Alastair Smith

Thanks everyone. I will look at all those options tomorrow. I may just have blanked off the intakes to keep dust out. Then I'll feel stupid!

Last thing I touched was to put the carbs back on when I got them back from the refurbisher. They ran them on a 2L engine at their end apparently so I assume they are set up well enough to at least get it to fire up. I tried turning it over with full choke and flooded them the first time so fuel is definitely getting to the carbs. I get a spark at the plugs by holding it onto the engine block. How big/bright should it be? It's clearly visible but I would have imagined it being a bit brighter and bigger. Checked plug gaps. I checked the timing on no 1 compression stroke and it looks spot on. Plug leads definitely in right order - I tripled checked. I haven't check the condenser - don't know how to - could that be it? Why would that fail when it's sitting idle? Totally stumped.

Haven't run the GT6 Mk1 for a while - it was running fine a few months ago - came to start it and it just won't. Fuel is getting to carbs (just refurbed), static timing looks right (13 degs BTDC according to workshop manual, vernier adjuster in middle of travel, points just about to open), checked points gap, getting a spark, leads are in right order, engine turns over on starter motor but I can't get it to fire up. I must be doing something stupid or missing something. Can anyone suggest anything else to try please? I am completely at a loss.

Thank you everyone - much appreciated. I will try the carburettor exchange.

Happy New Year - best wishes for 21. Could anyone recommend to me someone good to refurbish the Strombergs from my GT6 MK1 pls? I am struggling to find time to do it and so just want to send them off to someone reliable. Thanks.

Thank you. I will be able to make it look fine, just want it to be as watertight as possible.

The frame is as snug up to the door casing as it can be - there's still a gap but I will fill that somehow. Will certainly use the piece of cotton - it's going to be a very frustrating job I imagine. Thanks - I appreciate the help.

Thanks Pete. I will heave this evening! There are definitely large washers and some play in two of the brackets but when all three bolts were in place I had no movement left at all. Once I am confident of how it is supposed to look I can always adjust brackets and holes etc to get it snug but without a picture to go on I wasn't confident. I took hundreds of pictures when I dismantled the care 5 years ago but, of course, not one of the front quarter light fit to the door casing! If anyone could share a photo or two around the quarter light I'd be really grateful. I suspect I am going to have a tough job getting the fuzzy trim in as well as the door capping when it arrives.

Thanks for the quick reply. That gap is odd then because the quarter light frame is bolted in a three points (and it's not bent) so there is no adjustment at all - at least as far as I can see. Will take another careful look tonight. However, the bottom three inches of the doors were rotted away so maybe there was a gap!!

Could anyone help by sending me a photo of the correct sealing of the front quarter light frame into the door please? I am restoring a 1967 mk1 GT6 but I imagine it's the same for Spitfires too. The external weather strip is the full length of the door but the internal "fuzzy" trim is not - is that right? There's a 1cm gap between the front of the quarter light frame and the door shell. Surely that doesn't remain an open gap to let rain in!? Also, can anyone tell me where the A post seal goes on the A post? I am guessing that's part of my issue but can't find a clear diagram that tells me where it goes. Thanks for any help.

Thank you all for your replies. Will give it some more thought. Anyone know of reputable shop in Yorkshire area for getting the work done, if I’d do, please?

I am a newbie on the forum so forgive my question which I am sure must have been asked before. I am four years into a nut and bolt restoration of a Mk1 GT6, will be done next summer, and I am wondering about the conversion to unleaded. I believe, from what i have read, that this may not really be necessary but if I do go ahead with it could someone recommend a shop in the Yorkshire area to do the work please? And an indication of what cost I should expect? Many thanks. Alastair