iana

I’ve found the source of the leak, it’s the fuel tap, so I’m guessing I may have overfilled the tank as I hadn’t noticed the smell before. Does it matter which way the fuel tap is angled as it’s currently at 45 degrees which seems wrong

Thanks for the replies. The rubber pipes looks relatively new rubber, they look new but they’re aren’t R9, I hadn’t realised they became semi permeable to vapour. Ill move the replacement pipes up my list of jobs todo.

Filled up yesterday, been sorting out a few things this morning in the boot and theres a noticable petrol smell, Ive left the boot open to vent it. Is there a breather pipe on a vitesse tank? I cant see reference to one in the catologue. Ive had a look and the pipes look ok and dry (its on my list to change but it looks OK) - perhaps I just put too much in the tank.

Took the car for a run out today, the heater seems to be working a lot better now, so the reset of the valve seems to have got water flowing through the heater. Now just to sort the thermostat and an anti freeze refill

I’ve now found all the old stuff, it’s been packed away for best part of 10 years, there’s an old colourtune kit, a gunson lo-gauge, an ezzibleed kit which is incomplete and a carb balancer; so all in all not too bad I guess. Just need to see what actually works and if it doesn’t is it fixable. I’ve found 2 timing lights

Just working through my old tools to see what I kept and what still works. I had a Halfords multi meter which appears to have died, anyone recommend something similar? i have also found a gunson digimeter 320 which appears to work so would I be correct to assume everything I used the Halfords one for the digimeter will do the same but with a digital display? (Can’t even remember buying / using the digimeter as I preferred the Halfords one) Also my old Gunson timing lights appear to not be working so I will have a fiddle with them but I may also be in the market for a new timing light.

thanks Pete, is it a good idea to take the thermostat out to check or am i best leaving it alone? any suggestions what I can do to minimise the risk of shearing the bolts?

top hose now replaced, and car ready for a run, since I altered the heater valve cable to allow the valve to fully open, I think the hose was getting sllightly warm so hopefully with a decent run it will free up. If not Ill remove the valve and have a look. Ive decided as I dont know what the coolant liquid is, Im going to replace with a known product (any recommendations?) As Im changing the fluid I will flush the system out and give it a clean with washing soda. Im going to check each hose, is it worth putting a new thermostat in whilst the system is drained? whats the best thermostat rating for all year round use?

Well my fan belt I ordered has now turned up at last, it’s fitted and onto replacing the top hose and sorting the heater. I’ve reset the heater value control so it fully opens, however still no heat, so on with the cleaning. The antifreeze solution is clear, any ideas how I can establish what it is or to what rating or is it better to just replace. One the heater only one hose was getting warm so im guessing it’s clogged up. But whilst I was messing arround with the fan I felt it blowing air out via the mesh panel on the top of the bulkhead - is that correct as I thought that was where it took air from?

Pete, thanks for the suggestion of washing soda (Ill get some tomorrow from wilko when I pick my oil up) is it a case of putting a couple of cupfuls in give the car a few runs to get it circulating? Will it harm if its left in for a week? I ordered the car builder catologue when you suggested it previously. It has just turned up so I can now see what’s available.

I am gradually trying it, fixing the issues as they arise, coolant looks pretty clean, the heater doesn’t seem to give off much heat so there could be sludge in the system or it could just be that vitesse heaters don’t give of much heat (I’m comparing it to my recollections of a spitfire and a gt6 heater) Perhaps when time permits the cooling system needs a good clean out.

I’m in the process of working through a few issues on the vitesse with a long list of jobs to do when time permits, however we are going to start using the car to attend local shows etc, this will involve us getting stuck in the inevitable summer traffic, what precautions / checks should I do to minimise the chances of overheating etc. I’ve got no reason to suspect there is an issue, I’m just tying to minimise the chances

That was my last resort to finding the correct new length fan belt , I'd measured the new length with a piece of electrical flex and came up with 1040mm - I then did as Pete suggested and this indicated a difference of 40mm on the 1085mm belt, so 1045mm .

right decided to shorten the bracket, is this ok, I could turn the backet to Emile the spacer but the bracket will need further adaption. just need to measure fan belt now and get one. The old belt was a 10A1085, the bit of bracket I chopped off was 45mm to the centre of the bolt hole, so simply do I need a 10A1040?

OK thanks, I guess Ill pick the second one and start saving for a silicone set - hopefully the club will do them on offer!

Pete - would this be a better buy then (cant run to silione hoses this year) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-VITESSE-1600-2000-MK1-MK2-NEW-TOP-RADIATOR-HOSE-GRH263/352463806106?hash=item52107ade9a:g:i4oAAOSwantboAB0&frcectupt=true or this is my other option https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-TRIUMPH-VITESSE-1600-2000-TOP-RADIATOR-HOSE-RH622-GRH263-132634/362594201454?hash=item546c4c6f6e:g:Cq0AAOSw2bFcRuTo&frcectupt=true

just looking for a replacement top hose and on ebay there are traders doing a complete set of hoses, the only one i need to replace is the top hose as its damaged - is it worth buying the complete set and keeping the others as spares or will they deteriorate in the store

Johny, just spent an hour pondering where I’d fit the servo and I can now see where you’re coming from. Need to think outside the box as Pete’s option looks neat but this isn’t the right time for me do all those changes, not sure I like the servo over the brake / clutch cylinder as it will make maintenance harder and it looks cluttered. I thought there’d be loads of room / options but space seems at a premium. I’ve seen one fitted at the side of the fuel pump with a bracket off the bulkhead. Need to find someone local with a servo fitted and do a few measurements.

There was a post from 69Vitesse (Paul) who'd come up with a natty solution to connecting the servo / breather to the same point, unfortunately I can find the fittings - Ive located a single connector and fixing. I think the 1.9 is the better option from reviews I seen, just wish I could remember what was on the GT6.

I’ve decided to fit a servo now as if I’m changing the fluid now, it makes sense. I’ve seen this on eBay - anyone had experience of it? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Uprated-Brake-Servo-2-3-ratio-Triumph-TR-SPITFIRE-POSTAGE-INCLUSIVE-74-95/392127731216?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3D4ddb673e2a3a42898f68de52dcad1a29%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D392127731216%26itm%3D392127731216&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507 or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOCKHEED-TYPE-REMOTE-BRAKE-SERVO-1-9-KIT-TRIUMPH-FORD-SUNBEAM-AUSTIN-MG-MORRIS/381210588827?_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140328180637%26meid%3D852e9694ec074d8bbe1cfea70d7807dc%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D392127731216%26itm%3D381210588827&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982 or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Herald-Spitfire-Brake-Servo-with-Installation-Kit-LE72696-TT3949Z/283423559429?hash=item41fd5c4f05:g:7vwAAOSwaudbVx89 Also is there a way to split the vacuum take off point on the manifold with like a 't' piece or a 'y' piece? I’m assuming I’d then need an inline one way valve on the servo pipe. The last one has a non return valve as part of the kit could i use this and a t or y piece and then run to the servo / breather?

Ok after taking the bottom mount apart, it has got the slip tube, and the spacer (I think you were right Paul - it’s a seat belt spacer!) My plan now is to shorten the top bracket and get a new fan belt - I’ll pick up the correct bits when I next order stuff and fit them over winter

I’m off into the garage shortly to investigate how it’s been fixed and I can then order any parts I need.

Pete, not sure I understand what you mean but the lower mount is (apologies for the photo)

now that looks like the right shaped bracket, need to sort it out as its a problem just waiting to bite, new bracket, top hose and fan belt required

Thanks all, plenty of ideas to help me solve the issue.