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Alternative engine/transmission compatibility

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Are there any automatic transmissions that would work with the Sprite and the 1275? One of my more outlandish ideas is for "his and her" Sprites, but since my wife cannot drive a stick, I was contemplating alternate drivetrains that could accomodate an auto. I think it's going to remain just an outlandish idea for right now. It would probably be just as easy to get her a Miata with an automatic.
 
Does your wife have a physical limitation to prevent her from driving a manual transmission?

I think a miata is a reasonable stable mate for a Sprite.

I have a wife, two daughters and two (almost three) spridgets. We do a few family outings in the cars and they are fun.
 
I agree with Trevor. Miatas did come with auto Trannys as well. My local LBC guy has a Spridget f or g prod race car sitting in his shop but now spends all his time auto crossing a Miata. He and now wife have identical Miatas and they are now able to Autocross against each other.

If the concern is learning how to drive a stick follow Click and Clacks advice. Big parking lot, do not touch the gas pedal period. Learn how to ease out the clutch without stalling the car. It takes a little while but get basis left foot technique perfected before even thinking about the right foot.
 
Jim_Gruber said:
Wasn't it Larry Daniels who built Bugzuki with a Suzuki engine. A fairly well documented process over multiple years. A Fiat DOHC 1.4 out of a 124 has been done a few times. Fits nicely, aluminum, good power but finding engine in the US is an issue. ROver conversion that Frontline does also ideal but again not a whole lot of those engine blocks in the US. Possibly could get from up North in Canada.
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Not Larry Daniels (Wisconsin, I believe), but rather Larry Miller of Salinas, CA. I see and talk to Larry periodically, but haven't gotten my ride in that car as of yet. He did one **** of a job on it, and it is well documented on his web site. It was a major job with a lot of fabrication involved.
https://www.ado13.com/dohczuke/dohc.htm
 
Thanks Trevor. That one took a whole lo of fabrication and creativity.Back to prepping suspension parts and painting.
 
My wife had a really bad experience driving stick when she was a teenager, basically she ended up in the middle of her front yard in her friend's Volkswagen and she adamantly refuses to try again. The Sprite really is an ideal car to learn stick on (Other than the unsychronized 1st gear): the clutch is light, the shift throws are fairly short and the engine doesn't have scary power off the line. She's also not crazy about having our daughter ride up front with her.
 
Jim_Gruber said:
Take a look on SpriteSpot.com under the Lumps section. Quite a number of different power plant swaps are documented there including Duratec. Not a lot of current activity on that site but useful historical information.
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Thanks Jim, I had looked at the site long ago but had forgotten all the goodies. 2 Zetec swap's and one fellow fitting a t5. Looks pretty tight. He butchered the tunnel and I'm not sure he would have had to. Would have had to cut the cross member and pan underneath though.
Anyone know a good site for Zetec goodies?? Looks like a commercial manifold for 2 dcoe Weber's is available. Also believe there is a salvage yard bellhousing that will work.

Kurt.
 
SaxMan said:
Are there any automatic transmissions that would work with the Sprite and the 1275? One of my more outlandish ideas is for "his and her" Sprites, but since my wife cannot drive a stick, I was contemplating alternate drivetrains that could accomodate an auto. I think it's going to remain just an outlandish idea for right now. It would probably be just as easy to get her a Miata with an automatic.
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Would the datsun 210 automatic behind a 1275 with the conversion plate be an option?
 
RichBall said:
Would the datsun 210 automatic behind a 1275 with the conversion plate be an option?
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They can be fit to the Morris Minor, but very unlikely you could fit it to the Sprite with significant modifications to the tunnel and crossmember.

21633.jpg
 
nomad said:
Miata and some of the other mod's mentioned would require the elimination of the heater. I think eliminating that pretty much ruin's the car. Even if its intended for fair weather use only, there are times you need defrost.

Kurt.
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Indeed it would.

SpriteFin52612-10.jpg
 
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