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Tre, Regarding usinga Bugeye bonnet one a later car. It's been done many times on later cars. Never seen two alike. It, of course, does require removing the front fenders, front valence as well as the bonnet, but this is all bolt on stuff and is easily removed or replaced. Cars ofter the Bugeye has a lip at the outer edge of inner fender along the wheel arch to inhibit dirt from getting between the fender and the outer footwell. This would be in the way of a one piece bonnet. The only other modification would be some hardware... MORE
Tre, Converting to disk brakes is about the smartest upgrade you can do to your car. When you go looking for parts you should also try to get the lower A-arms because if your car still has front drums then it probably still has the older a-arm design too. Then all you need to do is attach the a-arm to the frame and the top of the kingpin to the trunnion=85 and it's done, other than connecting the brake lines, calipers and wheels. And as long as you have the calipers off, throw in a rebuild kit. The =BE... MORE
Forrest, glad you made the trip. After I replied to you, I saw a old Club member that has a Spitfire and he is in the same type of delima that your in. He has a set of Western Wheels and needs some 3/8-24 lug nuts of the same style (Large diameter with washer). Put out some feelers for what you both need, but so far all I have found are 7/16" stud sized ones. Don't give up the ship, there are guys on this board that know a lot about BE's and where to find the parts to... MORE
I HAVE A '59 BEAND A FULL SET OF 5X13 MINILITES I WOULD LIKE TO USE. WHAT SIZE SPACERS FRONT AND REAR SHOULD I USE, AND WHO OR WHERE CAN I FIND THE PROPER LUG NUTS(SLEEVE TYPE) I NEED. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED (THANKS STEVE FOR THIS ADDRESS) I'M TOLD BY MINILITES (UK) THAT THIS WHEEL IS RARE AND WAS ONLY PRODUCED FOR COMPETITION- TWO RAISED FINS AT EACH LUG HOLE, WITH A 67 MM LUG HOLE. ???? dolan-laughlin@... 1860... MORE
Gerard, Thanks for your thoughts, I have never seen the conversion done, so I bow to your superior knowledge... I had guessed that after taking off the hood, you'd have to take off the front wings (containing the headlights) to some degree - are these 'fenders' in American, or have I used the wrong term? Anyway, I shouldn't get excited or about cutting up Spridgets; OK they're not Bugeyes but they deserve to be treated with respect and left in standard form. What I really need at the moment is help with brakes; what should the pedal feel &... MORE
Yes, it is that bad. More pictures could possibly change it's value, but not much. Where are you located? Perhaps this board can help you look. In '99 I went to California and picked one up and brought it back home to AR in the back of an UHaul 6x12 trailer. Timing is everything, or is that money is everything? How Much $$$ (Cubic Dollars) do you have for this car? I know a guy that has put some Bugeyes together for folks and he is getting $20K for a clean title/running units that have all parts replaced that... MORE
Bob, Yes, it is possible, but you have (I understand...) to cut away the front fenders to expose the wheelarches like the Bugeye. It has been done, I missed buying a HAN7 (1098 engine/Disc brakes/side screens) Sprite retro converted to Bugeye shape with fibreglass panels - good value, but needed some tidying. Also, the Healeys experimented with all sorts of shapes (See Eric Dymock's book - Bugeye rear with Mk 2 fronts). Interesting possibilities..... All The Best Tre waiting for '59 to return from the dead! "Trelawny Burt" 1848... MORE
Hi Guys, A word from over the pond; just collected my mail and caught the 'later Sprite/Midget' discussion from earlier and thought (if you don't mind) I'd thow in my ha'porth [2c worth over there?]. I live in Bournemouth - south coast of England (100 miles south of London) and am restoring a late '59 Bugeye that has been resting for over 25 years. I saw a GAN6 Midget advertised in the local paper a few weeks ago and have seen it re-advertised every week since...the restoration is going slowly so I thought I might run a cheap 'other'... MORE
Dan, I've been watching the e-mails and will now offer my two cents. My Mark II was built and delivered and sold in '61, however, it was titled as a '62. This was a quirk of the registration system in Deleware at that time. New cars sold after a certain date, determined by tag renewal, were titled as the next (tag) year. In your case, ie, salvage title, someone probably just made a guess as to year and since '61 was the first production year and it was still a 948 vice a 1098 guessed '61. As it has... MORE
I don't think that is all that uncommon. I have a 1960 Bugeye (BMIHT says "made" June 1960) that is registered as a '59, and a door number plate (the wrong one) was used as a VIN number. People lose titles and new buyers guess or take the word of someone that doesn't really know (or care). Some states don't actually have titles, (I think more common in southern states), so that is a possible source of the problem too. Do you know why it has a salvage title? Was it wrecked or maybe it was "built" on the... MORE
Gilly- I do not really know because I am not educated enough to know, really. I've always been into "tuned" 1275's or Supercharged Bugeyes. The fellows who work on these cars on a day by day basis (e.g., Gerard) or supply parts for these cars, are the real experts in these matters as they see most of these cars on a day by day basis and therefore, become very knowledgeable or know people who "know" what they do not know! Gerard is "the man" along with others of his ilk. Great little car though, and certainly worth having it... MORE
Gilly- I think Gerard is offering you good advice, here, concerning making phone inquiries as to your "problem" before going down to the DMV in person. My Bugeye's PO listed the original 948cc engine number as the vehicle identification number. as the frame plate was lost during restoration and repainting. Subsequently, he replaced the original 948cc motor with a 1098 have no engine plate number, and lost the original 948cc identification plate, also. So, I bought a car with no identification plates matchng the number listed on his registration (title) certificate. I figured I would re-register the car in... MORE
If you mean a standard (stock) 948 A series engine the correct description is OHV (overhead valve) James "James Bilsland" 1806... MORE
Forgot to reply to the other questions. Engine is SOHC (Single overhead cam) Approximate weight is 660kg. Gerard pixelsmith@... 1804... MORE
I'm working on my california melee form to send in on wed and I'm kind of stumped. I found my chasis number AH522782 but I need to find out the "quantity" of the frogeyes that were made that year and the engine type of my car. I have a stock 948. So single cam motor maybe? Oh and I need to fill out my manufacturers curb weight. Can anyone help? mike aarset sacramento, ca "Mikus Ripper" 1801... MORE
G'day Bernard, Originally i went the way of putting a ribbed case gearbox behind a 948cc motor, and due to the different backing plates mentioned by Gerard, the first time in the car, the clutch would not release. The difference in thickness of the backing plates meant that the splines on the gearbox first motion shaft were actually binding on the centre of the clutch friction plate, so even though the clutch was released, the plate was driving the first motion shaft. My solution at the time was to machine a small amount off the splined section on the... MORE
948cc the splines on of the plate was splined forced the and you will from Make sure pressure, the tacho driven mod, and later on to traffic, sway bar, electric now at 9.7:1 CR enjoyable. the back online build and bernard.lemaire6@... 1792... MORE
948cc the splines on of the plate was splined forced the and you will from Make sure pressure, the tacho driven mod, and later on to traffic, sway bar, electric now at 9.7:1 CR enjoyable. the back online build and bernard.lemaire6@... 1791... MORE
Hello all, I am in the midst of a complete restoration and are wondering what color some of the components in my engine should be. I know the engine is green, fan blades yellow, and that the radiator and arms fastening it to the body are black. The pedal box is also to be black I believe, what parts? Are the actual pedals black also? Also, I am having the body repainted old english white. what parts do i also need to give the painter toi be painted?? thanks, troy Harker tro4@... 1786... MORE
Thank you Joe! Better ones coming still. Everything is installed except the clutch master cylinder that I'm still waiting to be returned from the platers. I'm waiting to take some more pics until that's in the car. The engine paint is Dupli-color high temp engine enamel. Any paint of course needs a really clean surface fro it to stick right, especially on an engine. It's even more the case with the aluminum color. I don't recommend using it it you don't spend the time prepping the surface really well. It doesn't have good rust inhibiting properties, si I recommend... MORE
Bernard, Not much involved really. Everything will bolt up using the same mounts. The main thing you need to aware of is that if you use the original smooth case trans, you should use the 948 backing plate on the engine. This will requires some slight modification of the opening for the crank and oil pump. It would be best however, if you also use the ribcase trans from a later car also. There is a fellow on this list living in Dijon who is just finishing a Bugeye restoration, but he's due to arrive in the states (along... MORE
Hello everybody I wish to replace my 948 cc engine by a 1275 cc unit. Could anyone who did this before provide me with info please. Greetings from Paris Bernard bernard.lemaire6@... 1774... MORE
Gerard: Great pics ! I've seen some of your other restorations. You've really outdone yourself on this one, What kind of engine paint are you using? I've seen the same silver color on some of your other motors. What is it? J.S. Burruso Joseph Burruso 1775... MORE
I have a set of slotted mags that I would like to put on my Bugeye but I ca n not seem to find mag lug nuts to fit the original studs. Does anyone know where I may find these? They need to be sleeved. "Sean Edmonds" 1720... MORE
need advice: doing a ground up on a 60 frogeye. 4 1/2 years so far. working in engine bay now and have about half way cleaned up. problem is heater plemun deck that heater box sits on is in VERY bad shape, almost like cheese cloth from holes rusted in it. what is best solution. thanks. Leroy Valentin "Carol & Leroy Valentin" 1717... MORE
