1/4 to 1/2 elliptic

[pffft]

Hi,
What is involved in swapping mkII sprite to 1/2 elliptics? I have a later sprite donor car.

patrick

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Why would you want to?

 

[jlaird]

And that folks says it all.

 

[john_j]

Agreed - why bother!

All you have to do is modify the front mounts by cutting out old and welding in new, weld more box section into the boot, change the axle and you can then bolt the leaf springs in place.

You've then got non original (less valuable) car that doesn't handle significantly better than it did to start with.

Or sell the MkII and buy a MKIII or IV - that would be much easier.

 

[ralph_s]

Note to self: never ask the BCF about converting 1/4 to 1/2 elliptical...lol

 

[Trevor Jessie]

There is one valid reason that comes to mind... better ride, and possibly better axle location. But it is a bunch of work for little pay-off IMO.

 

[pffft]

Note to self: never ask the BCF about converting 1/4 to 1/2 elliptical...lol

No fooling. I'll crawl back under my rock now. :blush:

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I asked the question "why would you want to", to see if there was an easier solution to what you were wanting to accomplish.

 

[198686d]

It's still a very apt questin.

 

[pffft]

Thanks Trevor, it IS a very good question.

I have a roller that had a ford kent in it but never ran for me. I am replacing the crossflow and iron 4spd with a 4age, t50 and narrowed rx7 disc axle. The last 1/4 elliptic sprite I drove rode horribly on the bumpy roads around here and I think my 69 midget rides and handles much more to my liking. Both are in comparable condition including shocks and tires. I especially did not like the snap oversteer.. (and did not like it in the first bugeye I drove in 1969, though it was a revelation in other ways compared the the big healey I owned at the time)

Oddly enough I find myself with a big healey and an early sprite 40 odd years later. Go figure.

A friend suggested a swap to later rear layout while I was at it and told me it was a fairly easy swap. I looked things over as well as I could for two cars sitting on the ground and it looked like it could be anything from a fairly easy swap if the front of the 1/2 elliptic springs would attach to the same front spring mounts to a total nightmare if not.

patrick

 

[mightymidget]

if the rear 1/4s are in good condition I may want for spare parts or rebuild