Obelisk's Garage - Daihatsu Midget II, Mazda MX5 (NC2), racing mower

[Obelisk]

A little more work done to the Midge today:

I got a new bolt to replace the absent wing nut that's supposed to be for keeping the seat closed.

And a chance encounter with a gentleman who knew exactly what this car was resulted in him suggesting that I use aluminum/foil tape for the left hand bed panel - the previous epoxy and superglue fix partly failed and the bottom of the panel separated again.

It's... still a little obvious even with the touchup paint applied, but it's better than the blatantly visible crack that was there previously. With the top panel back on:

Once I have a bit more wiggle room (AKA i can afford the international shipping), I'm going to order a replacement panel for that side.

 

[Obelisk]

It's become readily apparent to me that I'm going to be putting a substantial amount of miles on the Midget in the near future, between recreational driving, errands and travel to and from car shows...

So I put in an order for M6 lifting eye bolts for the bed earlier today. I need a place to properly hook my bungee cords, so I can strap down cargo.

Now, I'm just planning ahead more than anything, but I do want some thoughts from you folks:

The Midget's got four symmetrical pairs of bolts along the sides of the bed that thread into the body (which secure the fenders and bed panels), but I'm not sure which pairs I want to swap for the eye bolts.

Using an older photo already shared in here, marked for visual convenience:

I was thinking of doing the #1 and #3 pairs (4 eye bolts all in) but I'll have enough to do all eight bolts if need be once the order arrives.

 

[Joey D]

I'd just do all 8. There's nothing more irritating than needing to bungie something down and not having the eye hook in the right spot or your bungie being too short to get to the eye hook you need.

 

[wfooshee]

Agreed... do 'em all.

 

[Obelisk]

Making this post more so I have a list to reference for later...

Midge still needs a fair bit of maintenance work. Following is my current to-do:

• Check transmission/transmission fluid
• Check brakes/brake fluid (right rear may be seized and/or there's air in the system)
• Check coolant - red 50/50 premix if I need to replace it
• Check A/C fluid - requires the car to basically be partially disassembled from the front (think it's ok, getting cold air.
• Check rear diff (might be ok)
• Autochoke either busted or needs to be adjusted - car splutters out and dies when started w/o gas pedal depressed just enough to sit at idle after engine catches
• Carb may need to be readjusted (could be a couple of things, car has a slightly high idle)
• Wiper replacement
• Alignment (wheel is crooked to the left when driving in a straight line - doesn't seem to be holding true in that position either)
• Washer fluid pump or tubing is shot, need to replace it (low priority)
• Eye bolts (already on the way, may be a while)

I might have to park it for a while if these issues end up being out of my budget.

 

[Obelisk]

Forgot to share this photo! The Midget went to its first major auto show yesterday.

I'll also be heading up to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum's Japanese car event this Sunday.

Also made what is arguably the most important mod to the Midge last night.

 

[Obelisk]

Had a little problem with tailgaters and people getting annoyed at me at red lights, so...

Yes, it's purposefully misaligned with the window frame. It's also fully behind the head rest, so it won't interfere with my rearward visibility in the Midget.

 

[Famine]

This is the discussion thread for an article on GTPlanet:

Buying a Real-Life Gran Turismo Legend: the Daihatsu Midget II​

As we’ve seen over the years, GTPlanet’s members are a bunch of car enthusiasts at heart. Whether they own something fast or expensive or not, they do love their cars — and a large proportion have had that enthusiasm cultivated by Gran Turismo...

 

[Edax 76]

A fantastic article, thank you. I really enjoyed reading it.

I hope the little Midget II brings you many years of happiness bud.

 

[Chris30]

It looks like you're making good progress from what I've seen. Keep it up.

 

[brockie]

Really good read thank you

 

[JER_CREST]

I have driven one myself and would purchase one in the future.

 

[Obelisk]

Appreciate the kind words, folks!

I do have a small status update on the Midget - I've gotten the wiper replaced. Turns out the wiper blade (of all things on this tiny machine) is a normal-sized 16" one, so I just ran out to Autozone and got a Rain-X wiper for it. Beats trying to wrestle with supply chain issues to get OE ones. Like a number of other things on this car, the old wiper was past its service interval...

 

[Draugnimir]

PD could add this car instead of Toyota HiAce to Gran Turismo 7, I'd take it gladly 😄

 

[Chris30]

This thread is coming a long way, I see in a year it will be so popular that people will be addicted to it, I like these cars that you own. The Midget is a cool thing to drive.

 

[Obelisk]

Making this post more so I have a list to reference for later...

Midge still needs a fair bit of maintenance work. Following is my current to-do:

• Check transmission/transmission fluid
• Check brakes/brake fluid (right rear may be seized and/or there's air in the system)
• Check coolant - red 50/50 premix if I need to replace it
• Check A/C fluid - requires the car to basically be partially disassembled from the front (think it's ok, getting cold air.
• Check rear diff (might be ok)
• Autochoke either busted or needs to be adjusted - car splutters out and dies when started w/o gas pedal depressed just enough to sit at idle after engine catches
• Carb may need to be readjusted (could be a couple of things, car has a slightly high idle)
• Wiper replacement
• Alignment (wheel is crooked to the left when driving in a straight line - doesn't seem to be holding true in that position either)
• Washer fluid pump or tubing is shot, need to replace it (low priority)
• Eye bolts (already on the way, may be a while)

I might have to park it for a while if these issues end up being out of my budget.

Update on this:
I replaced the wiper as mentioned in yesterday's post.
Transmission fluid got flushed this morning. The Midge's transmission felt a lot happier when I was driving it home.
Brakes and brake fluid are A-OK. Mechanics couldn't see any issues or seizing on any of the drums.

This just leaves the coolant, A/C, rear diff, autochoke + carb, washer fluid and alignment.

The overall sentiment that I got from the mechanics today is that this Midge is in very good condition despite everything.

 

[Chris30]

Update on this:
I replaced the wiper as mentioned in yesterday's post.
Transmission fluid got flushed this morning. The Midge's transmission felt a lot happier when I was driving it home.
Brakes and brake fluid are A-OK. Mechanics couldn't see any issues or seizing on any of the drums.

This just leaves the coolant, A/C, rear diff, autochoke + carb, washer fluid and alignment.

The overall sentiment that I got from the mechanics today is that this Midge is in very good condition despite everything.

Great bit of news, I gave this a fire-like just now!! I'm glad it was a smooth ride.

 

[Obelisk]

I found a shop that not only has an alignmemt lift that (barely) accommodates the Midget, but actually has the alignment data in their computer!

Before/after is above.

Those mechanics have my full respect now for being so willing to work on a car as narrow as this. They essentially had no room for error on the lift and they pulled it off.

Of course, the Midget feels even better after getting the alignment, and the steering wheel is no longer off center.

All that's left for major issues is the carb/choke problem.

 

[Obelisk]

The Midget's got four symmetrical pairs of bolts along the sides of the bed that thread into the body (which secure the fenders and bed panels), but I'm not sure which pairs I want to swap for the eye bolts.

Using an older photo already shared in here, marked for visual convenience:

I was thinking of doing the #1 and #3 pairs (4 eye bolts all in) but I'll have enough to do all eight bolts if need be once the order arrives.

I'd just do all 8. There's nothing more irritating than needing to bungie something down and not having the eye hook in the right spot or your bungie being too short to get to the eye hook you need.

Agreed... do 'em all.

Eye bolts arrived yesterday before the show. Didn't want to double post, but did want to update y'all on this - I did all 8 bolts. Photo below of the four on the right hand side right after install.

 

[Obelisk]

Today was a very exciting day!! I took the Midget out to the Friends of Borderland 2nd Annual Car Show and the little truck was a huge hit with almost every. Single. Passerby.

It was so well-received that it won the Staff Favorite award.

I can now say that I have an award-winning car!

 

[Chris30]

Today was a very exciting day!! I took the Midget out to the Friends of Borderland 2nd Annual Car Show and the little truck was a huge hit with almost every. Single. Passerby.

It was so well-received that it won the Staff Favorite award.

View attachment 1396734
View attachment 1396735
View attachment 1396736

I can now say that I have an award-winning car!

Wow, that's so awesome, you do deserve a reward for that beauty!! It's a well-deserved award winning car.

 

[Obelisk]

I went to another show today on a whim, the Great Pumpkin Classic Car Show hosted in Whitman/Hanson, MA.

I won two awards.

Best in Decade - 1990-2000
Special Interest

That means that this Midget has won three awards in a span of 48 hours. I know this sounds a bit like a Ludicrous Claim so I've done the obligatory interior photo with handwritten note (sans beans, sorry!)

 

[Chris30]

I went to another show today on a whim, the Great Pumpkin Classic Car Show hosted in Whitman/Hanson, MA.

View attachment 1397080

I won two awards.

Best in Decade - 1990-2000
Special Interest

View attachment 1397083
View attachment 1397084

That means that this Midget has won three awards in a span of 48 hours. I know this sounds a bit like a Ludicrous Claim so I've done the obligatory interior photo with handwritten note (sans beans, sorry!)

View attachment 1397085
View attachment 1397086

Wow nice, I gave this a super-like. We're going to a pumpkin patch festival too next weekend. Those trophies look special and shiny.

 

[Obelisk]

Between yesterday and today, I spent about 3 hrs replacing the fog lights on the Midget. I got myself a set of HELLA 500s at the recommendation of @Joey D (big thanks!), and they came in yesterday.

To get to the fog light wiring in a Midget you have to:
1) Remove the spare tire + tire cover
2) Remove the assembly that the tire is mounted to
3) Remove the bonnet of the Midget

And the great news for me is that since the Midget already had the fog lamps optioned on, it had a plug and wiring I could reuse.

So I simply unplugged the old fog lights (which were in significantly worse condition than anticipated), pulled them off the front bar, then cut the wires.

The HELLA kit came with a set of butt connectors specifically to splice into existing wiring, so I did that and had the chance to test it out before reinstalling.

Problem is, the mounting pounts for the lamps are in line with the front bumper, so the bar had to come off in order to get proper engagement on the nuts.

After that was all sorted out, I mounted everything on the Midget and got the lamps adjusted.

End result?

One HELLA cool little truck. 😎

 

[Chris30]

Between yesterday and today, I spent about 3 hrs replacing the fog lights on the Midget. I got myself a set of HELLA 500s at the recommendation of @Joey D (big thanks!), and they came in yesterday.

To get to the fog light wiring in a Midget you have to:
1) Remove the spare tire + tire cover
2) Remove the assembly that the tire is mounted to
3) Remove the bonnet of the Midget
View attachment 1398838

And the great news for me is that since the Midget already had the fog lamps optioned on, it had a plug and wiring I could reuse.

View attachment 1398839
View attachment 1398840

So I simply unplugged the old fog lights (which were in significantly worse condition than anticipated), pulled them off the front bar, then cut the wires.

The HELLA kit came with a set of butt connectors specifically to splice into existing wiring, so I did that and had the chance to test it out before reinstalling.
View attachment 1398841

Problem is, the mounting pounts for the lamps are in line with the front bumper, so the bar had to come off in order to get proper engagement on the nuts.

View attachment 1398842

After that was all sorted out, I mounted everything on the Midget and got the lamps adjusted.

End result?
View attachment 1398844View attachment 1398845View attachment 1398846View attachment 1398847

One HELLA cool little truck. 😎

That's great news to hear man, well done on your masterpiece. 🔥

 

[Obelisk]

Got the amber headlights today!

Still need to adjust them, but the innermost adjustment bolt on the left-hand headlight is rusted in place so there isn't much I can do with that one.

Also, interestingly, Midget IIs have three adjustment screws per headlight.

I will say, though, I already appreciate how much less glare I have with amber headlights.

Since Halloween is right around the corner, I decided to make the Midget a bit more spooky.

 

[Chris30]

Got the amber headlights today!
View attachment 1399483
View attachment 1399482

Still need to adjust them, but the innermost adjustment bolt on the left-hand headlight is rusted in place so there isn't much I can do with that one.

Also, interestingly, Midget IIs have three adjustment screws per headlight.

I will say, though, I already appreciate how much less glare I have with amber headlights.

Since Halloween is right around the corner, I decided to make the Midget a bit more spooky.
View attachment 1399486

Nice skeleton, we're gonna get some pumpkins and decorations for Halloween next week too, keep up the great progress man!! 10/10

Can't wait to see what's in store next.

 

[Obelisk]

I've been hearing the AC belt either vibrating or slapping against something under load, so I figured it's time to readjust the tension on the belts (assuming belts have broken in by now). Turns out the serp belts were tight enough to drive the AC and alternator, but not tight enough to be secure. Had to wrestle with them a bit - including a bit of WD40 application because of wear/corrosion on the brackets. Everything is torqued down and the belts have maybe 1/8th inch travel inwards when I press on them.

Currently doing a ton of research on a possible EFI/MFI conversion on the engine. The carb is driving me a bit nuts with the small issues it's been having, and I'd rather switch to EFI/MFI than try to deal with the carb problems. It'll be a better investment in the long run for the engine's health since FI is (afaik) generally more precise than a carb.

Haven't got anything concrete yet, but I have a couple of options:
1) Find a motorcycle/small engine carb to EFI kit that's compatible with a horizontal 660cc engine.
2) Find the EFI system from a '99 or later Midget and somehow get that bolted into this older vacuum line driven system (i really don't wanna have to figure this one out)

Far as I can gather, the EF-CK shares its carb with either the S80P or S100P/S110P series Hijet engines. I really wish there was better documentation for the Midget IIs...

 

[wfooshee]

Ya really need to get one of those Krikit belt tension gauges. I was astonished how much tighter I had to make my Miata belts to reach the 50-pound click on the gauge. Going by deflection just doesn't work without knowing how much force that deflection takes. The things are cheap, 20 or 25 bucks on Amazon.

 

[Obelisk]

Ya really need to get one of those Krikit belt tension gauges. I was astonished how much tighter I had to make my Miata belts to reach the 50-pound click on the gauge. Going by deflection just doesn't work without knowing how much force that deflection takes. The things are cheap, 20 or 25 bucks on Amazon.

Yeah. It's going on the list for when my next cheque comes in.