MG Car Repair: Midget Body Restoration (Spit Roast), wheel nuts, body restoration

Question
Hi

I bought a 1966 MkII Midget earlier this year and I am enjoying it, taking me back to my teens when I had my first old british car(1962 Mini)

I am looking to do some restoration this winter and have seen a "spit roast" type frame available on ebay that allows you to rotate the car to gain easy access to the underside for inspection / repair.

Are there any great risks in using this type of kit or is the chasiis strong enough to support using it?

Thanks for any help

Regards

Tony

Answer

MGB door brace Hi Tony
I like the look of the `spit roast' and think it would work well with a Midget.  However, there is preparation work that you must do before you suspend the car.

I use a roll-over cradle that attaches to the wheel nuts.  It has the advantage that the car is suspended in the way that it was designed, so it is less likely to distort.  The disadvantages are that I cannot remove the front suspension or the rear axle.

In the attached photo I am restoring an MGB GT.  Note the steel bar that I have temporarily welded across the door opening.  This is vital on an open MGB or Midget.  Without it, the car will collapse in the middle.  I have seen badly rusted Midgets where the aperture has closed and the doors will not open.  Imagine what would happen if you turned a Midget upside down, only supported at the ends.  

Apart from the sills, there is one other area that is vital to the rigidity of a Midget.  Behind the seats is a cross-member that is effectively a triangle in cross-section.  Do not attempt to suspend the car before this area has been checked out for strength.  If it needs repair, do it one panel at a time, rather than removing all 3 panels.