MG Car Repair: 1973 mg midget, spark plug wires, electronic tach

Question
I spoke with you a month ago on my mg and I appreciate your quick and accurate response.   I thought I found the problem. A wire on the bottom of the distributor..well that didnt do it.  The car runs great most of the time. yesterday it was running great and suddenly the tac started bouncing around and it started running rough.  It cleared itself up. Visited friends and headed back home.(only 10 miles or so) the same thing started happening again only this time the engine shut down.  I clutched it and popped the clutch and it started and ran about quarter mile and did it again. This happened 10 more times. I made it home but when it was running bad there was a loud clang noise. this am the car started and seemed ok.  Havent a clue and I hope this sounds easy to you. If possible I would like to talk on the phone.  I am 61 and typing is not my calling. If not, any ideas or info will certainly help.  Thanks,  Brian Smith

Answer
Sounds like an electrical problem  - mostly, i.e., when it runs intermittently. The "clang" I have no idea. I would check all of your spark plug wires and spark plug connectors. Also, as you have already said, recheck all of your low tension (12V) wires to and from the distributor and ignition coil for breaks or bad connectors and connections. The tach runs off of the ignition circuit (electronic tach). If you take your time and make sure everything is clean and well connected you may solve the problem. If you haven't replaced your plug wires and terminals lately - like within the last 5 years. I'd do that. Also replace the points and condenser in the distributor and have them gaped properly. Replace the distributor rotor and distributor cap. In essence I'd suggest a complete ignition tune-up if that hasn't been done. Even if it has been done, did the car run well before the tune-up?  Sometimes things aren't put together just right. Also, next time it happens, wiggle the ignition key and see what happens.

Can't say what the clang could have been, perhaps a backfire and noise from the exhaust?
I can talk on the phone, but I'm not sure what I could do long distance that I can't do on this forum.