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To everyone in the US looking for "better" rotors (more "heavily" built): May I strongly suggest: Peter C. (aka "PPPPC") at Worldwide: nosimport@... Had a problem with rotors "going" in PerTronix equipped Lucas 25D4 beyond .028 plug gap ("cracked") using "usual suspect" types. No problem with those supplied by "The Shockman"....currently (funny word to use considering the subject!) using .030 plug gap... Like his lever shocks, his rotors take a licking and keep on ticking. Ordered 4 or 5 of 'em.....still using the first one! Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 13961... MORE
Hi everyone, I have for sale an incomplete-project 1971 Midget GAN 5UB 91585G (North American version). Major structural repair work has been done, and I will have it in rolling-chassis config in a couple of weeks, ready for sale. All parts are there, and engine/gearbox are in good shape. Front suspension intact. Nothing missing. Several duplicate components. Car has been in inside heated dry storage since 1985. Approx 45,000 miles from new. Anyone interested? Please contact me directly. Tony Pooley, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. tpooley@... "anthony pooley" 13906... MORE
I guess everyone has their favorite brand of oil, with many choosing Castrol because of what appear to be it's British origins. However, since it is refined in the USA from crude produced who knows where... The truth of the matter is probably that all of the major brands are good oils which will serve well. A Spring and Fall change of both oil and filter will likely ensure that you never experience an oil related engine failure - so use Castrol, Exxon, Havoline, Valvoline, Shell - whatever, and worry about more important things, like proper engine tune and... MORE
You are as well to replace the spring clips as the old ones will be rusty and likely to break when you take/prise them off, they are only pence anyway. Putting the new rubber and felts on is fun....... you need a special tool or make one yourself out of some heavy gauge steel strip so that you can slide in down the side of the window and pull the clips up firmly. I have heard of people heating up the end of an old screwdriver to make one. I did mine with the doors off the car, flat... MORE
Alex, No, no such thing as a '62 Bugeye as a production item. That's a MKII Sprite with a Bugeye bonnet. BTW, there were only 44 '61's made and they were all CKD's for the Australian market and therefore all RHD. Gerard "gerardchateau" 13871... MORE
Actually, I'm thinking the bushings were probably silver soldered in. There would be a real problem in using brass to braze them in. By the time you got the joint hot enough to melt the brass brazing rod, the bushes would be at (or very near) their melting point. Silver solder melts at abt 1200F as opposed to brass at abt 1500- 1600, so it is easy to use it to join brass to steel. In fact that is one of the reasons that silver solder exists in the first place - to provide joints as strong as brazing,... MORE
Margaret, He is asking about a concealed location. Later Spridgets have them in 2 locations other than the chassis or door plates. Gerard "gerardchateau" 13855... MORE
Absolutely and as I said earlier if your units are cracked or have more than surface corrosion invest in a new set and then have those rebuilt, with proper rust protection the arms should last many decades and with proper lubrication the bushes should last several tens of thousands of miles. All spridgeteers should have the motto "Spare quarter of an hour? Lube that front suspension!". "Jeremy Cogman" 13836... MORE
re: Jeremy Cogman's and DLancer's posts. Amen! Especially concerning periodic lubrication of the front end - absolutely; cheap insurance. Don't skimp on this anymore than you'd skimp on brakes. Both can be very costly. It's all a question of "pay me now, or pay me later".... and a lot better ride and more enjoyment for your buck if you pay small amounts "as you go" with respect to a strict program of periodic lubrication. One reason these cars didn't perform as well as expected over the long run in terms of longevity was the fact that most Americans, unlike... MORE
Actually, silver solder is a very strong material - depending on the alloy as strong or stronger than brass brazing. Silver solder, despite it's name, is not to be confused with the low melting temp tin/lead alloy used for joining water pipes and wiring. I don't know whether the A-arms are silver soldered or brazed, but silver solder would definitely be strong enough. "tloutrec" 13821... MORE
You need to fill the tube in the piston such that it does not overflow when you put the damper piston in. The more you get in there the longer it will go before you need to do it again (where does it go?). "Jeremy Cogman" 13811... MORE
I have just accquired a Mk IV AH Sprite (chassis no H AN9 65486) which has no registration document or number plates. I've spoken to the Heritage Trust at Gaydon, the DVLA and people from the Midget and Sprite Club in an attempt to find out the original registration number but no-one has any record of it. I'd rather find out the original number than get an age related one so that I can trace the car's history. Does anyone know of any other ways to find out, have lists or has (miraculously) anyone out there owned this car... MORE
By all means replace the arms with new or rebuilt ones. Don't try welding them up. Rebuilding the complete front suspension is straightforward, and not terribly expensive, unless someone convinces you that you need to spend $250 for a special reamer for the kingpin bushes. Any competent automotive machine shop can ream and hone these to size. My shop charged me 10 bucks each side to do the job. A newly rebuilt front end is a real joy - you won't believe how tight and light Spridget steering is when correct. "tloutrec" 13797... MORE
I've also recently heard it suggested that that taking the sharp corner off the grease sot on the fulcrum pin with a file could extend bush life as it would reduce the tendency of the pin to work like a tap. It's also not unusual for the a-arms to develop fatigue cracks in the steel near the tube bushes. Some of these arms are 40 years old after all. Inspect yours and buy new if there is any sign of cracking or metal loss through corrosion. "Jeremy Cogman" 13788... MORE
I am consistently amazed at two things; MG engineers and the depth of knowledge of the people that follow this group. So here goes with my question. I am re-building the front end on my 74 midget and am finding a lot of bad things. The lower swing arm on the right side has cracked, once where the kingpin ties to the swingarm and again where the front edge of the swingarm attaches to the frame. The cracks would suggest the car has hit something hard in the past but there is no evidence of any other damage. Perhaps... MORE
the 3k rpm engine is stil with me. My local (chevy, ford, dodge) mechanic gave up on it after checking the timing, vacuum, compression, and linkage.Before I take it to the local extremely high priced British repair shop, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN CHECK as to why this stupid car is idling at 3k rpm after it warms up? The diaphragm is intact. There are no vacuum leaks. The timing is perfect. The water choke is functioning perfectly. Linkage, well, that's the first thing I checked. I can't believe that running it at 5k rpm for a couple... MORE
Chuibuddy..... I do not know the year of this car or what kind of carb. it has on it exactly but, does it have a spring loaded "anti-depression" valve incorporated in the normal carb. butterfly which may have stuck in the "not fully closed" position? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 13782... MORE
Hmmm-Chuck must have been "transferring" weight to you while Peter C. was holding forth on lever shocks! Very sneaky! Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 13776... MORE
Actually, Chris West.... While I understand your philosophy... A Bugeye bonnet on a RWA Spridget doesn't look bad at all. Frank Clarici's PIECES is proof positive of this. It doesn't look so good on the non-RWA Spridgets, however. Using a little epoxy "bondo" to round off the square rear end's top fender"beading" helps "round" things off a bit back there! A fibreglass bonnet being a little lighter, also productively changes the front/rear weight bias in a positive manner and makes for an easier "front tilt" conversion as well....less weight to "support". Just different strokes for different folks! :) Cap'n.... MORE
Well. I checked everything that was suggested. the linkage is okay, the throttle cable is seated just fine, the idle adjustment screw is backed out all the way and it still won't go below 3k. Any more Ideas? "chuibuddy" 13646... MORE
Throttle linkage stuck just out of it's "fitting" on heat shield? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 13637... MORE
You may want to give Scarbborough Faire 401-724-4200 a call. They mostly do B stuff but I was talking to the owner at Carlisle Import show this spring and they do Sprites and Midget sets in fairly high quality and as she says Correct Fit Sets. Let me know if anyone else has had any experience with their carpet from them. Mike kna331@... 13615... MORE
Ken, Being on the subject of rear end rebuilds. I was adjust the rear brakes and noticed some oil coming out of the axel at the drums. Am I correct in assuming that no oil should be able to get by the hub oil seal? If so than what is the purpose of the half shaft flange gasket and O ring seal? Are they there to keep out foreign matter? If oil is leakeng from the wheels isn't the only fix to install new oil seals? When I pulle my axel shafts out the PO had used silicone sealer... MORE
Well I know there's a lot of opinions on shocks for midgets. but on my 74, I'm thinking of replacing my original rear shocks with the gas tube shocks.. I know that a reconditioned lever shock works well, but which is better. the lever shocks of the replacement kits? Is one better than the other or at their best are they the same? Is there an improvement in handling? Not all that concerned with originality. Bruce (Pa.) "redrider417" 13603... MORE
Hey "youse guys", A couple of questions for "youse" regarding MKIII Sprites... MKIII's have the 2 piece top frame... apparently there were stowage bags for these? Just where, due to their odd shape were they to be stowed? Also, Where and how was the top supposed to be folded up and stowed? Is this stuff just s'posed to rattle around in limbo in the boot, or is there a method to this madness. Also, regarding carpeting and interiors.... the big Healey guys can get so anal about orginiality sometimes, you'd think that if they ever sat in a Sprite... MORE
