Tech help on diffential swap

[mightymidget]

I have a 1959 Sprite with steel wheels that I am rebuilding. it has steel wheels and my wife wants wire wheels.

I purchased a early midget parts car with wire wheels for the switch over. When I removed the rear end I noticed it has the same 1/4 spring set up as the 1959 Sprite.

Do the complete rear ends interchange? They appear the same.

I understand that if you install the wire wheel axles in steel wheel housing that the axles are shorter. So I am sitting here looking at them 25' apart and they look like they would switch out ok. Then I would have the correct differential housing with wire wheel set up

 

[Billm]

The wires will fit into the plate housing but the opposite won't work (this is true for the semi-elliptic Spridgets and I think it is also true for the quarter-elliptics)
You could do the swap that you are asking about but will be stuck with a virtually worthless wire type housing.
I would think that it would be better to do the full swap.
Bill

 

[mightymidget]

the full swap is what I was wanting to do, to avoid problems.

Can I take the MG Midget complete rear end and install into the Bugeye? The midget is going to scrap pile so I do not need to worry about that car

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

If both are 1/4 elliptic spring, then the complete rearend assemblies wiil interchange. To do a rearend swap from a later model with full leafs, you will have to cut and weld the spring mounts on housing. IIRC there is 1/2 inch or less difference in length between both axle housings.

 

[mightymidget]

exact same spring set up. this good news, makes buying the parts car well worth the money spent for it now

 

[begorj]

did you try to fit your drive hubs for the wire wheels on your
disc wheel housing Im told disc wheel axels from a 1500 are a common change because there stronger and i know the center section and axel spindal nuts from a 72 midget will fit I have them on my 59 MK1 it will probley fit without changing the housing if you would like i can ckeck axel lenth i have
wire wheel axels for a 72 midget and disc wheel axle for a 59
mk1 ?

 

[mightymidget]

I have removed all the rear suspension on my car for rebuild so I am just going redo then put the complete MG rear end housing, axles, brakes, etc.. in one piece under the Bugeye.