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Hello all, Well, I fired her back up today. Put my hand over the oil filler hole, and let it idle. There was no significant vaccuum and no significant air pressure. The valve cover filled about an inch and a half full of oil, with oil coming up the push rod tubes. I'm sure it would have kept going , but I shut it down. As I mentioned earlier, it sounds fine once it gets warmed up. It isn't missing and has good oil pressure. (although the oil gauge doesn't work (Problem #312 of 1067...get to that one later...)... MORE
Don, Beware. I had a Midget with a similar modified push rod which I didn't know about. I installed a new 3 piece clutch kit and everything was fine for about 3 months until the thrust bearing went bang. New bearing .. went bang again. What has actually happened was that the thrust bearing operating fork has bent. This is not easy to see unless you have two of them side by side. This meant that the thrust bearing was no longer hitting the exact centre of the clutch leading to premature wear. Inspect all part carefully ! Regards... MORE
Just checked my Haynes which is what I'd have followed during my rebuild. No specific order to retightening but what it does day is do the bolts up finger tight then rotate the crankshaft a few revolutions before torqueing down. The other thing to check is that you don't have any grit under the shells. However as all is fine with the old TWs then it sounds like the only problem is the new TWs are a bit thick. When I rebuilt my 1275 I didn't replace the TWs, how do the old ones look? Running the car like... MORE
They only go in from 1 side. I found that a hair dryer to heat the plexaglas so it was very hot and then I used a couple of putty knifes/paint scrapers to carefully slide the top edge in the middle of the frames. The putty knives also work well to place the felt in a U shape in the frames. The Bugeye front window doesn't slide. Bob, Troutdale, OR 60 Bugeye "Robert Webb" 25463... MORE
When I rebuilt my 1275 I didn't replace the TWs, how do the old ones look? Running the car like that may overheat those new TWs and they might finish up in a worse state than your known good ones. Jim, Sounds way too tight, but this isn't a "seat of the pants' thing. You need a dial gauge and a magnet stand to check end float. You need to exert force in both directions and see what the dial gauge reads. From memory, I think .003 is the upper limit, but check the specs first.It 's possible for... MORE
Jim, Sounds way too tight, but this isn't a "seat of the pants' thing. You need a dial gauge and a magnet stand to check end float. You need to exert force in both directions and see what the dial gauge reads. From memory, I think .003 is the upper limit, but check the specs first.It 's possible for them to be too tight. Are you using standard or overside thrust washers? They are marked for size on the backside. Gerard "gerardchateau" 25439... MORE
Jim C. My factory maint. man. shows crankshaft end float (taken at the main bearing) at .001-.003 Main Caps @ 60 Rod Caps @ 35 Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 25441... MORE
Hi, Bill.... Jegs, Summit or Racer Wholesale offer some nice 4 point systems with 3" webbing that really holds you in. These are usually top brands like Simpson. They sell the mounting kits as well. The Spridget is small inside so get "pull up" types rather than "pull downs" when it comes to the seat belts (it they still offer a choice in this respect) whether you order/use the shoulder belts or not. As you already know....VB, Moss or any of the other usual suspects for the stock OEM type stuff. "Performance shops" also carry generic types that will... MORE
Bradsky... Milling the head slightly will have no ill effect upon anything, considering how little you are removing, assuming it had stock 21cc chambers to begin with. As a matter of fact, milling the head rather than going to flattops is the preferred way of raising the compression ratio moderately according to Dave Vizard, this having a more salutory effect on combustion/flow characteristics than a piston configuration change. For racing, the factory goes to 16.4cc chambers before they start raising compression by changing piston configuration so I guess this is the safe limit before head strength is compromised. What... MORE
G'day mate. After deliberating for a long time about the need for extra mirrors - and I think there is one - I was told about a beautiful set of mirrors that are made for Harley Davidson motorcycles. They bolt onto the rear windscreen bolt, just as they come out of the packet. I've uploaded some photos into the file called "John's Bugeye" in the photo section of the website. The pro's - they work well, they look the part, they don't get into the road of the door, they bolt straight on, no drilling or modifications are needed,... MORE
Drag, Don May....non-turning T/O bearing ...."bearing" upon pressure plate. You will also notice with the stock carbon throw-out bearing that the starter will turn the engine over faster if the clutch is not depressed during the start, except in real cold weather when the drag of extremely thick transmission oil causes more drag than the throwout bearing/pressure plate drag situation. Then...start with the clutch pedal depressed of course Much less drag with "roller" types now available in place of original carbon types. The "rollers" allow the T/O bearing face to turn (less drag) as it engages the pressure plate....... MORE
Hi, Kevin... You will eventually hear from a lot of others on this I'm sure, in time. If the oil pressure is good (10psi or more at idle and about 60psi running at 3,000 rpm or better), two things come immediately to mind, considering it's coming out the oil filler hole and not out between the block/head. 1. excessive clearances in the rocker system between bush/shaft and/or 2. larger than normal pushrods (aftermarket "performance") which may be slowing oil flow back down into the crankcase as these can be thicker in diameter than stock. I am assuming the engine... MORE
I did the same thing with the seat backs in my bugeye. The "horns" were eaten back and rough and the lip across the inside was the same way. I couldn't find any replacements localy and the upholsterer was waiting for the seat backs so he could finish the seats and the car show was a week away. A seam came loose in the seat back a couple of months later so I took them back to the upholsterer. He took the material off and repaired the seam. When I picked them up, he told me that he would... MORE
I only have the standard drivers rear view mirror (dashboard mounted) and I'm looking for a suitable looking side mirror that would fix in some way to the end of the windscreen so that I can avoid a hole fixing to a front panel. I can't see anything in the Moss Catelogue of this nature that would suit - anyone got any suggestions? What have others done? Tim "timandshelagh" 25369... MORE
Think I have solved this and the problem I had shifting into first and reverse . . . before pulling the engine and trans to check I thought I would at least try one of the longer push rods, you know those POs have welded on an extra length to put off installing a new throw out bearing. The one I had from my parts car had only about an eight of an inch longer weld on the end than the stock one. Once I installed it all is working now, smooth shifting is back and shifting into first... MORE
Hi, Tim.... I was in the same predicament when I picked up my BE. Like you, I hate drilling through the car's panels and creating holes where there were none. On my PO'd '74 Spridget the holes were already there and a blacked out Baby Turbo went beautifully with my two-tone semi-gloss black and metallic medium blue Maaco paint scheme! But like your car, the BE had no side mirror to begin with. So what I did was have fabricated a mounting plate for a spun aluminum Raydot, encompassing two holes drilled in the plate which utilized the already... MORE
Yes depends on how much 'severe' is. As David said, you can rebuild the front end with the bushes of the top trunnion behind (inboard) the kingpin as opposed to in front of it. This gives the sort of negative camber (top of wheel further inboard than bottom) that even the lariest of race cars don't run with. "Jeremy Cogman" 25361... MORE
Those who have checked out my bugeye bonnet restoration photos may have noticed that I chose to form the missing sections of end flange and sheet metal with fiberglass. I realize that many have advised me to cut back and replace with new formed metal pieces . . . that is not within my expertise nor budget, lots of time I have. I might as well buy a new fiberglass bonnet for the cost involved for new metal work and welding so I sought the advice of some folks at TAP Plastics and went with fiberglass. My logic with... MORE
Well it's about time. My 71 MG is back and refurbed. While it was apart for a new clutch disc, why not put a Datsun 5 speed in it? 266 cam, lite lifters, right springs, new shells on the still-standard crank, Cooper S 163 head with rimflows and ported, 45DCOE, and LCB, with a Kenlowe to cut cooling losses. Cooper S dizzy. I want a merit badge for making the Rivergate kit work. It is not easy for one who must follow directions literally. Much more difficult than it needs to be, for me, anyway. I know many listers... MORE
Hello Fellow Spridgeteers, Long time lurker (never a poster...'till now). My '71 Midget has a severe inward tilt to the right front wheel (negative camber..I think). Since there, apparently, is no means of camber adjustment, what can I do...Frame straightening...gulp. Is this car capable of being straightened by a standard shop? I need help...the tire is showing wear after 200 miles! "Dave Bilodeau" 25340... MORE
The slope of the vehicle which tends to lean to the left is an aid in cornering. A pure performance upgrade. The factory was spitting spridgets, sprites , and midgets out by the thousands for the hopes of entering one of these brave little cars in USA's NASCAR some day. Matt Pfeil 76 NASCAR Midget (And if you believe that I got something else for you!) "matthew pfeil" 25342... MORE
20.14 Exhaust Emission System. The owner or operator of any new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine beginning with the model year 1968 equipped with an exhaust emission system shall maintain the exhaust emission system in good operable condition and shall use it at all times that the motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine is operated. The owner or oper- ator of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine shall not remove or intentionally make inoperable within the state of Texas the exhaust emission system or any part thereof, except where the purpose of removal of the exhaust... MORE
Ed states, "....the stock ones are available" You listening, Kelly Brown!! www.justbrits.com Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 25302... MORE
Gerard I think you're right, as it stands it really is beyond economic redemption. However, if it was a Frogeye, it would be worth the 50 quid, just for the registration and v5 and chassis number which you could then transplant onto a rebuilt shell and build one up that way. Sadly it isnt a Frogeye so that option isnt available. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 25291... MORE
Hi guys Spotted this one while browsing ebay.co.uk. After you get over the horror of the picture, you'll realise that this er (how can one put this politely) 'heap of junk' is in fact not Frogeye at all, but one of the later versions. Hands up those of you who'd take this on as a restoration if it was a Frogeye? Not sure what the sellers up to, I'm sure he knows : ) Nigel http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2432720828&category =29753 "amukdigiphoto" 25277... MORE
