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Need some help here... I have a 61 bugeye that was converted to disc brakes. It has the original master cyl. split system with clutch. The porportioning valve is the stock one for drum brakes. The question is should I rip the pedal setup and two line system with seperate brake and clutch systems out of a newer midget or can get by with a adjustable valve from a after-market hotrod shop? Or can I T the one line system into a newer porportioning valve? The brakes are a little unsatisfactory as they are now. Thanks Greg "amxpate1" 12686... MORE
I have a standard system on my 1275, one straight pipe from the manifold, with one straight through standard box at the back. It sounds great. Gary King (Newcastle UK) 69 Sprite MKIV "Gaz" 12675... MORE
Yep- The standard straight-through muffler is available from MiniMania (GEX #????) The stock 1098 which came in my Frog had one of these mufflers and did "sound good, like a sports car should". Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 12676... MORE
Best thing to do is paint the floor. Than all you need is a little soap an d water and it=92s good as new.. I used a 2 part epoxy and it=92s great. Doug 77 Michigan Doug Pletcher 12669... MORE
I can't say what benefit a Monza system would have over a stainless one, other than making for a bigger sound. I have the Monza; my '78 Midget sounds like a big old Chevy. Fun, but I suspect it'll rust away like any other, eventually. Of course, at 3k miles/year, "eventually" could be a long time from now! Maybe a wide (2") exhaust pipe and the four-vent-tube Monza lets the engine "breathe" easier? Steve Steven Michelsen 12602... MORE
I have my Monza exhaust sitting in a box in my garage ready for install. One thing I have to say is that I am just a little disappointed... My first exposure to the Monza Exhaust was seeing the install instructions for that of a Spitfire.. the spitfire Monza exhaust has a pre-muffler in front, then a "Y", then two dual straight mufflers which each have double-chrome tips on them. At first, I was thinking of getting the Spitfire exhaust and putting it on my Midget, but the gas tank is in the wrong place... and there is not... MORE
Bruce, I once painted a Hyundai Pony (awful car, but it was simple & reliable) with an ordinary paint roller over the big areas, & brush in the less-accessible areas. Roller gives sort of orange-peel finish which is not too unpleasant. Underlying reason, of course, was lowest possible cost. I am now going through similar mental gyrations re my '71 Midget. Don't want to have it completely assembled to be trucked to paint shop - prefer to do area by area prior to final assembly, to get better coverage overall. I seriously considered spray cans at one stage, but... MORE
Fond memories .... I used to get a nice drip on my right ankle (rhd car) when driving in the rain and never got rid of it. It filled my shoe and footwell but what the heck! - I just used a rubber mat and folded that over my ankle when it rained. However, what prompted the re-shelling of the Sprite 1275 was after the bonnet flew open whilst driving along and wrapped round the canvas. It also bent the scuttle/decker (call it what you want) panel under the front screen. The next time it rained I was sat... MORE
The seagulls up in the North East are aggressive buggers, they had the rubber out of my windscreen wiper once. ( Question - how did Oz rebuild the transporter bridge in Middlesborough, so quick. Quicker than me and project midget which is less than 1% of its size?) Regards Alan "alan.east-jones" 12409... MORE
Ya' know, I almost forgot (actually, I did forget but......I rememberd!) You said your shocks were ok regarding the ride you were getting. OK, but, when they no longer are or should they become suspect, do not replace with any other rebuilt except those "correctly" rebuilt by Peter C. of: nosimport@... aka, World Wide Imports Forget Apple and all the other usual suspects - Peter C. does the overhauls correctly and doesn't spare the bucks or time to do it "right". Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 12410... MORE
I work in the motor trade as a paint sprayer, it looks to me as if it could be birds droppings. I live near the coast and we sometimes get seagulls mess on our cars. Sometimes if you don't wash it off immediately, it will leave an everlasting mark. The only way to get rid of it, is to flat it right out and paint the affected area. Gary King (Newcastle UK) 69 Sprite MKIV "Gaz" 12394... MORE
Steve, I am afraid the damage is permanent. Brake fluid is an agressive paint remover/destroyer...... David A. Stevens Jr. Utilities Engineer II NYS Office Of General Services Sheridan Avenue Steam Plant 79 Sheridan Avenue Albany, NY 12210 "Stevens, David" 12392... MORE
Please check out this picture of a very nasty stain on top of my right-side fender: http://www.geocities.com/my1978mgmidget/fluid_stain.jpg I suspect that it was caused by spilled brake fluid, or maybe a degreaser or other solvent? Antifreeze? Anyone seen this kind of mess before? As you can see it has eaten through the paint at a few spots. I have contemplated scrubbing it with compound but am not sure I would remove it before the paint! Any thoughts here? Steve 78 Midget Steven Michelsen 12391... MORE
Hi Geri, Very strong running stock 1275. about .010 shaved from the head, LCB header. Engine is a '69 12CD. Later I plan to install a mild race 948 w/1098 head and a Judson SC. Should be conparable or better that a 1275. Tires now are 185/60 on Panasport 5.5 inch wheels, but will maybe go to a little taller tire. I'll do the gear swap first before I decide on tire size. Gerard "gerardchateau" 12351... MORE
The main problem was one of tractability at moderate rpms, or a longish flat spot if you will. The engine was great at high revs, but the standard rockers gave better lugging power in 'normal' road driving. The engine was noisier (more rattlely from the top end) and the starter laboured more when cranking. Any other listers have experience of high lift rockers? "G & J Swann-Price" 12344... MORE
Gerard, You don't say what engine you have, what state of tune it is in or what speed you wish to cruise at. So for what it is worth I found that my standard 1275 with an LCB would pull 70 mph on most motorway gradients with a 3.7, which on standard tyres gives about 17.5 mph/1000 rpm, ie 4,000 at 70. Geri, 67 Sprite Mk IV "G & J Swann-Price" 12342... MORE
Yep, sounds about right to me... With the exception of the brakes- My setup is standard and I can get the tyres to make some noise ,but they won't lock-up on a dry surface "Dijkhof34" 12305... MORE
I think the important thing to remember is that Heritage shells were built under when BMH was part of the "old" Rover/BMW set up, and those of us in the UK know the quality of what they turned out ! No insult intended to those fine chaps at Longbridge ! When I lived in the Midlands I had a lot of friends who worked or had worked in the numerous car factories in Coventry (Jaguar / Triumph / Morris / Hillman etc. etc.) and apparently the most important guy on the production line was the one with the crow... MORE
Not sure where you are but here in the UK I have used the filter head and pipe with its banjo bolt from a scrap 1100 Metro ( UK breakers yards are full of them ). the complete set up costs about 5 pounds and fits on with no modifications (assuming you don't want the blocked oil filter light). The pipe is the oil return and yes it would matter a lot if it was blocked. Best of luck Dave "David Dixon" 12277... MORE
Bill, Too far for you and not exactly what you're looking for, but if anyone else is looking, I have a '68 Sprite that is a nut and bolt restoration I've been working on since around '97. This car was completely rust free and I stripped it to bare metal inside and out and painted it with the best catalyzed paints. Too many new parts to list but the car is currently a rolling chassis with a freshly built 1275 with all new timing components and a Kent MD266, new pistons, etc. The drivetrain is ready to be dropped... MORE
Nobody is "messing" with anything; we know exactly what we are doing in accordance with standard practices and Mssr. Vizard's excellent advice. Thanks for your interest, though, and it is good advice for those "messing with" rather than making well thought out adjustments. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 12255... MORE
Well after getting used to driving the Midget with the 5 speed and driving the Bugeye to the Hayward neet this weekend, I've decided I need to do something wth the gearing (and probably tires too) in the Bugeye. With the 60 series tires and a 4:22 my revs are way up there using a standard ribcase. I have a 3.9 and a 3.7 diff. I wanted to save the 3.9 for my other Bugeye that will get a 5 speed, so I was thinking of putting the 3.7 in this one. I'd like some feedback from anyone that... MORE
Speaking of oil pressure, My '79 1500 does not even have an oil pressure gague. Why would they do away with this important item? I am new to this model so if any 1500 guys can tell me if this is stock or not? Car only has the temp. gauge. The cheepo one with out numbers. Just wondering. Mike kna331@... 12222... MORE
Missed out on LBC topics for a bit 'cos a) I've been to the IOM for a week to watch real motorcycle road racing. e.g. On Friday , at start / finish line at speed trap. 600cc production motorcycles. 170.7 mph , then change into top gear, accelerate down Bray Hill . Kerbstones, telegraph poles, brick walls and traffic lights/road junction at the bottom of the hill. Sharp right then into countryside, hedges , trees, rail crossings, mud on road etc then up the mountain, rocks, mist (most sheep are fenced in) sign posts , steep drops, rain water... MORE
Just out of interest why are you running a GR starter instead of the standard one? "Jeremy Cogman" 12148... MORE
