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Better off with a proper exust maniaflod allegedly with the 1500. Has yours got an oil cooler?, I have given in to the doom sayers and bought one! out of interest what is your oil pressure at idle? With regars tothe carb, is it leak from the top or bottom of the float chamber? or from the botom of the jet? Stewart "Ford Prefect" 37258... MORE
in short, how is it fitted!. Mounting the oil cooler seems easy enough, fitting the sanwich plate seems relativly simple, but how are the hoses routed?, there does not seem to be any easy way to route them! Stewart "Ford Prefect" 37257... MORE
I have just replaced the head gasket on my 1500cc Midget, so I was quite chuffed to say the least when it turned over after only a few attempts. However I was not so happy when I noticed at lot of petrol was coming from the bottom of the rear float. I have twin SU carbs. I know that this was dripping a tiny amout of petrol before I changed the gasket but it is now flooding out. I realise extra fuel will have got in while I was turing the engine over to set the rocker gaps, but... MORE
a piece of wire through the one of the top bolt holes in the tranny...slip the wire in just before the locating pin clears.... then just tie it off to whatever is handy.. like the heater box.... there is not a huge amount of weight to support.. mitch "prest_m" 37248... MORE
Is the pin/spring adjusted too tight? This can cause the catch to not engage fully and the bonnet can then gradually work it's way off the catch and pop up. David PS I thought it was a hood, not a bonnet for you guys? "David Jacobs" 37239... MORE
I have had this with my Mk3 midget. It takes time and lot of patience to get it right. The catch in the centre of the hole needs to be adjusted. It also needs to be well greased. If you take off the front grille, it's easier to do it, as when it's closed you can reach up inside. Make sure the movable parts are clear of any grit, and then grease them well. Try re-positioning the sliding catch a few times. You will eventually get it right. But you must make sure the nuts are tightened up well,... MORE
WEBER DCOE "air" screws They are not air screws. They are volume screws, the mixture for the idle circuit having been pre-set by your choice of idle (air/fuel combo) jet. 1.5 turns "out" is merely a starting point for setting. You may find your particular choice of idle jet runs best at only 1 turn out or even less. If you cannot find a setting which will work, you will have to change the idle jet for a less rich (weaker) one which may either consist of a smaller fuel aperature OR same fuel aperature with a larger air... MORE
The Organization Of Spridget Handymen in Transit got together yesterday to swap out Larry Macy's engine. Larry got a rebuilt (A wedding present? How thoughtful.) and it was about time to do the deed. Kevin and Rob Valentine, Phil Nase (?), Bill Gilroy and I showed up at Larry's. I understand that Frank Clarici had some problems on the way back from Carlisle so he couldn't make it. I'm sure Frank will fill us in. First we pulled the old engine and tranny, then Kevin and Larry timed the new cam and finished the reassembly. The rest of us... MORE
Hmmm, Vince.... I wonder if scotch/water can be used as an automotive cooling medium......does Dewar's run cooler than Haig & Haig while protecting down to -30F? }80<?? If the indication is falling over time for no apparent reason, than it's an indication the indicator is on the way out (did I mention "indication/or" enough times ??:) You sure you got a working thermostat in there?? OK....I think I need a drink, now. :) Cap'n Bob Basic Frog "Robert E. Shlafer" 37178... MORE
Dave Fitted the exhaust manifold but it is hard up against the chassis rail, will show you. I am convinced the engine runs easier and purrs along smoother. I was going to put K&N air filters on, I wanted the one that spans the two carbs as I like the look of it but an owner I met at a show said they just made it noisier and no better so he reverted to the original ones but kept the sports manifold. You can have a look at my steering wheel problem and anyone got an oil cooler for... MORE
"and as everyone knows, a basic solution will retard corrosion"...uh not quite...as everyone knows aluminum is amphoteric and will dissolve quite happily in alkaline solution. Not a problem if everything is cast iron, but if you're running an aluminum water pump or cylinder head -OOPS!!! "joe blxfstz" 37122... MORE
Well, Bob, I have pretty fair sex...but that really isn't any of your business, now, is it? (references available upon request) ;) I ass-u-me-d the reference was to liquid detergent, too. I am an engineer, though domestic activities are limited to...well, I've already stated it's none of anyone's business...what the detergent does is two fold - 1. through the nature of the covalant bonding, contaminants are suspended in solution so they aren't deposited here and there in the low flow areas of the coolant (and, in the sink, they go down the drain with the water) 2. the pH... MORE
Please don't put dishwashing liquids in your radiator!!! These things can cause foam, and may destroy the water pump and could cause massive overheating. The "water-wetter" type additives use special wetters which do not foam. I once did a test of "Watter-Wetter" in which I outfitted my car with thermometers in the airstream ahead of and behind the radiator, and surface mounted thermometers on the top and bottom rad tanks. I found no differences in engine temp or cooling capacity with "Water- Wetter" against plain water. For summer cooling, use plain water (distilled if your local water is hard)... MORE
Hi, Over here in the UK I tend to leave the anti-freeze in, as it is also a summer coolant. If a heavy winter is expected, I increase the ratio of anti-freeze to water. As for the clunking sounds from the rear, I had this sort of noise from my Mk3 Midget. It turned out to be the diff. Sometimes filling it up with the appropriate oil/grease, the noise goes away for a bit. But eventually the diff. will need either a rebuild or be replaced, usually with a reconditioned one, as new ones tend to be rather expensive,... MORE
Jim, Wetting agents are used to relaxes the surface tension of the fluid, thus helping the cooling abilities.Redline oils make something called water wetter it works and its easy to come by, another trick is to put a TEASPOON of dish soap in with the coolant it does the same thing and it much cheaper. Try it! Chris "Chris Eastwood" 37101... MORE
Finally got my 1500 on the road after only 16years. It celbrated by breaking its speedo drive, (the cable is intact and the angle drive working fine). Just looked in the moss catalouge and it lists 3 Speedometer pinions, in 20 tooth, 21 tooth and 22 tooth versions. I have a 1975 car with 3.9:1 diff and a 120mph spedometer, anyone know which one I need?. I also have plans for fitting a 3.7:1 diff, would I be right in thinking this would need a differnt pinion, if so which one?. I also have a sticking thottle, mostly down... MORE
OK, Rob C. Belay the first paragraph of my previous post then. Now that I know the circumstances, I totally agree with your mech. in that you need to "vent" the crankcase, either to the airfilters (if possible) or to atmospher via a "breather" similiar to the one you can find at www.speedwellengineering.com under "performance, misc.". These breather cans are also available for more reasonable prices from Jeg's and/or Summit . Open up whatever vents you have on the valve cover and skip the charcoal cannister competely with respect to the motor. Now, because the fuel system is closed... MORE
Folks, Am finally, after 6 years, getting to enjoy my LBC ('75 1500) but I still have some issues. Suggestions have been made and I was hoping group members might comment. After having my twin carb setup tweaked by a "pro" I started leaking oil out of the dipstick. Sealing the joint helped but has not cured the problem which seems to occur at sustained higher speeds and RPM's. It has been suggested that instead of running the valve cover breather tube to the charcoal cannister that I run it into the back of the air cleaner for better... MORE
For the imperial yard to metre conversion I always use the phrase, 'all the 3's - three foot three and a third' When said with an Irish accent it sounds wonderful(!) One version of why US fluid sizes are reputedly smaller have a historical connection in that barrels of spirits exported to the New Colonies from the Homeland were subject to a high rate of evaporation (theft by the sailors/carriers) and what on paper was a gallon of whisky leaving the UK ended up as a short measure when it arrived at the Colonies..... Thus the short measure was... MORE
Hello, Well it's a sad day I have to sell my Sprite. Life and school don't seem to agree with my little English car. Here is a list of all the goodies that it has: Some details are: Engine 1089cc bored .040 over Intake valve is 1 5/16"(Rimflow) Exhaust valve is1 1/16 (Rimflow) The head has been ported and has a 10:1 compression ratio. The cam specs are duration @ .020 (In./Ex.) 268-272. Rockers ratio is 1.5:1 Duplex adjustable cam gear Also has Isky duel value springs. Pistons are flattop Hepolites Heavy-duty radiator/with 10" fan Twin HS2s with red... MORE
You've gotta love this one.A 1973 Midget that has been in storage for 20 years. One bid already for $500. The storage guys are now selling it, and some of their priceless gems include: 1) It runs but obviously will need a tune up. As it that's all it will need! 2) We did not drive the car and there is no fluid in the hydraulic clutch, but we were told the transmission, and brakes are OK. So please explain how you verified these bits were OK. 3) The only rust is where I am pointing in the photos,... MORE
I rebuilt the engine recently and I am trying to sort everything out before I try starting it. I took the plugs out, I thopught I primed the pump, and then I cranked the engine untill the battery was half dead still no oil pressure. Before anyone asks, I put three quarts of oil in already and there is a new filter installed, and the oil cooler is all hooked up. Whats wrong with this picture? "gan5ub91179g" 36936... MORE
The price of crude is driving the price of conventional oil up faster than synthetic. Wal-mart still sells 5 gallon jugs of Mobil- 1 for $20, and regular oils are approaching $2/quart. I've run my Caddy on Mobil-1 for thast 100K miles, and I think I'll change all the other cars to synthetic too. "joe blxfstz" 36928... MORE
"Oils ain't oils" Cheapo oil is exactly that...good base stock without benefit of the major mfgr's additive packages which make it "better" in preventing formation of acids, foaming, varnish/deposits, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah. While the tolerences within our older engines were spec'd with petroleum based oils in mind...viscosity as much if not moreso, as film strength being in mind as a "boundary" between parts ................a quart of synthetic within 3 of petroleum can only be a good thing in terms of upgrad ing the mix by "reinforcing" film strength while adding "slipperiness" to t he whole. I HAVE... MORE
I am mid way though replacing the head gasket on my '76 Midget. I am going to replace all the gaskets you get with the kit but I was wondering if there is anything else worth doing while I have the chance? I have already flushed out the radiator. My engine is a little sooty around the valves faces but nothing too bad. THe pistons bore are all nice and smooth. Also is there a special techinque for getting the choke wire off the carburettor? The nuts are too samll for any of my spanners. Cheers Gav. "gav_newman" 36921... MORE
