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Holy COW, yall are entertaining. Let's see, Nigel..the engine was replaced with the 1275. I'll assume they left the fuel pump alone though. When I see it Monday, I'll give a good whollop to the pump and see if that gets it going. She's still got to go to the shop because of this nasty pull to the right though. I have the Haynes Restoration Manual. Is there another book that I need? Ginger "Virginia" 20577... MORE
Terry, Here are two sets of instructions for converting SU pumps to solid state. Don't know if your pump is positive or negative, hence the two diagrams/instructions. positive ground http://www.jag-lovers.org/xk-lovers/library/pump_pos.htm negative ground http://www.jag-lovers.org/xk-lovers/library/pump_neg.htm Biff Jones '59 Bugeye 'Kermit' '61 Sprite 'Ole Gray' in "The Healey Book" '71 Midget 'Freebie' under restoration http://sprites2.homestead.com/ Sprite Spree '03 http://www.justbrits.com/spreefront.html "Biff Jones" 20601... MORE
OK... You were lucky this time...just watch it 'cause there's more where that came from!!! Hey, this BE looks to be a real find, assuming the floors are good and there is no rust otherwise around. It's got a 1098 but even if it's the "cg" instead of the "cc", it's been nicely attended to in accordance with the contents of the ad. Wonder if it's got the later ribcase? Probably does considering larger clutch, etc.? Looks like a basically good, solid machine once the hydraulics, front end and driveline are checked out. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 20586... MORE
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2408967122&category=6023 Here is a real nice 1960 Bugeye, ready for a concourse restoration. A quote from the description This Bugeye is truly a show car waiting to happen. It is complete, has the history, and with the right person doing the restoration, it is hard to imagine what this car will be worth, once completed. Along with the car and the story, also included is: Vehicle Condition This Bugeye had extensive engine work several year ago, was driven 300 miles after the engine work was completed and then stored until last year. The following is the work done on... MORE
Well, Ginny... The 1098cc engine that came in my BE had an electric pump. Your's is a '65 so I assume it's a 1098, but I am not sure whether the stock '65's were electric or mechanical.....I am so used to thinking electric with these cars....my bad. So....let's ask! Any of you guys out there happen to know off-a-paw whether '65's came with a mechanical or electric fuel pump? H E L P!! Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 20546... MORE
Virginia... If the fuel pump is the points-type stock SU with many miles or hours upon it, it could very well refuse to work without a tap or two upon it's body. Is it clicking when you turn the ignition switch on or is "all quiet"? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 20541... MORE
Jorge, According to my Haynes manual the valve clearance is 0.010" ( 0.25 mm) COLD. Biff Jones '59 Bugeye 'Kermit' '61 Sprite 'Ole Gray' in "The Healey Book" '71 Midget 'Freebie' under restoration http://sprites2.homestead.com/ Sprite Spree '03 http://www.justbrits.com/spreefront.html "Biff Jones" 20505... MORE
Don.... You will almost always get some mis-firing on deceleration with any engine of this vintage (no air pollution stuff)...., most especially heard with a glass pack, RC 40 or any free-flow system "worn in"....even the stock system when worn out!! In the 50's, this was part of what was called "backing off" and is usually confined to the lower rpm range. My new motor does this as well and is tuned beautifully...totally normal. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 20497... MORE
Because Ashley is better at publicising them than the retailers and we can bug said retailers to stock the items. I didn't know that the cooler hose bracket existed and will be investigating it now for my '63 with retro fitted cooler. Considering the volume of messages on this list, many of them completely unrelated to LBCs then I personally welcomes Ashley's very occasional posts and find them much more interesting than many of the other posts. Keep up the valuable work Ashley, how about tandem m/c pedal pivot bushes next, they've been NLA for about a decade. Jeremy... MORE
Jason... You can mark them if you want but there is no need to do so because the settings will change a bit over time anyway, as the engine gains miles, wears, and "compression/leak down" changes over time, but it won't hurt anything if you do! :) These carbs are no big deal to adjust, Jason. It's not all that critical, but best to err on the "slightly" rich, rather than weak side of the proper setting, to be sure. Do not fear this procedure. These carbs are very user friendly and one of the most simple, best carbs.... MORE
It would be cool to have a sprite and a mini. They share some parts too, as I am sure you know, provided you get one from the same era. All the tuning advice for the 'A' series engine applies to both. I've had 3 minis, and only recently came to spridgets. They are a superb drive through the bends. Rust-wise, I wouldn't say they were worse than spridgets, but I did see one once with a rusty roof - you wont get that on a spridget! Timbo. "Tim R." 20481... MORE
Yes... a simple solution! Set the static timing to TDC via the marks. Then on the top side of the engine (distributor side) simply put a dab of white paint on the timing cover and on the crank pulley. Multiple marks as desired. One mark for TDC, and one for the timing mark you want to set it to. :^) Paul Tegler wizardz@... http://www.teglerizer.com 20496... MORE
I'm not sure just how to relate your paint terms to ours in the USA, but...by cellulose I assume you mean lacquer. Here cellulose hasn't been used in many years; the modern equivalent is acrylic lacquer. Like cellulose, it needs to be buffed out to look it's best. It's inexpensive and easy to repair, but it doesn't have very good durability. I think our equivalent of two-pack must be acrylic enamel with urethane hardener additive. That looks good as sprayed, and, is reasonably priced and lasts well. The third alternative would be straight urethane (usually three components, I think).... MORE
Thats a good point about the reaction between the two paint types. I will ask what their plan is if I stay with the 2 pack idea. Cheers. "Tim R." 20428... MORE
Tim Two-pack is a lot more durable, holds it's shine better and is more fade resistant than cellulose. Personally and IMHO, I feel that two-pack looks too 'plasticky' on classic cars. I prefer the slightly softer shine of cellulose - the paint it was originally painted in. As I said, it is my own personal opinion, and I know many who disagree with me and prefer the durability and high shine of two-pack. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 20422... MORE
More advice from the Group please. My car is having a complete professional respray this year (not to bare metal though), visible sections only. In other words, I am not stripping out the engine, interior and jetwashing the underside, but I am having some new hinge-pillars welded in, body fully flatted down and so on. The colour is and will be tarten red, the original colour for the car. They've asked me if I want cellulose or 2-pack paint. I said I want durability over originality. But then I remembered hearing that 2- pack doesn't look right on a... MORE
Well, Don... Being able to attain a vertical position or getting up in the morning is a good start to anyone's day, especially for us senior types! To be honest, the stock suspension was made with the more narrow stock tires in mind. Though some oversteer is key to "tossability", the stock narrow tire size does play a part in this as well. They would probably be less of a strain on wire wheels as well, over time. Going up a size but staying with "78"'s rather than going wider will maintain good wet handling as well, while changing... MORE
I've got 165/70s on my (standard width) wires. They're Uniroyal something or others (about 10 years old now) and are ok, nothing fancy, but good for attracting dragonflies! see pic on http://uk.profiles.yahoo.com/davidajacobsuk Regards David "David Jacobs" 20343... MORE
Don't be tempted to wire in a -ve ground sound system into your ve ground car. Yes I know it can be done but you'll end up with the case of the radio live and live grounds for the speakers, it's a torched car just waiting to happen. Changing to negative earth is so easy and requires minimal wiring changes, just the battery connections. The only complication is the revcounter. Check the archives, the BBS archives at www.mgcars.org.uk or the Lindsey Porter restoration book for details. jeremy.cogman@... 20319... MORE
Don...165/65's These will fit and are about the widest recommended for a 4.5" wide wheel which is what you should find on your '74, the original width for the earlier cars having been 3.5". As a matter of fact you may be slightly "over" in terms of width. Ask a good tire-person! :) Putting more of the tire under the wheel is generally better for handling than having the sidewalls "hanging" outside the rim, as a rule. The width increase from "78" to "65" will also change the handling and ride characteristics of the car, due to the wider... MORE
Time to think about buying some tires for the 74 with wires. What size tires fit? I found a site on spridget tires. Having never bought tires for a Spridget, even though I owned several in the sixties, never needed new tires, I need information now. On the site: http://www.mg-midget.com/midgettires.html I see that a recommended inexpensive tire is the Bridgstone Potenza RE92 165/65 HR 13 Having used Bridgstone tires for years on my Mazda van I do find them a good tire value and my use will be mainly around town use. Just want to make sure that this... MORE
I had the same problem with my Janspeed exhaust manifold used with a standard twin 1" SU manifold. I ended up filing a step in the washers to make up the difference, as it wasn't all that great. David "David Jacobs" 20311... MORE
For those interested, I uploaded footwell repair pictures and a page dedicated to some of the tools I am using to restore 67 Sprite. Updated this weekend. Those not interested, please ignore. http://mysite.verizon.net/res1aa5i/Sprite.htm Yuchol "yucholian" 20293... MORE
Jason, Is this a case where the intake and the exhaust manifolds are of a different thickness? I just went thru that yesterday mounting a new Weber intake and a Janspeed header. Both had different thickness in their flanges. The intake was thicker than the exhaust, so I made some half washers to take up the difference in thickness. That let the top washer and nut draw down evenly on the two flanges. Biff Jones '59 Bugeye 'Kermit' '61 Sprite 'Ole Gray' in "The Healey Book" '71 Midget 'Freebie' under restoration http://sprites2.homestead.com/ Sprite Spree '03 http://www.justbrits.com/spreefront.html "Biff Jones" 20309... MORE
I'm about to rebuild the stock carb. on a ' 77 midget (1500cc). My question: Before investing time and money in the stock carb does anyone have info. on a simpler, better aftermarket ? I am not looking for high performance... just a simpler carb. Where, how much and experience with it would be appreciated. Thanx. "nstanko" 20288... MORE
