Gary Flinn
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Posts posted by Gary Flinn
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I shall be travelling down from Up North, not good news☹️
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On 13/04/2024 at 12:16, Colin Lindsay said:
I assume Andrew Stone of Belper is long gone too, if that's roughly in your area? I remember buying parts from him in pre-Internet days.
Colin
I believe Andrew moved to France, I actually helped a Mate with the rewire of his premises in Belper in the early 1990's on Derwent Street in Belper, I do currently live quite local to Belper.
I often wonder what happened to John Hills at Redditch, I had loads of stuff off them in the mid 1980's.
Regards
Gary
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I can remember ordering the steel trim pieces and the outer/inner door weather strips from my local BL dealer in the mid 80's for my first Vitesse, a place called Service Motors in Leabrooks, Derbyshire.
It's long gone now, there's a Co-op Supermarket on the site, they call it progress!!
Regards
Gary
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It looks like its been ran over and bent, the end should be at 90 degrees I reckon.
I don't recognise it as a Triumph Part.
Regards
Gary
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For anyone looking for N.O.S. Aluminium bumper capping's for a Vitesse rebuild, someone is listing 3 on E-Bay presently
I can remember searching for N.O.S. during the rebuild of my Vitesse 20 years ago, I only ever found one at the Stoneleigh Triumph Spares day, I gave up in the end and had a good second hand set stripped, polished and re-anodised for less than the cost of one of these?!
Regards
Gary
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You've been very busy Colin, great work.
I too dread working on the inside of the doors on a Herald/Vitesse, too many fiddly clips and sharp edges, fitting the round clips that retain the window channels to the winding mechanism is a fiddly job, there must be a knack to it but I've never mastered it yet.
Think positive, it will start first time, prime the fuel pump and make sure you have a spark and away she will go🙂
Regards
Gary
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1 minute ago, Pete Lewis said:
we had a swinger kit we fitted to the Vit6 it just got lower and lower and 10deg neg camber
needed two of the shocker bump stops removing to get any ride travel
it got dumped and a courier spring and 1 " lowering block to replace it
so my experience of a swinger on a Vitesse was its just hopeless
Pete
Pete
Interesting, I thought the uprated Swing Springs for the Herald/Vitesse were the way to go to tame the rear?
However from your experience it would seem the stiffer/flatter Courier Specification spring and a lowering block is the way to go.
Gary
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50 minutes ago, Works Spitfires said:
Its only the two outer leaf clamps that would damage rotoflex couplings if you accidently fitted a MKI spring.
If you look at a genuine MKII roto spring the two outer clamps are bent around the leaves instead of being bolted.
You can replicate this (if you felt the need) by removing the bolts from the outer clamps, and hammering the legs around the bottom leaf. In effect that's all they did on a roto spring anyway.
Yes, I believe that's what happened.
The shape/set of a Roto-flex type spring is different too if you look at the measurements in the chart from John Thomason, its got far more curve to it, presumably something to do with getting the correct camber throughout the suspension travel when fitted.
Although the Mk2 Roto-flex type suspension works well, it is a pain to work on and expensive to rebuild, I can see why people fit CV joints or the uprated Swing Springs to the MK2 Vitesse models.
Gary
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38 minutes ago, Works Spitfires said:
Yes in Sheffield no less, where all the best steel comes from.
I'm not sure anyone else is replicating this spring because of the minimal sales on it. If there was an option for an imported one like there is for most of the other models they would be a lot cheaper.
We did have a customer recently who came to us after being told by another supplier that a Vitesse MKI spring would fit (and be suitable for) his MKII!
I purchased a supposed Mk2 spring in the mid 1980's for my Mk2 Vitesse from John Hills the Triumph people in Redditch, it turned out to be for a Mk1 model and I ended up ruining the Roto-flex drive couplings!
The John Thomason article mentions using an earlier 2 Litre Swing axle spring to lower and stiffen up the rear suspension on a Mk2 model, but I wouldn't advise it unless you have the CV driveshafts fitted.
Regards
Gary
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Bob
If you can weld they are not too difficult to make, alternatively some 41x41 Unistrut type Channel and some sturdy 'U' Clamps/bolts can be used, I don't think the TSSC sell them although you may be able to borrow one off a nearby Club member, I had one but sold it when I sold my Vitesse.
Here's a picture of One I've pinched from a previous post and the dimensions from a Workshop Manual, also one in use on my old Vitesse
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28 minutes ago, Bob said:
Thank you for the responses. I will count the leaves tonight. I am pretty certain that there are seven, so I assume that leaves have been taken out.
This leads on to the best approach for remediation, as I would like her a little higher. Is a new spring required? as I guess that there is no place to buy spare leaves, if I identify the leaves that are missing.
Thanks again Bob
Bob
It looks like the spring's been modified then, or is possibly a GT6 one?
Although the chart states a GT6 MK2/Early Mk3 spring (Roto-flex type) should have 6 leaves not 7?
Be careful with some of the Repro springs, I fitted one during the rebuild of my Vitesse and it sagged after 12 months or so, if you can find a good second hand one that is within the dimensions stated in the chart above then you can strip it clean and refurbish it with new Thrust buttons and Spring Eye bushes for minimal expense
Alternatively, a new one will be around £300, I believe Canley Classics have them made by a UK Company so it's worth getting in touch with them.
Be aware that ideally you will need a spring lifting tool to remove and replace the spring safely (This supports the spring till all the tension is removed), keep us posted how you get on.
Regards
Gary
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Hi Bob
It's hard to tell how many leaves you have fitted but it looks like a few have been removed to presumably lower the car, or you may have a GT6 Mk2 or early Mk3 Spring fitted which won't be strong enough.
As stated by Works Spitfire a Mk2 Vitesse spring should have 11 Leaves in total and it is a different set to the earlier cars
Here's an article done by a guy called John Thomason which was featured in the courier magazine and also a photo of a an original Mk2 spring I refurbished for my old Mk2 Vitesse
Be aware that there are 4 of the rubber Buttons per side and note the dimensions and free arc height of the spring when fitted and when out of the car.
The offset of your wheels won't affect the camber to any great extent which should be slightly positive 1 or 2 degrees max on a Mk2 Vitesse
Regards
Gary
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The same Part Numbers 130036 Blade & 130034 Arm are listed for all Herald/Vitesse models, if you have a later Herald 13/60 manufactured after early 1970 it may have the wider spaced Wipers but the part numbers I believe stay the same.
I'm sure I fitted some slightly wider (12" maybe) blades that were slightly offset to my old Vitesse with the wider wiper spacings and I didn't have any issues with them catching.
PS - I do know the number of teeth on the Motor Gear wheel affects the amount of sweep degree's, a 130 Degree sweep is normal for the earlier cars up to early 1970, I'm sure the later cars are different but I can't remember how many degrees🤔
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The last time I had a full respray and some minor Bodywork repairs done was in 2004 and this cost £3,000.00
I had several quotes at the time ranging from £2,000 up to £4,500, it lasted well for 10 years or so, but I believe a few issues have now arisen and it could do with further work.
A bare metal job is the way to go if you want it to last.
Regards
Gary
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1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said:
They usually fail at low speeds anyway, when there's more pressure on the trunnion during low-speed cornering, for example. As the gang have posted, go for good parts from a trusted supplier, it's worth the peace of mind, and don't go for an expensive oil gun to refill the trunnions, that's a waste of money.
Not always Colin
I had one fail on my Vitesse at 60MPH!
It was a bit scary to say the least, luckily it was on a straight bit of road that wasn't too busy, luckily I didn't lose my brakes and there was a layby for me to skid into.
The vertical link snapped at the end of the threaded section due to fatigue from a previous accident/kerbing which I presume had bent it, I should have changed the Vertical Link really but back then (The mid 1980's) money was tight and I didn't know it was failing.
Gary
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Originally the Vitesse 6 and Early 2 Litre Vitesse's didn't have the flexible hoses fitted, the Mk2's did though.
It is certainly a good idea to fit them though and get cold air into the Carbs/Engine.
Gary
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23 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said:
The Blue Vitesse in my group picture below is currently for sale, John's bought a Stag and the Vitesse has to go. Ad should be in the Courier, whenever it arrives. Not sure if it's one owner, but it's been well looked after. John earns money from fettling other people's Triumphs.
Doug
Doug
I have seen that one listed, it looks very nice but I've set my heart on a Mk2 Convertible, preferably with Over-drive.
I can remember chatting to a guy at the Stafford TSSC Show several years ago and he'd owned his White MK2 Convertible since 1974, a guy called Gordon Stokes from Birmingham also attended Stafford a couple of times and he'd owned his lovely 1965 Signal Red Vitesse 6 from new, but that was sold via a dealer a few years ago now.
I did view a 3 owner car earlier this year with 47K miles genuine miles on the clock, but this had too many Mechanical issues for me although I did make what I though was a realistic offer for it which was refused.
Gary
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As a lot of you will know I've been on the lookout for an original low mileage/low ownership Vitesse for quite a few months now.
Does anyone know of any club cars that have been owned by the same person from new?
It must be a long shot with even the later Spitfires and Dolomites being 40+ years old now
I would love to find an original, one owner low mileage car but I'm beginning to think there aren't any left these days.
Regards
Gary
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They fit as per your second (bottom) photo on the TR's glued to the 'A' Post, so presumably the same way on your Spitfire.
The same seal is fitted to the Stag's and later Herald/Vitesse models too I believe.
Regards
Gary
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Certain Triumph Toledo models used a similar combined Wiper/Washer Switch to operate Electric Washers and two speed wipers, I fitted one to my old Vitesse with electric washers.
Gary
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Yes, sold for the asking price too?
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Offers now invited on this item.
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Hi Paul
Presumably you have used the original chassis top mounts if you have CV Driveshafts?
Unless you want to save a bit of weight I would leave the Lever Arm Chassis mounts in place in case a future owner wishes to convert back
PS - Which make of Telescopic Damper (Shock) have you chosen?
Regards
Gary
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Wow!
That is a rare Item, that particular seller's been clearing out quite a few rare parts recently, a Vitesse front panel was listed a couple of weeks ago.
Would it be safe to put straight on a car though?
Gary
Whiny third!
in Gearbox & Overdrive
Posted
Slick 50?