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I did consider it and even spent time looking for a decent car to buy but all the ones i looked at werent up to it unfortunately. ( i was very disapointed at what was on offer to be honest, and i was looking at paying pretty much top money) The thing is, i've owned the 1500 for a long time which makes it harder to part with. (i'll be the first to admit this is among the worst reasons i know of for keeping a car) although a bonus is that at least i know that the car... MORE
I finally got time to go a little further into my stuck in first sprite problem. I still would like to drive it around while I save up for the 5speed conversion. Which by the way seems to be better for the "fabricatingly challenged" than are the other options, although that big ole Toyota dual overhead cam job looks like fun. I removed the Gaiter retaining plate, Gaiter and draught excluder (sheesh, looked like the shifter housing and rubber do dad to me.) I think some parts are missing. Like the thrust button and spring. Looking down into the... MORE
my 79 1500 was smelling like gas badly. Noticed the water controlled choke was basicaly hanging by one screw. So, like a fool, I disasembled the choke while I was in there, just to see if everything was ok. Now the stupid part: I'm not sure if I lost it, or if it was never there, but there's no heat mass. Now my question is, it's nice and warm here in NH now, being spring and all; Do I even need a choke, or can I just seal off the holes in the carb? and how hard is it... MORE
Hi all, just ordered the rubber hose kit and 13 row cooler! Problem is Moss are waiting for a delevery of them to arrive! No problem i bought a SU carb tuning book aswell!! :) Cheers all Ben Ben Lawlor 31589... MORE
Why stop there, lets go all the way. There were several conversions in the '80s (I think Renault???) where they set up an unlimited rally car where they hopped up the front engine, front wheel drive, then built an identical engine/tranny drive and put it in the rear. Just connected the throttles and the shift linkage and clutches together. They locked the steering in the rear and presto. a 500 or 600 HP rocket ship 4 wheel drive rally car. And if you blew an engine, you could still keep on driving!!!!! So all we have to do is... MORE
Hi, I am new, and I am a spridget-holic. Now that that is out of the way.... I am rebuilding the 1275 out of my 73 RWA and I want to upgrade the transmission to a 5 speed. I hear of a Toyota (2T) from perhaps the Celica(? - but what year?). I have been referred to a company in Australia, Dellow Automotive [ www.dellowauto.com.au ], that sells conversion kits for what they call the 2T or 3T transmission but it is too pricy to ship to me. See, I am in the US. Toyota gurus here don't know... MORE
Tuesday I was minding my own business, quite literally I was looking for a new site for a lumberyard in a community we don't have one. I decided to take a detour on my way out of town to look at job site we were supplying. This detour took me past the local General Motors dealer. There, in the used car section between all the Chevrolets and Buicks was a 1972 or 1974 (don't even remember the year now) MGB-GT. I made a prompt U-turn and went back to investigate. It started with about 35-40 pounds of oil pressure,... MORE
I think you may have problems getting an A-series to 2000cc to be honest, Bob. In fact, I don't think it's actually possible - the biggest I've heard of is around 1450 cc. Be sure to let us know how you get on, though. And 400 bhp sounds a tad optimistic to me - where do you get that figure from? I wouldn't expect more than 325 myself. ;^) S "Steve and Sue Clark" 31552... MORE
Neil, Remember that the taller top gear you can get in the tranny is good for cruising but also allows you to run a higher ratio rear end which will allow better acceleration in sprints and hill climbs and still have enough top speed for highway driving. I used to use the Morris pickup truck diff (5.38:1 if my feeble memory serves) for autocross with great success but I sure needed a taller top gear or overdrive. I suffered on the freeway at about 6,000 rpm at 55 Mph, but it really did scoot through the gears!!!!!!!!!. Cheers, Bob... MORE
Some people actually do believe what we say on this list, ...no matter how far the tongue is inserted in the cheek..! I am going to re build my A series engine up to 2 liters and get 400 horse power out of it, including 450 psi oil pressure. Cheers, Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 31550... MORE
Listers - I posted a message a few weeks back about attempting to get a proper title for my 75 Midget, without much luck... Yahooooiiiieeeee ! The title arrived in the mail a couple of days ago! After 4 calls to the local and state DMV offices, I finally talked to someone who new what was going on and gave me the direct line of the lady who handles such things, sent me the proper papers and local police officer inspected the VIN numbers signed the papers and bingo.... Guess it pays to talk to the proper people. Been... MORE
Ben, ive got one of these on my 1500, it does make a difference. However, the precision (or lack thereof) in its manufafcture made it very very diffcult to fit (lots of heating and bending to get pipes that should mate up properly to do just that). However, this has obviousley come off a car so it might be ok. The standard peco back box for this system is very loud. I don't have a problem with it but some passengers do! You;ll need richer needles once youve put this on btw. If your cars lowered, then like me... MORE
G'day Martyn "Stumbling" on initial acceleration is also a syptom of running lean as you crack open the throttle. Once you get to cruising, the combination of damper springs, metering needes and adjustment might give you the right mixture, but the carby piston could be lifting too quickly as you try to accelerate. Try dumping the oil in the dashpots and putting in 20W50 engine oil. avagoodday Colin "Colin@SpriteParts" 31444... MORE
Well after posting the message I cooled off and went back out and looked things over. I know that if the pistons open too quickly the engine will get a lot of fuel and not that much air. So I fiddle with the mixture nut and watched the piston when the throttle was opened. The pistons rose but the headers started to glow red! Argghh, I thought I'd timed the cam in better than that. Has anyone had a vernier cam gear slip on them? I don't remember a torque value on the securing screws, it's the Kent gear.... MORE
Thanks to all respondents. This search for the right sized audio system is turning out to be a bit more challenging than first thought. Considering max depth of only 5 7/8" for console mounting, there doesn't appear to be anything out there. Pioneer advertises their units to be 5 7/8" depth, but they don't count the additional 1- 2" for the power supply periphery on the back. Since I want to use the console placement, looks like a CD is definitely out. I'm going to look for a JVC AM/FM cassette that Chris N mentioned. Chris, if you have... MORE
Good point on this, Beckers....absolutely. "Overadvance" or too much timing will normally cause a "stumble" initially, "off-idle" HOWEVER....with a cam profile such as the VP3 (or Kent 286), it can be just the other way 'round wherein more initial advance (recurving) just may be the ticket due to poor scavenging along with relatively poor cylinder filling "off-idle"....and larger inlet valves along with higher lift rockers exacerbate the problem, IF indeed this is the problem in this particular case. We shall trouble shoot and find the problem!!!! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 31421... MORE
Martyn... Firstly, check the oil level in the carbs and further, is it "thin" 10 wt or the thicker 20 wt. stuff? Secondly, when it "stumbles" off-idle upon initial acceleration...is there smoke of any sort out the exhaust before it finally "catches" and "go's"? Thirdly...check the timing. For a "stumble" upon initial acceleration is not an unknown symptom of too much initial ignition advance. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 31417... MORE
Hi Pete, I've seen CD players mounted in the console on Spridgets. Even with the 5 speed conversion. It was just a case of heating, bending of the shifter stick. Best, Paul A "Paul Asgeirsson" 31423... MORE
Alan Hershaw....float level Bet you hit the nail on the head Alan, considering color of spark plugs under normal driving conditions. Too much fuel pressure can also be the gremlin. Webers (for the road) prefer about 1.5psi, but no more than 2.5psi even for highly tuned units. You MAY need a fuel pressure regulator? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 31413... MORE
I have a '76 midget with the weber conversion (New carb). Car runs fine under normal use (35,000 miles), but sometimes when idling at lights, the engine will "choke up", and start to falter. Revving the engine will clear it (accompanied by black smoke until cleared). This also can happen doing short stop-start errands in town. I'll get back to the car and it will require full throttle cranking, will misfire and eventually clear once I've given it some revs (accompanied again by the black smoke). Plugs don't show signs of a rich mixture (healthy tan colour) and I... MORE
My son and I have finally finished the Sprite. Now we're work on some final tuning. The engine is a 1098 with a VP3 cam and 1.5/1 rockers, carbs have the rich needles and stiffer springs at Cap'n Bobs suggestion which I agree with. I can get it to idle at 1000 or so but when pulling away it sputters and stumbles. It will rev freely in neutral. Does anyone have an idea what the problem is? Ignition parts are new. Thanks. Martyn "Martyn Eastwood" 31400... MORE
Terry I think it is a 3 into one tubular manifold you are thinking of, this is the usual tuning mod on a Spridget exhaust, and yes I have a spare one on my project car. The project is a 1098 however I believe the Manifolds are identical to the 1275. I am in Peterborough Cambridgeshire and would be happy to do a straight swap (assuming your cast manifold is in reasonable condition) since I am going for originality on the rebuild. Contact me off list but put Midget in the subject in upper case so I can spot... MORE
Hi all As discussed in the previous thread my 1500 is totally standard bar the K&N filter, which was fitted and set up by the MGOC on their rolling road. However it has always been a bit hesitant, especially pulling away from cold. I also noticed it yesterday when it was fully warmed up and I was driving along at about 40.Ipressed the pedal down to accelerate and there was a definate hesitation, almost like turbo lag. Naturally I checked under the bonnet to see if some wag had fitted a turbo, but alas not! When I bought the... MORE
James... You may have the airflow balanced but you haven't got the mixture balanced. The twin carb. set-ups are "interdependant". You can actually go full lean on adjusment on one, and very rich on the other and the engine will run on all four cylinders but the plugs will "show"....... exactly as your engine does! Go back to "square one" and use the Colortune (excellent tuning tool) CORRECTLY. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 31378... MORE
you don't, you fit an eight port head - v. expensive bit of tuning kit! David "David Jacobs" 31371... MORE
