StevieB
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 posted on 18/4/10 at 02:04 PM |
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Empty Garage...
Well, my car has gone now.
Bit depressing to see my garage so empty but at least I know my car has gone off to someone who's got a similar plan as I had for the Indy and
will continue my work.
So, big chance to clean out the garage paint the floor, new workbench, maybe a small modelling lathe and mill (99% of anything that needs turning or
milling tend to be little spacers and brackets and the like) and a big gutting out.
Then, it's on to the next project soon...
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big_wasa
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 02:09 PM |
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Whats the next project ?
I would like an M3 Gkd, a midi, a trike and thats if I ever get the locost and trailer finished. In between the above the hole house and garden needs
doing up.
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StevieB
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 02:26 PM |
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Same here - initially I need to spend some time on the house and garden.
My curent plan is a BEC midget. I've been reading up on midget racing cars and they're getting the cars down to about 520kg with the 1275
a series in there. I reckon I can get down to a weight not much more than my Indy had.
It'll be a GRP front and rear clam shell (still deliberating whether to go midget or frogeye at the moment), coilover front suspension with
tubular wishbones, 5 link rear axle with slippy diff and coilovers.
Screen will be ditched (along with all the heater, wipers etc.) for a brooklands screen.
Engine wise I think I'm looking for an engine that is about 140-150bhp (don't reckon the axle will tae much more than that) but puts out
good torque. A carb'd R1 fits the bill, but I might investigate things like the Honda ST1100.
I might have to consider a reverse mechanism of some sort, though this would be a weight penalty and I want to keep that down as much as possible.
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big_wasa
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 02:42 PM |
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I love the frogeye 
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 03:07 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
I love the frogeye
aah, the sprite was a different car alltogether. Austin Healey made the sprite and frogeyed sprite, and MG badged it as a Midget.
Both cute little cars. Loce the front of the midget, and the rear of the sprite. A mid or rear engined sprite would be awesome. You must be able to
get a ZX10 engine under the back end somehow.
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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TimC
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 03:11 PM |
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Presumably you know all about the Tifosi Rana?
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StevieB
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 03:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by TimC
Presumably you know all about the Tifosi Rana?
I do, but I also know about Peter May Engineering who sell the GRP clam
shells at far more reasonable prices. They might be a bit thinner than the Tifosi items, but then I'm trying to save weight anyway.
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TimC
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 04:28 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
I do, but I also know about Peter May Engineering who sell the GRP clam
shells at far more reasonable prices. They might be a bit thinner than the Tifosi items, but then I'm trying to save weight anyway.
That is reasonable! I do love the Sprite - my old next door neighbour was a MG nut and had a beautiful example in old english white with lots of
period (and some not so period) go faster bits.
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StevieB
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 04:48 PM |
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Old English White is kind of the way I'm headed too.
I won't be going to many period parts unerneath, but I do want it to look as much a classic racer as possible on the outside.
I have seen a few american race cars that have c/f smattered all over them - just looks as wrong as anything could ever be!
I do really like the frogeye look, but I also like the look of this one (incidentally, powered by a carb'd R1):
 
Rescued attachment Midget R1.jpg
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jacko
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 04:55 PM |
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Last weekend coming from York to Market weighton i saw a nice Midget for sale
sorry i dont know how much
Jacko
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StevieB
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 05:00 PM |
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This is a nicely built example of what I would be trying to achieve (less the A
Series, of course!).
My mate saw the midget for sale as he drives past it every day. He said it was a nice looking car, which probably puts it out of my budget - plus
I'd hate to buy a nice example and then rip it apart and dispose of half of it.
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TimC
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 07:56 PM |
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Carb'd R1 is a total doddle to wire too... about 5 wires off the ecu.
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iank
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 08:11 PM |
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Sounds like a good project, but watch out for complete rust buckets as it'll be a big job to get it back to full strength. Rubber bumper models
tend to be cheaper if you are replacing the front end anyway.
Personally I'd go with a K series or maybe a V6 if it would fit with minimal cutting, but if a BEC floats your boat go for it.
If you don't chop the monocoque around then you won't need IVA (or a reverse) and could keep tax free status if you get one early enough.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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StevieB
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| posted on 18/4/10 at 08:19 PM |
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It's a rubber bumper model I'm looking for - being less desirable than the round wheel arch chrome bumper models (and also lacking the
1275 engine), they tend to be a better price.
There's a few around at the moment that have reasonably sound structures with basic bubbling on the paint in some areas. I plan to strip it all
back to the basic structure and then have it either dipped or blasted so I can see every bit of damage that needs addressing.
he need to not do IVA/registration again is how I came to this project, otherwise I'd be building a book based MX5 donor car.
Actually, I've often thought the MX5 engine and box would go nicely into a midget, and remains an option at the moment.
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