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From what I can tell the hose shown in the Moss catalogue is not like the original used in the Bugeye and early MKII Sprite and MKI Midget. Most folks seem to use standard aluminum dryer duct that you find at Home Depot as a replacement, works just as well as that from Moss or the original. The original was a rather crude affair of black rubber (perhaps it was vinyl) sheet wrapped around a spiral of wire forming a tube with a somewhat smooth surface. It was very prone to crush and flatten out of shape. Don't know... MORE

Tim, I don't quite follow what you have said what you have done But all you had to remove was the brake drum, then the two posi screws holding the half axle to the hub, remove the half shaft, and undo the 1 7/8" nut that holds the hub on the axle housing which has the studs. Biff Jones '59 Bugeye, 'Kermit' '62 Sprite, 'Ole Gray' '71 Midget, 'Freebie' http://sprites2.homestead.com/ "Biff" 9113... MORE

Hi. A little bit of help needed here. I have bought a 59 Frogeye in the US of A that will need a bit of working doing to it when it arrives back in its new home town of Warwick UK about one mile from the Donald Healey Cape works. This is not the problem however. While the car was being manhandled at the Port in Houston TX, the guy from the wharehouse broke the Right hand brakelight lens. Now the Warning , I have taken out there most expensive shipping insurance but apart the ship actually sinking ,... MORE

I am trying to remove the rear axle half shafts so that I can put in longer studs for my new set of minilite wheels. I have removed the brake drum and pads, unbolted the four retaining flange bolts, and removed the axle flange locating screw. The inner flange is loose but the axle won't budge. What am I missing? Do I need some sort of wheel puller? Tim C. "Tim L. Creger" 9111... MORE

A buddy of mine, living in Germany during March of 1963, got the following quote from the Austin Motor Car Co., Ltd., Motor Export Corporation, Ltd. of Piccadilly, London on a new AH3000... A-H 3000 Sports Conv. L865.00.00 (Mono or DuoTone) Prod. Line fitted extras: Heater 15.10.00 Overdrive 50.00.00 Wire Wheels 25.00.00 Adj. Steering Col. 2.00.00 Tonneau 10.00.00 Knockoffs (ea. wheel) 1.06.00 Servo Ass't. Brakes 10.00.00 *Steering Lock 4.10.00 *Wing Mirror 1.11.04 * = Compulsory in Germany A hardtop is not currently available thru the Personal Exports Divison Anyone care to do the exchange rate math at "yesterday's" prices,... MORE

G'day Jim I agree with you - and with Don Empty the tank (doesn't your tank have a drain plug?), drop it out, remove the 4 screws on the top of the sender unit and have a peek inside. It's basic 1940's technology in there, nothing electronic. You will have dirty contacts or a broken wire, and the unit may very well be repairable, free, by yourself. avagoodday Colin connectors above your passenger's right knee (could be under the dash, or could be inside the engine bay) logic, works the opposite to what you would expect: gets through the... MORE

And if your tank doesn't have a drain plug, It probably isn't original... 4 screws?? I thought there were 6 or 8. I put silicone on the float rod, and worked it back an forth. The electronicts worked and with the lubercant, so did the float. Bob, Troutdale, OR "Robert Webb" 9100... MORE

Hi All, I have a Bugeye tach that has been converted to electric. Palo Alto Speedo did the work. I had to supply a Bugeye tach, tell them if I would be running pos or neg ground, electronic ign. or points. They returned a very nice Bugeye tach with VDO internals. No more dynamo no more tach drive gear box(s) to fail again and again. Looks original from the drivers seat. Cost me ~ $200 Mark Hanna (Colorado) "an5lmh" 9091... MORE

G'day Mike The reason you are having trouble finding your 6,000 rpm electronic tacho is...... it doesn't exist. The 6,000 rpm Bugeye tachos were not electronic, but cable driven off the generator (or, if you prefer, dynamo). The electronic tachos (Mk III Sprite etc) all read to 7,000. If you want a 6,000 rpm tacho, you will need to make one out of a later electronic unit and the face of a (preferably non-working) Bugeye tacho. avagoodday Colin "Colin@SpriteParts" 9081... MORE

I seem to remember that a Triumph Spit had an overdrive unit and some have put in in Sprite/Midgets. I am sure others know more details about that than I do. Cheers, "Robert D. Gardner" 9089... MORE

I was just throwing out a bone no one had chewed on yet guys. I agree that you should be able to remove the ugly thing and properly replace it with your nicly restored car but....The ID tag issues are really true and can come up with "newbies" buying their first car to the unaware casual "good deal". I can throw a few "ID TAG HORROR STORIES" on you if you want to listen. Most of the problems I have run into are from cars brought in from other states or countries. The DMV in Oregon requires an inspection... MORE

Ed Yeah damn those overheads huh ! It sounds like you need some help Ed, I'm available at reasonable rates, and you know how good I am at fixing LBC's :)) Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 9060... MORE

IF you had a REAL Healey "piloto", it CAME with OD which basically made a SIX speed tranny!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Hortense" ('63 BJ-7) PS: I still LOVE Frogeyes!!!! Ed "justbrits" 9078... MORE

G'day guys A recent posting from Alex on the MidgetSprite list mentions that: "Most BEs don't have a front bumper, and I personally think it makes the car." Well, front bumper bars were optional extras on the Bugeye. So I guess if you take a restored Bugeye to a Concourse, and you have no front bumper bar, then we can't deduct points for "item missing". About 10 years ago, I was a Concourse judge at our National meeting, and there was a magnificently restored Bugeye, complete with front bumper bar, and a proudly framed Certificate from the British Motor... MORE

Have you looked on E-Bay to see if any are up for bid? Redfrogeye William A Ady 9064... MORE

Colin, Nigel, etal You are not penalized for 'optional' equipment. However, you do not receive any 'additional' points for optional equipment. 'Optional' equipment can be factory (bumpers, heaters, tonneau cover, etc.) or period dealer added equipment (depending on which continent you are on) or add-on equipment (AMCO, Speedwell, etc.). BUT you can LOSE points on the CONDITION of such equipment/options/add-ons. You start with a given number of points (1000 points here in the USA regardless of how much 'additional' equipment/period correct add-ons/dealer installed 'options) and lose points on originality and/or condition. No matter how 'rare' an add-on/period correct/dealer installed... MORE

Colin Don't know if you're a cricket fan, but I certainly enjoyed watching the recent Australia v India Test matches, and the bowing out of Steve Waugh - excellent player! Your concours judging conundrum is an easy one - you judge the car as you find it, as long as the equipment fitted to the car is 'original' to the car you judge it on that basis - what it may or not have been fitted with from new is largely irrelevant. I don't think you can 'deduct points' for what are basically 'optional period accessories' Another good example... MORE

Charlie... IMHO, Rex's advice is appropriately "cautionary". It's based, no doubt, on "CYA" among other things. While I absolutely feel the same way you do, we all don't necessarily go to the same DMV or deal with the same people you do at your local DMV. Same with State Police. Same with State laws. There can be "differences", most especially in terms of "procedures to verify, in the event" when it comes to a State's laws and procedures originated to prevent possible fraud by those who might be thinking along such lines. Unless you really "know better".... don't "volunteer"... MORE

No condundrum at all actually. Assuming your not talking about the condition part of the point deduction structure.no deduction should have been made under originality as long as the front bumper was the correct bumper. It is allowed under period accessories. George Marinos Sprite MKII Glen Rock, NJ USA George Marinos 9044... MORE

Just one last quick note about making ID tags. Don't tell the DMV or the state police that you have done this. I'm suprised they sell them. It is a Federal offence to remove,alter or change the ID tag. Having been an Oregon Auto dealer I am aware of this law. While having cars inspected by the state police they are often caught off guard when seeing that the tags were held on with phillips head screws. They say it should be rivets. But I explained it to them and the just shake their head in disbelief. As a... MORE

G'day Jim In a correctly wired up positive earth car, current passes: 1.. from the fuse box through the front wiring loom to the gauge 2.. then from the gauge through the wiring loom to the bundle of connectors above your passenger's right knee (could be under the dash, or could be inside the engine bay) 3.. then into the rear wiring loom through to the tank unit 4.. where it earths by the screws holding the unit to the tank. There is a variable resistor in the tank unit which, for some bizarre BMC logic, works the opposite... MORE

I'm doing a pretty much ground up restoration on a bugeye sprite. Right now I just finished replacing the floor on this bugeye. It is upside down and completely stripped. http://burgundytopz.com/mike/images/bugeye/ I want to replace the brake lines and the bushings in the front and rear suspension. Should I go with Polyurethane (to stiff of a ride)? If so which pieces do I need to order? I was checking out http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29881 Also is it really necessary to replace brake lines (the metal sections) or is there some way to clean them out really well? Or could I take them... MORE

Hello all, I have a '60 bugeye and am looking for complete headlight assemblies for it (bucket to trim and everything in between). If you have some pieces you'd like to sell please contact me. Regards, Chris weberct@... '60 Bugeye Pacific Northwest "Chris Weber" 9019... MORE

aaron, the alternator conversion has been discussed several times in the recent past. it's fairly simple. the issue of neg ground harness is a non event too. there is no difference. the conversion leaves all the wiring colors intact. the issues are in the tach (if yours is electrical), and the generator (if you don't switch to an alt), and the fuel guage (B and T terminals switch). gerard has a nice tech article on this if i remember correctly. neg gnd conversion is also helped by buying a new battery with the +/- terminals reversed in position. that... MORE

Mike... Suggest you replace the "old" fuel lines with "new". Suggest good quality stock rubber bushings unless you plan to autocross or use the car in competitive events, as the suspension parts will last a lot longer. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 9024... MORE