MAIN

Body

 1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16  |  17  |  18  |  19  |  20  |  21  |  22  |  23  |  24  |  25  |  26  |  27  |  28  |  29  |  30  |  31  |  32  |  33  |  34  |  35  |  36  |  37  |  38  |  39  |  40  |  41  |  42  |  43  |  44  |  45  |  46  |  47  |  48  |  49  |  50  |  51  |  52  |  53  |  54 

Previous Page | Next Page

Pretty sure the diff in it is the 4.55, whether its original or not! As for the engine.. its a bored out 1275.. to 1380. although not much more is know about it apart from the idle has always been lumpy and the car went like stink! The car itself was used for hilclimbing, but this was with the original 948 engine taken out to 998. this engine had been tweaked beyond all hope, and a useless road engine as a result (hence the later bigger engine). It has disk brakes on the front, riley 1.5 drums on the... MORE

...the pursuit of excellence. Making a watermelon out of a pineapple. All you need is plenty of bondo...LOL Funny you shpuld make that analogy, I have a photograph of a cut open pineapple and the inside flesh is watermelon. I've had this since way before Photoshop was a vision Thomas Knoll's head so it either a clever photo composite or someone actually created it in real life. Anyway, the other trick to good body work is getting the metal where it is supposed to be as opposed to fabricating it from plastic. Hammer and dolly work comes first. Gerard... MORE

Don, Depending on the severity or gentleness of the curve, use a longer or shorter board for sanding. (Steep curves= shorter board.) For inside (concave curves) use a cardboard roll or a very short nap paint roller woth sandpaper rolled around it. Also, remember I told you to sand "crosshatch" so you avoid low/high spots. This is especially true for curved areas. It does take some artistry , a sensitive touch and a good eye though. Did you buy the guide coat like I suggested? This helps a lot too as vents you from sanding too much. You should... MORE

Don, First I would be very reluctant to do it without jack stands. I don't know what sort of floor jack you have, but sometimes they can fail suddenly. If you so it that way take other precautions. That said, when you do it, I would keep one with very slight pressure on the brake, this will simulate some road friction and keep the wheels from backlashing should something unexpected happen. (your foot will also be ready should you jack give you a surprise.) Gerard "gerardchateau" 25132... MORE

From: gerardchateau To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 1:15 PM Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Compound curves Don, Depending on the severity or gentleness of the curve, use a longer or shorter board for sanding. (Steep curves= shorter board.) For inside (concave curves) use a cardboard roll or a very short nap paint roller woth sandpaper rolled around it. Also, remember I told you to sand "crosshatch" so you avoid low/high spots. This is especially true for curved areas. It does take some artistry , a sensitive touch and a good eye though. Did you buy the guide coat like... MORE

I am going crazy with metal glaze and compound curves. A bugeye bonnet is nothing but a mass of compound curves . . . thank you listing to my vent. only my bald head exceeds it. Do you know how hard it is to shave your head? flat razor blade . . . hard round top of head . . . well, sides of head, nature took care of the top. Don "Don May" 25139... MORE

Don't know. The car was not driven for almost a year and I do not know what all the PO did to it. The guy I bought it from bought it running, drove it home and a couple of times around the block, did some work on the battery pan, put in a new radiator and hoses then got too busy at his job to do more so never took it off the no-op license and let it sit for almost a year, then when he tried to drive before selling it discovered he could not get it into... MORE

Hi David, The engine mounting plate is identical to the Spridgets as are the rubber mounts. Because the frame is completely different in the Morris, the frame to rubber mount bracket is completely different. The Datsun engine has the motor mounts near midway in the block, so new mounting points to the frame are required. Also, they are not symetrical like the Spridgets, so two differnt length frame mounts are necessary. Paul A. makes the motor mounts and so there was no need to reinvent the wheel. I just purchased them from him. Placement is a matter of position... MORE

I should see you and the car there as I am going down to Palo Alto Sunday in the yellow 74. Do they sell any parts at this meet? Wish had a swap meet section. I need a front clear lens for the bugeye bonnet and usually there are good prices on them at swap meets. Don "Don May" 25101... MORE

Hi everyone, I recently pick up a 71 Midget that some what a basket case for $100. Unfortunately it was an unfinished project from someone else. the rear section was choped off to make a truck bed. It also has a Fiat engine under the hood (I don't like this combo) I intend to fix the body up to original design and put in some japanese powertrain. and upgrade suspension to a full SLA both front and rear. I start with late model Toyota 4AGE that will be completely rebuild and blueprinted to the extend. I saw alot of... MORE

Just purchased a new used car, still under mfg. warranty. I am considering getting an extended warranty on the car but, sooo many companies out there. Any suggestions on what is good and what to stay away from would be appreciated. Thanks Jerry Rein 73 Gidget Naples FL Jertigger33@... 25061... MORE

Nigel, Had to re-core mine and it came back painted gloss black and I am sure it wasn't high temp paint. The gloss finish is nice as it cleans up nicely. Rob C 75 Midget-finally running right after Summer is over. robbiesg@... 25055... MORE

So I am motoring down a nice quiet highway at 50MPH and come to a leisurely stop at a traffic light. 30 seconds go by, light turns green and I motor on up to 50 MPH again. AFter about a mile, I detect the distinct smell of burning brakes. Dang, I hope that's not me.... unfortunately it was. SO I pulled over to the side and came to a stop. The brake pedal was hard and would not depress very far. Furthermore, the brakes were not responding very well (nor grabbing). After stopping I noticed the stinky smoke coming... MORE

Hi guys Was thinking about painting my radiator - is there any specific paint this should be done in? ie heat resistant? or is regular cellulose ok? I'm assuming it's original finish was satin black, is that correct? tia Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 25045... MORE

Hi, Nigel.... Yes...there is special paint according to Eastwood Automotive Products @ www.EastwoodCo.com Type "radiator paint" into the "search" box and there you have it! :):) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 25047... MORE

That does not help me if the car has been reshelled in the past though I want to know what colour my chasis number left the factory not what colour the body was before. "kdb550" 25020... MORE

Gerard, Thanks for the tip on using Metalglaze. Great stuff! Fortunately I live a couple of blocks form Berkeley Color, automotive paint supplies, and they carry it. I like the way it sands and how smooth it feels. Not as hard to spread as I though it would be seeing it is so thin. Don "Don May" 25031... MORE

Reshelled? Seems to me if the color on the bulkhead/areas up under the dash is not the original color then what is left of the car but the engine trans and drive train. :-) As Nigel was pointing out it would be very rare if that is not the original color if it matches one of the few original colors the car came from the factory from. A previous owner would have had to strip the car down to the shell, strip all the paint from all surfaces and repaint in order for hidden areas to be other than... MORE

Steve, I never had to remove the column, but I had to loosen it to be able to remove the cowl. As for the ignition switch, when you remove the switch itself from the key lock and tumbler assembly, see if the key rotates then. I had the ignition switch itself jam up twice on my 76. The original one and on the replacement that was only 2 weeks old. I took the old one apart and the contact tabs had just worn away, broke and jammed. The new one I just sent back. Haven't had any problems since.... MORE

I wish . . . couple of them knocking them off today. Have an idea what a large acorn falling 20 feet sounds like hitting a bare metal bugeye bonnet? It is very strange behavior for the last 15 years they usually just pick the things bring them down and bury them. This year it is like a feeding frenzy, eating parts of acorns and dropping the rest, breaking off whole ones and letting them fall to the ground and the acorns are still green and not ready to drop on their own. Koyaanisqatsi . . . Don "Don... MORE

Very different over here in Berkeley on the mud flats without any bed rock close to the surface . . . and close to the fault. Was Short but very strong and super loud. Course nothing compares to the 89 as far as quakes I have been in. I usually don't go into survival mode with quakes, sort of a cheap thrill, but the 89 quake sent every cell in my body into survival mode. Strange sensation when the body does that, mental control goes out the window and the organism goes into fright and flight. Don "Don May"... MORE

Hi Don, Then it's similar to the catalyzed type I guess. The only problem with fiberglass to metal is the expansion contrction rate is different, so they can sometimes separate. That's onother reason you don't want to go too thick on the bondo. When you sand, you should use at least a 12 inch long "board" (I'm referring to the block sanders used for auto body work). This is especially important for the broad nearlt flat (but not really) area you are doing. Start with 80 grit and criss-cross from two dirctions to get the form right and contoured... MORE

are you sure it's the frame it's rubbing? (i.e. is it visible rubbing there, or just audible?) It's not uncommon for a wheel to rub on a flexible brake hose on full lock - check this out, as they can rub through with obvious potential disastrous results! They shouldn't contact anything solid though - there is a lock-stop built into the king-pin which the stub axle contacts before anything else, unless you have ultra wide wheels! The other thing to note, once you've sorted the rubbing thing, is that if it turns more in one direction, both tie rods... MORE

Can those of you who are running front tube shocks let me know which ones (manufacturer and part#) you're running? I'm looking for a set for my 62 Sprite (I already have the conversion hardware) and I'd like to get a feel for what other people are running. Anyone running the Carreras shocks from Winners Circle? KYBs? I'm also running the 400 lb competition springs with an alternate engine. My engine, spring and tire combo sets my front frame height at approx 6 inches off the ground and the distance between the shock mounts at 12 inches. I measured... MORE

..hey group,..my 62 has a tendency to rub its drivers side front wheel against the inner frame when i make tight turns..but not when i make a tight opposite turn..do you think its a tie rod that needs ajustment?..or.....? its odd,... it did not do it before but now recently it has started. thanks for your help in advance! samuel "modernlmi2000" 24940... MORE