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Hi Kevin Welcome to the group. This group is for all 'Spridgets' and many here are Frog owners, but you may like to try the other group specifically for Frogs - http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/bugeye/ Yeah I don't know why those nutty Americans call them Bugeye's either ;) You may also want to check out Terry Horler's excellent book - Original Sprite and Midget, published by Bay View Books, ISBN 1-870979-45-1 This book has an excellent restorers section on Frogeyes and many of your answers will be found there. I'm not an expert on Frog's - there's many here you know a... MORE
Hi there, Just signed up to this site. Last year got myself a '59 frogeye for a groundup restoration (definately not a runner!!). I think it spent its initial life in sunny Houston Texas before being repatriated to uk. It then apparently stood sometime before I got my hands on it. Anyway thats the history lesson. Taking it steady with the bodywork last year but getting there slowly (taught myself to TIG weld - a very neat way to weld!). I am spending time on indoor work because UK garages in the winter aren't fun - and I'm getting... MORE
Hi there, Just signed up to this site. Last year got myself a '59 frogeye for a groundup restoration (definately not a runner!!). I think it spent its initial life in sunny Houston Texas before being repatriated to uk. It then apparently stood sometime before I got my hands on it. Anyway thats the history lesson. Taking it steady with the bodywork last year but getting there slowly (taught myself to TIG weld - a very neat way to weld!). I am spending time on indoor work because UK garages in the winter aren't fun - and I'm getting... MORE
How is it done? I have read the method in the Haynes, and I am not certain any of the 4 bolts on each side will survive being taken off! or even if they will come undone at all. tried one and it sheared immediately, another is just turning and it looks nearly impossible to get a spanner of the upper side of it on the inner two bolts. The inner two wishbone pins are loose which is to be expected after years of being covered with oil and grease. 4.5 inch bolts threaded all the way seem a... MORE
Jens You took me a little too literally. If you recall I said I was working on the rear axle - the handbrake mechanism that links the two levers inside the brake drums is connected by rods held together with clevis pins - the felt washers with grease on them fit on the clevis pins where the rods join together - helps stop rattle and allows the joints to move smoothly. Not easy to explain, a parts book picture would explain it better. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 30658... MORE
Yes, that is a tricky job. The 1/2" open end is what you need but be careful because of lack of space down there you can only turn it a couple flats at a time. Getting the nut back on...................... Well that's the real challenge. If you are doing it for the first time be prepared to spend some time getting it right. It took me a few times walking away and taking a break from it. You need hands that are not too large and get one had down there, one on each side, with your fingers on... MORE
Bill, I drilled pilot holes, one where the roll-pin hole is and one in the other "corner". I then opened them up and used an ordinary hand tap (taper, then plug) to thread them to take 3/8" bolts. The holes mustn't be too deep or you will break through into the cylinder bore and ruin it. The cylinder then fastens firmly in position with two short bolts through the backing plate. It is actually a very easy modification to do. But not for those with an "original" fettish. Guy "Guy Weller" 30642... MORE
A while ago there was some discussion of a Miata drivetrain in a Spridget. If anyone is interested in that sort of a project, I have a '95 Miata with a good running engine and 5 speed I'm probably going to part out. If anyone is interested in it, contact me off list. I also have a restored '68 Sprite that you can put it in if your want. I also have a complete '92 Miata I'm interested in selling if you want an extra sports car in your stable. The '95 is black on black and the '92... MORE
Guys! Instead of using the old type paper gaskets you should try a gasket on tube that is fantstic, its made by Loctite and is called Black Tite. This is a rubber silicone gasket that never hardens and lasts for a life time. You will never see a drop of oil again. Jens And yes the wheel cylinders should have a paper gasket. I have too many of those now, Nigel "jens maudal" 30635... MORE
Bill I had exactly the same problem when fitting my circlips. I found there wasn't enough clearance between the axle flange and the circlip and no matter how hard I tried I could not get the circlip to sit flat. In the end I ground off about 2 mil of the round part of the circlip so it would just clear the axle flange. It worked fine on one side, but evidently ground off too much on the other side because when tried to make it lay flat it went 'ping' into two parts! I ordered an original type... MORE
Hi James, welcome to the group. Do you have any pics of the car you'd like to post? The extra hood fastener was a factory-fit item but only for a short time at the beginning of production of that style of hood. Some people find it keeps the hood in better shape than just the velcro, and you can easily get the extra body stud if you end up getting that type of hood. Regards David "David Jacobs" 30624... MORE
Bill, A couple of points that may help: The "E" -clip goes on with the open gap towards the bleed screw. There is a very slight groove between the axle casing and the back plate that allows the edge of the clip to fit the space between the wheel cylinder and the axle casing. There are various techniques. I have found that if you can get the edges of the 3 lugs just against the edge of the wheel cylinder casting and then put a large socket against and give it a "light tap with a heavy hammer" it... MORE
I've also recently had no end of problems with new electrical items failing after only about a weeks service, coils, plug leads, dizzy caps, rotor arms condensors etc across a whole range of classic cars Regards Chris Valentine Dunlop Motorsport David, Capn Bob also suggested the same things, the only area I have not looked at since I got this midget is float bowls. I change the fuel pump six months ago and the fuel filter one month back. I know the issues with getting the correct fuel pump, mine came from moss motors for a midget. Checking the... MORE
Loopy Chris says .Not quite sure if I can get the ariel lead underneath the car as I think( could be totally wrong though and I've got the wrong end of the stick!) to be legal in this country, it has to be a certain distance ( im talking a fair space here , not a couple of inches) from any fuel tank or line , in case it causes a spark or something. Chris, Put some old jeans on and look under you car at the back. Look just in fron t of the fuel tank and you... MORE
Hi Guys, Been watching this site for some time. Many of you seem to be quite the expert on midgets. I have just tuned my 68 midget, runs great around town but on a steep uphill climb, experience a loss of power and engine runs rough for about a minute before I can continue. If there is still more hill it will bogg down and repeat until reach the top. Could this have something to do with the SU carbs? Obviously, I am a novice at this but am willing to learn. Any suggestions would be appreciated, Mark 68... MORE
David... One other advantage of "burning it out" is a nice (steam) cleaning of the combustion chamber. Of course, if it really runs badly a draining procedure (per David) is definitely in the cards. I steam the combustion chambers out ea. spring via the carbs and an old Windex bottle filled with distilled water. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 30564... MORE
Mark... Running rough can mean anything, so not really enough to go on. Usually an engine which runs "rough" under load is either overadvanced in terms of ignition or suffering from an ignition system which requires attention in that the spark is breaking down under load. This could be a bad coil, wires, cap or any other individual component not quite up to snuff. It could also be a combination of worn items, as well. Lastly, there is the fuel supply. Float levels set too low, inadequate pressure (old or bad pump) or inadequate supply (clogged filter, line or... MORE
Nigel, I was teasing! And you took the bait! I ran a 1500 for 8 years and have had my 1275 on the road now for 4 years, so I have experience of both. I prefer the 1275. It is a nicer engine, but I still believe that a properly built 1500 is a good little engine. It is probably less tolerant that an A-series, that's all. There is room for both! Enjoy the rest of your weekend Guy "Guy Weller" 30538... MORE
Steve Thanks for this, I took a look at their site and they sure seem to know what they're doing! I've checked out where Ampfield is, and it would be about an hour to hour and a half drive from where I am, so certainly doable, but as you say - they're not cheap! I was ideally hoping to re-spray my wheels myself, but it may well be wiser to have a specialist do them, I'll give them a ring. Thanks again. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 30533... MORE
Rick, Some of the later 1500s had some sort of "safety device" anchor strap which connects the lump to the car so that in the event of an acciident they stay together. Maybe your braded cable is that. If not, then it is an earth strap Oh, and despite what Nigel says, the 1500 engine is perfectly good if it is put together properly and treated right. It doesn't rev as sweetly as a 1275 but it has loads more low-down torque. Guy "Guy Weller" 30510... MORE
Rick Grats on your new acquisition, don't take any notice of some of the list 'snobs' there's nothing at all wrong with a 1500 - they're great little cars (apart from the Triumph engine which is a dog) And good luck with it ....not saying any more on that ;) Braided cable - not sure - could be a ground, could be the handbrake cable? Pull cable is the bonnet release. The throttle pedal is available from Moss (well here it is - UK). Not sure what a dashpad is, do you mean the crash roll on top of... MORE
Wouldn't this defeat the purpose of a "firewall" seperating the engine from the passenger compartment? Also if there was an exhaust leak there is the risk of carbon monoxide poisioning. Something that can sneak up on you. Mark 68 midget "MARK" 30462... MORE
PLEASE stop perpetuating this crap! Most of us want to read Spridget stuff, not chat-room one-liners that can only be of interest to 2 or 3 at most. Or at the very least, have the courtesy to include "Non-LBC" or such in the subject line - then my automatic bollocks filter can delete it. Thank You. Steve Clark Southampton, UK 1971 GAN5 "Steve and Sue Clark" 30443... MORE
We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese. You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice; yet the plural of house is houses, not hice. If the plural of man is always men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be pen? If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet? If... MORE
Guy There is a series of Home Workshop books covering everything, one on the Lathe, one on soldering and brazing, one on heat treating metals, one on the driling machine, one on casting etc must be 20 of them. Very good. You will find them advertised in the Model Engineer magazine. Terry "terry.isherwood" 30385... MORE
