We moved the Midget to my garage where it is now keeping my Spitfire company.

First, I cleaned the entire car - exterior and interior.

Spent a lot of time on the boot, trying to remove the tar that is all over it.

Then I did removed the luggage rack and started cleaning it using steel wool and WD40.

It's in pretty rough shape and I don't know if I can save it.

The bumper if from a 1969 or earlier Midget.  The over riders are not correct for 1971.

The rear bumper is also from a 1969 or earlier Midget.  It should have a split rear bumper and different over riders.

As you can see in the photo, the right side is bent.  I'll try to straighten it, but will also search for a correct split bumper to replace it.

Got most of the tar off the boot using Purple Power cleaner!

Also removed the carbs and fixed the leaking float bowl by replacing the stripped plastic fitting with a nice brass one we found at the local auto parts store.  The motor starts right up and runs great.  Still haven't freed the stuck clutch yet. 

Won an original Midget jack on ebay!  Now I'm watching a tonneau cover and top cover.

Tuesday, April 19 -  Today I disassembled the front bumper and straightened the bumper bracket.  The center bolt was bent and stripped, so that will have to be replaced.

Also, I made a pressure bleeder for the brakes using a $10 pump garden sprayer from my local Ace Hardware store. 

I found a fitting that screwed right on the sprayer and allowed me to attach a clear tube.

I'll use it to try to bleed the clutch system , since the clutch is still not working. 

Started jacking up the car to put on jack stands and my floor jack started leaking!  It needs a new plunger gasket....another item to pick up tomorrow at my Ace Hardware store.

April 20 - Today I removed the rear bumper.  One end is really bent:

I was able to straighten it pretty well:

Then I cleaned and painted the bumper brackets.

While the bumper was off, I cleaned more of the tar off the rear of the car, removing the back up lights and cleaning around them. 

Also, straightened the boot latch so now it actually closes!

Then I spent most of the day working on the clutch problem.  First I tried bleeding the system using my homemade power bleeder and had mixed results.  I need an extra cap so it will seal up better.

Then I removed the slave cylinder and bled it again.  Still no luck.  I need to find a better way to bleed the slave cylinder as I am convinced that there is still air in the system.

That's all for today.

April 24 - While trying to figure out a better way to bleed the clutch slave cylinder I discovered a small access hole in the passenger foot well that allows much easier access to the slave cylinder!  Now we could properly bleed the clutch slave cylinder.  It took only about 10 minutes, but we were able to bleed it and ....

viola...the clutch works!!!!

Since the car is missing the gas pedal, I purchased a new one.  When I went to install it, I discovered a mess under the carpet:

Someone had pop riveted a piece of metal, aluminum I believe, over the rusty floor pan, but had left the bracket for the gas pedal open. 

Unfortunately it is rusted through, so I will have to install some new sheet metal in order to attach the new gas pedal to a solid floor.  That's for tomorrow.

Monday, April 25 -

Today I worked on the hole in the driver's floor pan.  Since there was already an aluminum patch, I couldn't weld in new metal to aluminum, so I riveted in a patch of 20 gauge sheet metal, then sealed it up with fiberglass so it won't leak.

 It's not the prettiest fix, but it will work.  Replacing the entire floor pan is a big job for another day.

The door seal on the driver's side was coming apart, so I used contact cement to glue it back on. 

A new door seal would be better, but we are on a budget.  I think it will hold fine.