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The Silver Bullet is doing great. I have been driving it everywhere, seven days a week. I just love it. Of course here in Las Vegas it never seems to rain, so recently I removed the top (with frame) and wouldn't you know it, after 3 years of ZERO rain, not only did it rain, but it friggin stormed! Oh well, the inside needed a good rinsing. The Midget was dried out and is no worse for wear. Yes I put the top back on! To date, that is the only thing that has gone wrong with it. Plans... MORE
PICNIC ISLAND, BRITISH CAR SHOW, IN TAMPA FL, IS OCTOBER THE 18TH, ANYBODY ON THE LIST HEADED TO IT? BOB 60 AN5 TAMPA MTGBRKR1@... 15427... MORE
Hi Iain It could be the spring, but since you'll be pulling it apart to clean it you might as well fit polyurethane bushes. They're the dog's wotsits (although they can squeak if you tighten the bolts while the car is still on blocks- best to lower the car before tightening anything fully.) The squeak could also be your top links- best to replace those while you're at it, they tend to rust out. Good luck! Growler "Grant Bowyer" 15386... MORE
You wanted to start a thread: The top is wearing a bit thin, needs new one or replacement... Gas tank is twice the size of stock... Rear end seems a bit wobbly... Hard to start in the morning... Exhaust fumes smell a bit funny (depending on what you ate)... Have fun with these Chuck...... Rick '73 Midget Las Vegas, Nevada acostahr@... "Hugh Acosta" 15402... MORE
LOL, Don! Nah...I run PerTronix along with their powerful little coil as well. I absolutely believe in them and installed this set-up just after I purchased my current BE about 2+ years ago. Oddly enough, it made very little difference in performance or gas mileage (which was excellent, BTW) over the stock ignition system which came with the car....just a tad better mileage. Same with Nology "hot wires". Don't get me wrong, I am sure they contribute to better running over time but it was obvious to me that the PO kept the stock ignition system in excellent condition... MORE
San Diego British Car Show in Bonsall, CA is this Sunday, October 6th. Who on List will be attending this year? I will be riding down in my friend Fritz's Bugeye since my Bugeye is not yet road worthy (or legal). Hope to see some of you there! Jim Rogers San Juan Capistrano, CA Jim Rogers 15424... MORE
Don- The PerTronix shouldn't have made THAT much of a difference over a stock ignition system in good condition but....what the hell....I'm happy for 'ya anyway! Enjoy!! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 15374... MORE
to get new keys without a pattern, you need to get the original key number, which was sometimes recorded in production records (available from BMIHT http://www.heritage.org.uk/archive/trace%20certificate.htm ) but as often as not, these key numbers weren't recorded. You might also try a good locksmith (a proper one, not just one of these places in malls that also re-soles shoes - something I never understood, what's the link between shoes and keys?) but I wouldn't hold out much hope. Just to be cynical for a moment, are you sure the seller *has* actually lost the keys and isn't holding on... MORE
According to Mr Haynes: Front's 22, rears 24 for normal driving, 22,26 for a heavily loaded car and 28, 30 for sustained high speed driving. As you can see that's quite a range. Tyre pressure can affect handling significantly and tyre technology has come on a great deal in the last 25 years. Most people tend to fiddle a bit and find some pressures that suit their style / tyres. Start with the 22,24 or a bit higher if you do alot of motorway type stuff. Then try rasing the pressures a little and see if you prefer that.... MORE
Heyup, Having just bought my first Midget and indeed first ever classic car at the weekend... can anyone tell me the correct tyre pressures as I'm still wait ing for my manual to turn up! It's a 1500, 1976. Cheers, Keith ********************************************************************** Don't miss the BIG event - environment uk 2002 Take part in the most exciting conference on the UK environment calendar th is year. 22nd 23rd October, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. For further information call 01730 235049 or follow the link from our web s ite. This message is confidential as it contains information about the person we... MORE
so what gets replaced when they're rebuilt? ALL moving/wearing parts? Regards David "David Jacobs" 15326... MORE
Bob, I turned to the guru of A series tuning for this, and David Vizards book reckons the airflow potential of the 1" SU should be good for engines capable of about 60hp or so. Over this level, the 1" starts to lose out but not by as large an amount as you might expect (on a back-to-back test on a bored and stroked 1430cc engine, a single 1" SU gave about 6hp less than a 1" at 7000rpm, but up to around the 70hp mark, there was no appreciable difference) This is because the situation is to some... MORE
Jon, If it's a 1" I'd try and find a 1" (HIF44) to replace it. I can't think of any 1275 applications that use a single HIF38 (1") though earlier single carb saloons may have used a 1" HS6, but don't know a great deal about them. However, if it's already a 1" HIF44 you could try the same needle used in 1275 Metros - which would be a BDL or BFY for the MG/HLS variant or a BEJ/BER/BFZ for the Vanden Plas/automatic/economy versions. Alternatively, 1.3 Maestros which were in quite a high state of tune for a saloon... MORE
Yeah, David- I agree with you as to power "image" for sure!! No doubt about this! I've got the alluminum head along with the Cooper "S" cam (advanced 4 degrees to favor the bottom end of the rpm scale) and medium bore LCB running through a the rear box (only) of an RC40. The 1.5 rollers add a little more to the cam profile with respect to the top end (don't want to kill this completely!). This state of tune was actually set up for a Judson blower but we've run into heat issues with this application....if they can... MORE
I cannot thank you enough for the needle recommendations for the HIF44 application! Wouldn't happen to have one around for a Cooper "S" state of tune, would you??! :) I agree with you in terms of a 1.75 over a 1.5 yet, there are 1.5 "single" kits being marketed and I wonder whether these might be more "flow efficient" for the stock, untuned Series "A" one finds in the Spridget, with the 1.75 single kits more suitable for "tuned" versions of the same engine incorporating larger valves and ports (or one of the new better flowing aluminum heads, valve... MORE
Hi, I own a MKIV 1976 AH Sprite 1275cc, and someone has converted it to a bigger single SU Carb, 1 1/2 inch I think.Does anyone know anything about this modification and how to tune it. Problem is it is running weak and coughs and spits a bit at 50mph, if you pull the choke out a bit (add more fuel) it goes again like a new lease of life. Also when the car reaches half empty it starves itself of fuel (someone has replaced the tank). Thankyou Jon "oscarsprite" 15281... MORE
Hi, Jon: First of all, you will have to know the size of the carb, Jon. There are two single carb conversions available....the 1.5" and 1.75". Either of these can be HS or HIF series. The HS has an external fuel bowl, the HIF has a bowl intergrated into the bottom of the carb. The HS employs a "fixed" needle, the HIF a "sprung" needle. (This one I am not too sure of but if I am incorrect here, other listers will most likely let us know!) The 1.5" normally carries a .090 jet, the 1.75" a .100 jet.... MORE
It doesn't. According to Horler, the gearlever cowl ('turret') was painted body colour until the introduction of the Mk3 Sprite/ mk2 Midget (1098cc, wind-up windows, semi-elliptic springs) when the cowl was painted black irrespective of body colour. I can find no reference for the cowl being painted trim colour from the factory- perhaps a dealer's modification? HTH Growler "Grant Bowyer" 15276... MORE
Grant Sorry I don't know who Horler is but whilst I agree with the first part of your statement that the cowl or turret was painted body colour up to and including the Mk 2 Sprite/Mk1 Midget (including the ones with the 1098 engines sometimes refered to as the Mk 2.5S / 1.5M) as a result of the use of rubber matting in the earlier vehicles. With the introduction of the Mk3 Sprite / Mk2 Midget, the first with the wind up windows, the turret colour was co-ordinated with the interior trim and carpeting. I have a Mk2 Midget,... MORE
You can buy new ones, not rebuilt, and for the fronts, it's certainly worth the extra cost for the increased life expectancy. If you're not too much of a stickler for originality, it might be worth looking at a telescopic conversion for the rears, as life should be increased as well as damping efficiency. David "David Jacobs" 15271... MORE
Anyone know of a good rebuilder for armstong lever shocks just had the two fronts rebuilt thru a local shop and not 100 miles on car and its gone I'm not sure were he gets his rebuilds but I need better ones than that for the rears. "Do I need one " 15269... MORE
Hi Dermot It would probably be un-economic to have the car professionaly restored to origninal, but could make a good restoration project if the owner is prepared to do the work or has friends that can help. (see Lyndsay Porters book and Practical Classics on Midget and Sprite Restoration.) Manual dexterity is a must as is some form of welding (MiG/MaG as a min.) It might be difficult to get hold of the 'correct' wings now (sidelight height in relation to type of bumper) but this is only really important if originality is your bag. The inner wings are... MORE
If the inner wings have been cut to accomodate the fiberglass bonnet, it is likely an Aekley bonnet. It's the only one I can think of that requires that modification. Does it look like this? http://www.gerardsgarage.com/GarageContent/UniqueSprites/arkley/ Arkley_racer.htm There are numerous bonnets that foit these cars. Some old and some still in production (Speedwell and Sebring mostly) Gerard http://www.gerardsgarage.com "gerardchateau" 15249... MORE
A while back I wrote about British Victoria British sending me a defective ignition wire set. I did call them and they not only replaced them but also did not make me go to the trouble to send the original ones back. The first set had not been terminated on the spark plug end and it was simply a defective set that had been missed by quality control at the factory. Now for a question . . . My 63 MK1 does not like them, runs very rough when I installed them. They use resistance wire while the original... MORE
I have an old one which is I guess at that time was universal maybe 25 years old. I modified mine in order to be level. Basically it is just square tubing with a hitch on it. A local welder should be able to put one together for you fairly inexpensively. I would not recommend the universal ones due to the fact that most of them depend somewhat on the bumpers. If your car has tow hooks they will be attached on the very front of the framework. You can modify these or make different ones. I found that... MORE
