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Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year round?

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Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

What DrEntropy said. They just go right over slippery surfaces, like snow, and hold their controlability very well. Deep snow is a problem.

On the night of "Air Florida Flight 90" I was driving around Northern Virginia in a 66 Mini standard Cooper. The snow was deep though not so deep on the roads, wind high, blizzard conditions, and the car just zipped right along with no trouble.
 
Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

I can answer the question of using an LBC as a daily driver in retrospect, as can a few of the members here! Back in the day, I drove a GT6, a Midget, and a few other LBCs as "daily drivers" because they were late model cars at the time (1970-1980ish). They actually had local dealerships then, too (I really dating myself now).

We have no illusions that LBCs are as reliable as a modern car. But, a properly maintained one can be pretty darn reliable, especially if you're capable of doing your own wrenching. I wouldn't hesitate to commute in a nicely restored LBC today, period.

Yes, the real problem with daily use of an LBC is bad winter weather. Due to the light weight, rear wheel drive, etc., they're practically useless in deep snow and ice. I found this out the hard way in a GT6 once.

Many of us used LBCs as "daily drivers" back in the good old days, didn't we? I didn't complain about the reliability of British cars then, and I certainly won't now. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

For that matter, with modern parts and technology we can make our LBCs far better cars today, all the better reason to drive them more frequently!
 
Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif I certainly agree!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
My first BE was a '58, but that was in '64, so it was"only" 6 years old at the time!! Now, it would be nigh on 50 years old! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif (boy, this kind of thread really dates one, doesn't it?? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif )
 
Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

I drive my 69 Sprite every day. Year round. I do park it indoors at night. The heater works fine. It is running a 180 thermostat. I would like to get more air to the defrost but I have driven it in the snow at fifteen degree(F). Where I had my bigest issue was about two years ago it got down to below zero and on the way to work the steering rack almost froze. It turned but it was like trying to steer a caddy with a bad power steering pump. I average about twenty five thousand miles per year and in the last two years all I have done in repair was a new clutch pressure plate and release bearing. While I had the drive shaft out I replaced the U joints. Other than regular Oil and lube I just drive.

Anthony
 
Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

you guys do know that someplace there is a bigger fan to install in the heater.
 
Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

That may be the ultimate answer, thanks Jack.
 
Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

Another idea may be to run the fan off of a relay. You should get stronger, cleaner current than you get through the weak, small fan switch contacts.
 
Re: Anyone use a Spridget as daily driver year rou

Just a thought here, wonder how much RPM would pick up with cleaned up bearings and cleaned brushes etc etc.

Think I would take it apart and clean everything real good first.
 
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