twas_brillig
Jedi Knight
Offline
We have two Bug-Eye Sprites, both 1960(?)models, and are buying a 72 Midget parts car. The yellow BE has been driven off and on since we bought it in 1971; the other (purchased at the same time) never ran and is now a restored, silver painted body tub. I would appreciate advice on upgrades from stock that would stay mostly true to the original.
Both are getting Datsun 210 transmissions, rebuilt and installed using the Rivergate kit plus clutch slave cylinder and speedometer driver; the yellow BE will get a re-sleeved master cylinder.
Reading through Terry Horlerās book regards changes in the Spridget design over the years, Iāve come up with the following potential upgrades and swaps for the silver body tub:
Upgrades/options (not from the parts car), as available:
- a dust excluder for the rear springs (to keep crud out of the quarter elliptic mounting area)
- wider wheels and tyres (size to be determined)
- panhard rod
- front sway bar (possibly from the parts car)
- pertronix (or equivalent) ignition
From the parts car:
- replace backing plates and wheel cylinders for rear brakes
- front disc brake conversion; reseleeve master cylinder to match the the Rivergate slave & the BMC stock diameter for the updated brakes. Probably retain original Bug-Eye front springs (unclear at this point if this is an issue)
- towing eyes might be fitted on the parts car; consider transferring
- investigate the feasibility of transferring the collapsible steering column system into the Bug-Eye; among other things, Iām not sure if the parts car has the Triumph rack (instituted Feb.72) or the original Morris Minor type
- 1275 cc engine; possibly the drive shaft; 3.9:1 differential āpumpkinā; axles (if they are the stronger ones)
- we have another 1275 cc engine, partially disassembled; need to check the it for date of production and condition, vs. the emission controls etc. on the parts car - comments please on the later engine
- probably convert to negative ground and adopt the alternator from the parts car; unsure whether to try to stick with a mechanical fuel pump or adopt the electrical fuel pump system from the parts car; unsure of the appearance of the electric rev-counter in the parts car vs. the existing mechanical drive (also unsure if weāve still got the original dynamo and gear set)
- Fuel supply: the parts car has the stock SUs; Iāve also got a 45 mm Weber DCOE and manifold, plus an associate has built an electronic fuel injection system for his BMW 2002 and is quite enthusiastic about that approach.
- ?? what else ??
Thanks,
Doug
Both are getting Datsun 210 transmissions, rebuilt and installed using the Rivergate kit plus clutch slave cylinder and speedometer driver; the yellow BE will get a re-sleeved master cylinder.
Reading through Terry Horlerās book regards changes in the Spridget design over the years, Iāve come up with the following potential upgrades and swaps for the silver body tub:
Upgrades/options (not from the parts car), as available:
- a dust excluder for the rear springs (to keep crud out of the quarter elliptic mounting area)
- wider wheels and tyres (size to be determined)
- panhard rod
- front sway bar (possibly from the parts car)
- pertronix (or equivalent) ignition
From the parts car:
- replace backing plates and wheel cylinders for rear brakes
- front disc brake conversion; reseleeve master cylinder to match the the Rivergate slave & the BMC stock diameter for the updated brakes. Probably retain original Bug-Eye front springs (unclear at this point if this is an issue)
- towing eyes might be fitted on the parts car; consider transferring
- investigate the feasibility of transferring the collapsible steering column system into the Bug-Eye; among other things, Iām not sure if the parts car has the Triumph rack (instituted Feb.72) or the original Morris Minor type
- 1275 cc engine; possibly the drive shaft; 3.9:1 differential āpumpkinā; axles (if they are the stronger ones)
- we have another 1275 cc engine, partially disassembled; need to check the it for date of production and condition, vs. the emission controls etc. on the parts car - comments please on the later engine
- probably convert to negative ground and adopt the alternator from the parts car; unsure whether to try to stick with a mechanical fuel pump or adopt the electrical fuel pump system from the parts car; unsure of the appearance of the electric rev-counter in the parts car vs. the existing mechanical drive (also unsure if weāve still got the original dynamo and gear set)
- Fuel supply: the parts car has the stock SUs; Iāve also got a 45 mm Weber DCOE and manifold, plus an associate has built an electronic fuel injection system for his BMW 2002 and is quite enthusiastic about that approach.
- ?? what else ??
Thanks,
Doug