MG Car Repair: 1973 Midget, wiring components, mg midget

Question
I have a 73 MG Midget that I have semi-restored. The local High School Auto tech class last winter went thru it and it runs great......when it wants to.   On some occasions, more often than not, when I go to start the car it will crank excellant  but wont start. Almost like I am getting no spark. If I go into the house and forget about it for a while I can go back out and it will start. There is gas in the fuel filter and like I said it runs great.  Behind me I can hear a fuel pump ( I think) Could that be the problem or electrical.  The wires are new, points are new.  Coil is not. Love the car but I wish it ran when I want to go cruising.  Hope you can help....Thanks in advance....Brian Smith

Answer
Hi Brian:
Check over all of your ignition system wiring components and connections, particularly the grounding points and the ground strap from the engine/trans to the main frame of the car they should all be clean and tight. If you hear the fuel pump "clicking" then it is working, but you could check to see that you have fuel at the carbs as a second check. Coil is likely not the problem as they rarely fail, but they can. If you have a good spare you can always change it out and see if that corrects your problem. Usually coil failures are related to heat.
Hope these things help get things sorted.

Brian