[Spridgets] bent frame rails

[Trevor Jessie]

1. The company that makes the heritage shells based on the original
tooling and designs that they purchased still makes them with this
curve.

2. Use your engineering skills AND apply some critical thinking.  How
else would you achieve caster in the spridget front suspension without
the rails being turned upwards.  Think man... break out of the
engineer reference manual mold.

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 2:32 PM, bv <bvsprite at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Biff,
>
> In the factory body works section 'O' , the  7 3/8 difference in in the width
> between the rear suspension mounting points and the front A-arm mounting
> points, not the height.  All the measurement are from side to side, and front
> to back, not for height.
>
> BTW - The frame and tub of my sprite were virtually rust free, and had no
> original body damage, (I was very lucky).
>
> Regards,
> Bryan
>
> --- On Fri, 12/19/08, Biff Jones <biffjones at verizon.net> wrote:
> From: Biff Jones <biffjones at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [Spridgets] bent  frame rails
> To: spridgets at autox.team.net
> Date: Friday, December 19, 2008, 11:16 AM
>
> BV,
>
> By all means ignore what everyone has told you re: the front frame rails and
> straighten them.
> However, after you have done that you will find that the steering doesn't
> want to function as expected.
>
> It is possible for them to bend but our good friend rust will most likely be
> there to show you. If the rails
> and the bottom plate show significant rust or rust through then it's
> possible. We can't diagnose that over
> the internet.
>
> Get a factory manual and in the "Bodywork" section, section
> "O" you will find a chart to assist you in doing
> "The Horizontal Alignment Check".  A quick look will tell you that
> the front frame rails have a 7 3/8" difference
> in height from a level surface upward from where they attach to the cross
> member in the cockpit to the front
> suspension inner (front) pivot bolt.
>
> You have to understand that the "frame" was designed to use parts
> that were standard parts from the BMC parts
> bins. 99% of all they parts were standard BMC parts to keep the costs down.
> It
> was cheaper to design the "frame"
> to use these existing parts rather than modifying/redesigning new parts.
>
> In short the frame rails do bend upwards.  It's your car do what you
> "think" is right.
>
> Biff Jones
> 'Frogarri' '59 Bugeye
> 'Ole Gray' '61 AH Sprite
> http://sprites2.homestead.com/