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I was going to suggest thinners, but seems I was beaten to it. You could try paint stripper intended for use with fibreglass, as that is more 'gentle' than the normal stuff, but even so, I don't know if it has any chrome compatibility issues. You'd have to check that out yourself. However, it WILL take more applications/longer time to do it. Failing that, you could use something like T Cut or other cutting compound and polish the paint off (also laborious but you'll get a lovely shine!) David "David Jacobs" 37381... MORE
The paint strippers you can buy at most any hardware store will do the job and should not damage chrome. "joe blxfstz" 37382... MORE
I tried lacquer thinner but it barely effects the finish. The remaining paint looks very clean now and there are a number of small areas where it has come off but at the rate the removal is progressing it will take more than an afternoon for each bumper. "Nelson Wittstock" 37380... MORE
Lacquer thinner will remove most alminum paints and won't damage chrome, but be warned - the chrome plating on the back side of the bumper will be very thin, and will rust quickly, and that's probably why the aluminum paint is there in the first place. "joe blxfstz" 37379... MORE
The back side of my Sprite's bumpers have been painted with aluminum paint which I would like to remove. The paint remover which I have on hand (POR Strip)says to not use it on chrome. Is there a good paint stripper that will get rid of the paint and not harm any chrome that it may contact? Nelson 62 Mk 2 slowly progessing "witstock7" 37378... MORE
G'day Jim Since you want to get up close and personal - I am 54 years of age, have owned Sprites and MG Midgets since I was 19, happliy married to my bride of 25 years, three kids aged 25, 21 and 18 who don't want to leave home, and I work for and by myself at the 240 sq mtr shed next to the house. Spend most of my time building Sprite and Midget engines and gearboxes, plus restoration, servicing, buying and selling parts etc. Which is why I am on the internet at 6.30am for a couple... MORE
Hello Colin, Getting upper and closer personal, I am 62 (and dipping in the Social security till), have also owned Spridgets since age 19 (bought a new '60 Bugeye), same wife for 40 (OhMyGod) years, but one child only, now age 40, but who is a lawyer, and who left home a long time ago, having produced three chirrens of her own. You're right about Spridgets - some (many, actually) years ago, I bought a very nice, straight and rust free '67 Midget, 43,ooo miles, for $465. It needed new carpets, but that's all. We're always glad to hear... MORE
1965 Austin-Healey Sprite MK3 The car was restored and put on the road in August of 04, it is rust free and solid. I have made many upgrades and changes. Some of the bigger changes are a Datsun 210 5spd transmission, an 1100cc engine. It has a new shiny black paint job with a new sexy red interior. Includes a few spare parts. It has very few miles on it. This is a fun little car. The top could use a little help and so could the Master cylinder. The car is located in Palm Bay, Florida. Please call... MORE
I got the Bugeye back from the the paint & body shop on Monday afternoon (yes they were open on Memorial Day). It had been delayed several days cuz the new manager had fired the painter and hired a new one. They did an excellent job on the body work and paint job, so I feel a little better about the cost. Great paint job - just the wrong color! Definitely not the color & code (brilliant silver metallic, 744) given to them. I actually like the new color - kinda a gunmetal (certain listers should like that) grey... MORE
From: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com [mailto: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of mail@... Sent: 31 May 2005 21:44 To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [midgetsprite] Some questions.. Stewart, What size tyres do you have? This will obviously affect the revs per mile, but never fear cos http://www.f-body.org/gears/ has a handy mph/revs calculator. On 145x13 tyres, the factory quoted 16.4 mph per 1000 revs, which equates to 4268 rpm David "G & J Swann-Price" 37345... MORE
Since I have/Drive one of those un-civilised frogeye's, W/5 speed, I will take a stab at two of your questions, the RPM shouldn't be one of them because yesterday I was doing 70 at about 3500 RPM's. Your Oil Pressure sounds ok for a used engine. If during the 16 years it was down, you rebuilt it..... Not good. You might want to check the crankshaft bearings for excessive wear or the crank being oval. My 1275 runs 60-70 at 2-5,000 RPM, 50-60 psi at idle, but mine was rebuilt 1700 miles ago, not just the engine, the whole... MORE
Stewart, What size tyres do you have? This will obviously affect the revs per mile, but never fear cos http://www.f-body.org/gears/ has a handy mph/revs calculator. On 145x13 tyres, the factory quoted 16.4 mph per 1000 revs, which equates to 4268 rpm David 37342... MORE
G'day guys Sprite and Midgets had 7" front drum brakes. But you knew that didn't you. Austin A40 ("A40 Farina" for us Down Under and in the UK) had 8" front drum brakes fitted to an identical stub axle. So yes, it's as complicated as undoing the 4 bolts that hold the brake backing plate to the stub axle, and swapping over the backing plates and everything attached to them. It's a common mod down here as our vintage racers must retain drum brakes - discs not allowed. Also good for the part-time Concourse entrant as few judges notice... MORE
A while ago I bought a SU Master rebuild kit from Moss. Now that I am working on my carbs more I wondered why my kit didn't come with the float bowl adapter that rots away. Looking on their website it shows coming with teh standard kit? I would think the master would have everything the standard has and or more... am I right? J Jeremy Loukinas 37320... MORE
"Primrose Yellow" Gorgeous color, IMHO. Nice choice, AEJ. It "contrasts" so well with other colors and is very "warm" in and of itself. Cap'n Bob Basic Frog "Robert E. Shlafer" 37304... MORE
"we think turbocharging is the way forward" Most likely is, if someone can come up with a "variable" waste gate for both low and high end and a nice, "flat" torque curve.... and have no fear....somebody will!! :):) And of course, intercooling of the charge is a real nice thing to have for obvious reasons. The great thing with supercharging is "immediate" low/mid-range torque for the basically stock street car....in the order of a 40% with a "gentle" (on the motor) 6psi. IOW, (high) revs are not required, which for our 3 main bearing applications is a blessing. A... MORE
I have acquired a set of front cylinders, brake drums, shoes, and hub off an A40 Farina. I'm told these work well on the spridget as they give approx 50% more braking area. Apart from the A40 drums and shoes, what other A40 bits do I use eg wheel cylinder, hubs etc. Can anyone advise on any other reasonably priced front suspension mods? Thanks very much "bensengold48" 37299... MORE
Will and Lyudmila Side curtains - side screens which ever, fabric covered or aluminum will fit a Mk-II. The only ones that will not fit are DMH hardtop side screens. The BMC hardtops used standard side screens. Biff Jones '59 Bugeye 'Kermit' '61 AH Sprite 'Ole Gray' in "The Healey Book" '71 Midget 'Freebie" http://sprites2.homestead.com/ "Biff" 37296... MORE
The VIN of this car is just a few digits lower than mine. Just a couple of "issues" - wrong engine color and the rockers are not black, otherwise it is very pretty "Jim" 37288... MORE
I have a 73 midget that is kinda going thru a rolling resto. I am getting ready to pull the motor and go thru it and while I have some downtime I want to work in the engine bay cleaning it up. Doing the engine bay body color is out of the question because I don't know what color the car is going to be changed to. I am looking for some suggestions on what kind of paint to use in the engine bay. I am thinking something that has a Satin Finish to it. If I grind a... MORE
Yep!! There you are! And at the going price considering the MiniMania/Hans Pedersen kits. More low/mid-range torque for street fun. Having driven a stock '67 1275 Spridget using 6psi boost, I can honestly say it is worth the 3k assuming you are go ing to keep the car. Probably one of the most worthwhile upgrades besides the Datsun 5 speed for those who want true "quick". 6psi is the lowest amount of "effective" boost (torque/heat) without unduly loading stock parts providing you don't over-rev the motor and resist the urge to constantly take it to the redline, bearing in... MORE
Interesting thoughts. However, I would think that a SC would provide better bottom end torque and drivability. I was thinking that $3000 is alot of money but later (when a rebuild is required) you could drop the compression ratio and up the boost for serious performance. I'm anxious to hear feedback from people who install the kit before shelling out $3000. trevorwj@... 37266... MORE
Just some off the wall thoughts. $3000 is a lot of money, and unless your engine is already in perfect condition, you would probably want to do an engine rebuild too, so you're at maybe $4500 ready to rock 'n roll. You could do a reworked head, cam, bigger carb, overbore, have less money in the job, just as much HP, and probably better bottom end torque. It like like a stock engine with the Moss SC should produce something like 90 HP. Lot of money for that, say $180 per HP, and that's without any clutch or rear... 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
Some of the kits that convert the standard carbon bearing to a roller/ball thrust bearing also need to have the triangular plate removed from the cover, so the bearing presses directly against the spring fingers. Is the old one like this? David "David Jacobs" 37237... MORE
