wimpus

Where i drove 100miles on the motorway and then looked it was just under half between min and max or sometimes more ... So to drive back it was best to fill it up again. That was before I put another head on. But still wasnt great.

Hi all ! I've been busy getting the original engine of Fox apart. I've put in my spare block in july after 320.000kms (and burning oil). Now.. only thing I found (and my uncle) is glazed bores... But will let it checked over if the bores are within spec. Camshaft was renewed a few 1000miles ago and still looks good (but maybe going to fit an mk3 profile one , not going to crazy with it). Now.. i checked the endfloat with dail gauge of the cam and crank (its 0.24mm on the crank) My manuals give 2 specs for the crank : -Haynes : 0.006 - 0.014in (0.152 - 0.355mm) -Robert Bentley : 0.004 - 0.008in (0.102 - 0.203mm) anyone know what it best be ? Will check it again when the sump is off and with new thrust washers. 20211031_130906.mp4

Updated after more then a year... still works great and never failed (yet) 🙃

Hi all, Maybe it has been posted before. On the 1500 you had 'seatbelt stowage'. But mostly the plastic covers are split. 2 years ago found them in Germany. https://m.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/triumph-spitfire-seat-belt-stowage-parking-device-zkc1550/1513738737-223-8382

This morning took a look. Right side all ok. Left side found out the wheel cilinder moved more.. One of those 2 sliding/hold down plates had gone missing, so thats why the cilinder moved and made de 'knock'. Lucky I never trow away old fitting kits etc (keeping it all in sorting boxes), so only took 5min to fix. Also cleaned up the handbrake cable of old grease and dirt, now slides a lot better. Thanks all of you for helping

New spring was fitted at the end of july as my previous one said 'bang' (bottom leaf broke).

Will check the back plate to. But did grease up the habdbrake lever + wheel cilinders so it all slided good. Will check the cable, did got it a bit more loose yesterday + greased up the handbrake cable guides. Maybe best to degrease them all good and apply some grease.

Will check. Shafts where also renewed in 2018 (I think it was) with fully rebuild assembly's from TD Fitchet. Also checked the trunnion bushes, seems no play now (1 had a bit of play as bolt not very tight ).

Hi all, Since as long as I can remember have a knock sometimes when I brake. Now its nearly everytime. Begin september changed the drums and shoes (cant remember if I had it before or not.. ). Shoes are adjusted the right way, springs and shoes also the right way in. Wheel cilinders is a few years old. What could it be ? 🤔 Not tried it yet with the handbrake cable removed. Yesterday evening noticed when I got the handbrake on and drive off. A knock when applying the brakes the first time, after that all good. Or if you stop, drive backwords, then forwards and again like above, first brake after driving forward.. knock.

From Peter Heary I guess. Thats the guy I was looking at to, know a few people that bought from him. The think is mine is pretty light of color and.. like it so much ! 😅 Dont like the dark walnut etc dash's (sorry!)

My seats where bad after 3 years, as was my armrest. So bought leather ones from Owen around 2017. Beginning of the year my bottom seat cover, the stitching failed. Another Spitfire owner that I helped out fixed it for me. The carpets are getting a bit worn after 8 years. But in a way, still look good. My doorcards where very rotten.. So I got the vinyl off and made new wood (do got a new set of door cards from Owen in my stock. Dashbord is cracking and on the sides damaged from moisture. Planning to buy a new dash from a guy in Ireland once Fox is painted.

I 'think' this was the last bit of welding on the body. Still needs to be sanded down with 400 or 800 wet. Only then we can see if some parts are flat/straight or not. Main problem is.. she needs to be taken fully apart, so need a backup car. + the weather is getting worse 🙄 What do you mean by trim? The interior ?

Today had a look at the A-post. Triumph missed some spot welds at the factory it seems (look at the first pic...). Even the part behind it was cracked/broken off ages ago, crack was rusted (welded the lip back on). So fixed it all good now, no more movement ! 🙃 Very happy that i've fixed it now. Also sandblasted the front of the chassis crossmember outer parts, as they where rusty. Then rustconvertor and (my famous green) zink phoshate.

Have you looked at Bastuck Germany ? They make and supply them to everywhere + are normally cheaper.. (dont know now with the extra costs to the UK). Just before brexit I was lucky to find a NOS laygear still in the box. Look at top of the pic part no G53SPT

Some parts arrived.. Installed a new door check strap and now the door stays open & a klunck when closing. So the inner bit must not be to bad. Do have it in my stock now... maybe will change it anyway. Last pic: old vs new.

Also been thinking again.. (need to stop this ) front crossmember has some rust again.. It was fully replaced in 2012. now.. I had the idea of making a plastic cover, so water could not get in the area. Anyone done this ? Long time ago bought covers in rubber for the front body mounts from a CT member from Scotland (last pic).

The lights in the garage (running from a car battery). 4 LED strips in total and with switches, so not everything needs to be ON at once. All the boxes etc are Spitfire parts 🙃

The door check strap area is next I think Normally getting all the parts I need for that this week, incl the bit inside the post where the strap slides over it. As we are there.. why not change it to.

Little bit more stuff done. But I was raining pretty bad the last few days, so was stuck in the garage without electrics (only battery powered LED strips). Put the front valance corners (plastic) in primer etc.

Then a light 'bang' when I lowered the seat back.. But it wouldn't come back up as usually.. Seems Spitfire's have torsion bars... well in the mkiv/1500 seats that is. Mine just fell out 😅 5mins and fixed.

Some more work was done. Trying to get Fox straight.. For the door post/check strap I need to order some parts (but my german supplier is on vacation). Bootlid and rear deck where a pain.. Right rear wing bottom repair .. seens my welding was a bit shit and hard to get it 'straight'. Rear valance was easy (NOS panel that was in storage from 1980, with a few dents in those years). Slowly getting there...

My A-post around the door check strap area cracks. Welded it and comes back. But noticed a lot more flexing then the passenger side. Had a look.. Anyone got idea's how to fix it ? 20210920_195332.mp4

Had a try to get the lower front end fitting right. I did got an 18year old to help/supervise ... well more laying on the job that is ! 🙃

Still a few jobs to do on Fox. But.. im going to see to get it painted before december. Going to 2 bodyshops for a quotation.

Last weekend had a look at 2 patches from the previous owner(s). They patched over the rust and I had seal the spot welded edge swelling up badly. So fuel tank etc out and... Time to investigate ! Whole part has been de-rusted (as is the seam on the inside of the tunnel) + waxed & seam sealed etc