• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

1967 sprite earth?

Country flag
Offline
Brain dead moment - is a 67 negative or positive earth?

Thanks!
Larry
 

dklawson

Yoda
Offline
If your question is aimed at originality I cannot help you. If your question is aimed at making sure you put a new battery in the car in the correct orientation, there is hope.

Carefully measure the two battery cable clamps on the car. The cable terminal with the larger diameter hole is the positive cable.

If the car has an alternator, that's almost 100% indicative that the car has been set up for negative ground.

If the car has been sitting for years and still has a generator, you probably should "flash" (re-polarize) the generator anyway just to make sure the generator has a working magnetic field.
 
OP
longbridgehealey
Country flag
Offline
Well, hereā€™s what it is all about. I have a 59 Bugeye that, a few years ago, I replaced the 948 with a 1275 from a 67 Sprite. At about the same time, I switched the Bugeye to negative, and converted to a alternator. So now Iā€™ve acquired a tach from a 67, and I want to put its mechanism behind the faceplate of my 59 Bugeye, but I donā€™t know its polarity.
 
Last edited:

nomad

Yoda
Offline
Pretty sure they were still positive ground for at least a couple more years. Usually polarity is marked on the face of the tach.

Kurt
 

dklawson

Yoda
Offline
As above, look carefully at the face of the donor gauge. It should say whether it is positive or negative earth.

EDIT: Sorry, it occurs to me that you are facing a couple of other issues.
1) Your Bugeye should have had a mechanical tach from the factory and you are proposing to mount an electronic tach behind its face. That may involve a bit more work than you expect.
2) The '67 donor tach is probably an RVI type. Keep in mind that the RVI tachs are generally not compatible with electronic ignitions. This is not a problem if you are running points but it is something to keep in mind should you wish to use an electronic ignition later.

Something that will increase your flexibility is to buy the Spiyda Design RVI tach conversion board (see link below). That board will convert the RVI tach so it functions like a later RVC type. At the same time it will give you more flexibility in calibration so you can better match the needle position with the Bugeye face.

Spiyda Design Tach Electronics Link:
https://www.spiyda.com/tachometer-electronics.html
 

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
ened changeover from Negative to Positive Ground happened in 1968. My ā€˜68 Sprite was Negative Ground. It is possible to change a Positive Ground Tach to Negative Ground. Involves swapping a couple of wires. Iā€™ve get a Step by Step from ā€œThe Godfatherā€ Frank Clarici also an article in inserting electronic tach guts into a BE Tach.PM me if you need me to dig it out.
 

nomad

Yoda
Offline
Doug's right on the RVI. If you are going to change the guts, a later RVC tach would be a better choice or a more modern junk yard tach out of a Japanese vehicle with the same sweep to the needle. As Jim mentions Frank described how.

I have a Spyida unit that I have been going to fit to a RVI. Haven't done it yet because I need some help from someone that is actually technologically up to date. Need a constant signal generator to calibrate it.

Kurt
 

nomad

Yoda
Offline
Thanks Doug....don't have laptop and I'm still using a flip phone!:rolleye: Need to talk my son into it.

Kurt
 

dklawson

Yoda
Offline
I don't even have a cell phone but I do have a laptop. So... without a laptop and having a flip phone... how do you post here?
 
OP
longbridgehealey
Country flag
Offline
Thanks everybody, I think itā€™s coming together. And Jim, I have both those instructions from Frank, but thanks. Also, check your messages, I tried to answer the one you sent me. Iā€™m not very good with this messaging thing!
 

nomad

Yoda
Offline
I don't even have a cell phone but I do have a laptop. So... without a laptop and having a flip phone... how do you post here?

Doug, they still have these things that sit on a desk!:D Not very portable though.:(
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
tr6nitjulius For Sale 1967 Austin Healey Sprite Mark 111 Spridgets Classified 0
A Early 1967 AH Sprite - installing steering column and new directional switch? Spridgets 0
Editor_Reid Fuel Gauge for 1967 Sprite Spridgets 4
J Free 1967 Sprite MG 1
J Free 1967 Sprite Triumph 4
J Free 1967 Sprite... Spridgets 9
Westfield_XI Pictures of Westfield 11 formerly a 1967 Sprite Spridgets 17
S 1967 Sprite started to sputter /hesitate...help? Spridgets 10
B For Sale 1967 Metallic Golden Beige MKIII BJ8 Numbers Matching - The Real Deal Austin Healey Classifieds 0
T MGB-GT cant rails on 1967 MGB GT MG 12
AUSMHLY 1967 Mark III, Phase I through III and counting Austin Healey 38
C Spitfire 1967 Triumph Spitfire Triumph 2
CJ Burton MGB-GT Installing Seat Covers for 1962 - 1967 MGB GT MG 0
mch979 1967 MGB GT bonnet issue MG 25
6 Seeking 1967 MGB roadster in good driving condition MG Classifieds 3
S For Sale Triumph TR5 Factory Parts Manual on CD/ROM - 1967 to 1968. Triumph Classifieds 0
S For Sale Triumph TR5 Factory Workshop Manual on CD/ROM - 1967 - 1968 Models. Triumph Classifieds 0
S For Sale Aston Martin DBS V8 Factory Workshop Manual ā€“ 1967 - 1972 Models. Other British Classifieds 0
S For Sale Sunbeam Tiger Factory Workshop Manuals ā€“ 260 and 289 Models - 1964 - 1967 Other British Classifieds 0
S For Sale MGC Factory Workshop Manual on CD/ROM - 1967 - 1969 Models MG Classifieds 0
S For Sale Morris Minor Factory Workshop Manual om CD/ROM - All Models 1959 - 1967 Other British Classifieds 0
S For Sale Austin and Morris MINI Factory Workshop Manual on CD/ROM - All Models 1959 - 1967 Other British Classifieds 0
M MGB 1967 MGB seats MG 9
T 1967 BJ-8 Kick Panels Austin Healey 1
G For Sale 1967 bj8 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
S New Member 1967 Austin Healey 3000 Austin Healey 5
H 1967[?] Austin FX4 London Taxi Other British Cars 3
D For Sale 1967 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
jfarris For Sale 1967 TR4A IRS $19,000 Birmingham AL Triumph Classifieds 3
F For Sale Beautiful 1967 Triumph Bonneville T-120 Triumph Classifieds 1
Fortius For Sale AH 3000 MK III Phase II 1967 - Denis Welch Engine & Parts Austin Healey Classifieds 0
G rear wheel studs on my 1967 BJ8 Austin Healey 5
AH67 General TR 1967 Triumphm 2000 no ignition Triumph 5
AH67 General TR 1967 Triumphm 2000 Triumph 7
R Rewiring a 1967 3000 Austin Healey 17
M Overdrive In-Op AH BJ8 1967 Austin Healey 11
D Recommendation for new core in original 1967 Austin Healey radiator Austin Healey 5
Q Just Starting Restoration Of 1967 E Type Jaguar OTS Jaguar 13
M TR5/TR250 Where were you on this day in 1967? Triumph 19
Sopwith_Camel was this wire brown in 1967? Jaguar 5
D Need Some Advice on My 1967 BJ8 Austin Healey 8
Marvin Gruber 1967 BJ8 out of the barn Austin Healey 8
Rut TR4/4A 1967 commission number decoding Triumph 16
Rut TR4/4A WTB Original Triumph TR4, 5, 6 and Bentley workshop manual for 1967 TR4a Triumph 10
S 1967 3000 MK3 BJ8 Suspension is so stiff - any chance to improve comfort ? Austin Healey 10
D Another question 1967 BJ8 top installation,metal retaining strip Austin Healey 1
A 1967 BJ8 Coupe based upon the ACME advert Austin Healey 74
Stewart MGB-GT Next Project 1967 GT MG 139
sjuengst 1967 BJ8 on Austin Craigslist Austin Healey 2
G MGB Sick 1967 MGB Engine MG 1

Similar threads

Top