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TraceZ
Senior Member
Offline
Hello, my name is Tracy and I'm a Chevrolet guy. Camaro and Corvette.
Until a few weeks ago, when my wife fell in love with a 1964 Sprite she had been watching on craigslist. We went to look at it (an HOUR away) and drove it home... barely... I mean as in it was barely drivable. And I cannot explain it, but somehow this little car is growing on me.
Body is solid. 75,000 original miles. Paint is good for a driver all considered. It's been painted red, but was originally white.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The dirty:</span>
The bias ply tires were so badly dry rotted I could fit pennys in the cracks in the sidewalls. I had no faith in them getting me anywhere... but somehow we made it home.
The U-bolts on the rear axle were loose, resulting in left - right throttle steer as the rear axle shifted around under load. but somehow we made it home.
The master cylinder leaked brake fluid all over my feet as I drove along. but somehow we made it home.
The brakes barely worked to stop the car... pumping was required. but somehow we made it home.
The engine has no oil pressure when fully hot. and the rods rattle loud enough to clearly hear them from inside the car. but somehow we made it home.
The valve guides are so shot that driving down a road at 50 mph makes a blue haze behind the car like the batmobile deploying its smokescreen. but somehow we made it home.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The good:</span>
The clutch and transmission seem to work properly.
The body is pretty solid. The paintjob is 6 years old and still looks acceptable, so that tells me the bodywork was good. At the time of the repaint the car got new rocker panels and floors, which look great.
The top is brand new
The car has a nice vintage feel to it that I dont want to disturb. I do not want to restore it and lose that feel.
While the car did come with the original seats, installed in the passenger compartment are some very nice seats from a Mazda Miata.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The project: "safety first"</span>
As soon as the car hit the garage I raised it on jacks and pulled the wheels off. The little sprite now sits on some nice new radials on her steel wheels and cute little chrome dog-dish hubcaps.
The next thing to fix was the master cylinder. I pulled the pedal box out from under the hood and did a complete restoration on it, including honing the MC and rebuilding it, repainting the box, replacing all the hardware with stainless steel wherever possible and putting in fresh rubber pedal pads, box seal, etc.
As soon as the MC was making good line pressure, the brakes all began leaking. I tore everything off from all 4 wheels down to the backing plates, cleaned the backplates, refinished them and them installed all brand new brakes. The front calipers were rebuilt with red paint, new seals, new pistons, hoses and everything else. The parking brake machanism is all new or refurbished. I ran new metal brake lines on the rear axle and put a new hose back there as well.
The car had no seatbelts. Aircraft style vintage seatbelts have been installed
New U-bolts now hold the rear axle to the leaf springs
The headlights have been R&R'd with new gaskets, adjusters, springs and trim rings. It's now possible to drive at night and see the road.
The tail lights have been R&R'd with new light sockets, polished chrome and new trim bezels / brackets.
The front upper bushings have been replaced.
The front wheel bearings have been repacked with fresh grease and new grease seals.
Everything electrical now functions. The car is safe to drive down the road.
WOOHOO!!!
Well, it's safe. I didn't say it's reliable yet.
The final issue to get past is the old worn out engine.
I'd really like to pull it and rebuild it, but lack the time. What I really need is a good used engine to swap into it. I only need the long block, that is the assembled block and head. I do not need any manifolds, carbs, or anything else like that.
So hello, how you doing.<span style="font-weight: bold"> Got an engine for sale?</span>
And how bad would this introductory post suck if it didnt have pictures.....
Until a few weeks ago, when my wife fell in love with a 1964 Sprite she had been watching on craigslist. We went to look at it (an HOUR away) and drove it home... barely... I mean as in it was barely drivable. And I cannot explain it, but somehow this little car is growing on me.
Body is solid. 75,000 original miles. Paint is good for a driver all considered. It's been painted red, but was originally white.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The dirty:</span>
The bias ply tires were so badly dry rotted I could fit pennys in the cracks in the sidewalls. I had no faith in them getting me anywhere... but somehow we made it home.
The U-bolts on the rear axle were loose, resulting in left - right throttle steer as the rear axle shifted around under load. but somehow we made it home.
The master cylinder leaked brake fluid all over my feet as I drove along. but somehow we made it home.
The brakes barely worked to stop the car... pumping was required. but somehow we made it home.
The engine has no oil pressure when fully hot. and the rods rattle loud enough to clearly hear them from inside the car. but somehow we made it home.
The valve guides are so shot that driving down a road at 50 mph makes a blue haze behind the car like the batmobile deploying its smokescreen. but somehow we made it home.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The good:</span>
The clutch and transmission seem to work properly.
The body is pretty solid. The paintjob is 6 years old and still looks acceptable, so that tells me the bodywork was good. At the time of the repaint the car got new rocker panels and floors, which look great.
The top is brand new
The car has a nice vintage feel to it that I dont want to disturb. I do not want to restore it and lose that feel.
While the car did come with the original seats, installed in the passenger compartment are some very nice seats from a Mazda Miata.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The project: "safety first"</span>
As soon as the car hit the garage I raised it on jacks and pulled the wheels off. The little sprite now sits on some nice new radials on her steel wheels and cute little chrome dog-dish hubcaps.
The next thing to fix was the master cylinder. I pulled the pedal box out from under the hood and did a complete restoration on it, including honing the MC and rebuilding it, repainting the box, replacing all the hardware with stainless steel wherever possible and putting in fresh rubber pedal pads, box seal, etc.
As soon as the MC was making good line pressure, the brakes all began leaking. I tore everything off from all 4 wheels down to the backing plates, cleaned the backplates, refinished them and them installed all brand new brakes. The front calipers were rebuilt with red paint, new seals, new pistons, hoses and everything else. The parking brake machanism is all new or refurbished. I ran new metal brake lines on the rear axle and put a new hose back there as well.
The car had no seatbelts. Aircraft style vintage seatbelts have been installed
New U-bolts now hold the rear axle to the leaf springs
The headlights have been R&R'd with new gaskets, adjusters, springs and trim rings. It's now possible to drive at night and see the road.
The tail lights have been R&R'd with new light sockets, polished chrome and new trim bezels / brackets.
The front upper bushings have been replaced.
The front wheel bearings have been repacked with fresh grease and new grease seals.
Everything electrical now functions. The car is safe to drive down the road.
WOOHOO!!!
Well, it's safe. I didn't say it's reliable yet.
The final issue to get past is the old worn out engine.
I'd really like to pull it and rebuild it, but lack the time. What I really need is a good used engine to swap into it. I only need the long block, that is the assembled block and head. I do not need any manifolds, carbs, or anything else like that.
So hello, how you doing.<span style="font-weight: bold"> Got an engine for sale?</span>
And how bad would this introductory post suck if it didnt have pictures.....
