We have introduced a number of modifications in the interior to suit our interests. These are listed in no particular order below:
Gauges – Speedometer and Tachometer
The right hand drive connector for the speedometer cable on the Rivergate five speed conversion never worked well. Once the cable came loose and a second time the cable broke.
Rivergate Speedo Cable Adapter
Now seemed to be the perfect time to convert to the GPS speedometer sold by Bugeye Guy.
The unit is made by Speedhut instruments and apparently David at Bugeyeguy.com has a custom face made for the unit to look similar to the original Sprite gauge face. Details about installation including the wiring may be found in another post “A New Electrical System.”: https://valvechatter.com/?p=13986
The speedometer uses a gps sensor which routed between the driver’s door and the dash trim and is secured to the top of the dash with a magnetized plate.
Bugeye Guy GPS Speedometer
Bugeye Guy Speedo GPS Sensor
We liked the speedometer so much that we ordered the matching tachometer too!
Speedhut tachometer
Many of the electrical connections for the tachometer take advantage of the wiring loom provided with the speedo so that the tachometer can piggy-back for shorter wiring runs. Really happy with both of these upgrades. At first glance, the new instruments do look very much like the originals.
Hazard Switch and Lights
Of course, the Bugeye did not come equipped with hazard or caution lights. However, in today’s world and particularly with such a small car, hazard lights are really essential. The Classic Technologies relay/fuse box incorporates a hazard flasher relay system. We purchased a Lucas 155SA hazard switch to activate the system.
Lucas Hazard Switch
The switch is a push/pull type and incorporates a flashing warning light in the body of the switch. The switch will be added to the dash panel we built and is installed behind the dash.
The Lucas 155SA hazard switch was used in many British cars, and apparently the one we ordered was used in the 1974-75 triumph TR6 and the 1973-77 Triumph Spitfire. Details about installation including the wiring may be found in another post “A New Electrical System.”: https://valvechatter.com/?p=13986
Variable Speed Wiper Controller
Some years ago Ed Esslinger authored an article on a Sunbeam Tiger web site about a kit he put together to provide unlimited variable control of the speed of the Lucas wiper motor. We tried one of his kits on the Big Healey and liked it. Great for handling mist and light rain. Unfortunately it doesn’t make the wipers go any faster!
We installed the control knob for the variable speed rheostat on the vertical panel we made and installed behind the dash. We took advantage of the blanking bolt nuts intended for the steering column bracket in a RH drive car as a location for mounting the controller electronics. No holes were drilled in the chassis. Details about installation including the wiring may be found in another post “A New Electrical System.”: https://valvechatter.com/?p=13986
LED interior gauge lamps
All of the lights were converted from the original incandescent bulbs to LEDs sourced from Moss Motors.
LED Interior footwell and boot courtesy lights
LED interior footwell, map and boot courtesy lights operate remotely by a key fob or manually with a toggle switch on the panel behind the dash. We ordered the RF Relay and key fob from Amazon. DieseRC 433Mhz Universal Wireless Remote Control Switch DC 12V 1CH RF Relay Receiver Module with 1 Transmitter, EV1527 Learning Code Remote Switch. Details about installation including the wiring may be found in another post “A New Electrical System.”: https://valvechatter.com/?p=13986
RF Courtesy Light Controller
The boot has two aimable LED lights. Each one is mounted on the LH and RH rear interior quarter panels. These lights were sourced from SuperBright LEDS.
Boot LED Light
In the front footwells we also installed LED lights sourced from Better Car Lighting in the UK.
Footwell Lights and Brackets
Turn Indicator Warning Buzzer
The turn indicator switch in the Bugeye is not self-canceling. While there is a warning lamp on the dash located between the speedometer and the tachometer, it is often not sufficiently bright to let the driver know to turn the switch to the off position. We installed a little buzzer sourced from Radio Shack to provide an audible alert when the flashers are turned on.
Modified Windscreen Washer Pump (plunger)
The Bugeye came equipped with a windscreen washer system that was activated by pushing a plunger mounted in the dash. The pressure created by pushing the plunger moved the cleaning fluid out to the windscreen. The process worked well enough, but when the Big Healey was restored we became aware of Stu Brennan, an owner of a Sunbeam Tiger, who had converted his hand activated pump windscreen washer to an electric washer. Stu’s idea was to put an electric momentary micro switch inside the aluminum pump canister thereby eliminating the need to install an additional switch somewhere. Since the washer in the Tiger is the same as the one in both the Big Healey and the Bugeye we decided to give it a try.
Two items needed to be purchased for the conversion. An electric pump typically used on later Sprites was ordered from Moss Motors. A Home Depot switch was purchased, Gardner-Bender, Push Button, GSW-22, SPST always-off. Details about installation including the wiring may be found in another post “A New Electrical System.”: https://valvechatter.com/?p=13986
Washer Pump Parts
Under Dash Parcel Tray
Later Sprites and MG Midgets had a parcel shelf mounted under the dash on the passenger side of the car. We decided that it might make sense to add one to the Bugeye as well because there just isn’t much space for storing small items. The shelf was originally made from some type of fiberboard. We located a fellow in the U.K. who makes the shelves out of aluminum and for an extra commission will add the front rubber cushion to the shelf too. All at a very reasonable price.https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?item=116168223491&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211&_ssn=bicycle55cps
This is an image of the shelf sans the rubber cushion. All of the mounting holes are incorporated. We will cover the shelf in red vinyl to match the interior.
Aluminum Parcel Shelf
Seat Sliders
The seat slider mechanisms on John’s car worked, but not smoothly.
Original Seat Slider Tracks
Original new sliders seem to be unavailable at the current time. While reviewing the topics on the Austin-Healey Experience Forum we noticed a post by Vishal Patel who had replaced the original sliders with some generic contemporary sliders produced and sold by the Racewill Store on Amazon. Vishal was very helpful in answering questions about his approach and we decided to adopt his modification for John’s Bugeye.
Our first step was ordering the slider kits. The adjusting bar will be more visible than the original adjusting arm, But we like that you adjust the seat by pulling up on the bar in the center of the seat rather than on one side. We were pleased with the quality of construction and the operation of the sliders. The seat tracks have mounting holes that line up with the original ones (12.5″ on center).
Seat Slider Kit
Our next step was to cut some 1/8″ steel plate to form the pieces that will serve as the connectors between the original seat frame and the new slider mechanisms. They are roughly 18″ long by 3″ wide. We positioned them in place on the seat frames by utilizing the existing holes on the frames. We drilled holes in the plates to align with the seat frame holes and then mounted the plates on each side of the seat frames. With the steel plates in place we then welded the plates to the frames.
New Steel Mounting Plates Bolted to Frames
New Steel Mounting Plates Bolted to Frames
Next we installed 1/4″-28 rivnuts into the ends of the new seat slider tracks. The holes in the tracks needed to be enlarged ever so slightly. Now 1/4″-28 x 3/4″ hex head bolts will be used to mount the seat frames to the tracks.
Slider Track Rivnuts Installed
We noticed that the studs that are welded to the seat frames and are used to attach the seat back to the lower frame were in very bad shape. These were ground out with an angle grinder and new weld studs were welded in place. The nut and washer on each stud is used to hold the stud straight while being welded.
The video illustrates the process of repairing the frame studs, and installing the new seat slider tracks.
Seat Belt Harnesses
Upgrading to shoulder harnesses was a must, but unlike the belts we had in the car previously, we decided on retractable units this time around. We ordered our belts from BugeyeGuys.
Red Retractable Seat Belts
While we generally try to do everything we can to avoid drilling new holes in the Bugeye sheet metal, it is required for this installation. Four holes in the interior floor and two holes in the rear wheel wells.
Seat belt mounting holes
Shoulder Harness Retractor Holes
This is a brief video showing the installed belts:
https://vimeo.com/942791115/4a83c628a8?share=copy
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