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Jason Gross- I assume you are using Spax tube shocks all around? They are all set at "14 clicks" or do you use a different setting depending on front or back? Would you describe the ride (assume "daily driver" over normal public highway surfaces; some "good", some "not so good") as better than levers, all around? Cap'n. Bob '61 :{) PilotRob@... 6078... MORE
Hi there " schicmig@... "- Am interested in your rear suspension set-up as you described the ride as very good. I run a stock suspension set-up on my '61 Frog daily driver except for tube shocks all around (GasAdjust KR2), 3/4 front bar and panhard rod, utilizing 5.5" Westerns on 175/70 T/A's. The ride is a little harsh in the back and I've been thinking of different adjustable shocks to "soften" the rear ride. Are Carrera's two-way (bounce and rebound) and single adustable. What setting are you running on your Carrera's and what setting would you recommend for normal... MORE
I searched for poly rear bushings and came up empty. So I fashioned nylon bushings for my '62 1/4 spring car, which improved handling, particularly reducing bump steer by locating the axle. However, the improvement was short lived. The stock radius arms were not up to the extra duty as they both sheared during a parking lot autocross. Fun while it lasted! I installed Winners Circle adjustable links with rod ends and was already running WC Carrera adjustable shocks. Stock bump steer has returned, but will be corrected with a minimania panhard bar. Overall ride is very good and... MORE
Hi I have a '61 Sprite I'm just getting started with. Just got in to this group as well. Though I'm not a beginner at cars, I am at Sprites. So this group will come in handy, I'm sure. BTW Do have a number or web address for NOSIMPORTS? I am going to need some rebuilt shocks. Thanks Perry perryr@... 6068... MORE
Hey Rick I just did mine last month, It is pretty simple 1. you unbolt the old stock shocks 2. you bolt on the supplied mounting plate to the old position of the old shocks (They only send 2 new bolts in the kit so I went out and pick up 4 new bolts and wahsers just incase) 3. this is were I got stuck a little, you then have to swap from pass to driver side the plate that the u-bolts go through that hold the leaf springs to the axle. and when you put them on make... MORE
Jim Rogers: Can't help you on lowering the back end of your Frog, however, the "proper" attitude for the stock bugeye is slightly "tail high", anyway. The rear springing on a stock Frog is pretty stiff to begin with, really. Unless you want a truly "teeth rattling" ride (and a pounding which cannot do the structure of the "daily driver" much good, assuming "normal" public roads), I'd recommend new, stock rubber bushings and trailing arms. Really, it's already a very "stiff" set-up back there, bone stock, which resulted in pretty good oversteer with the stock car (which can be... MORE
Hi, Jack- I have a "Wheelwright" tube shock conversion kit on my '61 Frog. The kit came on the car but I've used the same kit before on Spridgets; sold by FASPEC and Winner's Circle, as I recall. Currently I am using GasAdjust K2 and they are a little on the stiff side. May go to SPAX in time. Shock is Corvette-sized. Before you switch over, though, there are places where well-overhauled "levers" can be obtained; nosimports, for instance are reputed to sell excellent replacement units and I believe Peter C. can "upgrade" stiffness of the units to suit.... MORE
Well so far, so good. I am still trying to get the right balance of crankcase vacuum to manifold pressure to stop the oil leak. At this time, it drips about 4 good drops when parked and I think I am getting it to be less. As a last resort I will pull the engine and re-seal the rear seal. A question I would like to ask is if anyone has modified their cars to use tube shocks. I see there are kits for this modification, but I want some good first hand advice before spending that kind of... MORE
Here goes- RHD- Right Hand Drive (steering on the right hand side) LHD- Left........ FWD- Front Wheel Drive RWD- Rear Wheel Drive FWIW- for what its worth BTW- by the way TTFN- ta-ta for now BFN- bye for now LOL- oh, I see you've figured that one out.. DPO- Dumb previous owner there's more but I'm running out of space... "Grant Bowyer" 6046... MORE
sorry guys at list, due to my poor english I must ask, what RHD right hand .......??, FWIW, and BTW mean???? Please dont make things harder to me!!!! LOL !!!!! manga de locos !!!!! Jorge Dimitrakis Argentine-near Antartica 73 1275 Midget RWA "Jorge Dimitrakis" 6043... MORE
sorry guys at list, due to my poor english I must ask, what RHD means???? Jorge Dimitrakis Argentine-near Antartica 73 1275 Midget RWA "Jorge Dimitrakis" 6042... MORE
I've pulled off the rear end & suspension from my '63 Sprite parts car for use on my Bugeye rebuild. Currently cleaning & disassembling all the parts, but have a couple of questions for the Lists before I start reassembling. 1) Should the bushings in the 1/4 springs & the radius arms be replaced with polyurethane? If so, who sales them? - I haven't seen them in the VB or M*ss catalogues. 2) The front end will be 1" lower, so I would like to lower the rear by about 1/2" to 1". If I remember previous discussions correctly... MORE
Thanks Brad. By the way, My frogeye was also originally LHD and exported to Paris, France in October 1958. It was repatriated back to England in 1967 and converted (back?)to RHD around that time. I'd say more for practical reasons than anything else. She was originally Primrose Yellow (now Rosso Red) and I think I'll get her back that way again someday. Gary L AN5L(RHD) "Gary Lazarus" 6036... MORE
Hi Frank Nice web site. But why, assuming you're in the states why did you convert "pieces" to RHD? By the way many is the time that I wish my frogeye had roll up windows and a hood(roof) that you could just hop out/reach back and pull up. Gary L 1958 Frogeye "Gary Lazarus" 6033... MORE
On ALL of my spridgets with roll-up windows, I have the inevitable crack in the top of the door right above the handle on the left door. I was curious if the owners of RHD cars have the same crack on the right door. If not, then it was a defect in the manufacturing of the door. If so, then it is just a weak design for the amount of use the driver door receives. Just curious, Brad Brad Fornal 6023... MORE
Brad, That's the way I do it. The pad on the jack fits inside the lower spring seat and the A-arm restrains the spring somewhat. I've done the bolt trick, that takes a long time. Wiring the spring in a compressed state is not very safe at all. I've had springs compressed with a spring compressor and it slipped, very scary. No matter how you do it be careful! Martyn meastwood1@... "Martyn Eastwood" 5997... MORE
Now that I have picked myself up off the floor from reading all this stuff, I fixed what I hope was the only oil leak. I found the plastic dip stick tube broken off right at the engine block. Since the bottom end was already broken, it was easy to remove, and after just 20 minutes with my Taig Micro Lathe, I fabricated a new one from aluminum, I believe Brits pronounce it aluminum, and installed in into the block with a touch of sealant. Other than that, I had a blast driving the Midget today and have already... MORE
Allen Plan c for the springs. You can remove 2 of the spring pan bolts and replace them with 4" bolts than remove the other 2 bolts and than unscrew the 4" in bolts until the spring pan and spring become loose. This works good. Sounds like not too bad a job. I have 50 k miles on the car maybe the A frame and the fulcrum is OK. We will see. Thanks Doug 77 "Doug Pletcher" 5920... MORE
Allen I plan on doing the kink pins in my 1500 this winter. Is it really that bad and what are the things to look out. With the upper link removed I presume the spindle should just slide off the king pin. How difficult is it to remove the fulcrum pin. Is it best to remove the arm and king pin together. Doug 77 "Doug Pletcher" 5906... MORE
Congrats Rick, Glad to hear of your success, now put that thing in "all ahead frantic" and rack up some miles on it. Dave in NY "Stevens, David" 5894... MORE
I drove my Midget for over 45 miles today and enjoyed every bit of it. Well at least until my oil pressure gauge dropped to ZERO while zipping along at 50 mph. The problem was not too bad as the line from the block to the gauge split an it was squirting oil everywhere. After pinching off the line, I was able to get the auto parts store and purchase a kit and fix it. The oil pressure does pretty good as it idles at 55 psi cold and 35 psi hot with it being at 45 psi at... MORE
Reading that you say first gear isn't syncromesshed, is that why I hear a funny sound (sometimes) from my 79 1500 in first gear, and kind of feel bumps thru the shift lever, or do I have some other problems that are coming? Willy "Wm. Thompson" 5872... MORE
The usual culprit is a worn out clutch release bearing- the carbon is probably worn down enough that the brass carrier is pressing on the clutch release surface. You can inspect the release bearing through the clutch release lever hole- you'll need a flashlight. The carbon block should protrude from the carrier at least a couple of millimetres. The other possibility is worn out crankshaft thrust bearings- with the engine running, watch the front crankshaft pulley as your beautiful assistant pushes the clutch pedal- if you see the pulley move forwards, then its engine rebuild time. My money's on... MORE
Does anyone in Britain have a dead RB106/2 (the early two coil type) control box I could have for a small fee. I need it for my alternator conversion and it seems silly to hack around a functional one as I'm trying to keep the option of reverting to dynamo if I want to. Cheer Jeremy "Jeremy Cogman" 5863... MORE
Aldon who market the Petronix Ignitor in Britain say you can only use certain types of high energy coil with it. I have two questions, firstly why, what's the technical reason behind this and secondly can anyone recommend a suitable coil. Ta. Jeremy Cogman Sprite 2 Sulking Fiat Dino Coupe Surprising Triumph Acclaim Alfa 33 1.5 by cohabitation "Jeremy Cogman" 5820... MORE
