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Duncan I'm not familiar with the base coat/clear coat system, although the last time I ordered some cellulose gloss from my paint factor, they did ask if that was what I wanted, as thats the alternative to the 'all-in-one' system that I'm most familiar with and use. The all-in-one system contains the pigment and the gloss, and the high shine is slowly built up by successive coats, flatting back inbetween. To achieve the very high shine, you let the paint fully harden (4-5 weeks) then use a gentle rubbing compound on it and a rotary buffer. Regarding etch primer,... MORE
From: amukdigiphoto [mailto: amukdigiphoto@... ] Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 5:34 AM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Paint Advice Duncan I'm not familiar with the base coat/clear coat system, although the last time I ordered some cellulose gloss from my paint factor, they did ask if that was what I wanted, as thats the alternative to the 'all-in-one' system that I'm most familiar with and use. The all-in-one system contains the pigment and the gloss, and the high shine is slowly built up by successive coats, flatting back inbetween. To achieve the very high shine, you let the paint... MORE
Jim, After moving the stands from the axle to the floor (near the rear suspension mounting points), I walked around the car and suddenly noticed the front floating above the stands (positioned under the front chassis legs...) So the car was performing an unexpected balancing act :-) and almost tilted to the rear. If this had happened it would for sure have fallen off the stands! I immediately increased the front weight by putting a number of heavy items on the front chassis legs! Afterwards I moved the stands to the boot-floor. The car is completely stripped in the... MORE
Duncan I'm not that familiar with the term 'lacquer' as far as I'm aware it covers pretty much all car paints, as they're all a form of lacquer. What I think you mean is Nitro-celullose Laqcuer, commonly referred to as just 'cellulose' and if you do mean this then yes, thats pretty much your only option for spraying at home. (some bright spark trying to be clever will probably come up with alternatives, but in practical terms 'cellulose' is your only option for spraying at home). The other commonly used paint in the auto industry, in fact its the... MORE
From: amukdigiphoto [mailto: amukdigiphoto@... ] Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 5:50 PM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Paint Advice Duncan I'm not that familiar with the term 'lacquer' as far as I'm aware it covers pretty much all car paints, as they're all a form of lacquer. What I think you mean is Nitro-celullose Laqcuer, commonly referred to as just 'cellulose' and if you do mean this then yes, thats pretty much your only option for spraying at home. (some bright spark trying to be clever will probably come up with alternatives, but in practical terms 'cellulose' is your... MORE
From: Robert D. Gardner [mailto: rdgard@... ] Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 6:42 PM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [midgetsprite] Harbor freight tools, country of origin NLBC Duncan & Don, Which welder did you buy, how much and how do you like it? Mig? I found out the welding helmet does not work for Oxy-Acetaline. I guess it needs the "flash". the guy in the store put it on me and pulled out a bic lighter and put it in front of my face and I heard him light it but I did not see him light it. It went... MORE
Trev... Used acrylic enamel with a polyurethane hardner on my old PO'd MGB 30 years or so ago. Followed directions in a Peterson "How to Paint...." softcover manual. Came out beautifully, lasted forever. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 28765... MORE
Jim- It really was easy. After I had the rear support set up, I actually lifted the car ever so slightly with the floor jack under the diff. This took the weight off the attachment points, and away I went. Not to be a smart ass, but please don't forget the brake lines, emerg brake cable, fuel line and prop shaft. Once it is out, it is fairly easy for two people to lift it onto a set of horses for attention at a comfortable working level. I did a full restoration this way, including painting. By the way,... MORE
From: Robert D. Gardner [mailto: rdgard@... ] Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 5:12 PM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [midgetsprite] Harbor freight tools, country of origin NLBC I LOVE HARBOR FREIGHT!!!!!!! Just got a self darkening welding helmet on sale for $49.00!!!!!! And steel 4 caster dollys to put under all four wheels of car in shop so I can roll it around, $20 each wheel. WOW Cheers, Bob in San Diego "My reality check just bounced!" unkown "Duncan Sinclair" 28744... MORE
Although it was me who said mark the flange it was only 'cos that is what the books tell one to do. I never bother. The bolt positions are such that there are two positions it will fit, and two that it will not.. You don't find out untill you come to install bolt#2, but it is no great hassle. I don't think ballance is effected in any way. Guy "Guy Weller" 28717... MORE
Hi all, One warning: The rear axle is indeed quite heavy...So supporting the car at the rear under the boot-floor is the best option when you have the car already stripped. When you support the car at the front mounting points of the rear suspension (as suggested by haynes) in this situation you could get an unpleasant surpise... Don't ask how I know this...now the stands are under the boot floor, which is a bit more stable. Best regards, Eeg. "eegoberije" 28715... MORE
Abestea I think it depends a little on which bits you want, but the whole of the front chassis is available as an 'assembly', but I'm sure you can get the individual bits of the assembly, specially as Heritage are remaking the body shells. It really is useful to get one of the Moss 'Parts Manuals' which contains part numbers and prices for every single part you would ever need. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 28698... MORE
Mark, Haynes puts the spec for Federal cars at 125 psi. They all should be close to that. When I first bought my 1975 the compression test was an early indicator of the kind of fun (and expense) I was in for. ROb C Webfoot Leisure.com rob@... 630-841-6077 robbiesg@... 28704... MORE
Jim, I think Nigel & I use much the same system, although I would remove the whole lot, axle and springs as a single unit. It is easy enough for one person to manage. Jack the car up and support on axle stands close to, but not obstructing, the mounting plates for the front end of the rear springs. Use a timber support to spread the load if you can, but it isn't really essential. Get it reasonably high enough to give working space underneath. Support the axle on a trolly jack under the centre point of the diff.... MORE
Well... With no intent to be a wise-guy, ass-u-me(ing) it's all mechanically in decent shape...what's the problem? The timing specs are in the book whether it's the Cooper S mech. dizzy or the later vac. one, right? So are the carb. set-up directions. You MAY need an SU carb jet centering tool (much better than using the carb. needle shank) and a portable hand held tach so as to positively "see" that slight momentary rise in rpm as you lift the air valve 1/8" or so off the jet bridge and a Unisyn (or the like) to positively "see"... MORE
G'day guys All this discussion on crunching clutches just woke up my tired brain to something I had forgotten. The diaphram clutch as fitted to 1275cc and 1500cc cars is very sensitive to the amount of travel. They actually need LESS travel to release than the earlier spring clutch. That's one of the reasons the slave cylinder is 1" and not 7/8". Larger bore = less travel. If you have TOO MUCH travel at the clutch end, the diaphram plate will go over-centre, and crush the driven plate back onto the flywheel. I have seen this happen a few... MORE
Surely sounds like something is causing incomplete clutch release. Since it sounds like everything hydraulic is okay, and you're actually pushing the release bearing far enough, them some possibilities could be: a broken or damaged release brg. These usually last well, but it is possible to break the carbon piece. Possibly the pressure plate has some broken or bent fingers, or is not bolted up straight or tight. The pilot bush could be binding or damaged, the trans input shaft could be bent or burred up. The flywheel could be warped. There could also be a foreign object, say... MORE
Hi Trevor- Yes, alignment tool was used. Have played A LOT with bleeding, including pressure bleeding. Absolutely no air. Pushrod moves almost one-half inch. I'm told this is all it should move. I've owned four of these cars. I can tell you for sure something is wrong. While I am sure some driving will help, I fear the tranny will be junk inside of a week. Doing some reading and had a thought. Early slave cylinders were 7/8 bore. Late slave was one inch. What if I switch to an early slave? Will it not give me greater pushrod... MORE
Stewart, According to Clausager's book the first GAN6 was in Oct of '74 and was GAN6/154101 so that would make yours the 3,243 one to roll off the production line. Since there were only 2,513 built in 1974 yours was built sometime in 1975. Biff Jones '59 Bugeye, 'Kermit' '62 Sprite, 'Ole Gray' '71 Midget, 'Freebie' http://sprites2.homestead.com/ "Biff" 28598... MORE
David I've spotted a number of errors in Terry's excellent book, most to do with the production dating sections which are inexcusable really considering how important getting dates right is! Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 28578... MORE
Roger I have a 65 and a 66 Sprite (both MKIII Sprites) the 66 had no cowl when I acquired her (she had an aftermarket leather cloth thing instead) I fitted a new cowl and painted it black in line with Horler's bible. I have just checked my 65 ( which is a basket case I am rebuilding) and to my surprise it has a red cowl. I even scratched some paint off (hell it will need a respray anyway) and can find no layer of black between the red and bare metal, so you may well be correct.... MORE
I wonder if someone can help me here. I have raised this issue before, and wish to bring it to the attention of 'The People who Know' For Christmas I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of Terry Horler's 'Original Sprit and Midget' which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading. On page 80 next to the Photo' of the dashboard, he states, with regard to Mk2 Midgets, that "The gear lever cowl was now painted black regardless of body colour." This appears to be contradicted in Clausagers book 'Sprites and Midgets - the complete Story' on page 101, where... MORE
Castor Oil & Castrol (Castrol R) Got to admit, Dave, I've no clue 'cause I do not know whether the "early" Castrol Oils I grew up with in the late 50's & early 60's were vegetable oil or petroleum based, though I believe it was the later. And the Castrol's before that??? Castrol "R"....formulated for high rpm higher pressure, anti-foam, "racing" oil I would think but here again, not familiar the specific base or formula. But I bet Chuck Christ might know a little about the early Castrol Oils considering his Dad was in racing during Castrol's early days... MORE
Alan It's always very difficult to put prices on cars, specially without the ben =3D=0D efit of seeing them, and owners quite often have very strange ideas on what things =3D=0D are worth, but at the end of the day, naturally, you need to decide what it =3D=0D s worth to you. Simple economics says that availability/supply and demand dictate prices of =3D=0D any product or service and that applys equally to cars. There are plenty of =3D=0D cars about in that condition and I don't see queues at sellers doors for th =3D=0D em, so that suggests the... MORE
Nigel, Some while ago I used the production figure / date tables in Clausager's book to check against my car's first registration date. Making the assumption that daily production rate was fairly consistent gave me a production date for my car at about 3 weeks before registration - which seemed to me to be about right. So maybe it isn't that bad an assumption to make. I have never applied for a BMIHT certificate, but I did send of my fiver to DVLA for a copy of all their records for the car. These included photocopies of the V5... MORE
