twas_brillig
Jedi Knight
Offline
We've owned a yellow 'some years it runs; some years it don't' 1959 BE since 1971, and one other that has never been on the road since we bought it in 1971. We're assembling the non-runner (the 1960 silver Sprite), and have incorporated a few upgrades/modifications on them both over the years. I'll try to summarize what we've done, and would appreciate the thoughts of others on this same topic - with the modifications cited not applying to one or the other BE, but identifying the sum total:
1275 cc engine
spin-on oil filter
Weber 40 DCOE
header
Pertronix ignition
Datsun 210 all synchro five speed
front sway bar
front disc brakes, and matching changes to rear drums
sleeved master cylinder, to match clutch and brake changes
stainless steel pipe from header to standard Sprite muffler, with inlet/outlets changed to match
rear panhard rod (still to be installed)
wider rims
rollbar and three (or four point) seatbelts - still to be designed and installed
currently, lap belts
LED tail/brake and signal lights (AN ABSOLUTE ESSENTIAL)
a very expensive replacement wiring harness on the silver BE that is being assembled
added cigarette lighter/power take off to the plywood mount behind the 'chicken bar' handle on the dash
Rustchek
We don't have a front bumper (it was apparently optional in Canada) but I would like to add some form of Nerf bar (if anyone has advice- please provide).
The front shocks on the Silver Sprite were rebuilt, and I (memory failing) had the rear springs on the yellow sprite either replaced or re-arched. And I'd like to add 4-way flashers at some point.
If I won ten million dollar lottery, I'd look into changing the engine to a 1380 cc 'big block' with a twin-cam BMW motorcycle cylinder head and EFI. I'd also be dating Sophia Loren.....
Barring that, what have others done to build their personal 'modern' Bug-Eye?
Thanks!
1275 cc engine
spin-on oil filter
Weber 40 DCOE
header
Pertronix ignition
Datsun 210 all synchro five speed
front sway bar
front disc brakes, and matching changes to rear drums
sleeved master cylinder, to match clutch and brake changes
stainless steel pipe from header to standard Sprite muffler, with inlet/outlets changed to match
rear panhard rod (still to be installed)
wider rims
rollbar and three (or four point) seatbelts - still to be designed and installed
currently, lap belts
LED tail/brake and signal lights (AN ABSOLUTE ESSENTIAL)
a very expensive replacement wiring harness on the silver BE that is being assembled
added cigarette lighter/power take off to the plywood mount behind the 'chicken bar' handle on the dash
Rustchek
We don't have a front bumper (it was apparently optional in Canada) but I would like to add some form of Nerf bar (if anyone has advice- please provide).
The front shocks on the Silver Sprite were rebuilt, and I (memory failing) had the rear springs on the yellow sprite either replaced or re-arched. And I'd like to add 4-way flashers at some point.
If I won ten million dollar lottery, I'd look into changing the engine to a 1380 cc 'big block' with a twin-cam BMW motorcycle cylinder head and EFI. I'd also be dating Sophia Loren.....
Barring that, what have others done to build their personal 'modern' Bug-Eye?
Thanks!