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Well, Nigel... Your searching for something here but it's not about the 1500 or a correct way to modify or sort the handling on a car. With respect to the 1500, It's mostly all add-on stuff to the original type so the mfgs. could extend the life of the type while meeting later day safety standards. As such, all "earlier" prior specs and parts are available so it's not as though one is dealing with a new type. So, none of this is really rocket science as I am sure you know, though some bending here and there may... MORE
Cap'n Bob, Appreciate the insight. The last 1275 I drove was a 73 back in 1981. Didn't know jack about such cars so comparison's are impossible. I was planning to lower the rear of the car with a block arrangement that raises the rear axle where it attaches to the spring. Since fitting the new wheels and tires I'm not so sure about this. I had to do some sugery on the rear to eliminate the "tuck-in" flange for clearance. The front wheels were even worse. Had to raise the wheel cutout an inch. Will probably flair them. Do... MORE
Well, Rob... Vicky B. offers a rear spring lowering kit at a very reasonable price so you wouldn't be out much if this approach didn't work. I think the Ford Sierra 5 speed is what Guy Weller has used or is currently using....and.... .....refering to fellow spritester Daniel's handy, dandy informative book, we find (Pg. 63) that "Frontline Spridget, Ltd. has a sseparate kit, with special adapter plate that allows conversion to the Ford" Sierra 5 speed gearbox. On Pg. 144 Daniel further kindly provides: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/frontine Also, if the lowering blocks don't work you might try Motobuild, Ltd. for... MORE
We put the pan back onto the 1275, but cannot go further until I have the proper gaskets. I will not make them out of silicone!! So, in the interim, we took the 1098 apart. The problem we found, in the removing the frozen pistons, is that there are sleeves on the back two cylinders. One of the sleeves was moving when I was trying to pound the piston out. What holds the sleeve still? I want to build a motor for the Frogeye, to get it on the road, until the 1275 is built. I have two guys... MORE
I have owned both. The 1500 was more torquey but rattled like a bag of nails when the revs climbed. It had a 7/8" front bar that controlled excessive oversteer and could be driven through corners quite nicely so long as you didn't loose nerve and lift off. I drove with and without the bumbers and the only noticable difference was it felt more "lively" with them off. It was definately faster. The 1275 is without a doubt the nicer engine. When the revs climb it roars through the K & N and howls at over 5000 throgh the... MORE
David... The swipe of a cat's paw is sufficient to open up your tonneau cover? Really? Dave, with all due respect my friend, get yourself an "el cheapo" Tyvek lightweight cover and your problem is solved...really, end of story. Keeps sap and bird droppings off the paint as well and can be hosed off in a heartbeat. Saves the top, tonneau, plastic windows from the sun, etc. Thing can be rolled up into a small ball and thrown in the trunk easy. Carry mine around all the time. Put it on, take it off in a heartbeat. And.....kill your... MORE
Being the owner of a somewhat converted rubber bumper 76 midget,I would like to say that my reasons for the change were simple.# 1 i got a nice car at a great price.#2 After much consideration and head scratching,I decided i could go without any bumpers.Having grown up in the 60S I never got over the hotrod/sportscar thing.Back then a midget/sprite looked pretty tough with no bumpers,A roll bar,wide stripes on bonnet and boot.They even had mag wheels[not minilight style]on some.Any way much as i prefer an older model chrome bumper model this is what i have to work... MORE
Here are just a few pictures of the recent 4th Pennsylvania LBC Car Rally put on by the Valentine clan. My cameras flash (batteries) didn't want to work the flash so I didn't get any pictures of the awards being given out! I sent them to the spridgets list but failed to send them to these groups. Pics are at http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?collid=95833387903 Biff Jones '59 Bugeye 'Kermit' '61 Sprite 'Ole Gray' in "The Healey Book" '71 Midget 'Freebie' under restoration http://sprites2.homestead.com/ "Biff Jones" 24007... MORE
Thanks for the information . . to all who have responded. Has the underlying frame changed? In other words I have a very rust free, dent free, complete front end of a 69 midget, can those fenders, front cowl, and hood be bolted on in place of the metal work that was modified for the rubber bumpers? That does leave the rear end to deal with. Don "Don May" 23963... MORE
Good Morning Spridget Land, Does anyone know how difficult and what it involves to convert a 76 rubber bumper Midget to chrome bumpers. Or can suggest a web site showing the conversion process. Is the metal work about the same behind the things? Don "Don May" 23959... MORE
Just got my repair manual. It is a big help. Checked the fluid levels in both the clutch and transmission. Topped them both off. No change. Bled the slave. It had air. No change. Clutch still isn't disengaging. That is about the extent of what I can do in my backyard and will be sending it to the doctor on Monday. Didn't see any place (in the manual) that indicated that the clutch can be adjusted. Didn't touch the turn signal. Thanks for the help. "Rick & Deb" 23934... MORE
A few months ago there was a tool on ebay for installing this nasty little circlip. It looked like it threaded into where the hydraulic pipe goes on the cylinder and then another threaded ring compressed the circlip until it popped into place. I missed out on the ebay one but would now like to get myself one, preferably in the UK but if you know where they are available in the US then let me know that too. Cheers Jeremy "Jeremy Cogman" 23914... MORE
The phone rang at 7:30 am Sunday morning "I'm stranded in Angles Camp, Jr. died," Jr. the name he gave the 63 Midget I sold him. "I just need a around town car." He said when he bought it. He had owned a Midget before and I was confidant I was not selling to an innocent in the ways of classic British cars. I had made clear that since I retrieved it from a carpentry work shop where it sat on blocks for twenty years and brought it back to life that I had not driven it over five... MORE
Ed. I haven't done a sear but I'm applying POR over good metal, not lace doylies, so hopefully my *rs will stay about 6" above the ground , and the the good metal has a been treated with phosphoric acid where needed (similar to jenolite) I will hunt out some seam sealer and apply over primer, thanx guys. Alan "alan.east-jones" 23838... MORE
Nelson... Frank used POR15 on his floors and they still rotted out beneath the coating. This resulted in an Italian burn....IOW, he was somewhat less than amused. Neither Diane, Tiffany or the cats could soothe him. His son, who was out destroying his VW at the time his Dad fell through the POR15 coated floor (at about 60 or so, traveling down the NJ turnpike) added fuel to he fire by failing to empathize while asking Frank for yet another coupla thousand bucks to rebuild his VW's blown engine, once again. Obviously, not a good day for Frank. Thus,... MORE
Alan It seems you're following in my footsteps or viceversa, having done/doing this exact same job myself. Perhaps you can benefit from my experience. First off, forget using any kind of power tool on the underseal its a waste of time. The technique that I found works reasonably well on removing the underseal is as follows, I'm afraid however you tackle this job, it's not pleasant, will take ages is boring and messy as hell. I found using a heat gun and scraper worked really well getting off the bulk of the underseal. Just heat it up enough for... MORE
Jim.... "Thanks", yourself!! :):) You either don't have a maint. manual or are not reading it, I guess. Well, no matter. :) You cannot check effective operation of the manifold mounted PCV valve by taking it apart. It is tested on a running engine at idle... if it is working correctly, the idle will increase by around 200rpm when you remove the "vented/filtered" oil cap (which you are using in accordance with your manual, right?:) For with respect to the manifold mounted stock PCV valve....there are no other restrictors in this system...IT is THE restrictor! It is also diaphragm... MORE
Guy....what a coincidence!! I am looking into the same option with my portable set-up. Of course, a good deal of "situational awareness" comes by way of the open ear which backs up the other senses (and vice-versa), speaker volume notwithstanding. The earpiece blocks "perhipheral" hearing. So I will have to see whether I am "comfortable" with this. What I am talking about is use of hearing as it mostly applies to top down driving when you can actually better "hear" the cars around you, which you lose to some extent anyway, once the top goes up. This having been... MORE
gztracker: How about using a stock PCV valve as shown in the manual? Or, is this part no longer available? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 23791... MORE
Mike writes: "Maybe the beast is supposed to feel like a go kart going down the road" You got it...that's exactly right. But, not "wondering" down the road, assuming the surface is smooth. It should go exactly where YOU point it and NOT the other way 'round. It should never feel as though the "tail is wagging the dog". On rougher surfaces the car will "move" sideways in a controlled manner as it "skips" over rougher pavement but it should never "wonder" or feel "loose", despite the fact road shock may be transmitted to the steerng wheel. Any "wondering"... MORE
Can anyone give me the description of the restrictors that I think should be in the tube from the timing case to the PCV valve. I have just rebuilt my '68 1275 engine and it is sucking enough oil through the oil seperator to go through the engine. I tried a 1/8" restrictor and had much oil out the rear seal(screw). I then put a 5/16" inch restrictor closer to the PVC valve and it seems to do much better. I have found no information other than a reference to tube and restrictor in the Hayes manual. Thanks Jim... MORE
Hello to all I now have the steering wheel, cowling, turn signal stem assembly and wiper assembly off the steering column. How is the switch removed? I can't find any screws, etc. holding it on. My Haynes manual says I should be able to turn the key to the on position, depress the button and remove the entire barrel assembly. It won't work that way!! I also can't get it to the complete off position to remove the key. The key is somewhat bent in the barrel so I am afraid to work it too hard. My first thought... MORE
I'm not going to say that money is not an issue, but I could convert to tube shocks now by engineering and fabricating my own system for a modest outlay in materials. (time is not currently an issue.) This would allow me flexibility in the type of shocks I could fit. Variable dampening and adjustable dampening are quickly becoming affordable. I eventually would like to have the shocks dampening controlled by remote. It may sound like a "just a gimmick"(and in many ways it is), but my driving needs are so varied that it might be advantageous. I read... MORE
I've got a '79 midget. It seems to ride a little rough. I was thinking that maybe the shocks need some fluid. So, I have a few questions: 1. Is there a quick & dirty test a guy can do that might indicate whether more fluid is needed or not? 2. Is it easy for a shade tree kind of guy with limited tools to add fluid to the shocks? 3. What about conversion to tube shock kits? Any feelings? One more question. My dash is split right at the windscreen support bracket. I am going to order a... MORE
The dash cover you ordered is mast likely similar to ABS plastic. Therefore it has already been molded to shape. Follow the directions and it will look fine. Front tube shocks... I plan on doing this myself. I think the most popular kit is from frontline: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/ . Very expensive, but might be well worth the investment if you dive on alot of rough roads. "Trevor Jessie" 23748... MORE
