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Margaret The venue closes at 5pm and since most people will want to look round the various museum collections I expect we will all leave about then. If you want to look around properly you will need at least 2 hours otherwise just come along to meet the guys and look at the other Midgets, Sprites, Arkleys, Sebring's and so on. Hope you can make it. Beast regards Dave "David Dixon" 32174... MORE
Dave, I had hoped to make it but it turns out that I have to wash my hair that day....Sorry. Cheers, Bob in San Diego P.S. We missed you at our LBC and Beer event in San Diego last week. LOLOLOL "Robert D. Gardner" 32179... MORE
G'day all Steve's tale of the welded tappet nut reminded me of this event. A few years ago I received a phone call from a Sprite owner who lived in the bush and couldn't find a local source of parts. He was after some rear wheel bearings and seals. No problem, we sent a set up to him. About a week later, he phoned to ask for a rear hub nut. He needed it as he had to cut the old one off, since the nut had been welded to the axle housing. me: "I bet it's the left... MORE
Nigel I had the same thing happen to my trip odometer. It broke off where the shaft was cross drilled just outside the main body of the odometer. If you have access to a metal working lathe it is a simple job to make a small shaft coupling and a new knob. I did it with mine and made the new knob a little larger so it is easier to grab. I posted a photo in the photo section of the group if you care to look at the way I did it. It is under "Odometer Knob." Actually... MORE
When I got home tonight I thought that I'd introduce my daughter to a ride in an MG, after all she's been waiting for 10+ years for her Midget. This was to be in the B-GT that I recently acquired. The valves were a little noisey so we'll just take a few minutes and adjust them then go for a ride,RIGHT. After removing the valve cover I discovered that the DPO (Dear used instead other words) had WELDED the adjustment screws with no nuts inplace for the #3 cylinder. HOW CAN PEOPLE DO THAT? Frustrated with no ride. Sorry... MORE
Gary Hope to see you at Downham Market, and I may even make it to Le Mans myself since I will be in Brittany in the Sprite around the time of the race. Best regards Dave "David Dixon" 32122... MORE
David Wasn't the Frogeye steering rack exactly the same as the Morris Minor one except turned upside down? Nigel have a not a you do Terry changed at the rack's correctly. If rack? Of brake steering arms down! - "amukdigiphoto" 32124... MORE
Yes, but it's this way: RHD Frogeye, same rack as the LHD Morris!! And ve rse visa! Paul A "Paul Asgeirsson" 32126... MORE
Alan, I think if you swap everything over, including stub axles/kingpins, brakes and steering rack, it should be straightforward (assuming the Frogeye steering column fits on the rack pinion ;-) ) Regards David "David Jacobs" 32120... MORE
"I think it's time for a thorough check-up here" Good for you, Jens. Exactly right my friend. There is something called a "chain" (of events) which leads sailors/boats & pilots/airplanes, drivers/cars to disaster. Wise men "move" on the "second event", drop back and take an objective "look" and go to Plan B when Plan A starts going to hell for whatever reasons. You have to be aware of a "chain" developing so you can "change the plan" to break that "chain" and "avoid" a major problem. Event #1... While a PITA, the not fully sealing head gasket can be... MORE
Alan I can't comment on the Frogeye ones, but I can on the 72 ones (assuming there was no change from the 71 - 72 model year) as I've recently had them off my car. They were definitely NOT plated in any way. I know because I cleaned mine up with a wire zip wheel in my angle grinder. They are a natural finish, of some form of aluminimum or alum alloy casting. They're definitely NOT steel - take one off and pick it up - its very light - no way is it steel. And the 'yellow' finish... MORE
Well... I'll tell you Jens. It sounds like the head gasket hasn't taken completely. And obviously, you have a coolant leak in engine compartment in any event. This must be found and fixed. It may be leaking from between the head and block (which you already expect) when the cooling system is fully pressurized, further indicating head gasket sealing problems. Sounds to me that once you warm it up, the head gasket seals more fully as parts swell due to heat. So the whitish/gray smoke disappears accordingly. Head Gasket: I don't think it's fully taken. Nothing to lose by... MORE
Thanks to all who replied on my strait cut gear box being very noisy in the first three gears. Very relieved to hear that is normal. Saved me a lot of worry, thought my season was over before it started. I'm also taking everyones advice and getting some new competition brake pads to replace the unworn, but 25 year old ones before my first event. Much appreciated, Curt "cfisher1a" 32090... MORE
Thanks all for your warm welcome. I=92ll check out the bugeye group also. I=92m in Wallington (Surrey) near sunny Croydon, but actually spend most of my time in Central London, where I work (Covent Garden). You anywhere near Covent Garden Gary? And are there any other frogs in town? I understand fro m David W there are another 2 leaf greens in Surrey, but that=92s all I know. I was going to ask you Capt'n. Bob if you were one of the Surrey leaf greens until I figured you actually live on another continent=85 call me =91quick =92 if... MORE
Blackish/Grey you say? Well ALLRIGHTY THEN, Jens...it's not oil!! :):) Oil is bluish in color and "stays" in the air. and....the exhaust definitely smells of burning oil (and not unburnt gasoline). Whitish/grey (or gray) is water which is a byproduct of combustion and along with condensation within the exhaust system is produced most abundantly when a "cold" motor (overnight sit, fr'instance) is initially fired up, most definitely on those cool, humid mornings when it tends to stay in the air rather than more immediately evaporate as it does in "drier" air. Black is definitely unburnt gasoline which we get... MORE
I am on the point of summoning up the courage to replace my Mk IV Sprite's tatty old hood with new fabric. A couple of questions for anyone who has already done this: 1. What sort of glue should I use to fix the fabric to the header rail? 2. Is there anywhere I can get the grey paint for the hood frame? Thanks in advance. Tede "tede4uk" 32070... MORE
The brackets on Frogeyes were aluminium weren't they? unlikely to be plated. I would guess the pressed steel ones would be painted if anything. David "David Jacobs" 32063... MORE
Hi Were the steering clamps / brackets originally painted or bright zinc plated? (the same as the door latch plates for instance) For 72 midget or 59 Frogeye. cheers Alan "Alan" 32049... MORE
(Sorry folks forgot the subject header last time.) A couple questions mostly for the racers in the group, but also any gearbox gurus. 1)Gear box whine: Got my retired racer, soon to be vintage racer Bugeye out for a quick (illegal) run down the road tonight. I have a rib case BMC competition (straight cut, non synchro) close ratio gear box. It whines VERY loudly in 1st through 3rd gears. 4th very was quiet. I wasn't surprised or worried about 1st & 2nd being noisy, but expected 3rd to be quiet. The two tracks I'm going to be running... MORE
A couple questions mostly for the racers in the group, but also any gearbox gurus. 1)Gear box whine: Got my retired racer, soon to be vintage racer Bugeye out for a quick (illegal) run down the road tonight. I have a rib case BMC competition (straight cut, non synchro) close ratio gear box. It whines VERY loudly in 1st through 3rd gears. 4th very was quiet. I wasn't surprised or worried about 1st & 2nd being noisy, but expected 3rd to be quiet. The two tracks I'm going to be running this year are all 3rd & 4th gear... MORE
It's a good job I have then! I found one test (Sprite MkII 1100) which gives a figure of 50 seconds to coast from 80 to 32mph and also states "Total drag at 60 mph = 75 lb" under the Tapley Data, whatever *that* means. Another test, of a MkIII Midget this time, gives 80 to 40mph in 40 seconds (the Spitfire it was tested against slowed to 30mph in the same 40 seconds) A third test, also a MkIII Midget showed 70 to 12mph in 60 seconds. Not especially meaningfull in themselves, but if you have a handy... MORE
This has been an interesting thread. It would be interesting (perhaps only to me) to do a little test. I don't have any idea how to do this, but if someone could take like a fishing scale, you know the type, you hang it up and hang a fish under it and the scale tells you how much it weighs, and attach it to a LBC at rest, on level ground in neutral, and then pull it until it moves and note how many pounds of force it takes to start it rolling and then note how many pounds... MORE
Hang on. This is a daily used car. 30,000miles in 3 years since full rebuild ALL new brake parts at that time Regular maintenance - like every 2 weeks I grease the kingpins, top up dashpots etc.etc. Using silicon brake fluid and flush and replace that every year - although its due another change about now. I do a 80 mile daily round trip to work, in fast, heavy traffic conditions. My life depends on this car being in good condition. I started this "thread" to see what other experience might be out there. I don't actually think that... MORE
could be right about the diff - the modern car will probably have helical cut spur gears where the Sprite will have the hypoid crown wheel and pinion, which has a bit more sliding contact between the tooth faces - more friction? David "David Jacobs" 32006... MORE
what sort of wheel bearings does the Pug have, compared to the Sprite? (can't see that making a huge difference, though) David "David Jacobs" 31984... MORE
