Spridget Tech Talk (MG Midget & Austin-Healey Sprite)
I am going to look at a 1966 Sprite for a friend of mine. Since I have an MGB, I don't for sure know what to look for on a Sprite of that age. Can I get any tips on what I specifically can look at as far as trouble spots? Rust in the same places as a B? etc. thanks
Jon
By the way, it is not the 1966 Sprite being shown on this forum for sale.
Look for pretty much the same as the B. Floors, rockers (pop plug under carpet if able to), bottom of cowl, front fenders rear (where meets cowl) and front lip under turn signal (drip hole), quarters, hood lip (front) and the trunk (look at the inside of the lid for rust to see if condensation is/had been in there much). Check to see if the doors are gapped evenly. Check front end/frame for damage. Someone else will chime in on what I missed.
One big difference is that when MGB floors/sills rot, the doors become hard to open/close because the gap shrinks at the top of the door. The Sprite is the opposite. The door will find it difficult to reach the striker on the body, and the gap wil be wider at the top than the bottom. That indicates serious structural sill rust.
Worst rust spots seem to be the front mount of the rear springs, and the bottom of the cowl just forward of the bottom of the door.
The a-frames on the front suspension crack where the pin goes through. I had mine replaced, but I've seen some that were welded.
