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CURRENT INVENTORY IS SHOWN IN THE SMALL PICTURES JUST BELOW THIS TEXT!
(if a car is not pictured here, it has been sold)

Rear differential decoding

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This week, we had a client of ours ask us about which rear axle ratio he had installed in his Bugeye. On a normal classic, determining this would involve jacking the rear wheels off of the ground and counting rotations on your driveshaft per 1 wheel rotation; however, on Bugeyes and Spridgets, it’s as easy as looking at the side of the differential carrier!

An example of one of the styles of rear axle “stamp”. This is from a 3.9 axle ratio from a later Sprite.

On each differential carrier, near the top above the hole where the rear brake union mounts, there is a flat boss; on that boss, there is a stamped number. This is the number of teeth on the pinion (the lower number) and the number of teeth on the ring gear (the larger number). In order to determine what ratio you have, just divide the larger number by the smaller number, and you have your ratio!

This is another way the differentials were stamped. 9/38 is a 4.22 rear end ratio, stock for Bugeyes and Mark II Sprites/Mark I Midgets.

Bugeyes and Mark II Sprites/Mark I Midgets came from the factory with 4.22 axle ratios. Over the years, a lot of people have swapped in optional ratios from later years in an effort to keep RPMs down at higher speeds; 3.9 seems to be the popular swap as they were available for longer, but later 1500 Midgets could have 3.73 or even 3.55 ratios installed. The video below (shot all the way back in 2011!) explains how to tell what ratio is in your car, as well as some examples of RPM ranges for the different ratios.

If you find yourself swapping your differential, we offer other parts you will need to finish the job right! Click on the photos below for some examples or click here for our full catalog!

Rear axle hub seal kit (all Spridgets)
Differential pinion seal (all Spridgets)
Differential pinion Speedi-sleeve (all Spridgets)

Why tube shocks rock

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This week, we performed a tube shock conversion on this cool Bugeye called ‘Cinnamon.” We did this because this is a performance car with a performance driver, and the lever shocks were not keeping the tire on the road uniformly while going over bumps, particularly during spirted driving. It’s really hard to have two mated lever shocks (they often have different damping left and right). Tube shocks are always uniform so you get symmetrical performance left and right.

The tube shocks will better dampen the bumps and ensure the tire contact patch is always optimized, and the increased negative camber will also improve handling. Reliability and longevity, as well as control and performance… these are the benefits of our front tube shock conversion kit. And Cinnamon will enjoy these benefits going forward!

We go through tons of lever shocks in our building. 

Great shocks are required for a wonderful ride in any Spridget, but the original lever shocks are a serious wear item, constantly aging-out and leaking. Even the rebuilt ones are not as good as they used to be, and we’ve had to struggle to find a great and reliable source for the lever shocks we sell. 

Should you want to keep your stock Bugeye stock, we do offer the best rebuilt front lever shocks available, which you can purchase by clicking the above photo.

I love the way the correct lever shocks ride. They are the perfect balance of performance and comfort on a tiny car that needs all the comfort it can get… but lately we’ve been moving in the direction of this tube shock conversion simply because it eliminates the dependency on the old-fashioned lever shock design. While these are a little more pricey than the lever shocks, if you think about changing your lever shocks every three years or so (which has sadly become the norm), it’s a great way to economize in the long haul because the tube shocks should last 10 to 20 years.

The front tube shock conversion upon installation. Hey, want slotted and vented brake rotors? Click here to get yours!
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Very early-production 1958 Bugeye Sprite for sale with a special surprise under the hood! New price-$39,995

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NOW SOLD to sold to Charlie & Andy in Florida! Congrats on taking home Bugeye # 416!

We are highlighting “Milano” this week, a car that combines the best 1958 provenance with the best modern upgrades. We can’t build a nice five-speed supercharged Bugeye with these modifications for anywhere near $40k, (especially not a restored early ’58 Bugeye), so check Milano out!

Check out the video below for a taste of life with a performance Bugeye!

New driving video! Zoom!

For folks who like early-production Sprites, here’s a special opportunity to purchase a very early car! This is “Milano”, a 1958 Bugeye that wears serial number AN5L 981, which would make its build only 480 cars later than 501, our first production bugeye sprite. We only know of a handful of cars with serial numbers below 1000, so this is one rare (Milano) cookie that would have been built sometime in the summer of 1958.  (We’re happy to get a heritage certificate for the new owner to confirm the build date). The car has tons of ’58 only early car features, like the correct early gussets for the back deck, the different early rear shock mounts and radiator supports, and early top bow, all the cool features that you’ll see also on AN5L 501, the very first production Bugeye. 

[Read more…] about Very early-production 1958 Bugeye Sprite for sale with a special surprise under the hood! New price-$39,995

Leaf Spring lifespans

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Ride quality is something we take very seriously here at Bugeyeguys. If a Bugeye comes to us, and during subsequent test drives we feel something “off” in the suspension, we will investigate to determine the cause of the issue. We did just such an investigation earlier this week on a Bugeye we are preparing to ship to Oregon. The rear suspension had an overly harsh quality to it, making the ride unpleasant. What could cause this?

This set of original leaf springs was removed from a car in our shop earlier this week. While they appear visually to be in good condition, 60 years of suspending a Bugeye rear axle has taken a lot of the spring out of them.

A harsh ride coming from the rear suspension can be due to a number of things. The rear lever shocks could be worn or leaking (click here if you need new rear lever shocks) or the “dog bone” connecting links could have failed (click here if you need new shock “dog bones”). Both of these had just been replaced, so the next most likely culprit was the rear springs. Upon inspection, we discovered they were worn out.

The complete life cycle of an original Bugeye leaf spring, from lightly worn to replaced.
[Read more…] about Leaf Spring lifespans

Happy Bugeye Summer!!

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This is a simple photo of my Bugeye drive today on a two-lane road heading north. But to me, this is a very significant photo.

Since 1978, when I bought my first Bugeye “Gumby,”, the arrival of summer has always been marked by the start of new adventures. A Bugeye is always the conduit, my ride to special places where summer adventures can unfold. This year, I’m learning all about horses, and a Bugeye takes me to school.

Today, I am on my way to the barn for a riding lesson to work on my jumping technique, and I am excited. I am hot. It’s summer. School’s out. I am off on an adventure, a new summer celebration. I am learning a new skill, once again heading to my destination in a Bugeye. I am a little older now, but the unknown summer adventures ahead, the raw sports car, the special exhaust note, the smell of an old English car… none of that has changed.

This year, I am in Todd’s green Bugeye, diagnosing for him a noise he wants us to fix. This is a test drive, and I am working (barely). Yet this is serious work, because I am putting a customer’s car thorough its paces, to ensure that Todd too can enjoy the summer adventures of his choosing without issue. The car is perfect except for one small rattle, which we will fix. This Bugeye still transports me with ease, and a smile, and with air blowing upon my body from every angle. I am heading North in a Bugeye. It’s summer. And I am free.

Contact us at customercare@bugeyeguys.com or call (203)-208-0980 Monday - Friday | 8 am - 5 p.m. EST