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You've gotta love this one.A 1973 Midget that has been in storage for 20 years. One bid already for $500. The storage guys are now selling it, and some of their priceless gems include: 1) It runs but obviously will need a tune up. As it that's all it will need! 2) We did not drive the car and there is no fluid in the hydraulic clutch, but we were told the transmission, and brakes are OK. So please explain how you verified these bits were OK. 3) The only rust is where I am pointing in the photos,... MORE
Hi Colin, Must have been a "Running when parked" type of car! Just dust off the spark plugs get a battery jump and you can drive it home with the parking brake! I've done that before!!!!! Later, Paul A "Paul Asgeirsson" 14990... MORE
G'day all Why is it you Yanks have to have your own unique way of measuring stuff. Where did this idea of a "US gallon" come from anyway. I don't suppose you have a "US inch" or a "US second" do you? OK, I can understand the confusion, but this is a British car and has British components measured in British units. You should be aware that referring to components in other languages (and I do refer to American) or even daring to carry metric tools in the boot (no, not trunk) can cause your Bugeye to have a... 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
...Check the needle/seat in the lid of the carb bowl and replace if necessary....I was fighting an overflow problem recently and replacing them fixed that problem... Doug in Santa Clara dpecchenino@... 14889... 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
Michael- I've been trying to figure out how the "Guys" drive these things at anything above 60-65mph...my poor little 948 w/ stock tranny and 4.22 RE is well above 5krpm at 65 and the suspension and brakes at that speed leave me w/ little/no confidence. I do, however, get a kick out of driving it around town but the big SUV's scare the S#%T out of me! Addictive little vixon.... Doug in SC.. dpecchenino@... 14864... MORE
FWIW, I am running a 1275 W/HS-4's. The PO had installed #6 needles and I was getting about 15 MPG. BC convinced me to switch to NG's and I think I am getting about 35 MPG before switching to the 5 speed. The plugs don't come out heavy black carbon any more either. Bob, Troutdale, OR P.S. Larry, Will see you at the ABFM, might even have my car there this year. "Robert Webb" 14802... 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
You really take tools, parts and towbar with your LBC when you travel? You don't get to work on my car.......... (HHH) 15 MPG is pretty bad, need a tune up? I have driven my BE from Vancouver, BC to Ensenada, BC ( Mexico ) , never took so much as a screwdriver and got 47 MPG. My Mother used to regularly get 54 in hers. BTW, your brake pipe is off and on my desk, I will get it posted soon. It is "as bent" originally and you get the OE " British Undercoating " too! BC******************** "British... MORE
Advance Auto parts lists rebuilt distributors at $65, including points and condenser. Sucha' deal. "joe blxfstz" 14781... MORE
Thanx for the info about the rebuilt dizzy. My little brother works at an advance parts store, I will check with him when I get that far. Right now, my thoughts are leaning toward Mallory distributor and PerTronix Rev Limiter. Gonna be a while before I get that far. The part with the one bolt holding it to the block is the piece about to enter jeopardy. I find them available for 1500, but not 948,1095, & 1275. I have several engines set back, including the 948 my current project was manufactured with. I hope I wont need to... 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
List, I'm trying to lower my compression ratio enough to get it to hold a head gasket. Short of removing some material from the combustion chamber, I thought I might try using two head gaskets. Anyone had any success with this? I calculate that I'd still have nearly 12:1 compression ration with two gaskets, and I'm a bit leary of adding a another potential leak path and perhaps damaging the integrity of the gaskets. Just wondered if this has worked for anyone else. Thanks, Curt "cfisher1a" 14707... MORE
If you like the challange, go ahead and tear it apart, see what it really needs. It will take some imagination, and maybe some machine shop work, but you can rebuild it. Of course a later ribcase box is probably better and easier to find parts for. Or you can do the Datsun 5-speed, but where's the challange in that? "joe blxfstz" 14706... MORE
Paul...IMHO.... Datsun 5 speed conversion....now's the time. It will transform the car....first three gears are lower than later ribcase which will really be helpful to the smaller bore motors while 4th is still 1 to 1....and 5th will be much appreciated for cruise especially when using a 4.22 diff. And YOU will appreciate not only the car's greater flexibility but even more so, the peace and quiet of the gearbox which will allow you to better hear the engine's great exhaust note....win/win situation all around!! :) Cap'n Bob Basic Frog "Robert E. Shlafer" 14705... MORE
I have the right size push rods. (the smaller ones) I was taking a closer look and the roller starts on the outboard side of the stem top and never makes it to center, under full valve compression. These could move over .125" and still work! Which also brings up the point that my valve cover scrapes the ends of the rockers. Hmmm, maybe my rocker pedistals are the wrong ones? Are they different from the 1275 and the smaller engines? Maybe in the past someone swapped them? Greg "Greg Hahs" 14693... MORE
ineffectual being brass/bronze and part of the gears so they work somewhat slowly needing an accurate speed syncroing ie double clutching. The rib cage Mk2 and up are stainless steel rings and mostly work. Better than the smooth case. They still need a deft hand and foot to manage the down change smoothly!!! What you describe sounds like normal to me. My BE has reacted like that since 1972 (1275, disk Br., and rib cage.) My previous one 61 mk1 948, drums, smoothcase, worked the same only worse!! Mk1 smooth case usually doesnt easily fit a 1100 up due... MORE
I can't help with a reason but generally haven't had luck with recon boxes for my sprite. Seems to be a lottery in my experience. I got a recon BL silver seal ribcase in 85 to fit a 1098, went to fit it and noticed the output shaft wasn't concentric in the rear case extension, the supplier replaced it. The replacement failed after about 2 months, it was replaced under warranty and the supplier said that it looked like poor heat treatment on a component as it had galled up causing it to jam in 3rd. I was never... MORE
Chris- You said the problem is shifts from 4-3 and 3-2 , so what does that mean? I have a '60 FE/BE w/ all original 948 engine and 4-speed trans and it needs to be shifted w/ lots of TLC , especially on down shifts, but it works very well. Can you describe the problem....does it not shift down ? Do you double clutch on down shifts and try to match revs? Synchros may be gone in 2nd/3rd but if the guys that did the tranny knew their stuff, they should have noticed it at rebuild time. How many... MORE
Michael- I installed my interior a few months ago and contact cemented down some carpet pad then the carpet. I then put the wood strips on the driver side followed by the seat frame. On the passenger side I bolted the seat frame to the carpet. No noticeable height difference between the seats.... I'm not sure if this is as original but I'm happy w/ the results as it does a good job of reducing engine noise. Doug dpecchenino@... 14613... MORE
Hi Jim, Look very closely at the fuel line. I had a dodge that exhibited a similar lack of power when the throttle was depressed. I looked at everything and could not figure it out. After trying to do a fast run around the neiborhood I got the car up on stands and there was a tiny wet area near the fuel line. It turned out the line was rotting from the inside out and there was a TINY pinhole that did not seep when the car was sitting, but was creating a vacuum leak or air lock when... MORE
