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Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

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toysrrus

toysrrus

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Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Hi Folks,

I`m tweeking up my `59 Bugeye & all is going well except for all the "Lumps and Bumps" I have on my head from the low ceiling bonnet. Now I know why someone would want to change over to a "FRONT TILT" Bonnet set-up:

Question: Who has done this? Are there "Kits" avail. to buy to make the alterations? I`m thinking about but really need some good info.

Pics etc. would be much appeciated from anyone here who has done this tranformation.

"Thanx" in Advance,

Russ
Email: toysrus@ptd.net or PM me if you wish.
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Hi Ray,

"Great"; Thanx Much for the link.

Russ

PS: Hey Hap; What do you have?
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Russ, there are kits available as shown, but as far as I know they all have one major drawback, they allow the rotation point to be such that the rear corners of the bonnet will contact the outer sides of the cowl unless you have a second person there to spread the sides out a bit. I've seen one design that is really unique in that it actually moves the nose out a bit as it starts to tilt and clears the cowl. Here's the link to the feature on this car as well as a close up of the hinge design. https://www.britishv8.org/Other/BruceUchida.htm
Bruce probalby should consider marketing his design.
 

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Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

I bought the kit shown in Gerards Garage from someone (can't remember who), have it installed for fit check and I am installing the DZUS fasteners this week. Going well. I put my DZUS fasteners as far to the rear as possible and may add one to each side (forward) if needed. Quite easy. Bought my fasteners from JEGS.
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Bill,
The kit shown on Gerards site is an old design. It works well and does not allow any rubbing of the corners. Bruce's design is very slick, but may be overkill except it may keep the bonnet "squarer" when operating.
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

I've got the design on Gerard's site on Bugsy my '68 with a BE Bonnet. Only issue is clearances from top of radiator to bonnet. That may just be an issue with CrossFlow Radiator and a BE Bonnet.

You can make one of these brackets using common shop tools. Drill press, Angle Grinder, Bench Vise, and Files. Total Cost I'm estimating with all of the washers, nuts, and bolts < $50.00. A fun engineering project.

Tip: I used 3 pieces of 1/8" aluminum plate for the bracket and glued them together with JB Weld as I could not find a local source for 1/4" aluminum plate. Machined all as one piece.
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Hi Folks,

Some pretty neat stuff!!

I love the Jag Engine in the Bugeye.

Wish I had a ton of $$$ to make that happen!

I agree with Trevor on Bruces design. "Nice but may be an overkill":

The info. is Great! "Thanx to All".

Russ
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Russ,

You can't beat forward tilt for engine access plus the "Cool Factor" when you pop the bonnet. My issues relate to modifying a BE Bonnet to fit a SWA 68 Sprite. I've got it all fit and working, just need to tweak some of the fit. Since my BE Bonnet was abused on a racecar for an indeterminate length of time, got tweaked and repaired, was sandblasted and primered and then sat outside under a car port for many, many years before I bought many of my issues are inherent to the bonnet I'm using. All things considered would I go through the effort again. Yes in a heartbeat. It's just a neat thing I've done to Bugsy.
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

If you have access to a few basic tools, and the inclination, you can make your own brackets.

I did that for my '62 Sprite, which is a bit more involved as you have to bring together wings, bonnet, and cowl into a single unit. The bracket dimensions came from a homemade set that was on my '60 Bugeye racer (I measured and photographed them before I sold the car). The brackets are basically the same, but the mounts differ slightly.

Detailed photos here:

https://www.raysmg.com/rays_mg_midget_62_sprite_bodywork4.htm

And here:

https://www.raysmg.com/rays_mg_midget_62_sprite_bodywork5.htm

Ray

P1010011.jpg
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Forward flip gets my vote as well. Here are a few shots of mine that were taken a few years ago at Eurofest. I use the old style hinge that Ray used and I don't have any trouble with the wings rubbing.


DSC00696.jpg


DSC00698.jpg


Ben
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

BWillis said:
Forward flip gets my vote as well. Here are a few shots of mine that were taken a few years ago at Eurofest. I use the old style hinge that Ray used and I don't have any trouble with the wings rubbing.


DSC00696.jpg


DSC00698.jpg


Ben
Click to expand...

Well, Howdy neighbor! That is one great looking Sprite!
While at a recent car thing in Pickens S.C. a guy with a custom
39 street rod in deep maroon told me of seeing your car and how choice it was. He was spot on. Very nice indeed. :cheers:
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

BWillis said:
I wish I could find more car shows in this are. I always seem to find out about them as I notice classic cars HEADING HOME from one......

Thanks for the nice comments. :smile:


Ben
Click to expand...

May 15th and 16th is the big Blue Ridge Car Show in Pickens.
Gates open at 1:00 pm on the 15th (Friday) and it's $20 for a car of 4 people. I was thinking of taking my BE just for fun.
I know they have judging/awards and things too.
I've never been but at the last Cruise-in here in Pickens
last month everyone was telling me how large a show the Blue
Ridge Fest car show was and how I should check it out.
If you can make it it would be nice to get parking side by side.
LOL...it'd make that SWEET BE of your's look even better sitting by ol Screamin' Mimi. Mimi is sooooo modified that there is hardly anything original left except the body.
David Harrison

PS: Ol Russ will not mind our thread highjack. He's soon to be a local too. :jester:
 
Re: Bugeye: "FRONT TILT OR REAR TILT"?

Hi Y`All,

Nope; Don`t mind a bit. The more I hear about the "Up-State"; The more I like it.

Glad to hear there`s another Spridget member in the "Up-State" area.

Ben, Where in the Up-State do you live?

"Super", Super Nice looking Car! What I still can`t find is how you do hold down the bonnet near the scuttle / Windshield?

I don`t know if You & Gundy will let me park my Bugeye next to you folks? It surely will help you get an easy award for the class!

See Y`All real soon.

Regards, Russ
 
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