars so this isn't her requesting ME to do it but rather a request for my assistance.
PFF people are the BEST!

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Why fight to be accepted by people you don't actually want to be like?

Your welcome, my opinion is its her/your car/project. Do what you want and will make ya both happy, get some quality time out of it and memories that neither will ever forget. Personally I like MG's a lot and have looked quite a few times into picking one up, mine would most likely end up in a swap also. With any of my cars, I never have worried about how it will effect future value. I only worry about if I will like it or not. So if you go ahead and do the swap, please do make a thread on it and I will be following closely. Good luck.

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/

I really like this place

I will forward all of these sites to her and let her spend HER spare time trying to figure out what she wants to do with it.
Thanks again for all the sites and if you have more, please feel free to forward them to me. And I will post the project if nothing else, a good laugh.

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Why fight to be accepted by people you don't actually want to be like?

I wouldn't worry about ruining any perceived value. Rubber bumper Midgets really aren't in all that big of demand and as long as the swap is nicely done (i.e. clean/professional looking) it will not hurt the value.

You should look at upgrading the rear end though. The Duke puts out quite a bit of torque, so you might shred some axles or grenade the stock Spridget differential if you romp on it too hard. I have snapped 5 axles and busted 1 or 2 differentials in my Bugeye Sprite.....it has a built '82 Datsun A15 engine that puts out around 100HP. It makes a very nice driver and with twice the power of stock, you can actually keep up with traffic and pass people!

You might get away with the differential and axles that you have though......the later Midget parts werte a bit more beefy than the early ones. You'll find out after you get it finished up and start sdriving it though. I have later axles in mine and haven't busted anything in almost 2 years (and I drive pretty spiritedly).


Here's another website that may or may not help you (most people there are purists who like their stock engines, etc.), but there are a few of us with non-stock motors on there. http://www.britishcarforum.com


Here's another one, but it is really slow......only a few posts per week it seems, but you might find some interesting stuff in the archives. http://www.spritespot.com
Good luck and how about posting some pics???

Someone once told me that the engine from a late 70s early 80s datsun 210 will bolt right into to an MG Midget. 1.5L low maintenance 40+ mpg (in a datsun)

quote Originally posted by RideZiLightning: It should be fairly easy Grab a 5spd from a 3.4 Firebird or like, get the driveshaft modded, mount it, and wire it all up

I will admit, you do make it sound easy.

Jim

She lost interest fast on this thing and has since sold the MG. Thanks for all of your input.

quote Originally posted by Australian: A Midget is worth some money repair the original engine or get another. Dont swap a duke in it it is uglier for a start Try keep brands with brands eg a Rover or MG motor not a GM motor.

The Rover 3.5L V8 came from the great minds at Buick. So there is some indirect precedent. I'd say get the trans from an S-10 rather than a 3.4 Firebird, because the Firebird version is really just an adapted Ford version. The S-10 version is more common, easier to swap, and cheaper. Gearing varied widely in the different T5s, but some 2.5L S-10s also came with an Isuzu 5-speed. Not the same one as the Fieros, obviously.