Took my '79 Midget (Growler) out this morning for an early morning run to run
the gas tank low and officially ended it's season and started working on
draining everything to pull the engine on Sunday morning and embark on its
engine rebuild. So at 99,354 miles, an era ends. Too bad the sudden
overheating it exhibited this Fall knocked off my planned trip to the NAMGBR
AGM in St. Paul, Minnesota. That trip would have put me over 100K and I'd be
writing to Jai Deagan. Something to look forward to next year!
I have not pulled out the engine myself in the time I have had the car since
I bought it in 1981 with 25,000 miles on the clock. It was out once in 1990
for a clutch replacement by a shop that I regret having taken it to. It
probably needed a clutch slave cylinder which didn't get replaced and not all
the things that I ended up paying for. But I was working 60 hours a week at
the time and had to get it operable for the accursed emissions test. Anyway,
its coming out this weekend and will be taken to a shop where I can assist
with the disassembly work and get help in assessing what it needs. We think
it had a hard life in those first 25,000 miles. A few years back, it was used
for a club tech session demonstrating replacement of rod bearings from
beneath with the engine left in place. The tech session went off track when
we pulled out the first bearing and found 20-overs installed and we only had
new standard and 10-overs on hand.
As to the Midget vs. GT question - I'm glad it worked out as it did. Just not
a decision I would want to make. I have had my Midget for 18 years and if I
had to get rid of my MGs, it would be the last to go - despite being a
Midget, despite the Spitfire engine, despite the rubber bumpers. It has taken
me to the East coast on a great adventure trip with one of my best friends.
It took me to the West coast on a 5000+ mile solo trip that I still look back
on with amazement. To New Orleans with my wife and a caravan of great friends
we have made through the Chicagoland MG Club. To 4 NAMGBR National
Conventions. But the GT I have had since '83 is fondly regarded as well. And
the MGA. And the chrome bumper 1275 Midget that Bill Hedrick and I go on
Endurance Rallies in. They are all great cars.
Kim Tonry
Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
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