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Jez - Home-made ally has worked very well for me. No problems so far (touch wood). Paul Lawton Healey Sprite Cheshire UK LAWTONPaullawton@... 1644... MORE
The car is an early Mk2 sprite with backplates from a later car. There is SOMETHING wrong as the backplates SEEM to be designed to have more offset than the original Frogeye axle. I want to use my Frog/Early Mk2 axle case if possible as it is already on the car. If I can ascertain that there are 2 different axle casings used on Mk2 sprite (one for single piston cylinders, one for 2 piston cylinders) then I will know if I OUGHT to swap over the entire axle. I don't want to fit the early type backplate and... MORE
Actually, I'm a Triumph owner! But my 1960 Triumph Herald coupe has one thing in common with a frogeye (bugeye) Sprite and thats the twin SU H1 carbs. The problem I have with the carbs is overheating - which causes the fuel to boil. I'm going to try exhaust insulating wrap, but I'd also like to get some modern heat shields. Does anyone know if anyone produces heatshields for H1 carbs, or anyone know where I buy the material to make some myself? Any help is much appreciated..... Jez Jez@... 1629... MORE
It sounds to me that both those gears are bad or also check the oil level in the gera box the oil shoul be just below the treads of the bolt. I just in the last year had my trans rebuilt. What can happen over the years is that the teeth on the gears get worn. This will cause the shifter not seat well into the gears and will cause vibration and noise. If you really want to use this car I would have the trans removed and looked at. It is quit the job to do but it... MORE
I need help. Looking for the biggest size tires for a bug eye (AN5). I understand from past questions to the list that a 165 x 65 x 13 is the biggest. Now I am trying to find that size and the only thing I can find is a Bridgestone RE 92. I do not like the tread design. Anyone have suggestions ? Bill French Hilton Head, SC frenchww@... 1631... MORE
Hi gang, I'm re-doing a 77 Midget. I did the Lucas to GM alt($33.00). conversion. Now I'm rewiring the car. I got a streetrod harness from Centech ($210.00) out of Philly. It's so/so. Painless is still the best on the market. My hard part has been getting the british switches to convert to US. So far , so good. I found carpet on Ebay for $85.00, and a roof for $135.00 also. Now I found the "steering arm" on the pass side a tad loose, and the bottom pivit on the drivers side is missing a grease fitting, and... MORE
Mike There is no 'seal' in the half moon - the half moon and the grooved section on the crank IS the seal - great design eh? You have a gasket between the seal and the block. Normally the best thing to do is leave the seal alone but if you have disturbed it you have to set up the seal so that there is abou 2-3 thou clearance between the crank and the seal. I use a 2 thou feeler gauge which I take out of the gauge holder and slide between the crank and the seal. It... MORE
Monday May 21st, Thames Valley Area Evening Run. Meet @ The Rose & Crown, Thorpe Green, Surrey, 8pm (to leave by 8.15pm) to join in on one of our very successful evening runs. See www.multimap.com if you don't know where it is . . . See one of last years: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/3counties/news/august2000.ht m Remember you don't need to be a member of the M&SC or even have you car on the road, a Vauxhaul Focus or VW Cavalier will suffice (just). Chris Nevard chris@... "Chris Nevard" 1613... MORE
Rob, I have a 1/4 eliptic frog back axle to which I am mounting later model 1/2 eliptic wire hubs & brake back plates. I fitted the new back plates & they fouled the drum ( or vica versa). I have compared the relevant dimensions on the 2 types of backplate & they appear to be the same in this respect. I then compared the 2 axles & measured the distance from the face to which the back plate mounts, to the face the bearing butts up against. This is where the problem lies. On the 1/4 axle the... MORE
Hi Listers Does any one have the measurement for the rear arch on a Frogeye? Height of wheel arch from either the ground or wheel centre. I think the original set up was that the car was a little higher at the rear? Mike M. North London mike643mnp@... 1601... MORE
Now that my '59 bug eye is getting painted I'm in the market for some new tires. I have read that the biggest size, without rubbing, is the 165 x 65 x 13. I will mount them on a new set to mini-lites. Is there a tire that is still made in the UK, with an aggressive tread design and sold in the USA? Bill French Hilton Head, SC frenchww@... 1599... MORE
My mistake. Should have consulted the Mossalogue before writing. I've got a 1/4 elliptic with later backplates (origins unknown) that puts the backplates too far outboard. The drum touches the backplate, the bearing carrier fouls the 'oil collector' on the backplate and finally the slave cylinder is too close to the carrier. I diagnosed "Wrong Backplate with Too Much Offset" Disease but have since noticed the same part number for 1275s and late Frogs. (BTA 566) Are 1500 backplates different only due to the different hole for the cylinder locating spike? What have I ballsed up? Confusion reigns in... MORE
John Just noticed your enquiry, we do a well sorted 5 speed conversion using the Ford Sierra gearbox, you can find details about it on the web site below, if you have any questions you can email me direct on t.fenna@... or reply on the usual group list. Regards Tim Fenna www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/ "Tim Fenna" 1581... MORE
Has anyone in the UK got either a 1/4 elliptic axle case+later 2-piston backplates or just the backplates? Not 1/2 elliptic backplates. Even from a trader? Have lots of goodies to swap. "rob thomas" 1580... MORE
Check out the UK Midget and Sprite Club website, theres an article there. http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/ I have a Toyota conversion in my 1275 mk2 but knowing what I know now I'd go Datsun. Rivergate seem to have a good name. Big benefit of Datsun conversion is no chopping at all! Good luck, it's well worth doing. Jeremy '63 Sprite Hampshire "Jeremy Cogman" 1576... MORE
The nearest big town with a railway station is Northampton, which is about 20 minutes drive from Silverstone (Thank you Dr. Beeching). There may be buses and a cab should not be too expensive ($40 max.) For train journey details go to www.railtrack.co.uk and select the cunningly hidden 'timetables' link near the top. Alternatively you hire a car, you should be able to get one for $100 or so for the weekend and explore. You could choose to stay in the area for the weekend and visit Gaydon home of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust. "Jeremy Cogman" 1575... MORE
Further to the coach idea if you wanted to be really adventurous you could hire from these guys below and arrive in style, they are fairly local to where you'll be I think. The drive would probably take about 3.5 hours at legalish speeds but the fuel bill might be a bit of a shock !!! http://www.classic-car-hire.co.uk/ TTFN AW "Andrew Worley @ Mi-King" 1566... MORE
Hi David I agree that rail travel in the UK is not exactly the easiest method of transport. However according to the online timetable (www.rail.co.uk) you can catch a train at Thirsk at 7.10am on 23/6/01 arriving at Northampton at 11.35am (4hrs 25 mins & 2 changes) Of course this is if there are no delays or track works going on..... I'm sure you could get a taxi from the station to the circuit (I'd offer to collect you myself but I am racing and unfortunately won't have the time...) I would suggest that it probably is a little... MORE
Hi David, Good grief, this is Great Britain you're talking about. What! Public transport, making it easy to get around the UK? Public transport isn't run to help travellers get anywhere, it's run to make the shareholders rich, and cause as much stress and anger in the poor old traveller as possible! Unfortunately the closest I believe you can get to Silverstone by rail is probably Northampton, and you will probably have to travel from Thirsk, if they still have a railway station! Are you sure you want to go through with this? It really would be so much... MORE
Apologise, why, is there a law against sending mail that isn't Spridget linked. A few jokes don't go a miss, they brighten up peoples lives, that's what there for. Gary (Newcastle UK) 69 Sprite MKIV www.geocities.com/garys_sprite_site "Gary King" 1541... MORE
Please -fellow listers-take this as an apology from me for the posting last week of a stupid,childish riddle on this list. My teenage daughter was staying with us for a couple of weeks,and thought it would be "fun" to send that particular item to all in my address book. Sorry again for the wasted time and for those who have asked for the answer.........it is nothing. Chris B Perth Western Australia "chris broughton" 1538... MORE
I swapped the paper filter type for a spin on head from a scrapped 1L Metro engine around 5 years ago and haven't had any problems with leaks and it's easier to change, but still not without problems due to access. Cost 8 pounds plus some gasket paper to cut a new gasket from. I suppose I could have used the cardboard from the new spin-on filter box, but was feeling extravagant at the time. Hutch Mk IV Sprite Durham UK "Stuart Hutchinson" 1535... MORE
Hi Mike Not exactly 'speed' but there are quite a few Trials Spridgets in the UK. One car that used to turn up at MGCC Silverstone had the rear axle underneath the springs and what looked like Land Rover wheels... Crap handling but fantastic ground clearance! Love to have a go at that dirt oval track... James "James Bilsland" 1515... MORE
I really like the autocross and rally photos that Robsog8 has put up in the files section of the midgetsprite group. People look at me strangely when I talk about dirt rallying in my spridget - as though this is a really daft thing to do (it still may well be daft - Rob?). What other unusual competitions have spridgets been used in? My contribution is running my bugeye on a speedway (Aus/UK) or dirt circle track (US). Big opposite lock, powersliding. Great fun. See http://reality.sgi.com/ahsdc/my_sprite/speedway.jpg (this is part of the "My Sprite & I" page for my bugeye,... MORE
Of course if you use the A+ Ital block in your Spridget you only have to persuade your girlfriend to undo the sump plug while you change the filter from the top... If you use a Mini filterhead make sure you use the right gasket - its different to the Spridget one... New (short) 3/8" UNC bolts required too (use the ones that come off the Mini). BTW If anyone in SE England fancies a laugh I will be racing at Lydden Hill (near Dover) this Bank Holiday Monday. Should be a few racing Spridgets there. I must not... MORE
