MG Car Repair: distributor, air gap, triumph spitfire

Question
hi, i have a 1975 mg midget. i got it for 200 dollars and it sat under a tarp for 2 years. it has a 1974 triumph spitfire distributor that is pretty loose, but fits. is the spitfire distributor going to work, or should i get a mg distributor,also the spark plugs wont spark. is that because of the spitfire distributor?

Answer
Hi Wesley,
The 75 Midget has a Spitfire engine so yes, a Spitfire distributor should work.
If you don't have any spark it is because something is wrong and that can be many things. You need to first tell me if the distributor is pointed or electronic. Then you need to test the coil by first confirming it is powered and then test the coil. And coil wire, cap and rotor and plug wires. If it is pointed you need to set the gap and confirm that the points cam opens and closes the points and that they are grounding the coil when closed. If it is electronic you just need to set the air gap and confirm that it's wiring is correct and then if it don't work the module is probably bad.
Howard