Hi Chuck,
I would be careful about driving the Bugeye over 80 MPH, I hear from
the list that yes, they are very light in the front end. Amy had a
"Back to the Future" moment when her bonnet flew open at about 90 MPH.
That would make my heart go piter patter very fast.
Can you verify that Amy?
Rick
52 MGTD, 74 B, 76 XJ12C (wife's) & Puddles (60 Frogeye)
chuck ciaffone wrote:
>
> Hi Y'all,
>
> Well, I've had a while to play with the 5-speed now,
> and I have enough miles on my engine rebuild to let
> it out some. I think the results are incredible.
>
> First, the replacement seal fixed the gearbox leak. Now
> I have a MG Midget that just does NOT seem to leak
> any bodily fluids at all (knock on wood!). My wife's
> gonna let me park it in the garage again.
>
> Then there's the top end. I had it out on I-40 at lunch.
> At 70 MPH, she was doing only about 3300 rpm (definitely less
> that 3500, anyway). Fearlessly (chuckle) I brought it up
> to 80 MPH and held it. There was room for more. However, I felt like
> I was riding a leaf caught in a flood -- hanging onto the
> wheel for dear life. That Lil Car was just not made for the
> freeways. Gets a might light in the front end.
>
> All in all, I think the 5-speed is the best thing I've done
> for the car, including the engine rebuild. Wouldn't go back
> to the 4-speed for anything. I noticed a Datsun 210 for sale
> locally, and I'm thinking of grabbing it just to have a backup
> gearbox.
>
> Many thanks to Bill Perry and Rivergate Restorations for this
> wonderful conversion kit.
>
> chuck
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