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fmichaels

fmichaels

Jedi Knight
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well i've been kind of quite lately but still reading everyone's progress. i am at a slight standstill with my 67 sprite right now. i have a mess of parts ready to be cleaned and repainted. my oven range for powder coating is cleaned and connected, ready to go. i still have to build a simple powder booth, but other than that i am ready to try powder coating. i have to get the tub back for final blasting and epoxy primer but the money is not here right now. i'm going to have to be patient and keep doing the little things until the money is there. i also expect to have my website up by christmas so i have a way of posting my progress. this forum is the greatest for times like this because i can read about everyone's (especially jack's) progress and stay inspired to keep going. the holidays are coming along with a bow wave of youth and high school sporting events. finding time will be hard ... i'll have to use my invisible cape to sneak down to the basement.
 
I too am loving this forum for exactly the same reasons. I am also waiting for the tub to go out to get done (and the money to pay for it) That being said I am also mindful of the comment made earlier on this board to do something every day lest it become an abandoned project. Thus I am currently working on mine 10 minutes a day. I find that there are many little projects to keep me busy that together add up to one restored car. Keep at it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
Got to keep fighting the good fight. You will get there, and the driving will be that much more enjoyable for all your hard work.
 
Can always find something to do that's free it seems. Even if is just cleaning. Or checking threads on bolts. Or arrangeing parts or.............
 
...or traveling over to Drew's house to help pull his motor...
 
thanks ... i knew you guys would understand ... something everyday ... even if it's small ... got it!
 
Fred, that is the best of the best of Spridgets that is, I know a few Bugeye folks eybrows are raising right now. That was the beginning of the 1275 and the factory put alot of TLC in those motors, maybe more than they did any other motors ever. First off it should be the highest compression ratio ever offered by the factory, the crankshaft is more then likely a EN40B factory nitirted crank, the holy grail of 1275 cranks, the block is the strongest of the bunch, no center hole in the middle main bearing web, they went back to forged rocker arms and got away from the stamped steel one in 67 and 68. The 12G940 pre smog head is probably the best flowing stock cylinder head they ever produced. The best HS2 carbs ever built, the best intake manifolds, the list goes on and on. You got yourself a rare jewel there, be proud, and don't take no crap off any Bugeye folks /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
To give you an idea on the EN40B cranks, they reproduce them now, Mini Mania get like $1500 for them, I sold used EN40B cranks for $600 before. Thas a great liite car you have there.
 
"don't take no crap off any Bugeye folks " Gesh, we just happy some one is saving another LBC.
 
My very first Sprite was a 67 with the EN40 crank and all the goodies. Personally, I think that was the best year ever for all the Sprites. 2 master cylinders yet not the dual circuit that started in 68. Steel dash, no velcro on the top ears, no federal junk either and it was still made by BMC,
Sure I like my Bugeyes but if I find a 67, I'll do it just like my first Sprite but I might leave off the Corvair wire wheel hub caps /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
So, Hap, I'm looking for a MkII Midget...you say the '67 is the year to buy instead of a '66?
 
thanks for the inspiration ... i was fitting fenders today so i still have enough things to do before blasting and primer ... you know i often wonder why i ever kept this car let along buy another, but i truly love these babies and one day soon my 67 will roll again proud as ever. thanks guys!
 
[ QUOTE ]
So, Hap, I'm looking for a MkII Midget...you say the '67 is the year to buy instead of a '66?

[/ QUOTE ]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Tony I believe the MkII is the 1098 car, which started the squared, rollup windowed doors and 1/2 eliptic springs. It basiclly the same chassis for the most part as the 67, but with out the 1275 motor. It is however waa the more popular 2" main 1098. The 67, if it has all the original engine stuff, is just as good as it got as for a factory made parts. The other 1275 crank the EN16T is still a good crankshaft and more racers use this than the EN40B, just based on sheer numbers. It just a 67-68 Sprite/Midget was by far the factory best effort in the engine department as for quailty. The EN40B crank didn't last long in production because the steel and hardening were costly and the factory was looking for a way to save a buck, but the EN16T is still tuffrited and a very god crankshaft. The carbs on this cars was the pre-smof stuff, no poppet valves in the butterflies, no emission tubes, the intake manifold are the ones with small balance tube hole tubes. All this stuff can be sourced for any model, but the 67-68 already had it. I just had a customer send me two EN40B cranks to build LP 1275 race motors with.
 
Hsp - remember, I'm not a real Midget guy...I have a TD Midget, MkI, MkIII, & 1500 Midget & just need a MkII to round out the collection.

But, you're correct, MkII Midget was '64-'66.....so, I'm still looking for a '66.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hsp - remember, I'm not a real Midget guy...I have a TD Midget, MkI, MkIII, & 1500 Midget & just need a MkII to round out the collection.

[/ QUOTE ]

We'll make one out of you yet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif , I love Spridgets, it's just I'm too darn big to drive one on the street, so racing one is as close as it get. Now when it comes to racing one in vintage a 72-73 RWA (round wheel arch) Midget is a popular choice for wider tire clearence, that's what my vintage car will built from. RWAs are popular on the street as well, because they are a little bit more rare, they only made the RWA 1275 cars for the couple of years. Funny thing is in the SCCA, 1275 full prep Midget and 1800 full prep MGBs run in the same class, and as of yet the top MGBs have never beat the top Midgets, a Midget makes for a great little race car, for me it such a easy decison to race the Midget instead of the MGB, because they are eaiser to get good stuff for. In Vintage you see alot more MGBs than you do in SCCA, but a good Midget will give a MGB a run for it's money anywhere, they are both great cars though.
 
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