St Ignace , Michigan car show.

[Atrus]

I should still be up there for the weekend, not sure if the Sprite will make it. I am awaiting my major suspension kit so I can get it all back together. Currently the whole front suspension is sitting on the garage floor :wink:

I am running out of weekends to get it all back together, so I am hoping for a miracle.

 

[Jer]

Yikes !!, what was it last year ? I think you had a major repair going on that stopped you from going then to. This isn't good !

 

[Atrus]

Jer - last year I ripped the rear suspension out...ended up wrapping up my MBA and beginning a new job in June/July....

...this year, I pulled out the front suspension and then work blew up again. Just got swamped and am far behind where I want to be :-(.

I haven't driven the car since 2007! :frown:

 

[jim79]

I dont know what happened to my post either but I plan on being there. Got a few things to do but nothing that will stop me from showing up. I must admit the closer the show gets, the more I wonder if I'm taking a knife to a gun fight by bringing the midget into a muscle car convention.Oh well guess a knife is better than a dull stick. LOL.

 

[Jer]

Perfect now I have at least one confirmed LBC - I hear ya, at least there will be 2 of us, I'll back you up We gotta shake things up a little with our cars!
I should be in the show, somewhere near the Colonial Inn (big ol' yellow hotel right downtown) thats where I'm staying... headed down thursday evening, head back on sunday - I'll also be crusin around as much as the temperature gauge will let me.

 

[jim79]

I'm staying at the days inn which is closer to the airport. I'm going up on friday and coming back after the car show. Red 1979 midget and as far as the car show, I got a registration number of 65 ,so I dont know if they line you up in registration order or what?

 

[Jer]

Hey Jim

I haven't got my registration back, but I do have an email saying "your in" - My friends dad used to go in the show, this was years ago but I remember them saying they would get up at 5am to park the car to get the spot they wanted (then go back to hotel & sleep), no idea if that's how it works now or not - The hotel I'm staying at said they will give me a wake up call when it's time for me to park my car out front, so I'm assuming it's first come first serve... but I can't say for sure.

I keep going over in my head any other preps that I need to make mechanically, so far this season I have changed all fluids, brake clean, grease, flush rad, rebuild master cyl, adjust carbs... think I'm good to go - Just have a crazy cleaning & waxing session at home a night or 2 before I head down I guess, hopefully distract people with a good wax job so they won't see the scratches, stone chips etc,cracked windshield etc. ha ha

Okay well I will look for a Red 79 Midget, and you can look for a Red 67 Midget (that looks like a Sprite from the side thanks to a previous owner who shaved the chrome side trim.. - that will be corrected on future repaint...)

 

[jim79]

Sounds good. I keep popping the hood and saying "crap have I got alot of cleaning to do!" Oh wel I'm really not there for awards, there for the fun. Can't wait to see the kids go crazy over the little car!

 

[Jer]

Your going to open your hood (ohhh wait "Bonnet") for the show ? I'm not sure if I have the guts to do that , I don't think there is enough cleaning under my hood to fix my problems
I will have to find a pic to post & let people chime in here, I know people are usually curious to see the "little motor"...

 

[Atrus]

Hey Jim

I remember them saying they would get up at 5am to park the car to get the spot they wanted (then go back to hotel & sleep), no idea if that's how it works now or not - The hotel I'm staying at said they will give me a wake up call when it's time for me to park my car out front, so I'm assuming it's first come first serve... but I can't say for sure.

My wife's uncle and his friends put their cars in the show every year and they head out at 3 or 4 am to get the spot in front of the hardware store. So, yes, it still goes on :wink:

If, by some miracle, my sprite makes it up there I am not putting it in the show. It'll be there for cruise nights and getting me to the show :wink:

 

[Jer]

Good Stuff

My friend that is joining me for St.Ignace is new to LBC's (she really wants an early Mustang someday) - I'll get her converted from the Dark Side someday

I decided to loan her my Horler book & then give her the following questions as a joke to get her reading in the book, thought I would share the "test" - I could have gone on & on, but this is what came to me for the 1st 10 questions -

1 > The rocker panels on all Spridgets have a “swoop” and the front end where they meet the lower fender edge, this is because:

a) To enable foot space in the interior.
b) Because the first Sprites were flip nose & this was never changed.
c) Because of the uni-body, it was for structural integrity.

2 > Typically which model (Sprite or Midget) would have more body trim.

a) Sprite
b) Midget

3 > What would be a correct distinction with regards to the Mark II Sprite & Mark I Midget in 1961.

a) New body style & introduction of the “Midget” brand.
b) Introduction of hydraulic brakes.
c) Addition of exterior door handles.

4 > Why do all Spridgets have a rubber plug on the rocker panel?

a) Access for properly undercoating the rocker panel.
b) Jacking point.
c) To tighten the side mounts on the transmission.

5 > Along with “rubber bumpers” in 1975, what was the other major change for this year?

a) Disc brakes.
b) Revamped trunk space.
c) 1500 cc engine from Triumph.

6 > Why was the rear round wheel arch (RWA) body style of 71-74 discontinued? :

a) Customer dissatisfaction.
b) Rear accident safety concerns.
c) Preparation for new “rubber bumper” style of 75.

7 > There were 4 basic engine sizes that were installed in Spridgets over the years, these sizes were:

a) 865cc, 1100cc, 1398cc & 1500cc
b) 948cc, 1098cc, 1275cc & 1500 cc
c) 948cc, 1098cc, 1134cc & 1600cc

8 > Considering that Midge is a 1967, and has the heater air intake flap at the front of the car just behind grill this would indicate that it is an early production 67’

a) True
b) False

9 > Considering that Midge’s serial number is GAN4 55534 circle all features that are applicable.

a) Both doors have interior locks.
b) Reverse Lights
c) Solenoid mounted pushbutton
d) Sun visors

10 > Considering Midge’s battery tray is a white colour & not black, this indicates that it was a positive ground car.

a) True
b) False

Bonus questions

Bonus 1: If the PCV valve diaphragm fails on Midge it will smoke out a city block:

a) True
b) False

Bonus 2: If someone says the luggage rack & mirror are mounted incorrectly on Midge you can respond:

a) “Really? How would you know? I hope your not basing it on how it’s mounted on your Spridget, because it’s a relative thing”
b) “That’s funny, both were originally dealer installed & there is no “right way”
c) “You have a book with proper mounting dimensions that is from the factory? Cool! I want a copy, I’ll make money with those dimensions”
d) All of the above.

ha ha - luckily she is a gearhead (dad owns a engine rebuild shop & she is no stranger to working in that shop)so she will enjoy this.

 

[jim79]

3:00 or 4:00 in the morning! Yikes! Not sure how well that will go over with the family but hey what's the advantage to getting any paticular spot? Is it easier to leave than other spots? Thanks for the insight, I would've never expected that one.

 

[Atrus]

no, they are just crazy and have been doing it for 20+ years. They like to get in front of the ACE store because it's by the judges booth, smack in the middle of the show.

 

[jim79]

Man, I thought my chances of going to the car show were done today! I was out walleye fishing yesterday (limited out by the way) and this morning when I got up, my back was screwed up. I couldn't even sit up! I have had back surgery before so of course I'm thinkin the worse. Anyways in the emergency room ,all I can think about is "how am I gonna drive the midget with stitches in my back! ". Turns out to be a 2 BAD muscle spasms...hydrocodine and some muscle relaxers and I'm ready to go!I wish that prepping the midget was that easy.
Hope a few more lbcs decide to show up !
Jim

 

[Jer]

yikes that isn't good, glad it was an easy fix this time, ya folding up into a Midget would not be a good idea if you would have needed surgery
I hear ya on getting the car ready for the show... I just rebuilt the master cyl 2 weeks ago.... now it looks like my wheel cylinders are leaking... guess the new found pressure was to much for them.... new wheel cyls & shoes already ordered - now I get to do that the weekend before the show - just what I wanted to do - NOT

 

[jim79]

Yep I made an order yesterday to victoria british. Seems like there's always something but hey that's what makes these cars fun.

 

[Atrus]

So, there's absolutely no way the Sprite will make it up there. :frown:

However, I'll be heading up on Thursday afternoon and will be there until Sunday afternoon. I'll have internet access, so I'll be checking the forums and whatnot.

 

[Jer]

aww to bad !
well hopefully we'll cross paths over the weekend, my wheel cyl install went well on the weekend, so aside from a polish-up for the show I should be there thursday afternoon thru sunday morning.

 

[Atrus]

I'll look for ya Jer - Red '67?

 

[jim79]

I'm still planning on being there. I'm in a last minute rush to install some parts.Hope to see more brit cars there.
James