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Rotary Sprite

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In the race cars, I used as many as three borgenson U joint to make up a steering column form stratch, we did it for two reason, one for safety and the other to work our way around the racing headers alot of us Spridget racers use.
 
But.
Look at it this way, The cars steering box is very low in the car and the cars are very low. Likely the impact with a modern vehicle will override the steering box adverting the force to drive steering shaft. Unless you hit a tree, or pole, or concrete bearier where the complete frontal area of car will be pushed rearward.

Side impact I believe is a far greater concern. When you look at the design of the Bugeye there is very little to fend off a side impact. I think the wheel/tires are the best defense, since they are close together
 
A friend got T-Boned in his Midget when a Buick rolled right through a stop sign. Roll Bar allowed Midget to be pushed sideways rather then Buick riding over the top. Midget totalled, wish I could have gotten that 1380 and 5 speed, but driver walked away. A whole lot sore but he walked away. I installed a Roll Bar shortly thereafter. If notheng else makes me feel better driving this car.
 
I agree with the side impact and will be installing a roll bar, but the harpoon still bothers me. The steering box is low, but there is not much more in front of it and those two aluminum clamps don't look like they would hold the rack in place for long. At least in a side shot I may get ejected. A frontal looks like a kabob in the making. Troubling.
 
DWeeB :thumbsup: I know all of your pain in building your car, as I got mine done in 1995, (13b 6port in a 1969 midget)
where was this fourm when I built my car :rolleyes: heck there was no a internet then when I trying to find out stuff

hooey
 
The Rotary engine is eating the rear tire off this thing. But other than that it's a blast to drive.
 
I can just imagine the fun you are having. just wondering what type of tire you have on the rear. Is it a good summer traction tire. One of my projects will have the same problem...to much power not enough weight on rear tires
 
The tires I have are more or less all season, I might go with a bigger/wider tire in the rear but I'm not sure I want to change the front since I'm afraid of over stressing the front end components. You can kinda see the tread in this pic.
 

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I hope I don't get to much wheel hop once I get that type of traction, but I'll deal with that later I guess.
 
Finally got some seat, I went with the Miata seats, also found a nice flush gas filler cap for my fuel cell.
 

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And filler
 

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From the cut down grill to the fuel filler and on to the placement of the rear Sprite arrow.

I like it. Looks great, you really done good.
 
Thanks Jack, I wasn't sure how it would turn out when I brought it home 4 years ago. I just went with what I liked and it has exceeded my original expectation. Plus it goes like heck! Once I complete a 500 mile shakedown and give it the once over I'll get it painted.
 
Went to the CT British car show at Harkness Park. I had a great time, them British car guys are crazy and I was spent after hanging with them all day. ^5 to Bob M, dude you are Banana's!!!!!! The car did draw a crowd though,
 

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WOW what a summer, I put 1200 miles on the Bugeye. I blew the clutch during a 9 grand gear change. Cheap Nappa clutch. Took me about six hours to remove motor and tranny and replaced the clutch assemble with a new competition clutch
 

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Branson said:
spridget rear axle holding up okay?
Click to expand...
\
Yeah the axles are actually holding up well. I pulled them out 2 times and there seems to be no rifling. The splines are getting a little hammering but not peened. I think the stock tire won't hook up enough so the blunt forces are just spun away by the tire. Great burn outs though!
 
DWeeB said:
WOW what a summer, I put 1200 miles on the Bugeye. I blew the clutch during a 9 grand gear change. Cheap Nappa clutch. Took me about six hours to remove motor and tranny and replaced the clutch assemble with a new competition clutch
Click to expand...

I'm impressed, for any other person on this board with a Sprite, that statement "I blew the clutch during a 9 grand gear change" would refer to the cost of a botched restoration.
grin.gif

:cheers:
 
Good times JP, lol.
 
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