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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
Yikes! Competition for The Fright? This thing ought to smoke the tires if you punch it at 100 mph. Then you die? "joe blxfstz" 14970... MORE
G'day Michael I have a mate with a fully restored Mk I MG Midget, complete with the correct (and correctly coloured) steering wheel, horn push and cowl. He also has a genuine factory hardtop, rear seat cushion and Ace Mercury wheel trims to go with it. He is a perfectionist. Good thing is - he drives the car regularly, at least weekly, and comes on long country drives with the SpriteCar Club or Aust. Whilst it has won every Concourse it has enterred, he can see no point in it sitting in his garage. Next to, as it happens,... MORE
Hey peoplez. Thanks to my friend George back east who sold me the Beige cowl (steering wheel surround) and through in a beige horn push with it ... I'm really going to give it a try to duplicate that picture in Original Sprite and Midget showing the blonde steering wheel (but, using a bugeye steering wheel instead). Having said that, I thought it might be worth a shot to access a Midget specific site and see if anybody knows the exact color of paint to be used to get that blonde/beige color on the steering wheel. So what's the... 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
Some strange things going on here. :-) First off, stock Bugeye springs have 15 leaves. The stiffer "rally" springs that Moss sells have 10 leaves. Your left spring is only using 4 leaves, as the bottom three are just being used as spacers. But why I wonder? Putting the three short leaves under the rest raises the spring mount by the thickness of the three leaves which would make the left side of the car lower than the right, assuming the equal "springiness" in both left and right springs. Hmmm...... The only really hard part about disassembling everything and... 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
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
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
OK Leroy! If you aren't a 97 lb weakling, just get it close. It's a little bitty engine. Now if it were a 454, that's a different story. Actually Leroy, I have mine on a stand right now, and if you are going to do to your engine, what I have done to mine, mounting it to the stand is the least of your worries. Try bolting on a new aluminum head, 1.50 roller rockers, adjustable belt drive, and find out that when each pushrod is off the cam lobe, it rubs up against the head!!!! AHHHH!!!!!!!! So all,... MORE
"Light beige" =3D "girlyman" steering wheel... disgusting, obviously! Cap'n Bob '60 :{) "Manly" Thick Black Leather Strng. Wheel! :) "Robert E. Shlafer" 14669... MORE
The original steering wheel was missing from my BE, so I bought a well used one and restored it. It looks great. Here's what I did: 1) Give it a good scrub with a stiff brush and detergent. 2) These wheels usually wear more than they crack, but if any cracks or deep dents, fill them with Bondo and sand smooth, 100 grit paper. 3.) Use the resin/hardener from one of those fiberglass repair kits and paint the entire wheel with a coat of the resin. 4.) Now the hard part. Sand the wheel smooth with wet 220 grit... MORE
Darn it! That last post was supposed to go to tloutrec directly. Guess I'm brain dead AGAIN this morning. The thank you was for the steering wheel restoration technique. Michael Furryoldgrover@... 14664... MORE
Thanks for the tip/routine on the restoration. I may pick up another steering wheel and give it a shot someday using your technique. Sounds like "the real deal" to me. If I blow it, I've still got my other one. ha. As always, ... your input is appreciated "muchly." Michael Furryoldgrover@... 14663... MORE
Michael, Let me know if you ever change the color of the steering wheel to the light beige color. I have the original plinth in that color NOS if your interested. Only a few of these were made. Only problem is the plinth is made for the right hand drive column. George marinos George Marinos 14660... MORE
Hmmmm, didn't know the steering wheels could be restored. Please elaborate group. My "new" 59 BE that I just got has a steering wheel that is close to pristine and I've wondered how that can be. Not flawless, mind you, but it is so smooth and the depth of the gloss is noticeably good. Wondering if I could have my 58 BE steering wheel improved. Who would do it and what's the procedure? Is this something a paint shop would do? Secondly (now don't freak everybody), there's a picture in "Original Sprite & Midget" by Terry Horler on page... MORE
My bugeye has rust at the very fronts and backs of the outer sills (at the points where the wheel wells start.) The Moss sill patch panels cover the entire sill from front to back. Does anyone know of a source for just the fronts and backs of the outer sills? Bill Wilkman wilkmanracing@... 14582... MORE
Ok, perhaps I am not doing a great job at describing the problem. Lets try this again. By the way, this problem just started as of yesterday. 1. First thing in the morning the car works perfectly. Rev it up dump the clutch and the car will spin the wheels on the pavement. 2. After 5 min warm up the car will not move regardless what gear you select. Put it in gear, rev it up, relese the clutch pedal and nothing happens. Nata! Zippo! Car acts as if it in nueteral. 3. While the car is running you... MORE
Please help me remember, what is a safe size of tire that will fit (assuming standard wheel offset) without rubbing issues "inside or out" on a MKI sprite? I was thinking nothing past 165/60/13 was safe. I remember issues with this size of tire on the later cars. Is this correct? Thanks Doug W. "ah948cc" 14556... MORE
I need your help. Last weekend I installed a resleeved Master cyclinder and a new slave cyclinder, with speedbleeder valves. Today I started to bleed the system. Brakes are fine. Nice solid pedal at all four wheels. The slave is another story. opened the value as stated by speedbleeder, depressed clutch no pedal, Tried to pump the slave up still no pedal. Removed the fluid line @ the slave and there is fluid there. Confused, and fustrated. What am I doing wrong? Michael Iver28 Rifton, NY. 61 BE "Iver28" 14542... MORE
I use my chrome plater all the time, and his work is impecable! There is no dispute over the existance of my headlight rims with him, he writes the part name, quntity, and tags them. He thinks someone else picked them up. C'mon, somebody has to have a set to sell. Name your price, and if it is within reason, you'll have some extra cash to take your favorite honey out to dinner. They need to be good, solid, and rust and dent free. Greg "Greg Hahs" 14529... MORE
OK, my front bumper, uprights, rear bumperettes, polished windshield posts, headlight rims (that were lost but will pay to replace them) $240.00. And they were perfectly chromed. So, anyone have a good set of headlight rims I could buy? Greg "Greg Hahs" 14526... MORE
Ok Guys My chrome plater did an excellent job on all my chrome except for one small little detail. He lost my headlight rims. He has offered to pay for another excellent pair and rechrome them for me. Who has a set and how much? I want an excellent set. Thank you all very much. Greg "Greg Hahs" 14524... MORE
Are you kidding Bob? I am an engineer and have a bridgeport in my garage. Luckily, I still have all my fingers! I had a friend wire EDM me a couple of front tilt kits like Speedwell sells, out of stainless steel. I hope to easily change my original bonnet with the fiberglass Speedwell one with just a couple of bolts and a plug. I didn't want to use the hinges Speedwell uses because I am grafting the radiator ducting from a doner bonnet and plan to use the same attaching points on the shrouds. As for locking down... MORE
