When Inspecting a Spridget... What to Look for?

[dklawson]

I may go look at a '67 Sprite in the next few day. It's been parked for about 2 years with an unrepaired fuel leak. I've learned that the car is a transplant from New York. Having lived in upstate NY for 4 years myself I'm a bit nervous about what this car may have seen in the winter.

Would you guys give me some suggestions on what (and where) to look for rust affected areas? Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[zimmy]

edge of hood, rocker panels, look at the floor from underneath
the car....give it a very good looking over for odd shaped
areas that may contain bondo....also alot of rust in the
motor are could be a bad sign of excessive moisture.
post close up pics if possible...good luck...zimmy

 

[John Moore]

Well, if was driven in the winter it would have seen a ton of salt! Check for rust.... or bondo covering it up.

Spridgets really didn't have anything in the way of an undercoat from the factory.

 

[drooartz]

Zimmy nailed it -- rust is the big issue. Bottom of the A posts, and the spring perches that are located in the bulkhead behind the seats.

 

[tosoutherncars]

(...) Bottom of the A posts (...)

x2... the bottom of the A-pillars, I think, are one of the best indicators of how rusty the car may be. They tend to rust from the inside out, a magnet and some close inspection are warranted here. Ditto the lower rearmost corners of the front fenders, although repair or replacement there is much easier.

 

[dklawson]

Thanks for the replies so far. The A-pillars and sills sound like standard LBC rust spots. Drew mentioned the spring perches. What's the best way to examine them?

 

[zimmy]

under the car where the springs are supported......
getting under the car will tell u ALOT about it...
just lay there and stare for a while... :wink: ....z

 

[58Custom]

Bring a BRIGHT flashlight for looking under the car. Shadows will hide rust.

 

[JPSmit]

watch the door hinges -especially the bottom. Have seen 2 cars now where the hinge is stiff and closing the door actually pushes through the A-post

 

[regularman]

Door hinges, lower A pillars. rear quarters, and hood front piece.

 

[Bugeye58]

Doug, another rust prone area is the lower rear fender, just behind the wheel arch. Common enough that a patch panel is offered. I just noticed that Kim mentioned the rear quarters. That's the area of the 1/4 panel to check.

Take a look at the bottom of the door shells, too. I've seen them with plugged drain holes that allow water to accumulate in the door and rust through.

Front wheel wells, directly behind the wheel. This area perforates and allows road crap into the rocker panel area.
Jeff

 

[regularman]

Also check the radius area of the fender. People don't clean these out and they are bad to hold dirt and will rust out through the fender or in through the inner main body panel.

 

[Steve P.]

Everyone else really covered the primary area
for rust. Keep in mind that these cars rust from
the inside out. I've scrapped out a couple of
Spridgets over the years (way beyond repair) that
had only a small blister of rust showing (primarily
A post), but when I cut them up, the extent of the
rust damage was amazing.

Steve

 

[mccalebr]

Good advice already given...rust is the enemy!

Though the '62 Sprite I'm bringing back to life is a quarter elliptic rear suspension and the car you are looking at is half elliptic, many of the common trouble spots are common to both.

That said, you might wish to check out the photos on my web site www.raysmg.com under the "Spridget Project" link. The "First Look" topic will show you some of the tell-tale signs already mentioned, like the "paint blistering"...the sort of things you easily dismiss as "can't be too bad". When you get into the disassembly and bodywork pages you find out the truth...there's always more lurking than you had imagined.

This is not to disuade you...quite the contrary. If the information you have gained in the thread and from folks here on the forum help you make a wise decision in purchasing, you will be more pleased with the selection and enjoy the car much more...and that's what we all want.

Good luck,

Ray