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Good thoughts. Clutch fork is stock, unmodified. Pushrod is new. I think I am getting maximum clutch travel. When the clutch is not depressed, there is NO PLAY at the fork. As soon as pressure is applied to the pedal, the fork begins to move. That is why I think it is set up right. It is not a matter of it taking a stiff "pop" to get it into first. It grinds, and badly. Same for reverse, but less so. Also, WAY too much force is needed to drop it into second. Sure does act like SOMETHING is... MORE
The capilary type temperature gauge is filled with technical ether used to be available from a chemist (drug store!) (may be able to use acetone of swift start - rapid start the calibration may be out but should be able to get boiling point correct) the assembly is soldered together empty a +-1mm hole is driled in the botom of the bulb and the ether injected into the bulb leaving a small amount of air in the system a tapered brass pin (available from clock makers) is then driven into the hole to seal it then imerse the buld... MORE
From: robbatley [mailto: robbatley@... ] Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 10:28 AM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Dual gauge The capilary type temperature gauge is filled with technical ether used to be available from a chemist (drug store!) (may be able to use acetone of swift start - rapid start the calibration may be out but should be able to get boiling point correct) the assembly is soldered together empty a +-1mm hole is driled in the botom of the bulb and the ether injected into the bulb leaving a small amount of air in the system a tapered... MORE
the 1" slave, (with the 3/4" master it makes for a easy clutch), and I do have the Datsun slave cylinder with the L hydrolic line direction, but I think it is 7/8". I am going to a heavy duty oil/hydrolic line supplier in Portland tomorrow to try to get a "Street 90" for my 1" slave cylinder. If they can't do one in a short enough L, is there a Datsun or ??? that is short enough? What do the racers with a 5 speed (the 5 speed switches sides of the transmission of the slave cylinder) and... MORE
Got everything hooked up, but since it is below zero ouside with 8" of snow, I decided to give the car a bit of a test inside the shop. Am able to shift into each gear, but considerable force is needed. There is a very distinct "crunch" shifting into first and reverse, less so in reverse. The take-off in each gear is smooth, but when the car is in gear with the clutch depressed, there is a substantial amount of noise coming from the tranny area. The clutch begins to engage right as the pedal is being released. The... 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
Ian, As far as I am aware no Sprite or Midget was originally built with either an overdrive unit or for that matter anything other than a 4 speed box. However quite a few people have converted their cars to the Spit**** (we don't like using words like these in polite company!) overdrive box, myself included, or more numerously a five speed box from a suitable Ford or Toyota rwd vehicle. Geri 67 Sprite Mk IV (with seven on the floor) "Geri Swann-Price" 28505... MORE
What a rush!! Always is most especially when it's out of the blue and sooo unexpected, eh? Like the "right girl" coming around the corner, seemingly out of nowhere, (but, without all the noise!:):) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 28501... MORE
Cap'n Ewwwwwwwww does anyone actually drink that cr*p? N "amukdigiphoto" 28492... MORE
David... A flat spot (most especially with a VP3 Kent 276+ cam) is not unusual with a 45DCOE using the larger 4.5 or 5.0 aux venturi. You will notice this carb configured for racing uses the smaller 3.5 aux vent which brings the main system "in" a little earlier in the game. Was using 1.4+ intake valves and a VP3 cam. Noticing this, I changed out my 4.5's for 3.5's and jetted upwards accordingly to 145 mains and 175 air correctors while retaining the 50F9 idle jets the carb came with. (Then I rechecked the ign. timing to make... MORE
Whitewalls!! Cool. For the American market I guess. They were wide then went "thin". Spridget "double muffler".... yep...a general trend to more quiet operation after '68. Noise is after all, an "emission"! Price? Peformance and fuel economy. (You can't even hear the exhaust note of a new Cooper "S"...'cause it really doesn't hardly exist...very "stealthy"! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 28462... MORE
Hi listers. First the question: I see that there are seperate part numbers for the front and rear sump/pan seals (those cork strips). I just got a Payen lower engine gasket kit and both strips looked the same to me. It didn't occur to me that they were supposed to be different so I didn't inspect too close and put them in randomly. Both protruded at least a 1/4" (probably more) at both ends when put in their sump grooves. Should the excess be cut off? If so how much? Or are they just supposed to compress? Now the... MORE
Some days it's a second brain rather than an extra hand you need. I've had trouble tuning the 73. I adjusted the timing over and over, tweaked the carbs too many times to count, would get it to idle smooth while sitting and run ok at higher revs but the moment I took it out on the street under load any attempt to accelerate past a fast idle it would hesitate, pop and so on and I would limp home at about fast idle rpm. I disconnected the vacuum advance hose, plugged it up, then took it out and... MORE
Around 1970 the single muffler was changed to a dual muffler system. I find no reference in any of my books as to why this was done? Did some new government regulation require a lower noise level? I do know that at some point a PO of my 73 installed a single muffler and it is, for my ears, far too loud and not very resonate sounding. My 74 still has the dual muffler system on it and while sounding like a sports car is not so harsh, particularly at highway speeds. Just curious as usual. Don "Don May"... MORE
G'day all I have also had a Pertronix kit where the magnet wasn't a snug fit on the shaft. You can't leave it loose (obviously!) as your timing will wander. But you certainly can stick it on with some insulation tape under it on the shaft. We actually gummed it on with Blu-tak and it works fine. avagoodday Colin "Colin@SpriteParts" 28396... MORE
I believe that what you are looking at is a Bugeye chassis fitted with an original Sebring nose and a Speedwell hard top that was sold in the sixties. If you look close you can see the speedwell bonnet badge installed on the front. The speedwell nose featured a raked back windshield that was moulded into the front cowl. It looked like it was removable from the rear but in reality it wasn't. The racked back windshield allowed the little thing to reach a higher top speed.I have been looking for one of these for years to replicate but... MORE
Ok once more into the fire....Does anyone know of any problems with SNUGTOP brand aftermarket mg tops. Before I sink more money into the pit(the black abyss that is collecting sports cars) i thought i would ask the group. Thanks again in advance "johngalt_4" 28303... MORE
Hi everyone. I recently have come across some NOS parts that were from a British inventory buyout. I am trying to identify some, so any of you catalog guys out there may be able to locate and tell me what it fits. BRC6156 It looks like a spare tire cover, I thought it was Triumph? Checked the Roadster factory price sheet with no luck.Maybe Jag or big Healey?? Thanks in advance Mike "mk2sprite2000" 28261... MORE
Steve Woohoo! Many congrats. I don't think I am ahead of you Steve, I'm just finishing off the final primer coats on the passenger side wing ready for colour - that will be the last 'bit' on the car that needs to be colour coated. I still have both doors, bootlid and bonnet to colour coat as well. I don't know if you have this book or not - 'Restoring Sprites and Midgets - an Enthusiasts Guide' by Grahame Bristow (Brooklands Books) but it really is a very useful book in terms of reassembly. It's been written with the... MORE
I have an old craftsman power hack saw that was made in the 1950's. I am looking for parts and/or online information about this item. It is model 108.1501. I appreciate any help anyone can offer in helping me to get this back into working condition. TIA, Brad Brad Fornal 28254... MORE
So much depends on a properly operating electrical system, particularly in older spridgets. To be fair to the Lucas the Prince of Darkness any 30 - 40 year old electrical system, even the best for the period spridgets were made, fails with age and usually for the same reasons . . . oxidation of contacts and a mixture of oil and dirt. A basic knowledge of electronics is a powerful tool in trouble shooting. Having a background in electronics it is painful for me to watch anyone jabbing in the dark when trying to fix electrical problems when a... MORE
I have a yamaha virago 1100 that's been sitting for about a month. Went to crank it and the battery went dead. Put it on the charger and couldn't get the needle to come down past 5 and had the battery bubbling. I'm assuming the battery has gone bad. Is that correct? "Virginia" 28191... MORE
You are right, David. I must have had a senior moment in my memory as I just looked at the price list and see that I paid 481 pounds or $1355 for my export model Sprite. I'll be paying almost that much to replace the four speed original tranny with a five speed. Nelson "Nelson Wittstock" 28181... MORE
I have resisted several "opportunities" to buy a hard top for my Sprite. Why? Because it is "soft" to drive with the soft top up, and even "softer" to co nvert to a top on a semi-permanant basis for the whole winter!! And, Because on the occasions when I am enough of a "wimp" to put the soft top u p, the increased mechanical noise drives me nuts. The car just sounds so m uch better with the top down and they must sound awful with a fixed hard to p holding all that noise in! Guy "Guy Weller"... MORE
Howdy its me with the "worthless" Bertone x 19 again. I am thinking about buying a hardtop for the MG. Does anyone know what they are worth, and what the advangates or disadvantages to them are? Thanks in advance. "johngalt_4" 28135... MORE
