Is there a Cruise Control for Spridgets?

[twas_brillig]

Anyone have or have knowledge of a cruise control for a Spridget? I've done a search on the site for the last year or so but no luck; I understand that there used to be a motorcycle aftermarket cruise control that might have been adaptable but is no longer available. I'm curious for both the Spridgets as well as old air-cooled VW Beetles.

Thanks,
Doug

 

[Billm]

I did a hand-control lock on mine but it was less than satisfactory when one is convoying. I have a couple of old "after-market" ones that I want to try but haven't gotten to it yet.
If I recall correctly Dave Lieb in Chicago (or was it Glen burns) did one using the coil as the speed sensor that worked well. I will try to replicate that work.
BillM

 

[leecreek]

Get up with Spritenut. He had a real nice one at the Lake of the Ozarks.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

The audiovox units work ok if you add a vacuum reservoir.

I used a rostra unit that is controlled with an electronic servo. I mounted mine under the dash so that the only thing extra under the hood is the cable running to the carb.

 

[JPSmit]

Not a Midget but I knew someone who installed his in his Sunbeam Tiger - switches were in the ashtray which I always thought was cool. Likely you could find something in the various hot rod magazines

 

[Trevor Jessie]

The Rostra unit is the one that is popular with the Street Rod. Also sold as Dakota Digital.

 

[spritenut]

Mine came from Audiovox and works great.
It even cancels when I step on the clutch as it has an impulse from the tach.
I did not use the magnets on the driveshaft either.
Simple, around $100, and the switches are mounted on the radio console right where my fingers can touch them as I drive with my hand on the shift knob most of the time anyway.
I did get the vacuum reserve which was extra and other than following the directions, the only modification I made was to the carb heat shield to attach the cable. So now my carb shield has 2 cables, the original throttle and next to it, the cruise control cable. I had to make a 2 cable cable end for the gas and cruise cables but that was just some grinding and drilling to a 1/4" bolt to accept both cables.
And on the open Interstate from Jersey to Missouri I got 42 mpg and my engine is not stock
I bought mine from Amazon.com 2 years ago.

 

[twas_brillig]

Spritenut: Amazon lists an Audiovox Ultracruise II 250-1316 Electronic Cruise Speed Control Kit for $ 200; I also had a look at the Audiovox Internet site and they don't list cruise controls.
Is this the same model as you installed? We're running a side draft Weber - can you see any problems with that?
Thanks,
Doug

 

[HAN8L1965]

Yeah my 6'2 frame and foot wedged up against the tunnel on the right side and my left knee crammed under the window winder on the other.

Mark

 

[spritenut]

Audiovox CCS-100 is my cruise unit.
$89 2 years ago plus the vacuum ball which is the size of a large orange was another few bucks.

 

[regularman]

I'm not a fan of cruise control but when I lived in the desert I put one on a old mustang two. It came from JC whitey and would fit any car. It was really an engine rpm control, but for a straight drive its the same thing when locked in high gear. I put a similar one on the wifes festiva. Its still on there but she don't use it much. Make sure you get the adjustable gain kind.

 

[twas_brillig]

Trevor - can you advise as to which Rostra you installed, and if there were any additional bits/options that you used?
Thanks,
Doug

 

[Trevor Jessie]

250-1223 and 250-3592

I have an electronic speedo in my car and I used the speed signal from it. I do not know if you can run it just off the tach. It is highly configurable for gain, and surge, etc.