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Hi Stuart. #1 lead is the one closest to the FRONT of the engine ;-)... alternatively, you may have an early crank pulley/damper with your late-model timing chain cover. (Earlier midgets had the cam-chain cover timing marks underneath the car. God only knows why- perhaps the Abingdon engine tuning team were all very short.) Check your rocker clearances (or 'lash') on all valves. You may find the clearances on 1&4 have closed up. Compression is related to cam timing, but not at all to ignition timing. Spitty misfires can also be a rocker clearance, especially if they get worse... MORE
I'm still having problems with my 1275 so any help on the following points would be appreciated: Firstly timing: When I attach my strobe to No.1 ignition lead, the timing looks like it's 180 deg out. (The timing mark on the pulley is at the top, about 180 opposite the timing marks on the bottom of the timing chain cover) The car runs, so I assume that the timing can't actually be 180 deg out (or can it?) Secondly compression: I'm getting less compression on cylinders 1 and 4 than on 2 and 3, I'm getting about 8.5 (psi??)... MORE
Jeff (and anybody else still following this thread) That'll be Toby (on Midgeteurope list) with the Talbot Sunbeam engine and semi spaceframe chassis - I think he a bit mad personally :-) Engine and 'box very light, but it's only 930-odd cc, so its gonna be a screamer to get 90bhp out possibly? Plus they are notorious for eating head gaskets - Wills rings required I think. At least he won't have too many problems with the axle. He has a web site with a few piccies on somewhere - ah... found it... http://www.kmvs.freeserve.co.uk/index.html Wonder if he decided to... MORE
Hi People, Bit of an open question that I may have asked before, so forgive me if this is a bore - but then again it might stir up a few views as it's been a bit quiet... The work on getting my 1500 back in the road progresses apace, and with that in mind I am trying to get straight in my head what I shall do with my '2nd' Midget. It's a '71 rolling shell. Bought from a scrap yard cheap. Literally a panelled monocoque less boot(trunk)lid, but includes front suspension/steering/brakes, rear suspension (empty axle). The wings... MORE
Blue Folder (Pub 1590/B) Bugeye Red Car 2 page (Pub 1124-D/C) Bugeye Hot Cars Folder (Red Car) Bugeye Dealer "Wish you'd Call" Card Sprite MKII White car 1 page on Compass Background (Pub 1827B/W) Black Car 1 Page on Cobblestones (Pub S463-50) MKII Preliminary Specs Red (Pub 1994/B) MKII 12 page folder (Pub 2110A) Sprite MKIII Black car 1 page on sq stones (Pub BMC3/64 US 50 M) MKIII 12 page folder (Pub 75M/464/A) MK IV White car Postcard & scuba (no Pub) Black car 5x8 striped background (Pub C 4/67 US) Yellow RHD car (Pub 2691) Blue car... MORE
Can't seem to get the pics to send, I'll try linking them from my website. Mk1 Austin Healey Sprite, Californian Imported car, was used for racing (see pics), still has wide wheels attached. Looks a bit of a shed but is actually a very square car. Floor needs replacing (cheap from heritage at around =A360 per side) but surrounding metal is pretty solid. Comes with a box of bits including dash, instruments, grille, master cylinder, hood frame and loads of other odds and sods. It's all steel but has a fibreglass coating on some of the back (probably saved... MORE
Mk1 Austin Healey Sprite, Californian Imported car, was used for racing (see pics), still has wide wheels attached. Looks a bit of a shed but is actually a very square car. Floor needs replacing (cheap from heritage at around =A360 per side) but surrounding metal is pretty solid. Comes with a box of bits including dash, instruments, grille, master cylinder, hood frame and loads of other odds and sods. It's all steel but has a fibreglass coating on some of the back (probably saved it from completely rusting away), is missing the carbs, cylinder head and seats. The car... MORE
Pleased to report that I managed to put my front crossmember straight with the help of a borrowed porta-power. I first weakened the structure by hacksawing part way through the weld between the crossmember and the inner wing assembly. By wedging the base of my engine crane under the rear and right front part of the front chassis, I could then use it with the porta-power to get a vertical push down on the left shock absorber mounting point. I've measured and spirit-leveled everything I can, to be sure that I'll have equal spring compression and camber angle left... MORE
Before you pull the motor again, have you shimmed your pressure release spring? sometimes that will raise your pressure by making it work harder to bypass. Brad "Brad Fornal" 5182... MORE
Mike Agreed - the only valid comparison would be with another car on the same RR on the same day, however throwing out bhp figures gets the conversation going.... Engine spec as follows: - 1380cc A+ 1300 Ital block, 73.5mm Omega forged pistons, EN16T Midget crank, balanced Cooper 'S' rods, ARP rod bolts, modified Midget flywheel lightened and machined to accept 7.5" AP racing clutch, crank & flywheel dynamically balanced, Kent 310 'scatter pattern' camshaft, Kent vernier duplex timing gears, steel centre main strap, Vandervell (Clevite) 'VP' main and big end bearings, baffled sump, modified race cylinder head, 11:1... MORE
Vince I am sure I can get a set of 10" minilights machined up to take a knock-on centre if you're interested.... But seriously folks... As I understand it 1500's were heavier than 1275's and had to be raised to pass the US impact tests. This means that 1500 front springs are quite a bit taller than 1275 springs and the spring rate is greater and 1500 rear springs have an additional leaf. I am no 1500 expert but I also recall that they have a spacer in the front spring hanger which raises the car further (?). To... MORE
Well I finally got my Midget on the road. I fought the clutch problem for several weeks, but perseverance paid off. While it can be driven, I have another problem. The oil pressure starts off around 45 to 50 psi when first started but once it is warmed up it idles at 5 psi and goes to 25 psi when I drive it. I am going to keep it parked until I figure out the problem. I checked the oil over-presurization valve and am using the 20-50 oil and changed the oil filter after only 10 miles to see... MORE
The easiest way to lower a 1500 to 1275 height is to fit 10" Mini wheels but I suggest that fitting lowered springs would be a better idea! ;o) James "James Bilsland" 5111... MORE
Does anyone know the easiest way to lower a 1500 to the same height as a 1275? Also what is the difference between the springs on a 1500 & 1275 ? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Vince "Vince Gillin" 5109... MORE
Vince You can replace the springs with shorter one from Moss or VickyBrit. It drops the frount about 2 in. It's very easy to do. I went the cheap way buy adding spacers to drop the spring saddle but I think I will go with new springs. The lowered springs have a higher spring rate. Doug 77 "Doug Pletcher" 5110... MORE
Hi everyone, About six months ago I acquired a 79 Midget that was in danger of rusting away into oblivion. I was going to write a long account of the acquisition and my subsequent trials and tribulations but I'm sure those of you who are veteran spridget lovers can guess most of it already. The main point is that I'm totally in love with the car and nowhere close to giving up on my goal of restoring it to road worthiness. Enough background for now, here's my question: I have to put about 15 drops of oil in my... MORE
Willy- Hang in there, Willy. My Mom 90 now, and "going" physically though mind still sharp. Painfull time for all of us; part of life experience, though this understanding makes it only marginally better; hurts but cannot be helped. Glad, on other hand, you got tunes straightened away; spring will be here before you know it! Cap'n. Bob '61 :{) PilotRob@... 5002... MORE
Is the starter motor drawing excessive current because it is trying to turn a seized engine?? Not a nice scenario! See if you can turn the engine by hand using the front pulley or push the car in 4th gear, maybe remove the sparkplugs to make the job easier by removing the compression, put some oil in to reduce friction once it does move. If it won't move put some more oil down the bores and leave over night, then try again. The noise in the back is the electric fuel pump presuming you have a 1275 'A' series... MORE
Thanks Guy, The twist seems to be between the front bulkhead and the suspension crossmenber and it's an inch high on the left side - the side which shows most signs of accident repair. I've got the drawing and dimensions for doing this in my original BMC workshop manual. Also look for ripples in the Sounds expensive! It probably has been driven like this for years, so it can't be that bad! Andy Gibson andrew.gibson@... HRCR Historic Road Rally Championship Coordinator www.historicroadrally.co.uk Blackpalfrey MC of Kent - Hughes Rally www.blackpalfrey.co.uk "Andrew Gibson" 4969... MORE
Andy Pretty much every Friday - look forward to seeing you. We are the Egerton natter these days - I gather though that things are looking up at 'The George' so we may try to resurrect the fourth Friday meetings... Dave replaced an entire chassis leg with pretty much the theory that you're suggesting - I'm sure that people will scream at the suggestion that a jig is unnecessary but he has just won the FISC championship in the car for the second year running so it can't be too far out of true... After all Cooper used to... MORE
Hi all, Near me in Nottingham (UK) is a Midget that not only has the Frog(bug)eye front end, but also has a bug(frog)eye back end grafted on. The present owner told me, after coming back to a confused stranger (me) peering under the back end of his car (looking for type of springs), that the work was done by a fireman in his spare time. From the brilliant seemless quality of the work I think he should have been a bodyshop man instead. Cheers, Phil '79 1500 nearly back on wheels & '71 1275 buried under assorted automotive 'treasures'... MORE
Chris Can you find out where the twist is? It may seem a silly question but it may determine if a whole chassis leg is twisted or, just a bit of it, say forward of the suspension. Is it an inch high on the left or an inch low on the right? A 'drop test' (drop vertical measurements from common points onto level ground - not drop the car!) should give you an indication. If you want details how to do this e-mail me direct ( grday@... ) to avoid clogging the group up - unless more want to... MORE
G'day from down under, When I wanted a discrete stereo put in my mk4 sprite,a local store/fitting joint came up with this idea. The "system" is in the boot( it is only a little bigger that a radio/cassette player_____but includes a 6stacker cd player.)The aerial is hidden under the car pointing down,and slightly forward,near the passenger side overrider( this is a rhd car).This aerial is the same as a mobile 'phone unit. The four speakers are placed with two in the space behind the seats,i.e pointing up,although this did need two holes cut in the car,these holes are only... MORE
Hi, I'm new to this group. I'm preparing an Arkley Midget (originally was a 1965 MkII) for competition use - Autotests, Sprints and Historic Road Rallies. I've posted a couple of photos of the car, taken in June on the day I bought it - partly dismantled, with several boxes of removed bits. Can anyone offer advice on how to level a front cross member that's almost an inch higher on the left side than the right side? It appears to be left over from long ago front end accident damage that preceeded the Arkley conversion and I didn't... MORE
Dear all, For the technically minded among you I wonder if you can help with my current project? I have an extremely rotted 1968 1275 Spridget & a good bare 1500 shell which I'd like to transfer all the 1275 running gear & trim onto. What modifications need to be done to the 1500 shell in order to fit all the 1275 gear ? I have already changed the front wings / nose cone to chrome bumper & removed the reinforcing box sections from the front inner wings & boot floor. What is the easiest way to bring the... MORE
