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Newbie Bugeye Sprite Mk1 owner looking for some advice

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UPDATE: So, I got a new filter, Valvoline VR1 20w50 and pulled the drain plug to get the nasty old oil out. I put a funnel in the valve cover, dropped the first quart in, put the second quart in and oh crap, oil is pouring out all over the engine. WTH? The valve cover is FULL of oil and leaking out onto the engine. It was draining down to the sump so slowly it backed up out the funnel.

Anybody experience this? Is there a blockage somewhere?? The 4 quarts eventually went into the sump but it took 30 minutes or more,
 
AHRMA361 said:
UPDATE: So, I got a new filter, Valvoline VR1 20w50 and pulled the drain plug to get the nasty old oil out. I put a funnel in the valve cover, dropped the first quart in, put the second quart in and oh crap, oil is pouring out all over the engine. WTH? The valve cover is FULL of oil and leaking out onto the engine. It was draining down to the sump so slowly it backed up out the funnel.

Anybody experience this? Is there a blockage somewhere?? The 4 quarts eventually went into the sump but it took 30 minutes or more,
Click to expand...

Never had it go that slowly - though I have had it go slow. You might want to do an engine oil flush - I have never done it but, there are various products out there and they do seem to have the zddp our cars need. In truth, once you get the car running again and the oil flowing it will likely take care of itself, but preferring to be safe than sorry and realizing that gunk has a nasty habit of relocating itself to vulnerable spots, I would likely go the flush route.
 
I've had good luck with Seafoam and others swear by Marvel Mystery Oil. I would use one of these additives and fire it up and let it fast idle, 1500-2000 rpm for a while keeping an eye on the oil pressure and temp. If all is ok go for a drive and let the stuff do its magic...I would change my oil and filter again after 500 miles or so.
Rut
 
Don't worry about the slow oil fill.....Go very slowly......and it will fill up. Had this problem more times than I want to talk about. Cheers
Scott in CA
 
I failed to mention that the Seafoamgoes in the oil in this instance...no big clouds of smoke!
Rut
 
Around here Rislone is the preferred concoction. I've used it on engines with stuck rings and it helped reduce oil consumption.

Kurt.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I basically did what Scott advised. Let it all settle into the sump, pulled the valve cover to see if anything was plugged up top (nothing was) fired it up, oil pressure was great and all is well.
Tuned the carb as best as I could and it starts easily and idles well now.

Can't drive it Rut. No operational brakes as yet!

Speaking of brakes, this car has been converted to disc's up front way back when. From what Gerard said earlier a different MC is required for them to operate correctly.

Anybody have experience with drum to disc conversions? The calipers are junk. Is there only one type of caliper for the Spridget's? Or, if multiple designs were used, how do you ID what is on your car?
 
For calipers and shocks I use Peter Caldweld at Worldwide Auto Parts of Madison, https://www.nosimport.com. He also provides a lot of other parts and he's great to work with as well! He's listed as PeterC and his shocks are the bomb!
Rut
 
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