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"Wider tires giving better turning and stopping" but worse handling on a Midget. You lose the feedback and controllability enjoyed by drivers of sensibly-tyred Midgets. As someone who enjoys driving my Sprite (as opposed to merely operating it) I will not recommend any tyre wider than 155. (Maybe 165 if you've got a modified 1275) "Lower profile tyres have lower sidewalls and therefore less sidewall flex which results in better handling." Usually because the rubber is the heaviest part of the wheel- less rubber = less unsprung mass, meaning the suspension can do its job better. One caveat is... MORE
It could also be a hydraulic problem, either master or slave cylinder. What's the clutch fluid level like? Does the slave cylinder pushrod operate when the pedal is pressed? If it is the release bearing then roller release bearings are available from www.petermayengineering.co.uk. Don't be tempted to just replace the release bearing, to not do the whole clutch is a false economy. "Jeremy Cogman" 15942... MORE
My Austin Healey Sprite has blown its clutch i think. What happened is my wife pressed the clutch in and it went to the floor and she couldn't select gears. When I got there the pedal had come back up but the bite was right at the floor and the only gear i could get was reverse. Any ideas? someone told me it sounds like the release bearing. By the way it is a 1967 1275 MKIV Sprite. Jon "oscarsprite" 15939... MORE
road racing series in Australia. They are produced by MG-Rover, which is *not* owned by anyone else - it is an independent. The engine is one of the Rhonda engines (K-series) and is a nice little unit. OK, so it is different from the B and the Midget, so what. The MGA crowd *still* assert that the last *real* MG was the MGA (they hate the B and ignore the Midget), the T-series folk say that MG lost the plot with the A. B owners ignore the modern Midgets and the original midget owners pretend the modern "BMC" Midget... MORE
Hi to anyone out there who can help me. I have just gone through the club pages looking for some information on oil coolers, nothing. Having found this bit of the web thourght I would ask the question here. I am the owner of a MK1 Sprite and have been for several years. I have sepen a lot of time and money in bringing it up to a good condition. I have been playing around with the engine and now get a lot more BHP out of it. The thing is that now the car's engine oil is getting... MORE
Jon- I INSTALL my thermostadt just prior to winter (180F)....it replaces the blanking sleeve I use in the summer. Same with antifreeze.....I install a 50/50 (distilled H2O) mix in place of the 100% distilled water (with additives for lubrication/anti-corrosion). Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 15933... MORE
Friend of mine had 14" wheels on his early Midget with home made round wheel arches. It looked like a Tonka Toy! It will affect handling as it will raise your ride height half an inch. It will also make your speedo totally inaccurate. It will also mean the car is higher geeared i.e. quicker at a given engine speed / gear but with less acceleration in each gear. "Jeremy Cogman" 15917... MORE
The cylinders are 4 years old, but without use, they needs to be rebuilt every couple of years. Without use, the seals swell and stick. Your letter reads like it isn't a daily driver, which those used daily, or at least more often that we drive them, the clutch and brake system work for many years but just sitting, they go bad. Bob, Portland, OR "Robert Webb" 15902... MORE
Sounds like its time to rebuild the slave cylinder.....about $5.00 USD for the seal kit (if memory serves)....otherwise there might be something awry in the pivot for the throwout causing it to bind David A. Stevens Jr. Utilities Engineer II NYS Office Of General Services Sheridan Avenue Steam Plant 79 Sheridan Avenue Albany, NY 12210 "Stevens, David" 15900... MORE
I have a '59 Bugeye and the Master cly and slave cly. are fairly new ( 4 years) Fluid is clear, no leaks. The other day I decided to drive around the area and get some gas. After about two block and 6 shifts the clutch would not disengage. The pedal was hard, with little to no movement down from the top. The car would not move as the clutch was still engaged. Engine still running, shifted into all gears, no go. Got it home with a tow from a golf cart, and it is now up on jack... MORE
If it doesn't have a separate float chamber then it's an HIF. It's an excellent carb (my car has one) and should work fine, better than the originals (IMHO). However it needs setting up properly with the correct needle. The only way to do that is to get the car on a rolling road with an operator experienced in SUs. Where are you? "Jeremy Cogman" 15881... MORE
im looking for imfo engine/transmission combo to put in my 75 midget.Have seen the rotary and the datsun swap,Does any one know of some newer engines more current, or maybe some front drive units that can bolt up to rear drive transmission .The v6 swaps dont interest me. To heavy. "stanley hill" 15870... MORE
anyone know anything about tuning a 1 3/4" SU carb on a sprite mkIV 1967 1275cc thanks Jon "oscarsprite" 15864... MORE
I would think the MR2 transplant would be a significant job. Turning a mid/rear engine drivetrain into a front engine/rear drive setup doesn't sound like anything I want to try. Now, dropping the MR2 in the back of a shortened VW Bus is another idea... Israel "Israel Engle" 15860... MORE
I've never tried it, but since the 'conversion' (bottom half) gasket set is the same for 948 and 1098 engines, I would imagine the 1098 sump will fit both too. Regards David "David Jacobs" 15827... MORE
Does the oil pan for a 1098cc engine also fit a 948 engine? Don "Don May" 15826... MORE
in my experience, if the turn signal and tail/stop light are coming on together, it's usually a bad earth - the current is taking the only route it can find - ie through the 'other' bulb instead of going to ground; they probably won't flash because there isn't enough current flow with the higher resistance of two bulbs. There should be an earth lead running from one of the fastening studs for each the tail light unit. Alternatively, it is possible to have a twin filament bulb in the holder incorrectly so the bulb terminals are bridging across both... MORE
David, I have put an Ital engine in my Mk IV sprite, but I also put in the gearbox with a Spitfire overdrive gearbox. Doing it this way means you have to change the front plate with the engine mounts and cut away some of the bodywork in the tunnel area to get the clutch housing and bigger g'box to fit. If you stay with the standard g'box, you still need to change the front plate and also the rear plate, flywheel etc. The distributor drive is different and the oil filter is in a different place but these... MORE
it's not a straight swop, because the scuttle top panel arrangement isn't exactly the same, especially where in the area of the windscreen pillars and where it meets the doors, but I would imagine it could be made to fit with a bit of ingenuity. When it comes to instruments, the later type will fit, but if you wanted original Frogeye (or early, 948cc MkII Sprite) instruments, you'd have to source a dynamo with cable drive gearbox for the rev counter. Regards David "David Jacobs" 15790... MORE
I think this was covered in abstract with the "can I remove my transmission without pulling my engine" thread. The answer would be yes. With some creativity with a Torch, Plasma Cutter, welder, grinder, and paint, anything is possible! The thought of my Ford Pickup Truck that I am currently Hot Rodding comes to mind. You can fit what ever you want, where ever with some ingenuity and creativity. Oh, also lots of practice. Matthew Pfeil 76 MG Midget 65 Ford F100 - The Hot Rod 2001 Chrysler Sebring Lxi Coupe "Matthew Pfeil" 15796... MORE
Israel Find the brake master cylinder, follow the pipe until it comes to a four way junction (i.e. splits three ways, one to each front wheel and one to the back axle) and sitting on top of that junction you will find a small round pressure switch screwed in to the top. it has two wires leading from it, or should have, and is the brake light switch, operated by fluid pressure. They can, and do, seize solid. After disconnecting, test with a meter or wires,battery and a bulb etc whilst friend applies pressure to the break pedal ............ MORE
Thanx, Martyn- The one that stood out was the Business Express (Delta Connection) one. I joined BEX in Oct. of 1990 and worked for this Co. flying Beech 1900's, SAAB SF3's and eventually BAC (BAE) 146 4-engine jets (the Queen has one of these, almost wrecked by Prince Charles many years ago!). Fine outfit which was absorbed by AMR (American) a couple of years ago. On the Saabs we had a saying: "Business Express, serving Delta's customers in the Northeast for 20 years and pissing them off, 34 at a time"! We hardly ever operated on time, never communicated... MORE
I've just purchased a '75 Midget which has a 1296cc spitfire block from '69 or '70 installed which I discovered from the # stamped on the block. All of the history on who did this "rebuild" and exactly what they did is unknown. Can someone help explain parts compatibility on LBC'S for me? Does this 1296cc spitfire block accept the head, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, clutch, tranny, etc, etc, etc... of the 1500cc that originally came with the car? I'm new to LBC's and am trying to figure out how much 1500cc stuff is still in the engine bay... MORE
Having said the 1275 is great..-and it is!.. since I do not have one right now and I do have a 5.0L v8 out of a mustang.. and a 71 spridget that wants to move out of the garage area on its own power.. I can feel a swap coming up. Now how do I manage to get Brad's friends to help with the weld/torch n' bend part? Seems they have this problem with Ford products. Is that fair? =) chuck n tx "charles roche" 15741... MORE
http://britishv8.org/swaps/v6midget.htm other examples within the site. Now the 'keep them pure' among the listers may not care for this one. It does give ideas. For the spridgets the 1275 is still hard to beat. There are toys and tricks available to boost its power range to .. well, way up there. I think pilot bob has a judson on his ?? whats the boost factor on that one Bob? Point to remember.. sure the engine/power train can be changed. I have zero problem with the changes.. its what you get what you swap. Updated trains too often equal more... MORE
