MAIN

Drive Train

 1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16  |  17  |  18  |  19  |  20  |  21  |  22  |  23  |  24  |  25  |  26  |  27  |  28  |  29  |  30  |  31  |  32  |  33  |  34  |  35  |  36  |  37  |  38  |  39  |  40  |  41  |  42  |  43  |  44  |  45  |  46  |  47 

Next Page

To quote my friend Norm - it's either a feast of a famine So here's a Mk II Sprite fitted with small block Chev Corvette engine. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=3D1&item=3D4547 154080&category=3D6023 The eBay description reads: 1962 Austin Healey Sprite MKII. (Great restoration project) Hotrod convertible/Roadster. California car, clean body, blue metallic, The mileage on odometer reads 40,136 but is not the original odometer, exac t unknown. Equipped with rebuilt 1972 Corvette V8 Chevy small block 350, 4 bolt main. Engine has crane cam with roller rockers, 4 barrel Holly 650 double pumper dual feed carburetor with Edelbrock 4 barrel intake manifold. Comes... MORE

Sorry to hear about your daughter's experience. My daughter was involved in a huge crash in her Honda Civic. Fortunately, she came out without a scratch, as did her two passengers. The accident was especially scary since she tangled with the mid-section of a loaded Chevron fuel truck. But, as small as a Civic is, the car is designed to be safe, and it gave up its life to protect the lives of its occupants. Hopefully your daughter will get over her very understandable, small car phobia. I'd hate to think she would let go of the "fun" part... MORE

Well all, My daughter has a Miata and I looked it over a few months ago thinking about putting that entire drive train and suspension in my Bugeye. I decided to go ahead and use the A-Series and 5-speed, and update the suspension with air bags. I didn't want to have to buy the Miata and see what I can do. Well, to all you Fathers out there, last night I just got the call all Fathers dred. Yep, Mr. Hahs, this is Sargent Phelps from La Mirada Police Department. You daughter has been involved in an accident, and... MORE

There's an odd noise I can't identify coming from the back of the bugeye when the car is moving. Almost sounds like a muffled bag of tools bouncing around. It doesn't sound exactly metallic, but if you were ruling out sounds, you'd be left thinking that metal is responsible for the sound. It's not a click, grind, whine, rattle. Maybe a bit clunk-ish with a blanket thrown over it. It's repetitive... maybe 1-2 per second. My instinct says driveshaft related. Maybe u-joint? Or some slop somewhere? On to the stupid question you've all been waiting for... I want to... MORE

Could be your speedo or tach is not accurate. 5000 rpm should be nearly 75 mph. Suspension and steering are okay if in good condition, although a BE sharing the road with 18 wheelers is going to get blown around, and can be scary. The drum brakes are not up to interstate speed, and most have replaced them with discs. If you really do want to run at interstate speeds, an upgrade to 1275cc and 3.9 or 3.7 diff, or Datsun 5-speed will do the job. "joe blxfstz" 14866... MORE

Doug....not to butt in, but.... the Frog was made back in '58 for basically British roads/speed conditions back then... same for our conditions here in the states when traffic moved more slowly "back when". Of course, the upgraded 1098's and 1275's did better over here speed-wise. And "over there" later on as well as the British developed their limited access highways as well. However.....upgrade same with front disc brakes, anti-sway bar, wider wheel s and modern (larger tires) and it becomes a nicely stable platform at high er limited access highway speeds, easily handled by a 1275/Datsun 5 speed/3.7... MORE

What's a driveshaft nounted fuel tank? Paul A "Paul Asgeirsson" 14818... MORE

I just replaced my BE seats and foam kits from Victoria British. Blue on Blue Bugeye standard. Woops, just means last August. I don't know what their price is now!! The kit went on pretty well for an novice upholstery guy. the best way to get excellent gass millage is to lie about it!!!! Gas story - I drove from Corvallis, OR to LaGrande, OR a distance of 350 miles. Wanting adventure I stayed off the freeway I5/I84 and crossed the mountains over to Prineville. I filled up in Prinville and As I was leaving town I checked my... MORE

Hmmm...apparently, I got lucky, The PO installed a "shaft/bearing" on the accelerator rod so the pedal rests upon the moveable bearing... Cap'n Bob Smooothly accelerating Frog "Robert E. Shlafer" 14798... MORE

Not sure where you are getting the "15". That is your number not mine. The 100 mile stops are more for me then the car. The only milage that I mentioned was 20-25 at speeds up to 80 or so. Starts going down above 80. Not stuck in 2nd gear but I'm usually at WOT until I get up to speed. "Larry & Sandi Miller" 14803... MORE

I still think 15 is way too little for the amount of work it is doing " at highway speed". I keep records of my vehicles MPGs and here are some other examples. Wifes 1275 Sprite 35 My RBB 32 with moderate Hwy driving in o/d. 1970 350 4 speed Chevelle 24.3 1988 5.0 Mustang GT 5 spd 28 1962 Pont. Bonn. 389 4 spd 18.4 1963 Pont GP 389 4 spd 18 1967 Chevelle SS396 4 spd 15 1974 Buick 455 18 1978 Transam 400 4 spd 17 8500 lb 4x4 dually 454 4.56 gears 11.4 1970 302... MORE

Thanks everyone for the gas pedal mounting ideas. Phil Nase http://home.ptd.net/~nase "Phil Nase" 14784... MORE

On Target with the C&B, Clutch and Brake pedal. I used it that way for ~37 years. The pedal pad matches the others and does not slip. Also doesn't go between the toes when you drive w/o Shoes. Steve "Stephen P. Mers" 14774... MORE

I welded a pad the same size as the C&B, then glued on a pedal pad. Set the height where it fit me. Gave me ~2" more legroom on the go pedal side. Good luckSteve "Stephen P. Mers" 14764... MORE

Larry- You didn't like the angle of the brake pedal so you just removed it? You removed the gas pedal I assume (?) and left the bare gas throttle rod.... Doug in Santa Clara dpecchenino@... 14772... MORE

Hi Doug The stock pedal is too vertical for my taste so yes, I removed it and just use the bare rod. Larry "Larry & Sandi Miller" 14773... MORE

My Bugeye has newer replacement floorpans with the deeper depression under the pedals. The PO just mounted the gas pedal at an angle by bolting one bolt to the flat surface and one bolt to the angled part. I have it out while replacing carpets and I want to remedy this. Has anyone fitted a later gas pedal that just hangs rather than using the organ style. Phil Nase http://home.ptd.net/~nase "Phil Nase" 14751... MORE

Very reminiscent of a mk3 Ford Cortina axle location. I think this leads to a high effective rear roll centre and low roll moment so you may not need much if any sway bar. Drawback can be the side shift of the body with wheel articulation. May not be an issue with the Sprite but I have been offroad in the back of a landrover and it can be quite uncomfortable due to the amount of lateral movement due to this effect. Should be interesting to see the complete project and your impressions. Dave "modsprite" 14736... MORE

Hello all. Well, I finally got the rear end modifications done on my Bugeye. Here is the site where you can take a look at how I triangulated the rear end to give it full flexibility yet no side to side play. Therefor, no pannard rod required. I'll be adding the shock, sway bar, and airbag mounts soon. Can't wait to give it a try. Maybe in say...two months? Greg Here is the site http://community.webshots.com/user/bugeyedude "Greg Hahs" 14735... MORE

I don't see how the steering shaft can not be ground. It is solid steel to the rack, which should be grounded. "joe blxfstz" 14719... MORE

The "hot" wIre from the horn connects to the slip ring in the steering column plinth. the brush rubs against this slip ring and carries power to the horn btton which is the switch. When pressed, this completes the circuit to the steering shaft which is grounded through the steering rack. Check, steering wheel off, whether the slip ring is hot. Just jump it to the steering shaft and the horn should sound. "joe blxfstz" 14718... MORE

Thanks for the response, Paul. I have a schematic too - my question is what are the physical components inside the steering wheel that complete the circuit. As I noted in my earlier note, the steering shaft is not a ground in my BE. So what is used as a ground to complete the circuit when the horn button is pressed? Also, I am looking for input about the horn brush as noted in my previous note. Thanks, John "jch1289" 14717... MORE

I'm still trying to sort out some of the electrical items on my BE. Can someone give a detailed listed of the electrical components that complete the horn circuit from the wire to the steering column to ground? Is the steering shaft itself supposed to be the ground for the horn circuit? Also, I ordered a "horn brush" from Moss and found that it appears to be about 1/4" too long - the horn button won't fit when the brush is installed. Is there a spacer somewhere that I am missing too? Thanks for any information. John "jch1289" 14715... MORE

What is your tire pressure, and are the front springs stock (45 years old?) If it doesn't bounce, feel like you are driving a tank, then something is too soft. All the bugeye's that I rembember driving, you hit a pebble, you felt it. It is like an old apple crate car, solid axle attached directly to the body. No shocks, no sway, sore back on long trips, corners on a dime and gives you nine cents change. Bob, Troutdale, OR "Robert Webb" 14714... MORE

George... thinking about this. Is the front end "swaying" or is the rear end "moving around" the front end....as in broken rear spring or rear spring mounting point? Cap'n Bob Basic Frog "Robert E. Shlafer" 14713... MORE