New Sprite, how is it wired?

[bk6]

I just picked up a (somewhat of a basket case) Sprite yesterday. I'm new to this negative/positive ground business. I would just check the battery leads...except my Sprite came without one.

It has had some work done to it, which will be part of the fun of fixing it, but one thing that makes the think it may have had the conversion done is it has a different tach and the fuel pump (which is dead) is also a replacement (but it's SU style).

Where should I be looking to find some hints as to which way my Sprite is wired?

[spritenut]

The only thing that is critical on the wiring is the tachometer.
If it is hooked up backwards, it will fry in a about 30 seconds.
You said it has a different tach, does that tach say + or - ground anywhere on it?
Also check the coil, if the positive (CB) terminal goes to the distributor, it is wired positive ground.
If negative (SW) goes to the distributor, it is wired negative ground.

[Charlie Tolman]

If a battery cable or cables is/are still there:
The positive post of a battery is slightly larger in diameter than the negative post.
Look at the size of the circular opening of a cable clamp.

Charlie T.

[hoggie]

what year is your sprite?

[bk6]

It's a 67, but it has a 948. As I get more into it, I'm realizing that it is too far gone to ever come back, at least in my hands. Someone has done some really terrible frame reinforcement on the front end.

The tach, however, appears to have a positive ground. It's tough to tell with the gigantic bird's nest of wiring behind the dash. Nifty, though, I think they used a motorcycle tach when they changed it out.

Time to pull up eBay and Craigslist.

[hoggie]

Sprites and Midgets are very basic, so most anyone with the time,money, and desire can restore one to good condition as long as the body is not a complete rust case.

67 Sprites from HAN972041 forward were negative ground.

They also had 1098 cc motors.

Sounds like you don't want to tackle the mess you find, so hopefully it will find a good home.