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Hi guys To continue the topic of front bumpers, albeit at a tangent, I recently too =3D=0D k my front bumper and both over-riders to a small (reasonably local) company that specialises in triple-chroming of car parts. Now whilst my front bumper I think is in 'reasonable' condition, it has sma =3D=0D ll amounts of pitting all over the chrome areas, and has some surface rust underneath, it is straight and has no dents or dings, aside from some small =3D=0D depressions where the over-riders fit. Likewise for the over-riders - prett =3D=0D y much in the same condition.... MORE
Good lord this is a cold natured 8itchy car until she gets warm. I was finally able to take her to the mechanic today for the cracked slave cylinder boot. It's 30 degrees in Memphis, TN which doesn't make me happy because she has no top on. I bundle up, go out and crank her up. I'm sure she was cussing me because every once in a while I could almost understand a few words coming out of the engine compartment and certainly a few from the exhaust. I forgive her considering how cold it is and that I'd... MORE
Hi, Can anyone tell me how to tell whether my 65 Midget MKII has the original chrome bumpers or the after market ones? I assume weighing them would be the best (only?) way - if so, what are the weights of the original ones and typically how much lighter are the replacements? Thanks, Kevin "Kevin Odhner" 28019... MORE
I'm rebuilding the side curtains on my Sprite and wondering if Vicky Brit is the only source for new felts and the outer seals. Nelson 62Mk2 Sprite "witstock7" 28012... MORE
So has anyone heard of an MK Powered auto battery. They are a non-spillable lead acid gel battery, made in Anaheim, CA. These don't even have the purchase date and month popped out on them!! They have the top posts, with a hole through it for a bolt on connection, and round enough for a clamp as well. The dimensions are 9" wide x 5.5" deep x 8" tall. I have no idea what the cold cranking amps are, but they sure do spin up a Sprite engine well. And for $10 each, new, I HAD to buy two.... MORE
David, 2 sad old gits! I did the sums too and came out with 1.83 for the top half and 1.37 for the bottom! Guy "Guy Weller" 27987... MORE
The (full) stroke is 3.2" and I think the rods are 5.75" between centres. I've just sketched it out for my own benefit and Geri is absolutely right - the top 'half' of the stroke is approx 1.8" and the bottom 'half' is approx 1.4" Regards David "David Jacobs" 27985... MORE
how do you work that out? Surely the pairs of pistons exactly mirror each other's motion? David "David Jacobs" 27976... MORE
Zappa? Is that you Zappa? Leak is most likely caused by a sticking fuel float inlet valve. It may have a bit of grit in it. They are easy to replace, but try cleaning it first. Another likely culprit is the short length of flexible plastic tube that connects from the base of the carburetta bowl to the main jet. They come loose and leak at the bowl end. There should be a small neoprene washer, a brass washer and a gland nut. Don't overtighten the gland nut, but do make sure the pipe is pushed well into the... MORE
Rubber Bumper Midgets are bad but Fiat X-19s were always junk ...Heres an idea ! take them both to to nearest scrap yard and have a crush party ... one big cube. Happy New Year!. Just B Crusin 1967 Austin Healey Sprite 1974 MGB 1970 Spitfire Cheers to all... crfkingfish@... 27915... MORE
David, I have an unmolested original '62 Sprite (1743 miles from new) and the bumper mounts (riser brackets) exit the front valance in the center of the holes. Either a new front valance was installed and not aligned (manufactured?) properly or maybe the front arms were replaced/repaired and were 'straightened' a bit to give them the misalignment. Biff Jones '59 Bugeye, 'Kermit' '62 Sprite, 'Ole Gray' '71 Midget, 'Freebie' http://sprites2.homestead.com/ "Biff" 27913... MORE
I am in the process of rebuilding a 65 Sprite and one of the small jobs I have just completed is replacing the rusted out riser brackets which extend the chassis to provide the anchorage points for the front bumper. Rather than buy the brackets I fabricated new ones using the old parts as a pattern. Before I removed the old brackets from the car I noticed that they poked through the front valance panel a bit too low and the two holes in the valance had been modified to accommodate this ( I put this down to the... MORE
You are correct, in a perfect world, the pressure would balance out to be zero, but a little pressure sneaks past the rings, the valve guides, etc and any positive pressure pushes oil out the rear seal. Interesting side tangent when talking about two cycle engines. When I was a 16 year old kid, I worked for a marine place and we built racing Johnson outboard motors. Roy Rogers,( the great cowboy movie star) had us build his engines. Twin Johnson 35's for off shore racing. My boss and I drilled the crankcase full of holes and inserted one... MORE
Stewart It was more to do with the need to meet 'low speed impact regulations' that the 'energy absorbing' bumpers were introduced for the American market, rather than the 'precise' height of the bumpers. It had to pass certain front and rear impact regulations, and that in turn dictated the height of the bumpers and the subsequent raising of ride height. These were 'safety' introductions, introduced soley to pass the new regulations. Likewise the 1500 engine from the Spitfire which would be far easier to modify to meet the 'emission regulations' coming into force than the older A series.... MORE
"However the ride height was raised because at about the same tine US legislation required the headlights to be above a certain height" not according to the BMIHT archivist, Anders Clausager, who says it was the bumper height not the headlights height. Regards David "David Jacobs" 27876... MORE
Stewart correctly wrote, The rubber bumpers were required to pass US legislation that required a car suffer no damage in a 5 or 15 MPH impact IIRC, However the ride height was raised because at about the same tine US legislation required the headlights to be above a certain height, this being the second time the spridgets headlights fell foul of US law makers! Now here's a thought , Get the US of A legislators to enforce the headlamp and crash impact laws retrospectively. Result lots of BEs and midgets winging their way , very cheaply , back to... MORE
The height legislation was to do with the bumpers themselves. The performance/handling is a very good reason to leave them off (it's equivalent to about a 5 bhp increase, considering the improved power to weight ratio!) so a bit of time spent grinding off the front mountings is well worth it, especially since you already have chrome bumper front wings Are your CB wings original BL ones or pattern ones? The arch radius should be the same for both CB and RB cars. As I said earlier, the mountings are slightly different, so you would probably need to lower... MORE
Regarding the handling issue: While it seems logical that the increase ride height hindered the handling of the car, the heavy rubber bumpers certainly affect the handing as well. It's simple physics. To change the direction of the car you must alter its momentum. Momentum being the product of velocity and mass. Hence it will require more effort to get a heavier car to start into a turn. Of course, its more complex when you consider the center of gravity, roll, weight distribution etc. But the bottom line is that it should easier to get a lighter car to... MORE
G'day Paul I agree with everything Rex said. But after 20 minutes of running at 2,500 to 3,000 rpm and then 10 minutes of silence, I retorque the head and adjust the tappets. And I dump the oil and change the filter right then. There are ALWAYS some metal filings floating around in there, from when the block was re-bored etc, and after 20 minute of running they should all be in the oil by now. I don't want them floating around in the oil and through the bearings for another 500 miles, so I refresh the oil and... MORE
LOL.... And most likely the real Paris, eh? Actually, as I heard the story on the news, the real original Paris tape got returned after her parents threatened to sue anyone and everyone involved. Considering they could certainly afford to make good on such threats, I don't really think we're about to see anything but bogus ripoffs such as I believe I was about to encounter. Of course, I could be wrong! (I hope, I hope, I hope!:) Absolutely great top down BE weather here in the NE. A little rain Wed nite then sun and 50's forecast for... MORE
Paul, Yes, there is a proper way to break in your engine. The first 20 min will tell if your engine will live a long life or die at an early age. Lots of people have differant ideas on how to run it in for the first 1000 miles. I will tell you how I do it at work and what I reccomend to my customers. When we go to start up a new one we always go through the same check list. All fluids up to specs. Gravity fill the oil cooler if installed. Make sure the fuel... MORE
the access is a better if you do the inner bits first, but remember to keep trying the new outer panels in place as you fit each bit to make sure it'll all look ok in the end. Regarding fitting 1275 springs, are you taking the rubber bumpers off? (ideal time to do it, if you are doing bodywork in the rear light area anyway) If so, bear in mind the spring mountings were altered slightly for RB cars so just changing the springs will not lower the car all the way to the 1275's ride height. If you... MORE
Hi Cap'n- IT STARTED!!!!!!!!! After ten long, grueling years (ok, I took A LOT of time off...) the motor fired this afternoon. A sweeter sound has not been heard.... You are right. This is a VERY fresh motor. What should I pay attention to with respect to "cam break-in"? Also, I got the clutch going. Most all parts are new or refreshed. Disengages the flywheel nicely. But the pedal effort is VERY light. Is this normal? Also, has anyone measured the "rod travel" one should get at the slave cylinder with a properly working clutch? I would be interested... MORE
..I 'm planning on moving to the U.K later next year and debating taking my (62 Side curtain model)midget with me. Any of the lads in the UK have any feelings about the idea of a calif car over there?. I have been pricing midgets over there and they seem quite high...I know i could find a home for it in the u.s but its hard to think of finding a replacement for the little dear. any comments? "modernlmi2000" 27773... MORE
Steve- Since the starter is only two bolts, no reason for me not to pull it. I'll put it at the top of the list. Thanks. Paul "dfwip" 27728... MORE
