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Good, Guy Weller! You're "the man", then! Rob sure will know where to go for the right answers in this respect, for sure then, should he have further questions. Before Rob mentioned it, I didn't even know Spitfires came with an overdrive transmission to begin with! :) This a single overdrive or is it like others in that it is effective on the top three gears? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 24076... MORE
Cap'n Bob, Appreciate the insight. The last 1275 I drove was a 73 back in 1981. Didn't know jack about such cars so comparison's are impossible. I was planning to lower the rear of the car with a block arrangement that raises the rear axle where it attaches to the spring. Since fitting the new wheels and tires I'm not so sure about this. I had to do some sugery on the rear to eliminate the "tuck-in" flange for clearance. The front wheels were even worse. Had to raise the wheel cutout an inch. Will probably flair them. Do... MORE
"Surely more weight at the front..." Well usually but depends on some other factors such as ride height and spring rates, damping, etc. Some BE's rode fairly higher at the rear than the front...not sure about the 1500's though...just don't "know" them. Fr'instance: as an "extreme" example.... In Rob's case he's got a lowered front end but the rear is stock ride height with the stock 86lb. 6 leaf springs...pretty stiff rear set-up with higher roll center than the front to boot. So.....:) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 24069... MORE
Well, Rob... Vicky B. offers a rear spring lowering kit at a very reasonable price so you wouldn't be out much if this approach didn't work. I think the Ford Sierra 5 speed is what Guy Weller has used or is currently using....and.... .....refering to fellow spritester Daniel's handy, dandy informative book, we find (Pg. 63) that "Frontline Spridget, Ltd. has a sseparate kit, with special adapter plate that allows conversion to the Ford" Sierra 5 speed gearbox. On Pg. 144 Daniel further kindly provides: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/frontine Also, if the lowering blocks don't work you might try Motobuild, Ltd. for... MORE
Pilot Bob, I can testify from direct experience, those rubber bumpers weigh a ton! They can't have done the car any favors for handling or performance especially with the ride height raised an inch. My car in addition to losing the bumpers is running 1275 front springs with an unaltered rear. Haven't pushed it much yet but I imagine the front/rear height differential will be a problem. I'm also running 165/70 x 13 tires on 5.5 inch rims. The 1500 does vibrate a bit as the revs climb but a bag of nails? The roughest range is 3000 to... MORE
Well, Rob... The one I drove was a '75 with about 30K on it at the time. It ran 50psi and ran pretty smoothly right up to 4.5k...I didn't take it any higher....not my car! Most engnes have a "vibration period" or two within their rev ranges. Nothing to worry about usually...they just normally run more smoothly at some rpm's within the range than they do at others. Turbine engines are the same way. My own '74 had been lowered 1" all around (quite the street rod!) so I really felt the height difference but the handling of this... MORE
Ah....I see what happened here, Guy. Apologies, for I obviously misinterpreted your prior post on this, not knowing you replaced the 1500 factory bar with a heavier bar (7/8") on your 1500. I interpreted your prior post mentioning the 7/8" bar as your 1500 had come stock with this size bar from the factory. I see now from your most recent post that this was not the case, evidently. I know very little about 1500's except what I get from fellow listers who own or have owned them, so I have no clue what size bar they came stock... MORE
Neil Well first off the bumpers weigh approximately 200lbs, the rear springs were recambered to bring the ride height up to 1 inch to bring it up to the correct height for the bumpers as a result of this - roll stiffness at the back end has been reduced and there is more tendency to oversteer. Couple this to the fact that the throttle on the 1500 is a lot more sensitive than before, add in the extra power of the 1500 engine, take the bumpers off making it a lot lighter, push that car hard into a corner... MORE
Things at work have finally settled down from the past few months. We have gotten a second weekend off in a row, and I was able to get the mechanic from the truck shop to come over to my house this a.m. at 8:30. Some of you know, the 68 Sprite locked itself into first gear a while ago. It also had the original engine it rolled out of the factory with still in it, all smoking and original. If I am to repair the tranny, I will replace the engine, if only temporarily, to fix the original one.... MORE
"That' what I mean about 'unpredictabe handling'". Nigel, my friend! How "unpredictable"? YOU just predicted it, yourself! Read your own post.....thus, a 3/4" front bar would straighten the matter out in a hearbeat along with maybe a little tweaking of the fore/aft tire pressure ratio. NOW...without the 200lbs of bumpers, the more responsive "pedal" and increased torque of the 1500 and you've got........? :) Ah Hah!!:):) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 24031... MORE
I hope you all had a good English beer on your night out, What English beers can you get in the 'states anyway? Margaret from South Lincolnshire UK (not from Chicago but near to Boston !!!!! ) would like a local get together - good idea - we should also do it in the midlands, but the Warwickshire Mascot members already do that - see the mag. Just to let you Americans know - The people from Lincolnshire are known as the Poachers. Texans, one of the greatest Lance Armstrong SIX TOUR DE FRANCE WINS The toughest human physical... MORE
Don There were quite a few modifications made to the Rubber Bumper (RB) Midget over and above the obvious ones, which im sure everyone will point out to you. I'm sure you're aware of the history behind these modifcations, but to recap the RB Midget came about to meet the ever more stringent emission and control regulations imposed in the relatively large North American Market. It was also felt at that time that the A Series engine had pretty much reached the end of it's useful development cycle and as Triumph were then part of the BL stable, it's... MORE
Don, My '75 has the bumpers removed and I discovered the following: Rear end:Area below the tail lights is flat and obviously not meant to be visible. Front: There are two large rectangular cutouts in the wings roughly in the position of the 1275 turn signals that are there to clear a large steel support for the bumper corners. Obiously there is no chrome surround or grille worth mentioning. In addition the bumper support frame extensions must be dealt with as they stick out pas the grille opening. I have had the grille extensions sawed off back inside and... MORE
Nigel, I had asked because a rubber bumper car was selling close by for 500 dollars, but now that I have read all the feedback I will not do anything about it. Some was curiosity about the changes in the 1275 to the 1500 and now that I realize what those changes are both the drive train and body I am not tempted to buy it anymore. Thanks for the feedback, very appreciated. Don "Don May" 23971... MORE
Don... Basically: The 1500's had Triumph Spitfire engines and gearboxi. However, the later 1500's also had the 3.7 diff. ratio as well, rather than the 3.9 which was the highest offered with prior "A" Series powered cars. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 23957... MORE
Thanks for the information . . to all who have responded. Has the underlying frame changed? In other words I have a very rust free, dent free, complete front end of a 69 midget, can those fenders, front cowl, and hood be bolted on in place of the metal work that was modified for the rubber bumpers? That does leave the rear end to deal with. Don "Don May" 23963... MORE
I don't know if this will help, but... My friend (who runs a repair shop in So.cal for British cars) recently started working on a 75 midget and the clutch would not disengage. He told me he fixed it with the following process. Remember, this was done because the clutch would not release (like it was continually "in gear and rolling"). They push started it in second gear. Got it going fast enough to get it into third gear (without the clutch). Then stood on the brakes while it was in third gear and rolling. The car shook and... MORE
Once you fit that straight cut gear box, you can not hear a radio anyway. A hot 1275 is music enough for me.... "Beckers" 23909... MORE
Brad, Good luck on your first road test. I just got my 75 Midget running semi-properly this summer after 4 years of effort. If it's any comfort my list of needed parts is now two spreadsheet pages; engine, tranny, radiator, compete brake and clutch rebuild, tube shock conversion, new interior etc. etc. etc. I have also discovered I need to pull the engine.... again. I used the original clutch as it looked fairly recent but failed to consider the effect of time on the springs. Car runs fine but slips in higher gears when I put my foot down... MORE
Well folks... As of tonight, the B-GT (67) is nearly ready for the first road test. I need to get a tire tube replaced and check the differential fluid before I drop it onto the ground and try for a short drive. The new parts I needed to order were... Clutch slave cylinder Clutch Slave Hose (2) Break Hoses Misc Spare nuts and bolts Gas Tank Repair stuff Trans Mounts (rubber) Engine Mounts New Clutch system (disk, plate and through-out) Tire Tube Thermostate gasket (not installed yet - extra) Falve Cover gasket A few extra rubber pieces. The hardest... MORE
Driving is driving, music is music . . . I do not like to mix experiences or my attention. Driving is a love affair between human, machine, and the road. I have a wonderful audio system at home and a recliner chair to sit in while I listen to it. Personally I do not like to talk while driving any more than I would in a movie. Goodness folks! We are driving a "English sports car" not a concert hall on wheels. :-) But . . . to each his own, don't want to become a politically correct fascist... MORE
G'day Guys I haven't seen such animated discussion for ages. And all on the topic of better sound production. So what's wrong with the melody of a finely tuned A-series engine? Not enough melody? So change gears more often. Who wants a bloody radio anyway! And on the topic of MG emblazoned seats, I have a customer with a Mk III Sprite who got so tired of people asking him about his MG that he ordered a set of "custom" number plates for the car - NOT N MG. Avagoodday Colin "Colin@SpriteParts" 23824... MORE
I have to sell my project I have over $4000.00 into it. It is Right Hand Drive with all new parts from the UK, 948cc motor and ribcase tranny, just dropped back in, webber side draft with cannon intake, new alum valve cover tons of extra parts, custom wheels custom side skirts, vintage custom bonnet. I will sell it a few ways. The bonnet is one of only three left in the world and has racing history and documents. Clean California title. Complete $3000.00 with bonnet Complete less bonnet $1500.00 Rolling body less bonnet and drive train $900.00 Motor... MORE
jro... Yep. They "jump" a bit due to axle and stiff set-up, assuming overinflation is not the culprit. Which way they go depends on throttle position, front end alignment, any curvature of the surface, "side loading" at the precise moment in time this occurs, etc. Slight "automatic" correction at the steering wheel should be all that is required to return to previous course. This is part of the car's "tossablity" factor in terms of it's quick "turn in" or ability to change direction rapidly ("dart around" in traffic) which is what makes the type so much fun to drive.... MORE
..sounds like your rear leaf springs to axle u-bolts need to be tightened. The whole axle can easily shift up to 2-3 degrees off line with the road direction. Consider replacing the rubber pads under the mount points and check the u-bolt torque. Paul Tegler ptegler@... www.teglerizer.com "ptegler@cablespeed" 23795... MORE
