Jack,
Go to <http://www.thicko.com/bishop.htm>
Stage V Tuning could be ordered, or installed by the dealer. I still have the
Special Tuning book that came with my car... I'll get around to scanning it and
converting it to a PDF file someday. It lists all the options.
My car was tuned to Stage V by the Donald Healey Motor Co. It has 9.3:1 flat top
pistons, a ported and polished head, hotter cam, different dist., header with
dual
exhaust, close ratio box, competition clutch, strengthened steel wheels (not
just
riveted, but welded as well.) It may have had the nitrided crank, but doesn't
any
more. It never had the disc brakes when raced originally.
Stage V took a 948cc from 43 hp to a very reliable 57 hp... similar to what they
ran in the Works prepared cars at Sebring in '59... (I think... not looking at
my
notes).
All the items you mentioned were available... you see a car with remnants once
and
a while... but most race Sprites "evolved" over the years and lost their
original
goodies. That's why I'm so grateful to have "the Bishop" in it's original state.
Incidentally, the majority of "hot" Special Tuning items.. like the cyl head,
the
trans, etc., became part of the standard equipment of the MKII.
WST
JWoesvra wrote:
> Does anyone remember someone recently saying that they couldn't use wire
> wheels on a "bugeye" because they didn't come that way? I saw it somewhere and
> can't remember exactly where.
>
> Anyway, at the time I thought I had the documentation somewhere and today I
> found it. Now I'm not sure who wanted it.
>
> For the record, the Mk I Sprites had a very extensive "option" list. While we
> generally remember these cars in H-production, actually the Sprite with
> "options" was a G-production car while the limited spec car was in H.
> Eventually some of the options were disallowed and the all the cars were put
> in H.
>
> Of particular note are several little known parts which include:
>
> p/n# Q2337 front disc brakes
> p/n# Q2552 rear disc brakes
> p/n# Q2424/31 wire wheels
> p/n# Q2504/5 1 1/2" SU carbs
> p/n# Q2350 cold air box
> p/n# Q2609 light weight seats
> p/n# Q2629 Sebring type crankshaft
>
> I wonder how many of these parts are still around, or if they ever really
> existed.
>
> Anyway, I hope this info is usefull to someone.
>
> Jack Woehrle
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