DerekS

Bren, there was one fitted to my 81 Spit when I bought it, I have tried the original back on and don't notice any difference in position. Moto L certainly looks nicer. Derek.

At risk of nagging, Is there a boot light fitted? If so, is it going off and staying off as it should? Can be a problem... Derek.

Interesting reading this. Boot light? Derek.

Thanks for that Paula, always interesting to see old pics. Double Green Shield stamps on Tuesdays too, I still have a couple of books, must get them cashed in! Derek.

Another yes here. It's good to have a professional opinion that your car is all good and if it isn't then you really do want to know rather than riding round in a death-trap. And, God forbid, should the worst happen then at least your back is covered. Derek.

Interesting look back there Pete. £65 in 1964 was a considerable amount of money mind, what's the equivalent now I wonder? And the red paint, done at the airport... the chemical factory I worked at had quite a few shiny yellow cars and bikes on the car parks, coincidentally the same shade as the local plant hire mobile compressors and welding sets! Happy days? Yep and the thing is we knew it at the time. Thanks for that! Derek.

Don't know about that but one of the advantages of led is they are just as bright in really cold weather where the old fluorescents I had at our old address were badly affected with the cold. Derek.

Something to be aware of is the torque setting for these listed in Haynes manual is waaaay too high. Can't remember what it quotes but a few years ago I managed, foolishly, to strip the threads on two new ones. Derek.

Another old trick is to try tightening the offending article, very carefully and just a smidgen, you dont want to shear the top off. If it moves you've broken the grip and can ease it by loosening/ tightening till it frees up. Doesn't work every time but something to remember. You'll get it! Derek.

Spot on, very interesting article, thanks Paul. Derek.

Evening all, here's something different! Derek. https://www.motortrend.com/news/innengine-e-rex-1-stroke-hydrogen-powered-range-extender-engine/amp/?utm_source=upday&utm_medium=referral

Or flange

Apologies if this has been submitted before but the salt funnel that is supplied for use with dishwashers is a perfect fit on the filler of a rocker box ( Spitfire, others? ) and certainly helps getting fresh oil in without spillage. Derek.

And just to complicate matters further, some of the new circlips supplied with the good quality new U/Js were thinner than the originals, can't remember the value now but it was considerable. A minefield. I also changed the U/J on my propshaft and didn't have any bother whatsoever... Derek

Cliff b, I only needed one shim under each circlip on mine. But bear in mind that's a "float" of 6 thou in total. I have now replaced them with thicker circlips; I found that some of the circlips supplied with new U/Js were not a standard thickness. This can be a right old minefield... a micrometer is an absolute must for comparison. Derek. Ps, don't assume that the yokes were accurately machined in the first place.

That's how I established where the noise was coming from on mine 16 years ago, I mic'd up a Fosters beer tin one night, 3 thou, made a set of shims up and hey presto, no noise. Easy make too! Derek.

What air filters are you using, standard with standard airbox, or the K+N types? Derek.

Back in the 1970s I had a Ford Escort 1300 GT, the air cleaner had an intake that you positioned over the exhaust manifold in winter and rotated away for summer driving. Hot Car magazine were doing tests on cars to see if they could improve the BHP for no spend. With the Escort they removed the rotating section of the air cleaner but, critically, left the round rubber connector in place for air flow. They also removed the radiator fan and, combined, gained a 5 BHP increase which was noticeable on a 75 BHP engine. There was only one occasion where the engine started to get too warm, on a particularly hot day in traffic. Wish I still had the Escort... Derek.

Thanks Johny, yep, you are absolutely right. Opie Oils have Millers available and it specifically mentions overdrives, I've ordered that. Thanks again. Derek.

Cheers Paul! Derek

Evening all, I thoughtyou may be interested with this. Halfords have Millers 20w50 on stock for £29, with free home delivery. If you join their motoring club, free, you get a £5 discount. I've just ordered 5l and I'm informed it will be delivered on Friday. £24 to the door, got to be a cracking deal! Derek.

Thanks for your reply Johnny, it is a bit if an unknown; I seem to remember someone on here swearing by it some time ago. I've been looking at Opie oils site to see what they have, Millers looks ok. I've been using Castrol but am not convinced it's the absolute best available given possible advances in technology.

Morning all, I'm looking to change the gearbox oil on my Spitfire 1500 with overdrive and am wondering if anyone has tried the Redline MT90 synthetic and if so what were the results? Any problems with the overdrive, any quieter? The spec sheet on Opie Oils website looks promising but I can't see any mention of overdrive. Would it be ok in dashpots Pete? Derek.

Thanks for that Gary, thoroughly enjoyed it! Derek.

I had a problem some years back with poor starting and an intermittent misfire, (Spitfire1500 ) it was only by sheer luck that I had the bonnet up and noticed that when the engine hiccupped there was a noticeable cracking noise. It turned out to be a complete break in the core of the king lead from coil to distributor, I don't know what caused it but refitting the old one which I'd kept just in case cured the problem. Derek.