MAIN
Wheels
Previous Page | Next Page
Hello Fellow Spridgeteers, Long time lurker (never a poster...'till now). My '71 Midget has a severe inward tilt to the right front wheel (negative camber..I think). Since there, apparently, is no means of camber adjustment, what can I do...Frame straightening...gulp. Is this car capable of being straightened by a standard shop? I need help...the tire is showing wear after 200 miles! "Dave Bilodeau" 25340... MORE
"She's so stuck up, she'd drown in a rainstorm." "It's so dry, the trees are bribing the dogs." "My cow died last night, so I don't need your bull." "He's as country as cornflakes." "This is gooder'n grits." "If things get any better, I may have to hire someone to help me enjoy it." "I'm 'bout as........" * "Nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs." * "Busy as a moth in a mitten." * "Happy as a clam at high tide." Notice to Northerners moving to the South: * Save all manner of... MORE
Hammodale asks..."Sound familiar?" It sure does! That's why I've got halogens and a 3rd brake light mounted high on the rollbar. So THEY can see me better. I still drive it like it's a motocycle though... very defensively...because it is small and can go unseen not only at night...but in broad daylight as well. Not a question of outrunning them at all. Question of "fitting in" with the "flow" (safety). Left to my own devices in light traffic, I'm cruising along comfortably at 3K in 5th...65 or so. One must have the ability to stop quickly, go sideways rapidly... MORE
"Now that your older (like me) you just worry more about that stuff" "What? Me worry?" (courtesy...Alfred E. Nueman) Whadya mean, Jeff?! Older? Yes, BUT...wiser!! And worrying far less. Why, you ask? 'Cause I've learned how to get more bang for the buck while "conserving" to the extent possible considering the same (more or less) perfomance level. What you say is true about the "A" series being bulletproof though, most especially the 1275 variants. Good motors. And if you're a Frank Clarici you needn't worry about mechanicals, etc. at all! :) I got 80K+ miles out of my Vizardized... MORE
Don, The 3.73 diff from a late rubber bumper Midget will drop a couple hundred revs at 70 mph, and larger tires a little too. Lots easier and cheaper than a different tranny. I don't remember what year your car is, but if it's a 1275, 4000 rpm all day long won't hurt it. Now that you're older (like me), you just worry more about that stuff. Just FYI, I have read that the factory test, when they were building new Spridget engines, was 100 hours on the dyno at max HP. That's about 10,000 miles pedal-to-the-metal. "Jeffrey Holmes"... MORE
As someone else said, every crown wheel should have it's number of teeth and that of it's pinion stamped on it's outer edge somewhere. This will definitely be right unless someone in the factory (GKN?) had too much 'Hen the night before. "Jeremy Cogman" 25162... MORE
Rob, Why? Mine is much better with all 4 wheels on the ground, in gear and with the engine running. It's much more fun that way. Have I lost the point of this thread? Guy "Guy Weller" 25160... MORE
Nigel, If in doubt, forget about the numbers and count the number of revolutions of the pinion to turn the crown wheel once. Or, since you want a reasonably accurate answer, count pinion turns for 10 crown wheel turns. Guy "Guy Weller" 25158... MORE
Depends on your tire (diameter) too. Gerard "gerardchateau" 25153... MORE
....and Series II 803cc Minor. Nigel, it's always possible the crown wheel and pinion from a 5.375 diff has been put into the 2A7230 housing from the 4.875, so the part numbers wouldn't match any longer. (can you see any numbers on the actual crown wheel? - they're usually stamped on the outer diameter somewhere) David "David Jacobs" 25147... MORE
David Thanks for this. I'm getting pretty confused now. It definately says 8/39 on the side of the housing and also actually on the side of the box - 8/39 2A7230, which is the proper BMC Service Carton. I counted the number of teeth (its out of the casing) and they were 43 teeth on the big wheel and 8 on the little one. So isnt that 8/43 ? Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 25143... MORE
Don, First I would be very reluctant to do it without jack stands. I don't know what sort of floor jack you have, but sometimes they can fail suddenly. If you so it that way take other precautions. That said, when you do it, I would keep one with very slight pressure on the brake, this will simulate some road friction and keep the wheels from backlashing should something unexpected happen. (your foot will also be ready should you jack give you a surprise.) Gerard "gerardchateau" 25132... MORE
Should be OK though you'll probably only get one wheel turning and just hope it doesn't fall of the jack when you are doing 6500 revs in top. Also some possible issues with lubrication if you are jacked at an extremme angle for too long. "Jeremy Cogman" 25122... MORE
I would rather ask and be taken as simple minded that not ask and do possible damage . . . is there any problem jacking up a spridet's rear differential housing ends, starting the engine and going through gears with the rear wheels off the ground? On a tread mill there is some load and normal weight on the rear wheels but this would be a no load situation. Don "Don May" 25119... MORE
Don't know. The car was not driven for almost a year and I do not know what all the PO did to it. The guy I bought it from bought it running, drove it home and a couple of times around the block, did some work on the battery pan, put in a new radiator and hoses then got too busy at his job to do more so never took it off the no-op license and let it sit for almost a year, then when he tried to drive before selling it discovered he could not get it into... MORE
Hi David, The engine mounting plate is identical to the Spridgets as are the rubber mounts. Because the frame is completely different in the Morris, the frame to rubber mount bracket is completely different. The Datsun engine has the motor mounts near midway in the block, so new mounting points to the frame are required. Also, they are not symetrical like the Spridgets, so two differnt length frame mounts are necessary. Paul A. makes the motor mounts and so there was no need to reinvent the wheel. I just purchased them from him. Placement is a matter of position... MORE
if he does, you could turn the engine 90 degrees, and then run a drive belt from the engine to the skateboard wheels - think of the power to weight ratio! "David Jacobs" 25074... MORE
So I am motoring down a nice quiet highway at 50MPH and come to a leisurely stop at a traffic light. 30 seconds go by, light turns green and I motor on up to 50 MPH again. AFter about a mile, I detect the distinct smell of burning brakes. Dang, I hope that's not me.... unfortunately it was. SO I pulled over to the side and came to a stop. The brake pedal was hard and would not depress very far. Furthermore, the brakes were not responding very well (nor grabbing). After stopping I noticed the stinky smoke coming... MORE
Paul... There is probably a formula for this but, I am "not knowing" in this respect. All else being equal... as the track and footprint widen, the wheelbase "effectively" decreases..... think go-kart. The car becomes shorter! All else being equal... as compared to the stock tire/wheel size, as the footprint becomes greater, the vehicle weight load upon the tire will effectively decrease....for this and other technical reasons...all else being equal you will feel this mostly on a wet or contaminated surfaci. All else being equal... the stock suspension was built with the stock tire/wheel combo in mind. As that... MORE
I have a general question regarding tire pressure versus tire size. If significantly wider wheels and tires are installed on a car do the recommended tire pressures change? If so by how much? At the moment I am concerned with my MGTD but when my Bugeye is on the road I will have the same concern. When I bought the TD the PO had fitted wider chrome wires and tires and it is a bit skittish to drive at times, but maybe that is the way it is anyway. Paul Brown San Diego "oldcoventrian" 25021... MORE
Drew, This spring I converted to a tube shock suspension and larger front disc brakes. I purchased the full shock kit with mounting components kit from Frontline Spridget. Lots of custom grinding and filing to get it to fit. Worth the effort, but not a bolt on as marketed. The kit included AVO adjustable shocks. (www.avouk.com). No part # was included on the invoice or the one page of lit from AVO. I can't tell from their web site what car they're intended for, since Spridget isn't a choice there. I believe that the eye bores at each end... MORE
Thanks David, I will look out for the different location of the joint. I have tried altering the "set" of the hose, but it then puts undue stress on it when on the opposite lock. Maybe I should have mentiond I am running on 165 tyres sothere is less inner wheel clearance than standard. Guy "Guy Weller" 24978... MORE
That is fantastic news. Enjoy!! It must be great to be back at the wheel after so long. It will be even better when all the rest of the problems are sorted and you can put the whole incident behind you. Nothing quite like the purr of the 'A' series lump at a nice cruising speed, or working up through the gears! R "Roger Stinson" 24972... MORE
They changed the location of the solid-to-flexible joint on later cars so this was less likely to occur, so if you get chance, you might compare the two types and replicate the later one. Alternatively, slacken off the hose nut and twist one end slightly so that it takes up a different 'set' and doesn't contact the tyre on full lock. Just make sure the hose isn't under any additional stress. David "David Jacobs" 24969... MORE
So what is the preferred solution to tyres that rub on the flexible brake hoses on full lock? I have steel braided hoses so they are not getting damaged, but I don't like the idea of the "snatching and tugging" that must be taking place when this happens. I wondered if I could rig up a lightweigt spring (like a throttle spring) to pull the hose back clear of the tyre. Anyone had this problem and sorted it? Guy "Guy Weller" 24967... MORE
