[Spridgets] bent frame rails

Biff Jones biffjones at verizon.net
Fri Dec 19 12:16:25 MST 2008


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/


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