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Designing the ultimate budget Spridget
- Thread starter drooartz
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kcbugeye1275
Jedi Knight
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A "budget" is a real and a funny word. In the real world we all know what you mean. However, I am a common man, and I really can't believe how much I've gotten into my bugeye this last year.(my wife doesn't read the forum) But, I've had it 25 years and it deserves a little attention. I think that if you can find a bugeye, drive it a few years and then do upgrades. A lot of these upgrades can be made on a small budget, via buying the right later model sprite and scrapping it out, then using the scrapped sprite's parts. All that said, they are all fun and if you find one at the right price....... Good luck with your decision.
OP
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I've already got the Bugeye, I was just mostly thinking out loud. Living with the RWA MG in the garage just got me thinking. Been some good comments in this thread, thanks all for your thoughts. Fun stuff to speculate, though if I ever brought home another little car I might have to sleep in it. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Up here in the mountains I'd probably keep a 4.22. I'll be experimenting later on, as I've got a 3.90 handy as well. The elevation kills you up here.
Up here in the mountains I'd probably keep a 4.22. I'll be experimenting later on, as I've got a 3.90 handy as well. The elevation kills you up here.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] The only problem with any of these modifieds is that they lack the one thing that really sets the BE apart in the way it drives and feels, and that is the 1/4 elliptic rear suspension!!! [/QUOTE]
Mike, then you need to start with a MkII Sprite or a MkI Midget. Still has the Bugeye doors and windshield frame on it, and a boot. The BE bonnet is a bolt on, with the only difference being the front frame horns don't have the holes for the locating pins. But, you'd probably make it a front flipper anyway.
I don't like roll up window doors! They sacrifice a lot of the elbow room you get in the side curtain cars.
Jeff
Mike, then you need to start with a MkII Sprite or a MkI Midget. Still has the Bugeye doors and windshield frame on it, and a boot. The BE bonnet is a bolt on, with the only difference being the front frame horns don't have the holes for the locating pins. But, you'd probably make it a front flipper anyway.
I don't like roll up window doors! They sacrifice a lot of the elbow room you get in the side curtain cars.
Jeff
regularman
Yoda
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And here I thought I was making the ultimate budget spridget. 8 years of tinkering for nothing /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif I was thinking more of the higher gears and better milage for trips and such. I changed the read diff gear to a 1:3.55 ratio and combined with a Datsun 5 speed and 175/70/13 tires. She may not be that quick but should be good on gas. Oh, and with a weber DGV as well.
bugimike
Yoda
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Bugeye58 said:
Mike, then you need to start with a MkII Sprite or a MkI Midget. Still has the Bugeye doors and windshield frame on it, and a boot. The BE bonnet is a bolt on, with the only difference being the front frame horns don't have the holes for the locating pins. But, you'd probably make it a front flipper anyway.
I don't like roll up window doors! They sacrifice a lot of the elbow room you get in the side curtain cars.
Jeff [/QUOTE]
Jeff, I think you misunderstood me...I would WANT the 1/4 elliptics... and I agree about roll-up windows etc. What I am saying is the BE suspension is more responsive than the "newer" ones, + the body is neater, and if you had to have roll-ups and a boot I would rather modify a BE to have them, than a MK II to look like a BE!!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
PS: most of the mods described in this thread really do not fit into my definition of "BUDGET"!!!! "Ultimate" and "Budget" are kind of mutually exclusive if you ask me!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shocked.gif
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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MkII Sprite and a MkI Midget come with 1/4 elliptic springs, just like a Bugeye.
I co-drive a '62 1/4 elliptic Sprite racer regularly, as well as my own, 1/2 elliptic racecar. Honestly, they don't feel that much different to me.
I co-drive a '62 1/4 elliptic Sprite racer regularly, as well as my own, 1/2 elliptic racecar. Honestly, they don't feel that much different to me.
Steve_Lawrence
Senior Member
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Here's houw I would go about getting the ultimate Spridget on a $300 budget. I'd go out and buy a rough but running '74 Midget for a couple grand. I'd buy a better '74 tub from one of the nice people that I meet at BCF for a little bit of nothing. After that I'd put a few hundred more into it. Then I'd misplace the decimal when I look back on the total cost. In the end I'd have a nice RWA Midget on a $300 budget.
If that doesn't work, I could always recycle the cans from all of the beer that I drank while I was working on it. That should more than pay off the budget overruns.
Assuming that I am still in love with Spridgets when I get this one done, the next one will definitely be a bugeye built somewhat along the lines of Tunebug or Miss Agatha. No cutting, everything approximately original, but a 1275, and probably a 5-speed.
If that doesn't work, I could always recycle the cans from all of the beer that I drank while I was working on it. That should more than pay off the budget overruns.
Assuming that I am still in love with Spridgets when I get this one done, the next one will definitely be a bugeye built somewhat along the lines of Tunebug or Miss Agatha. No cutting, everything approximately original, but a 1275, and probably a 5-speed.
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
I originally thought I would not try to cut too much on the original sprite design. But now that I'm into it... I'm looking at eliminating the hinge pockets and making the filling the holes that are only for the RHD models... and etc.
But I still want it to look period correct. Ya know... change things that the casual observer wouldn't notice, but would enhance the overall aesthetics of the car.
But I still want it to look period correct. Ya know... change things that the casual observer wouldn't notice, but would enhance the overall aesthetics of the car.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]
Jeff, I think you misunderstood me...I would WANT the 1/4 elliptics... [/QUOTE]
Mike, I had you understood. As Nial mentions, the early Spridgets still had the 1/4 elliptic suspension. I like it a lot better than the semi elliptic, too.
Jeff
Jeff, I think you misunderstood me...I would WANT the 1/4 elliptics... [/QUOTE]
Mike, I had you understood. As Nial mentions, the early Spridgets still had the 1/4 elliptic suspension. I like it a lot better than the semi elliptic, too.
Jeff
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
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Really a shame that they didn't use a rear coil setup in their attempt to be innovative. When did rear coils become standard on GM's?