NevSpit

Just another thought (and there are probably good reasons not to which people more educated than me will point out) but someone once told me they had put a motorcycle exhaust baffle inside each of the twin pipes to reduce the loudness. Believe they are available on certain auction sites in different diameters. As i say, just a thought...

Now that looks like it could make a substantial improvement in clearing the screen on those steamy days... Does anyone know if the same motor can be used in a Spitfire MKIV - the part numbers seem to differ but not sure what the physical differences are. I recognise the Spit is a two speed fan and we are looking at a single here but one decent speed is good enough.

Hi all. Finally got around to investigating why my windscreen wipers only worked on high speed and did not self park. I have dismantled the motor and when I removed the brush plate the springs / wires on the brushes were rather corroded, so much so that one of the opposing pair just disintegrated. After some searching on the web I found that this is the slow speed brush so that would make sense why it wasn't working! I hope to go to the NEC at the end of the month so a replacement will be on the shopping list. However, I was then trying to work out how the two different speeds work and my brain is failing to grasp it. It appears that the high speed brush is a different shape but still touches the commutator in the same place although it is at a different angle i.e. not opposite the remaining brush. So how do the two speeds work then? Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks, Paul.

Well I finally managed to get some time to look at the Spitfire brakes today, sadly the Mini has been the priority lately given it is the daily driver and was calling for the welder and spookily some brake attention (brake gremlins have it in for me lately...) Anyway, I went round the whole system checking the points that people had suggested: rear brake adjustment, front pad movement / gaps, weeping seals etc and nothing obvious. At the last MOT the tester suggested I nip up the n/s front bearing so given that and the advice above I did so by one flat, as I said though there didn't appear to be any pad movement evident and it wasn't a problem before. I also enlisted the wife and bleed the brakes as well. End result - problem has gone away ! Not sure if it was the brakes being bled or the nipping up of the bearing reducing movement but at least for now it seems to have done the trick. I will leave it a couple of days and see if the problem returns or not as originally I put the car away fine one night and the next time (not too long afterwards) I had the problem. I also took the opportunity to wield the grease gun at the back and oil the trunnions at the front so another couple of good jobs ticked off. Feeling pleased with oneself I had a play with the wiper motor checking connections and then taking the motor off for further inspection - I think I might be back later for some help on that one.... Many thanks as always for all the help and advice.

I had a similar wiper problem with the Mini (which i believe is very similar to a Spit) which when i put new blades on ground to a halt. Dismantled the wheelboxes, cable etc and after a thorough degrease / regrease and oil they were transformed. The opposite is the case for my '71 Spitfire which just has one crazy turbo speed... (another job to do)

Loved catching up on your work Karl and seeing all those parts cleaned up and reused, inspired me to have a go at mine this year and added some of those Aluminium Oxide discs to my shopping list. I'm interested as to what paint you are using as i thought i had read somewhere previously that some can react to red oxide primer? Well done with the great work and posting the pictures (always makes a thread more interesting i find).

Hi and welcome to the club, sounds a gorgeous car and I hope you enjoy driving it, especially if we have more sunny days like today. Like Colin says I am sure someone with experience will come along soon and provide some good advice. However, a question to consider before you spend your hard earned cash... If you cover the seats to protect them will you still look at the interior in the same way or will the loveliness of it be detracted by seat covers? I guess it depends on what covers you get and I suspect the nicer ones will cost quite a few pounds. That being the case maybe you use the car as it is enjoying its splendor, cleaning the seats every so often and then recover them if ever they need it in the future? Just a thought (someone I know purchased a rather expensive and lovely sofa then draped it in throw overs to protect it so there could have been anything underneath). Anyway enjoy the car and can we see a picture!

Sadly work and life (as well as the temperature) have gotten in the way and I have not been able to investigate to date. However, the comments on front disks looks interesting so will probably take a look at that first then the rears - the latter were all adjusted last year when I finally got the handbrake to work better so would hope they are ok but you never know...

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated. I un wedged the pedal and will try again to see if the issue persists - expecting it to. Looks like a full review is on the cards as Richard suggested, apart from replacing both calipers and master cylinder seal kit about 3-4 years ago nothing else has been replaced so new flexi pipes could be on the cards. There is no servo fitted and don't worry it's safely tucked up back in the garage as i prefer the brakes to stop me rather than anything else. Paul.

Spitfire MKIV 1300 Morning all, went to take the Spitfire out for a drive after about 3-4 weeks sitting in the garage. However, when I press the brake pedal it travels further than normal (it does stop the car) each successive press firms it up a little and after 3-4 all is back to normal but when rested for a few seconds the processes is repeated. Having had a look around the forum I have left the pedal wedged down for now but am wondering is this a master cylinder seal issue? At present I can see no leaks around the master cylinder or calipers (not checked rears) and the reservoir is full as normal. I have not carried out any work on the braking system for some time so nothing changed in that respect that could have introduced a problem. Any wise and wonderful words from you knowledgeable folks appreciated as always. Thanks Paul.

Must admit I do like to ogle the CJ Autos toys - one day... There is also this option but probably not high enough - is this the sort of thing you have Pete / Dick? http://www.carlift-ramp-mr1.com/

Done - you know you are getting old when there are more age brackets above you than below...

Thanks Pete will take a look at the back plate when I next get in the garage. When you mention it not being aligned though how can that happen as the bell housing seemed pretty well clamped up to the back plate so not sure where it can misalign. I swapped over the release bearing last night as the original was a little noisy when it spun round although it did so freely. The replacement one revolves smoothly with no noises or rubbing but does not 'spin' like the old one did. Is that correct and just a symptom of the old one wearing out? Cheers. Paul.

Well i have now manoeuvred the gearbox out of the way, not such a bad job with a helper and took the clutch out. Now i am no expert but i think this could be why the clutch wasn't working. Whilst i can understand the spring breaking with fatigue i was surprised it escaped its housing. Just waiting for the replacement to turn up now.

First of all Jonny122 great choice of car and I hope you enjoy driving it (or if currently like mine repairing it - see separate clutch thread) - let's see a picture. When I was looking for my Spitfire i had 'hard top' on the want list but in the end the one i bought did not have one. However, i have to say it has not been a problem. The hood is always down whatever the time of year and only goes up when it rains (invest in a good woolly hat and neck warmer). If it is going to be a daily driver in all weathers or kept outside then it would probably be a good idea to have one for the winter (or should that be summer?). Otherwise i would suggest driving it and see how you get on. The storage point made above is a good point as they do take up a fair bit of space.

Thanks guys, have spoken to Garth and will order up the standard Herald / Spit one. Pete - it is 4 synchro and yes the G looks like an over stamp to me. I read somewhere that Triumph reconditioned ones were prefixed GR so wondered if that was what this was. Sometimes i look at it and think i can see a R after the G but not the same size. Probably my eyes playing tricks on me. Will post some more pics once i have heaved it out at some point in the future - that should be fun.

Hi all, after a bit of guidance from the brains of TSSC. The clutch on my 1971 MKIV Spitfire decided to give in when I was out at the weekend (driving around quite happily until i went to put it in reverse to park and cccrrrunnch. There is pressure on the pedal when depressed) so currently stripping interior to get the gearbox out. I therefore want to order a new clutch for the weekend but am not sure what one to order. The engine is actually a DH prefix but the gearbox appears to start with a 'G' see attached photo so not sure what that belongs too - cant be a 948cc Herald can it? If it helps it is a 3 rail box with D type overdrive. Any ideas on what box i actually have so i can order the right clutch? All help gratefully received thank you. Paul.

Thanks very much all, will continue looking at the web and see what comes up.

Getting this strange urge to buy a TR7 – is it an urge I should suppress???? Been having a trawl through t’web and Mr Google and friends seem to suggest amongst other things that build was a little ‘iffy’ in the early years and the later cars are better. Although it seems that most for sale are 80’s rather 70’s produced anyway. Thus I am currently thinking of a convertible from the last years of production and hoping the road tax free status continues rolling for a few years yet! Therefore I would much welcome hearing from you knowledgeable people out there who may have top tips when looking at these cars and pit falls to look out for please. I’m also Interested to know if there are any parts that are particularly difficult to replace / fix if they break such as interior fittings, specific panels and therefore key to make sure are present and correct in the first place. And finally, or at least for present, how watertight are the roofs on the convertibles, I'm hoping Triumph made progress and they keep out more than my MKIV Spitfire :-) Planning to get out and about and look at some in the New Year. Many thanks and any help most appreciated.

Hi all, Can anyone advise how you actually dismantle the fuse box in a Spitfire? I want to disconnect the wires from the glove box side, clean up and replace. At present some of the circuits only seem to work if you hold the wires at a certain angle... Many thanks. Paul.

Thanks as always everyone for the all-encompassing responses, I will keep an eye out for the next Halfords 10% off e-mail. However, in the meantime I have covered all bases and ordered all the ancillaries I seem to need; a sack of water softener salt, soldering iron, lighter fuel and a model railway. The only problem is the cow – can’t see any listed on e-bay at present…

Having the pleasure of owning a ’72 Mini and a ’71 Spitfire I can confirm everything on the Mini seems trickier, mainly down to the lack of room and therefore takes longer and requires more deep breaths, although on the flip side they are great little cars and do put a huge smile on your face. With a Mini you will also teach yourself how to weld at some point in the future when you require some bodywork done (it will rust) and start getting quotes (got the the t-shirt on that one). The Spit in contrast has much better access in general (although with any car there is always something you need triple jointed tiny hands with eyes in the ends of your fingers) and also puts a smile on your face – and attracts admiring glances. Yes they do rust as well but in my experience I think you would get a better condition Spit for the same money than you would a Mini. Not sure if you have considered the age of car but you don’t have to pay vehicle tax on cars made before 1 January 1975 – worth considering as the tax saved goes towards the tinkering funds. Finally have you asked the boss if she would like to go in it? A Spitfire is only inappropriate if you all want to go out regularly together J There has been less than a handful of times I have taken all 3 children out in the Mini, mostly they take it in turns to come with me to shows in the Spit. You will be doing the right thing to go out and see cars and if you start to talk to the owners they will mostly ramble on for hours and tell you everything you want to know – your local area meet is always a good place to start (details elsewhere on this site). e-bay is a good place to look and you can also take a look at the completed ‘sold’ entries as well to see what sort of price / condition cars actually went for. www.carandclassic.co.uk can also be good. Finally, finally this forum is great for those times when you haven’t got a clue or just need to bounce an idea / thought off of someone else as there are a lot of knowledgeable folks on here. Good luck looking!