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Hello all, I'm sure someone out there can help, and would greatly appreciate any or all feedback regarding this one. The engine is turning, but not starting. I have a spark at the coil, and the dizzy has not been touched since last start. The coil is the ballast type with resistor, and the wires were moved, in order to address a bit of corrosion in the pedal box area, but all wires were returned to their original position. Thanks in advance for any words of advice regarding a fix. Pete 78 midget Granville, OH "Pete Skalski" 27356... MORE
Yep..you got it all, and you got it right. However....while I personally like running well vented, there is nothing wrong with the simple pre-'68 intake manifold mounted, diaphragm equipped PCV valve fed from the timing case cover. This is a good KISS (keep-it-simple- stupid) PCV system teamed with the filtered oil filler cap. There is virtually no maintenance to this system besides renewing the cap once a year and the rubber diaphragm when it becomes porous (the engine begins smoking out the exhaust and using oil like crazy when this occurs...so you'll know "when"!:). If you have decided to... MORE
I take it you have the bracket (AHA8779) made out of a strip of steel folded into a sort of triangle? The bottom of it bolts to the inner wing and the top bolts to the 'rain gutter' edge of the wing. The cooler hoses run just above the fresh air intake trunking (see pic in files called "bracket for oil cooler hoses on car.jpg" ) it's one of those stupid yahoo locations, so posting a link may or may not work...... http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/midgetsprite/files/bracket for oil cooler hoses on car.jpg "David Jacobs" 27279... MORE
Jim... OK...you want to run "vented" instead of "closed loop" but wish to retain the charcoal cannister and use it as a catch can either in it's present position or possibly elsewhere in the engine compartment. Fine...but you MUST promise to read the last paragraph! :) I am strictly a layman in the post '67 emissions systems which were strapped to our engines as "add on" devici, providing for a "closed loop" system to ensure crankcase/fuel tank vapor evacuation into the combustion process. Ripped it out myself, and never used one. I took a look at it under the... MORE
Max It's Oselli Engineering ( http://www.oselli.com/ ) they're in Oxford. It's where I'm going to get my engine rebuilt when I get round to it! Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 27250... MORE
Might seem a bit noddy.... 1. I have a +ve earth Sprite, can you jump start with a -ve earth Car? If so is it straight forward + to + and - to - ? 2. What's the name of the engine tuning house, sounds like Oliseti, or Oseti? Max "Max" 27248... MORE
While I think they are unfair to the frogeye, I have to say I can't really see the frogeye as twice the car that the later spridgets are, but it does have twice the price and so I would never actually pay for one (My frogeye was free!) actually I would say the chrome bumpered non RWA 1275 spridget i s the best all round value for money spridget. Stewart "Ford Prefect" 27233... MORE
Duncan... First choice: pick up the later timing case cover and utilize the intended stock simple PCV system. It works very well. You see, the Series A motor has a scroll (oil thrower) affair back by the main bearing which depends upon tight metal (block) clearances for "oil tightness". The motor does not have a "regular" rear main oil seal, Duncan. Without the stock PCV system, these motors have a real tendency to leak oil out of this area, most especially as they build miles on the crankshaft. The stock PCV system will draw out crankcase PRESSURE along with... MORE
Good move, Duncan... While I myself run "vented", the simple pre-'68 PCV system has more positives than negatives on Series A motors. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 27236... MORE
I take some offense when they slight our speed. Perhaps not top speed but a warmed up 1275 and a numerically higher diff will embarrass many Porsches and 'Vetts and other expensive and highly respected "sports cars" in the international STOPLIGHT GRAND PRIX. All that and at 1/10th the cost and 10 times the grins!!!!!!! Cheers, Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 27234... MORE
Ah, Duncan... You've got an "early" timing chain cover on a "later" engine. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 27200... MORE
Nigel, I may have asked before but where in the UK are you located. If you're in London (which I doubt) you can see what it's like to drive my Frogeye (1275 with Datsun/Rivergate 5 speed) to get you in the mood for your next (vehicular) project. Gary L "Gary Lazarus" 27149... MORE
Bob, Thanks for your reply. Maby my question was not clear enough. There is no fuel leaking in the engine compartment. It is either vaporizing in the float bowls or draining down inside the intake manifold. I took one carb apart last night and i suspect it is the two O-rings that seal the main jet. Part # 16 on the moss website. If these are old and hard fuel will have to leak by. I would think that anyone using an electric fuel pump with this style of carby could have this problem and not even know it.... MORE
Hi, Duncan.... The "open" port on the normal stock intake manifold on the '67 is for the rubber diaphragm equipped PCV valve which is fed via a rubber hose from the "flame arrester" (can) fabricated into the timing chain cover at the front of the motor. The "intake air" for crankcase gases drawn out from the crankcase into the intake manifold via the PCV valve is the plastic "filtered" oil cap containing a "graduated orifice" (designed "hole" of a specific diameter. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 27173... MORE
Ed I only saw an engine plate, do they do the correct VIN (chassis) plates as well? Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 27133... MORE
Eeg Thank you and I'm pleased to hear your new sill is going to stay on! And yes I've already sprayed the underneath in topcoat, it's all done, as well as the engine bay and inside. I'm just working on the outer panels now. Repair panels are notorious for poor fit, some suppliers of repair panels are better than others (yes Ashley Hinton, you're one of the good ones:) and pretty much all of them require some form of fettling to make them fit correctly. To be honest 2 or 3 mil really doesn't sound that much, are you... MORE
Guys... Isn't there an anti-drainback valve in the 948's mechanical fuel pump? It's been 40 years for me so I've forgotten! :) But I think there may be one, Chris. And with no disrespect intended Chris, why would anyone run an engine with possible fuel leaks in the engine compartment? You don't EVER want to do this, man. Disaster doesn't always strike the "other guy"! :) I mean if you look just below the carbs, you'll find the exhaust system!! Speaking of which.... Invest in a portable FIREX as well that you can affix to, and carry around in... MORE
It seems to me that having a fuel leak is asking for an engine compartment fire. Why put in an electric fuel pump to fill up fuel bowls that can't hold what they already have in them? Fix those leaks then look into the electric pump. Nelson 62 Mk 2 Sprite "Nelson Wittstock" 27125... MORE
Nigel, Hearty congrats on getting the little beast on all fours. I remember vividly the feeling I got when I first got my engine to fire. It was still two years before I could go anywhere but these milestones are great memories and keep us going. Rob C 75 Midget asleep for the winter Webfoot Leisure.com rob@... 630-841-6077 robbiesg@... 27117... MORE
I'm not sure of the compression ratio but the head has been milled 0.080 and the cylinders are 0.040 larger. I'm using the valves for the 1098 head and running 1 1/2 SU's. The combustion chambers have all been opened up and balanced but I don't remember their size and won't be able to measure them until I get the new valve guides and lead free valve seats installed. I'll have to compute the compression ratio when I can make careful measurements. Thanks for the info. Nelson "Nelson Wittstock" 27116... MORE
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! Every day I drive to and from work I must pass the body shop where I see mine still sitting on a cart waiting its turn to be painted. Maybe by Christmas I'll get it back. I'm trying to get all the small stuff done before I get it back, ie reassemble the engine, transmission, paint all the small parts etc. If I don't then I am like you too much car and too little garage! Steve Quandt "Steve Quandt" 27124... MORE
Nelson... Well, "knock" is pretty well tied to compression ratios and timing along with octanes of course, but you already know this. You are looking at a cam with numbers similiar to a Kent #276. The lift numbers may be the other way around but this is a minor point (usually a bit more lift for exhaust rather than inlet, when cam is assymetric, 'cause exhaust valve is smaller I guess?). This is a very fast road cam, similiar to what an APT VP3 or Kent #286 would be for a 1275, more or less. Minimum compression ratio for... MORE
From: Richard Rivenbark [mailto: rrivenbark@... ] Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 4:37 PM To: Midgetsprite; Spridgets Cc: David Lieb Subject: [midgetsprite] 1275 coil update Thanks to all for the help, especially David Lieb. Yes, the ground strap was connected to the engine. And yes I have 12.1 Volts on the positive connection to the coil. It appears that I have a bad condenser (and the points needed to be cleaned). If I measure continuity where the points actually make contact I can watch the continuity come-and-go as they open and close. If I measure continuity at the spade connector... MORE
Thanks to all for the help, especially David Lieb. Yes, the ground strap was connected to the engine. And yes I have 12.1 Volts on the positive connection to the coil. It appears that I have a bad condenser (and the points needed to be cleaned). If I measure continuity where the points actually make contact I can watch the continuity come-and-go as they open and close. If I measure continuity at the spade connector on the outside of the dizzy I get continuity all the time no matter whether the points are open or closed (continuous or "dead"... MORE
Roger Thanks for that link, I did spot the typo and corrected it in your first post, and did read the article - very useful, thanks. The explanation there of the 'slave' bolts is clear, and this morning I nipped up to my local DIY store and bought some. I've just finished using them, and yes it certainly makes life easier, albeit somewhat longer to do. Right, front suspension almost finished! Thanks for your help. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 27078... MORE
