MAIN
Tuning
Previous Page | Next Page
Hello Spridget Gurus How do I get gear oil into the grease nipple in the steering rack of my MKIII? I have seen from previous postings that one should use an oil gun. What is this, and where can I get one? Thanks in advance... Regards Jan Erik "jmaalen" 33510... MORE
Did somebody say they were looking to swap their wife for a transmission? I'm looking for a 5-speed wife with overdrive. :) Pete "Pete Skalski" 33509... MORE
OK, Doug... You indeed have the higher compression 8.9-1 motor. Thought so. And you've done a bit of good work on it already, obviously. Here again, assuming the motor has done 77k "untouched" up to this point in time, then yes....personally I would pull the pan and REPLACE all the bearings (and oil pump) as part of preventive ("downline") maintenance as seeing as the motor is already out of the car. I mean, what better opportunity? :) Your assessment of the oil pump location, etc. is correct, Doug. Easy job at this point and sure, I'd renew the front... MORE
G'day Vince Were does this yellow/brown wire start and finish. That would help determine what it is for. But I think Chris might be correct - it's the oil filter warning light. Inside the oil filter housing is a spring-loaded ball bearing. When the filter gets blocked (cos you haven't changed it for 17 years) the pressure causes the ball bearing to move against the spring thus opening a by-pass passage for the oil. On the outside of the filter housing is a spade terminal. Power runs from the ignition circuit, through the light bulb behind the red light... MORE
Did you do a 5 speed conversion using the Merkur, Rob? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 33488... MORE
Simple...something is broken within... and driving further with it will simply cause more damage as metal parts circulate within, doing more destruction to the various gears, etc. So, it is overhaul time or replacement time. Who does Spitfire parts/gearboxes (or 5 speed replacements) for 1500's is the question. www.tsimportedautomotive.com These people should be able to point the way. I know there's a Ford Sierra 5 speed conversion for the Spit driven Spidgets but am unsure of it's availability over here on this side of the pond. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 33486... MORE
i was wondering what to replace my stock tranny in my 78 midget with.also in reverse my transmision makes a grinding noise and falls out of gear.what is wrong?i cant go more than a few feet. "m_raade" 33483... MORE
Colin, I have a friend that races 210s in SCCA and I asked him about the transmission and reliability issues with it. The only comment was that the shift fork that was secured by a roll pin could be a problem. That was solved by using a bolt and loctite. I'm not exactly sure how much power he's making with the 210 engine but it's estimated to be 100 to 120 hp. He told me that the transmission was capable of handling 150 hp. I did not have to do any modifications to the heater box although some grinding... MORE
G'day all Hopefully the last couple of questions before we dicide on which 5-speed kit to use. Whilst it seems everyone says "no modifications to the car are necessary", the Morriservice instructions state: "Underneath the heater box is a beam that needs to be altered some. Typically it needs to be moved up and back about 3/4 inch. Pounding it up and back with a hammer is the usual way." Well, if you ever tried to undo that damage, you would think that it was a modification. I questioned Paul A on this, and he replied: "This mod under... MORE
Hi, Colin.... The early Rivergate kits required the body mod you speak of. Today's Rivergate kit does not. No modification was required to my current BE to drop in the Rivergate engine/Datsun 5 speed "combo" which took the place of the stock 1098/ribcase gearbox the car came with. As I understand it..... the Rivergate clutch disc is a Datsun unit modified to match the stock (or upgraded?) Spridget Borg & Beck pressure plates. As I understand it.... the gearboxes used and rebuilt/sold commercially by Rivergate are those sourced from Datsun 210 TRUCKS. Not sure of their torque or HP... MORE
According to my copy of the Spridget Special Tuning Data the following ratios were available from the appropriate (UK) donor car: 3.727 Riley 1.5 and later Midgets 3.9 mid series Spridgets 4.22 early Spridgets 4.55 Morris Minor 1/4 ton van 4.875 A35 van 5.375 Morris Minor GPO van (mail van to you state side guys.) Geri. "G & J Swann-Price" 33420... MORE
Thanks for all the carb help. Got the buggers dialed in OK. Now I have timing issues but what the heck. Rob C Webfoot Leisure.com rob@... 866-530-9801 toll free " robbiesg@... " 33423... MORE
Correct Bob, jack up one wheel and count the revolutions. But with a 4.2:1 diff, you need to rotate the wheel 76 times to 9 revs of the tailshaft. Ed and I have Oldtimer's disease and we lose track of the count before we get to 76. It takes us less time to remove it and fit a new one! avagoodday Colin "Colin@SpriteParts" 33400... MORE
David, I think someone else posted the speeds for the 4.22. As for acceleration, just take the % difference of 4.22 and 3.90 and figure that close to the same percent of an increase in acceleration will happen with the other diff. Perhaps like adding 20 more horse power, but at the sacrifice of the same percentage of top end speed. (Nothing for free in this world.) Assuming you like to participate in the "StopLight Grand Prix", go for the 4.22!!!!!!!! There is a diff ratio for autocross that comes from a Morris Minor pick up truck (if my... MORE
David...."4.22" Great acceleration but no speed without relatively high rpms in "top". Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 33405... MORE
Guy writes..."what is your road speed at 5,000 rpm" (in top gear). 'bout the same as the original early Sprites, Guy, so obviously Colin is more an autocross rather than highway kinda guy! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 33404... MORE
Yep .. think of it pushing the jet away from the carb body for richer, just the same as the choke does when you pull the cable. I have the same pleasurable job ahead of me now after getting it to start on Saturday (first time in 8 years !) the dizzy was in a state, but soon cleaned up and setting the timing by eye was surprisingly easy ! the #2 carb choke mechanism sticks though, so have that to fix amongst other things. Cheers, Simon. "Simon Stirley" 33417... MORE
David, The easy and fool proof way to tell is to make a mark on the axle and a mark on the prop shaft and turn the prop shaft until the axel makes exactly one revolution and count the number of turns of the prop shaft and bingo, you have the true number, no matter what numbers are stamped on parts. You can do it on the car if you like. Jack up one wheel, in neutral and turn it one rev and count the prop shaft revolutions... Bob "Robert D. Gardner" 33390... MORE
Jens... What does "kill" mean exactly besides it doesn't work anymore. You mean the electrodes broke or got burned away (still overadvanced to some extent or weak mixture). Did it carbon foul and stop firing? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 33372... MORE
What happenned to the spark plug. Explain what it looks like. You aren't being specific at all when you say it "killed it". Pa "Paul Asgeirsson" 33352... MORE
Fellas! I just have to tell you this, its probably old news to most of you but anyway. As you know i have been having problems lately (yet again), the symtoms were many and hard to make out. Well today the ba***rd fouled again and wouldnt run properly just like it was running on only 3 cyl. We are now 110% certain that its the petrol causing it. What happens is when the engine has reached normal temprature and i stop (with engine running) or drive very slowly the temp rise very fast (15-20F) and the engine starts fouling.... MORE
I have booked the Dyno sesson for later this month and the guy asked if i could get hold of some new springs for dissy weights. Do anybody know where i can get springs for a Lucas 43D dissy. Thanks! Jens "jensmaudal" 33324... MORE
Jens... Dyno There ya' go!!! About time!!!! A dyno session(s) is part of a "tuned" engine rebuild. It's the last part, to be specific. The ignition advance curve (rate) is exactly opposite of what works in a mildly cammed stock engine, considering the cylinder filling characteristics (torque curve) of the "hairier" performance cam profile is "back to front" when compared to the stock cam. PCV valve Again, are you running the factory stock intake manifold mounted PCV valve fed from the can on the timing chain cover? If you are, and it is "new", it MAY be "NOS" or... MORE
The oil going into the combustion chambers will also reduce the apparent octane of the petrol which won't help matters. David "David Jacobs" 33280... MORE
Some bits are interchangeable - tail lights are the same, mirrors are similar, but Midget ones need an extra angled plinth to sit at the correct angle due to the different curvature of the door panel compared to the 'B. Headlamp bezels again are slightly different, but you can generally make B ones fit. Without knowing the spec of your car (North American? UK?) I wouldn't like to comment on the air filter interchangeability. Wiper switch will probably be a two speed for the B and only a single speed for yours but again could be made to fit.... MORE
