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Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you?

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Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Bugeye58 said:
I've got an 850 Spider, but with a 1300 Abarth in it.
Wheeee!
Jeff
Click to expand...

Oooooh! Fun!! I loved the old 850 Spider, but mine was/is stock and is just waaaay underpowered, at least for me at this elevation. Now, a 1300 Abarth engine would spice things up a bit! What year is yours? Any pics? I think if I ever get another one it'll be a '67....the one with the flush mounted headlights.

I actually found one in a junkyard, but the headlight assemblies were gone. I did grab the Abarth oil pan that was in it though! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif I went back for more stuff, but they had already crushed it. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

That's great info on the diff ratios. I wonder what I have since the PO put in a 1275 and ribcase.

As much as I would like to dig into my sprite, no LBC plans for me other to drive and enjoy the B!
 
My monza exhaust came in yesterday, but my son who finished his finals up early today came home and instead of doing the dishes, removed the old exhaust and installed the the new one. (How do I get on to him for not doing the dishes like I asked?) Sooo...what to do this weekend? Hmmm /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif VROOM VROOM!!!!
 
Man, just 37 minutes until that monza quad exhaust closes.

Have to remember to snipe that sucker - difficult since I refilled my keg this afternoon... geeze 2 liters of ale and I can stihl type /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

whoa - had to go back & proofread a couple times.

maybe I'll still get lucky - 34 minutes now...
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Phew! Got started early on my weekend work, tonight. Disassembled / moved aside the pedal box, MC, clutch master, windshield wiper motor & coil. Stripped and rust-converted the entire D/S inner fender, and painted it with Eastwood's silver Rust Encapsulator.

So, hopefully I can strip & repaint the pedal ass'y tomorrow, in preparation for the weekend's work. Still debating whether to paint over the Encapsulator with body-coloured paint, or just go black. I'm leaning toward keeping it stock, and getting some paint made up.

-D
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

I'll be heading straight from the office to my niece's high school graduation about 50+ miles away Friday night. We'll spend the night at my mother-in-law's which means Saturday's shot. I'd like to spend the rest of my weekend working on Midgie. Need to rebleed the brakes after discovering my stupid mistake with the master cylinder. Also would like to install clips for the brake lines and wiring harness to get those cinched up to the body. Who knows? If I make enough progress (especially with bleeding the brakes) I might take her on her maiden voyage through the neighborhood. One can dream at least.
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Wow Duncan, way to go!!!

Hey, I won the auction for the quad tip Monza exhaust - WooHoo! That's going to look & sound good!
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

A method I have used in the past, which works very well is to:

Lift one rear wheel. Mark the propellershaft u-joint with crayon adjacent to a bolt. Turn the rear wheel "exactly" two times around while counting the revolutions of the propellershaft. The number of revolutions is the ratio.

This method is nearly accurate enough if the ratio possibilities are not known, however we do have limited choices with these cars. It's either 3.73, 3.9, 4.22, 4.55 or 4.72
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Thanks Donn, that will come in very handy!
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

WHAT would ya want a 5.38 ~for~??? All I can think is drag racin' four-year-olds on tricycles... or shear-face rock climbing.
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Some people use them for autocrossing, Doc, and a few years ago I gave one to a guy for his Formula Junior, who wanted it to run the Pittsburgh race with. I run a 4.88 at Waterford. I think Tim Hollister ran a 5.38 out there, too.
Jeff
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Mrsprite, not to hijack the thread, but it's a '72.
850RightRear.jpg

Jeff
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

I s'pose an autocross app would make some sense. Just seems awfully short, even for a HIGH rev engine in a racing scenerio.

Nice lookin' li'l tool there, BTW. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Wow... I see that works REALLY well to 'taffy' the axle stubs, too!

...I thought it was just us Lotus Elan guys with the diff output shaft problem. The OEM "stub axles" in the +2's do that. Seems inertia is a booger for bofus. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

What will I be doing this weekend?

Saturday: Changing daipers and comforting screaming 2yr old.

Sunday: Changing daipers and comforting screaming 2yr old.

Monday: Buying mini-van.

*sigh*

Oh well. The race crew is coming together nicely. I figure my daughter can drive (she's light and fealess) while my son and I can man the pit.
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Hey Morris, We've survived without buying a Minivan. 5 and 2 year old. We have a Volvo S40 (very small) and a Ford Escape (only slightly larger). I can't justify wasting garage space on a minivan no matter how "convenient" they might be.
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Heh, we got by with a Volvo 240 sedan up to three kids.
When the 4th came along we needed something bigger.

Now four of the six are teens, so going somewhere with all of us and our two boxer dogs is a real experience. The mini van isn't big enough, my paycheck can't cope with the car payment for a Ford Excursion.

So we don't all go to the same place very often, and taking the mini van plus the Midget is definitely a good idea when we do. Of course, that's a plus for me. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Re: Coming long weekend-working on my Midget- you

Ughhh... Trevor... I don't get to make that call. If it were mine to make, our family car would be Morris Minor. The BOSS says she NEEDS a mini-van. I can't argue with a woman strong enough to push out an 8 pound boy without drugs. I am afraid of her. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Ps. I have tried to make the point that America is the only country in the world were people feel like they need a cruise ship to cart their 2.5 kids around. She counters with the arguemnt I frequently make when she complains about me spending time and money working on cars instead of our house: "You can live in a car, but you can't drive a house." Oh well, I guess a mini-van would be a bit more comfortable accomodations for a family of four than a Midget.
 
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