Chris Bracey

Wanted a good biege houndstooth drivers seat cushion or a set of recovered seats ,

Hi. I need to replace my seat foams and squabbs. Is newton any better than others? Are there any recommendations? Thanks

Hi colin . It's only enough flex to hold the door but I am not brave enought to test the extent . In fairness it còuld be the top hinge pin that was letting the door drop a little when you open it. Just enough to clunk on shutting the door. I think the sills could be original looking at the blanking plates at the front and spotselds but from years back on my 1963 spitfire 4 in the 1970s rust at the back of the sill meant the inner was totally shot. On the inside the floor looks solid but I might make up a gap brace so I can poke about . Thanks

Hi. I have the rear of the spitfire 1500 jacked up to change a drivers side rear shocker and generally clean around. The car is jacked under chassis which looks very sound but I note the door is now firmly against the b post so I have not attempted to move it. I have assumed it caused by twisting effect of hacking up a corner of the chassis? Is it normal that should happen. The floors all look good but there is some filler at the very rear of the sill.

Hi. If I fitted a hardtop would that help keep the door gaps if a removed a door and repaired the sills?

Hi. Any thoughts what is the best halogen conversion you can buy..... preferable without the option for side lights . Thanks chris

Any information would be useful and help me understand what exhaust is fitted. Rear box looks std.

Hi what is the o/d of a std spitfire 1500 exhaust? I think I should be able to fit an mg midget straight through rear box as mg 1275 and 1500 exhausts are the same however my spitfire exhaust intermediate pipe pipe seems to have a similar odm so wont slide inside the rear box so I wonder if I have a sports or slightly larger bore than normal, any thoughts

Thanks for the replies . On my midget I treated rust and the gloss painted it over bondaprimer so I could easily check it . I asked because I found the original paint under the zeibart and thought "do I want to loose that link to its originality" sothought I should try to match to the original . My gut feel is to just use paint but will probably relent to save a link. Has anyone had these products on for a long time?

Hi . Having stripped and treated rust I want to replaced the the same effect as the old zeibart had. What products are now used and is there alternatives to black waxoyl? I am a bit wary of stone chip because I have seen water work it's way under the coating. What's the latest thoughts and are there any articles about it.

Its looks like black waxoil but seems to to have allowed rust to form under it, where that occurs it's easy to use a scraper to lift off. My conundrum is I thought waxoil stayed soft and stopped rust forming . Anyway I might use something called fortran that is meant to convert the rust .

Hi . I want to remove black waxoil or zeibart from body panels and chassis so I can paint with rust proofing paint . It still seems soft so I wondered if a brush and turps or paraffin might work. Anyone other ideas.

Hi again. Has anyone got any recommendations for engine rebuilders in the south.?

Try mole valley milk stone remover it's a diluted phosphoric acid. About £12 for 5 litres.

Oh thank you it's perfect. Just what I needed.

Hi again. Was an oil cooler ever fitted to a 1978/79 spitfire 1500 and is there any point? I have one fitted and will never be doing sustained high speed driving ?

Hi. Could someone take picture of the inside and buld and holder for a spitfire map light. All I have is a large spring inside and it looks like I have a part missing. Thanks. Thanks

Pete, If the doors are kept shut is it possible to roll it on its side on a mattress or is that pushing my luck and likely to damage the doors. What I envisaged was emptying the tank, removing seats , battery and spare wheel but not a lot more . Then lifting and wheeling rolling chassis outside for cleaning etc. Then checking and painting the bottom of the tub . Drivers side still is a a bit mothy at the rear but most looks very sound. I assume strong points should be the screen bulkhead and under rear axle? Are there any pics around? I am a bit wary of removing the bonnet because of alignment issues. Engine will come out for a refurb.

Hi is it possibly to lift a spitfire 1500 body including the doors to allow the chassis to be removed to allow access to the diff and gearbox and engine. The car was refurbished 20 years ago and is pretty sound but would like to refresh running gear with easy access. I know brake pipes, rear tie bars and steering will need disconnecting but has anyone done the before ? Does anyone know the wieght of body including glass, bootlid and doors ? Sorry for all questions since I became a member !!!

Hi, I have bought back the spitfire I bought in 1979 . Now fitted with wood rimmed mountney wheel I have the original wheel but the centre badge is missing . Two questions. A)I seem to remember it had BL or leyland in the middle I am purchasing the guide to spitfires but not sure steering wheel centres would be covered. has any one refurbished a wheel . It just looks a bit tired so I thought a leather soap might help? Any input would be helpful

Hi. I want to grease my rack but there is just a blanking bolt. What is the thread of the nipple that fits . Is it 5/16 and does the club sell them ? Thanks

Thanks . The tube looks quite narrow. I had thought about an led strip.

Hi. My 1500 spitfire doesnt have the heater controls illiminated. I looked at haynes manual but could not find any sign of a bulb on the heater controls. I took centre dash out and it looks like it should have a buld holder inserted into an illumination pod and although the wiring loom looks original there was no holder or wiring looking for a home. I assume it would be a red wire like the other instruments with black earth wire . So i can make up a circuit i can run off a gauge lighting but what colour wires were originally used and where were they routed., does anyone know. I could see a whiite wire with an empty bullet connector hanging in the air on the left side of the dash but havent tested if its live. If you have any pictures of the bulb and holder it would be great. Thanks

Yep i think that way 1972 mg looks right cant think a 1979 with black and whit e will look ok

I would welcome opinions . My reacquired 1978(1979) spitfire is now classed by dvlc as historic. According to the dvla site ( number plate design) I was surprised to see that I can now use black and white plates but i am torn because at the time of registration (whan i originally bought the car) this was not possible. Whereas my 72 midget could have had the black and white plates it now wears. Within the club what do people tend to do?. The reason i am torn is because i am not sure black and white plates will look right on a 1979 car? Views or opinions please?