1960 Frogeye Sprite "Super Sprite V8"

[flyingphil]

Hi mikek
That is the real question! As always the market will decide. We often think our cars are worth far more than the market decides when the reality of selling happens. If two or more people want it, obviously then the price is higher if it is auctioned. We usually have invested far more in cash and emotion than we can ever get in return.....

[flyingphil]

Well the FJ1200 hardtail project motorbike has been sold, but more "things" need to go.....

[Frankenhealey]

Feb 5, 2022 14:06:17 GMT flyingphil said:

Well the FJ1200 hardtail project motorbike has been sold, but more "things" need to go.....

I usually find when "things" need to go" the distaff side are involved.

[flyingphil]

......What can I say Frankenhealey.....But I am also more involved in the GCR these days.

[flyingphil]

It is the Market Harborough Classic Car Show tomorrow so I was inspired to get my Sprites out of the garage....Well I needed to do a big tidy up and this was a good reason to do it now. As can be seen it is a bit crowded in there:-



An hour later:-








Another hour and there were two out in the sunshine:-




Any RR folk are welcome to pop in as we are only 400m from the centre, out on the Northampton Rd.

[flyingphil]

Whilst the V8 Sprite was out in the sun I finally finished part of my rewiring and ran the front wiring loom up through the chassis leg that supported the "Rubber Bumper" in its previous life.
Needless to say it was a "faff" getting the five wires for the ignition module and coil out of one hole and the lighting circuit out of the other hole. However after three tries it was completed....now to get the connections done!



Gratuitous picture of 8 ram pipes on Quad Webers!

[metalshapes]

I really like that car...

[crockpot]

Just realised you are only a few miles down the road from me!

[flyingphil]

Holy thread resurrection!

In an attempt to reinvigorate myself I have entered the Sprite in the Kelmarsh Classic and Competion car show in August. It is only five miles away and so I thought I really ought to go!

Now I have got to get the Sprite running again...

[flyingphil]

The first job is - Find the Sprite....


Well it is under the spare bonnet, on top of the see saw. So one bonnet removed.



Covers taken off and ramps positioned



Very slowly and steadily it is winched down



And finally back on Terra Firma!

[flyingphil]

After a good holiday I opened up the garage to do some work on the Sprite.
First job was to remove the bonnet



Then look at the carbs and see if they still open and close - they do!





Finally remove the radiator to access the ignition wires more easily

[flyingphil]

On checking the carbs I do need to do some modification though as the throttle mechanism may just go "over-centre" on full throttle. Some tweaking of the throttle arms is needed. So tinkering with cars again!

[flyingphil]

When I fabricated the manifold for the downdraught carbs I wanted to keep the operating system tucked away, so there is a linking bar running above the valley gasket (It was actually a cut down and altered bar from a flat four Alfasud with twin carbs). This bar connects all four carbs but is actually driven from the rear carb lever. This lever had an added bracket that connects to the throttle cable. It was this end carb lever that was going over centre.

However, on stripping it down, I found that it was not quite aligned to the adjustment screw and so a quick re alignment, screw the adjuster further in and the lever ball joint is further round, lengthen the connecting link to the linking bar and it no longer goes over centre. Hopefully the pictures make it clear....or not!

[flyingphil]

Well its another decision - do I pull the engine and gearbox? As it is 10 years since the engine ran, the chances are high that the clutch plate is stuck to the flywheel. It has been before and sometimes it jerks free after the engine is started, but other times it has had to be stripped down and the clutch cover unbolted. If I do take it all out then I can refurb the lower engine bay etc....But it is a lot more work.......Opinions welcome.

[kevins]

I'd get it running first, clutch may be OK and there may be other things like new leaks that appear and are easier to fix with the engine out once it's running.

[Darkspeed]

Flip a coin - as good as any other option.

[flyingphil]

Thanks Kevin and Darkspeed. Although I could get it running and try to free the possibly stuck clutch it is a bit difficult to do it on my drive - and in race trim it is not road legal.....So a slight change of plan.
The ram pipes are off -



The more discrete bulged bonnet and windscreen are back on-



The lightweight race doors are off -



and the normal wind up window doors are back on -




Yes it is going back on the road. It is also more likely to sell as a road going V8 Sprite rather than a drag racer.

[metalshapes]

I really like the street version bodywork.

[flyingphil]

A bit more progress as I have replaced the yellow carb bungs with.....trusty tea strainers - stainless steel no less!

At least they stop stones and nuts etc falling in - and allow the low bulge bonnet to close.

[flyingphil]

I have decided that the engine and gearbox need to come out. Previously I have used a Haltrac hoist, which was rated as SWL 500LBs and the Rover engine and 4 speed gearbox was about 400Lbs. However it was a really hard lift and needed a strong supporting roof. I think my garage joist/half upper floor could support it as I can get up there with lots of stuff in storage - but....when I checked the internet for SWL, these hoists were described as vintage and I realised that my hoist is probably 50 years old ! So I'm hiring an engine hoist!
Meanwhile I am taking off parts to access the engine.