martin barlow

Hi again Johny looked at that and seems fine-pete thought of that but wasn't sure it could happen-looking at how things have panned out the coil looks to have been the original problem-your idea looks to have then occurred-car is now running on new coil-checked tappets and they are spot on and got new rotor arm and cap to go on - when warmed up this morning still a small backfire on revving up but haven't been out yet as roads still wet-hopefully any other problems will be sorted-thanks again for all your help

Hi Johny The distributor has definitely not moved-have had the car three years and this is the first running issue-car is now running with the occasional backfire got new cap and rotor due so will check them and see but although timing can alter over time as sometimes seems to happen with cars which even after fiddling with them for over 50 years some things might have to remain a mystery-thanks to everyone for your help an Pete definitely no r in the plug numbers Thanks again

Hi Johny Sorry beginning to get a bit like war and peace-only noticed rotor pointing at no 2 plug lead rather than number 1 when I checked static timing-i also have no idea why the timing suddenly looks to be miles out when as far as I aware nothing should have changed-as I say car now running but doesn't seem happy-as I have taken a flame thrower coil off which must have been put on for the electronic ignition I will run through everything tomorrow to see if I need to adjust anything/everything again-the joys of old cars!!

Hi Pete Had a flame thrower coil on presumably to suit electronic ignition fitted by previous owner-polarity fine-tried testing it and couldn't get ohms reading anything near what it should be-as I said have a fantastic spares shop nearby who had a standard 12 volt coil with correct fittings- put that on and still no start and backfiring-looked again at distributor and static timing and rotor was pointing at number 2 lead-moved leads to next ones fired up Straightaway what I cannot understand is why the problem started and how the timing has become miles out-definately have not put the leads on any different from where they have been for the last three years-only spotted the rotor being odd as in the past have managed to get things miles out and backfiring by connecting things up wrong Puzzled of Leeds

Thanks for the quick replies-have moved dizzy so that's fine have tried other rotor arms but have also just got a new one-will check no 1 cylinder tomorrow.

Afternoon Had my 68 mk3 spitfire for almost 3 years with very little trouble.A couple of weeks ago noticed a bit of a hiccup when accelerating but put it down to not being warm.Went out Sunday for a few miles and began missing badly ending up at the side of the road after a rather large bang.Tried starting turned over fine but no attempt to fire.As luck would have it number 2 son owes me many tows so got brought home.Went out the other day to play and started working through-no spark at plugs so tried King lead and looked like a spark.Had spare cap and rotor so tried them nothing-car has electronic ignition so being old was a bit lost-tried to check coil but got no readings that made sense so been to my local spares store (Ask in Kippax near Leeds-if carslberg did car spares shops !!)and borrowed a suitable coil-still no firing but looked at static timing and rotor when timing marks roughly lined up was pointing at cylinder 2-I am sure I have not moved any leads about but moving them all 1 step round car fired up straightaway-thinking that was it put the old coil back on ran dog rough for a few seconds the gave up.I have put the new borrowed coil on and running o.k-far from perfect but had the plug gaps wider for the electronic ignition but before I go any further fiddling about( class myself as an enthusiastic amateur who is quite capable of going in wrong direction) am I missing anything?it took me to Silverstone last year from Leeds and have booked for Malvern so need to have more confidence in my ability than I have at present-all help appreciated

One of the wagon drivers (who must have been well thought of) was rumoured to have been sent to have a phone fitted in the Jensen and called Richard on it to tell him he had pronged the car!-Happy days-think the by pass hose might have been supra Letco or supra parts as they became

Back in the day everyone either worked or at least knew someone who worked for Motorist discount centre-you would have thought they were as big as ici-must have conducted more interviews than any other company-fantastic place to work in early days

Back in the day part number for sealed beam would be 7002 which was for any 7inch headlamp with a separate side light 7014 was the number for the same lamp with a clear part of the glass for a sidelight which would be attached to the side of the headlamp connector and 7025 would have a holder attached over the clear glass for a separate sidelight(ford fitting)-used to sell wholesale parts including lamps back in the early 80's and 7002s were about £2.50 plus vat!

Hi Mark. Bought my car late last year from London area and found a firm online who are like motorway we buy your car outfit for transport.Put collection and delivery address in and ended up with endless quotes as they seem to put the job out to tender on your behalf.Job done very quickly up to Yorkshire for about £200 .Think they were called Selby or something similar-might be worth a try

if you can see towards the centre of this rubbish image you can see a fair selection of oil additives at my local spares shop-bear in mind slik 50 and various others are on the end of this aisle

Gtx used to be 15-50 back in the day hence a little thinner duckhams originally dyed green to stop it looking too much like a mineral oil and a little weedy-then kept as a marketing tool worked in the motor trade early eighties ( motorist discount centre) and the loyalty fro gtx men and duckhams men was quite scary-seen many a marina topped up with either or and most of it blew out the back on startup!!