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The 3.7 diff was used in the later 1500 and in the riley 1.5 and wosley 1500, and AFIK not a fragile unit at all, well your 1500 engine is more likely to break than the diff, given its liking for throwing rods in standard form. One thing to note though is your speedometer will need recalibrating as it will read slow. Stewart "Ford Prefect" 29875... MORE
I have done same mod works fine. Pedal came from 1500 Midget. "Peter Whittle" 29873... MORE
Hi, My gas pedal often sticks (does not return all the way back). I can usually fix it by tapping it a bit but sometimes I have to quickly hook it with my shoe to get the revs back down to idle speed. I have determined that this problem is caused by corrosion on the floor hinge rather than a problem with the throttle springs, cable or the bent rod between the cable and the pedal. I have improved the pedal's action somewhat by applying oil and wd40 to the hinge and by excersizing the pedal to try and... MORE
Hi, The diff on my 1500 needs replacing and I've the option of a 3.7 (recon) if i want it, i've heard this is a weaker diff, is this true? THe engine is stage 1 an the moment but im slowly aquiring bits to take it further. As I'm seriously thinking of a 5 speed conversion later this year (most likely autumn) maybe it isnt that important. I know the later 1500's came form the factory (so i'm told anyway with a 3.7) but is the difference noticable, both in reduced revs at cruising speed and the slight loss... MORE
Brad What kind of money are you talking about to buy a relatively 'rust free' 62 =3D=0D body tub in the US? And what would the ship costs be to the UK? I reckon =A31,000-=A31,500 would probably do it. I think you may have a good point - buying a sound rust free tub from the U =3D=0D S and bringing it over may well be the best option - it has to be cheaper tha =3D=0D n having the repairs done here to the existing bodyshell. It's come to something hasn't it - when its cheaper to buy... MORE
Neil... I too have been told the same about the 3.7 diff from Bill Perry of Rivergate (and he oughta know!). In my discussion with him on this (I've used a 3.7 for many moons) it became apparent that it's all in how the individual driver treats his machinery. Does he transfer gobs of power instantly, or not. IOW, does he/she beat on it? My current 3.7 diff came out of my '74 Vizardized Spridget..90+hp at the wheels. I put about 10K on the car annually for 12 years or so, then it saw service in my '67 Sprite... MORE
G'day all Good point Alan. Sprites and Midgets (and many other BMC cars) were assembled here by the Austin Motor Company (Australia) Pty Ltd, in an inner Sydney suburb of Zetland. The site was sold off for residential and industrial use some 20 years ago. Fortunately there are a few guys who worked for BMC during the 1950's and 1960's who meet a few times a year, and who visit interested car clubs to talk about their experiences, show photos of the cars being constructed etc. It's great that these guys are still around sharing their knowledge. There was... MORE
You have forgotten something important.. A '62 Sprite will be a quarter elliptic car, it can't be reshelled with a M kIII shell which will be built for a semi elliptic car, unless the shell is modified. Stewart "Ford Prefect" 29845... MORE
I recently researched interiors for my '73. Looked at Moss, Vicky Brit, Prestige, MGOC, and Satur. I wanted full leather (Yes, I know the "factory" seat was vinyl). You will find that all suppliers EXCEPT Satur have kits that are leather-faced, but not full leather. Only Satur offers a FULL leather seat cover. I also found that Satur's price was actually LESS than most of the others. You will get a very nice fit from Prestige products. Very nicely made. You will get a fabulous fit from Satur kits. I don't think anyone compares. All of these places offer... MORE
Richard I am restoring a 65 Sprite and originally intended to use a new shell or at least the basic tub (no front wings, doors, bonnet or boot lid) to do this I would have had to modify the rear deck to suit the roadster hood. When my local supplier quoted me 1750 for the tub I changed my mind and set to work restoring the old body. All the panels are available and at least the Sprite will retain more of it's original metal (maybe not that much more) this way. If you re-hell a car you are... MORE
Well looked at it,then looked again the next week,and well l wanted them wheels for my 67 sprite,so l got it a 78 1500 there will be other bits on it l can use for my car, but will have a good engine and box for sale in a few weeks time 67000 miles from new, dam shame realy to break it but doors etc will fit mine,one wing has a bit of rot but the other side is fine,bumpers are the same very good,and yes before you moan at me l should restore it but doing this 67... MORE
Richard The answer to this question depends entirely on what YOU want or your girlfriend wants. Do you want a 62 Sprite in a new Mark III bodyshell? Do you want an 'original' 62 Sprite? Is resell value important to you? Are you going to resell it? Is originality important to you? You need to answer these questions, to find the right answer for you. I can =3D=0D guide you, I can point out the pitfalls of both ways, but at the end of the =3D=0D day you must make the decision based on what you or your girlfriend... MORE
Jens I went to my paint factor - asked for cellulose (not with clear coat separate) gave him the name - Blue Royale and the number - BU38 and he mixed up the paint for me using that reference code. I think he asked if that was a British Leyland or Rover colour and I said yes. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 29799... MORE
Is that all theres to it, i saw the no in terry holers book but wasnt shore. Forgive me my ignorence but is this a universal system that all paint manufacturers use or is it one of many systems that all paint manufacturers know how to use. My good i feel so ignorent here, i understand its a lot of things i have to learn here. But the colour is darn great. Jens Jens BU12 Nigel "jens maudal" 29786... MORE
Jeremy Quite correct; and you're about the only person to actually 'see' the point I'm trying to make, which is whatever colours were applied in Australia bear no relevance whatsoever to colours applied elsewhere in the world, because those colours were only used in the 'Australian' market. You could pretty much claim that Frogeyes were painted green with yellow spots in Australia - no-one else in the world would really care. But to claim that BRG is an 'official' Frogeye paint scheme is wrong for three reasons, firstly because if it was used in Australia how is that relevant... MORE
As far as the MGB link, yeah, I just am interested in that color scheme. A s far as a concours (or whatever they call it) restoration, for this particular MG, I am more interested in making a solid, fun, reliable car. I'll probably drive it for a few years, and give it to my daughter when she's 16. As for me, I'll have a little roadster with a great big engine. Don't know what yet though. "TJ Tryon, Jr." 29807... MORE
I think iris blue is a fantastic color on a frog eye, is there a color code somewhere that i could give my painter for making up this shade. Jens "jens maudal" 29779... MORE
G'day guys I really don't want to continue this line of discussion, and this will be my last email on the subject. However, as I stated in my last email: There has been too much incorrect info published and accepted as "gospel" without checking what might have been done with regard the many thousand cars built here. Terry Horler's book is truly an excellent publication, but there are some areas in which it is simply incorrect. And Australian paint colours is one of those areas. As Registrar of the Sprite Car Club of Australia, I am keeper of the... MORE
Jens...can't believe you're coincidental timing in asking about paint color "on list" at this particular time...still laughing! :):) While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I agree. I had a buddy in high school (Ted Owens) who had an MGA '60 1600 in Iris Blue with wire wheels and the "thin" whitewalls which were the rage at the time. VERY pretty car. Retired Navy fighter jock. A4's, Vietnam vet. Cool guy. Bet he still owns/drives this MGA!! It's still Iris Blue. And Nigel my friend...the car is as original as it can be, really. At least it... MORE
I am in need on one sill molding strip for my 74. When I purchased it the PO had mounted those broad chrome/stainless steel? sill covers, fortunately only for show as the sills were not rusted out and did not need hiding behind broad strips of shiny metal. I want to restore back to the simple chrome sill strip. I have one from my 73 which to use which was missing one and now need an additional one, won't be using them on the 73 as it is now my bugeye bonnet spridget. It is Moss item number 459-895... MORE
I have lived in London for a spell, about four months, and visited Great Britain on many occasions and have British friends who visit me on occasion. A history of British cars . . . 60 bugeye Sprite, 63 Sprite, TR4, 62 Midget, 73 Midget, now with a 60 bugeye bonnet, 74 Midget, and a 69 Midget parts car I have always noticed a propensity for the British to classify information in far greater increments that we in the US. One could say a bit anal about information. I am in danger of stereotyping here, but I would say... MORE
Hey group. I think its time to pass my beloved 62 midget onto someone else. But only after Don May gets first refusal!... I'm not in a panic to move it, but i would like to see it go to a good home. Its photos are in the album section under 62 midget... its an original 948 side curtain model with a very new (under two weeks) rebuilt head. it has very nice seats, good dash, everything works, including the windshiled squirters. the hand brake needs adjustment and it could do with a brake bleeding or the very least... MORE
I too was out in a junkyard today looking around. I went to the junk yard because they said they had some leather fiero seats. I did not find any of those, but did run across a beautiful 79 Midget with NO rust and a perfect interior. Motor was out of a triumph and did not run. Come to find out, the car is a friend of the body manager's car. It's not for sale, but instead, it's in transit into a different storage place. Too bad, this car is showroom shiny, and that's with the original paint job.... MORE
Stewart I would be the first to admit that Terry Horler's book contains errors, albeit minor ones. But I can quote you 3 different sources that state that Teal Blue was not a colour option on 1500 Midgets, so in this instance I think Terry Horler is correct. There's a couple of things that I don't quite understand about why you think your car is painted in Teal Blue. Firstly - what makes you think it's Teal Blue? there are no paint codes on the bodywork, in fact the only way you can guess at it's colour is by... MORE
Actually there is at least one discrepancy in Horlers book with regards to paint colours. Teal Blue is not listed as a 1500 colour and it was initially.. unless someone went to the lengths of stripping a whole car down to nothing, and stripping the shell of all paint inside and out and then re painted my car teal blue! Stewart "Ford Prefect" 29755... MORE
