[Seat strap bracket mkIV/1500]

Hi Pete, 

 

I had another look this morning, found some metal wire that was the same thickness (not easy to get stuff here now in Belgium with the lockdown).

So I made this.. 

[Seat strap bracket mkIV/1500]

Hi, 

I'm looking for the bracket in the pics.

Mine has snapped off.. 

Seems on both seats, the outside brackets are the same.

 

Does anyone has a spare that they wanna sell ?

 

Regards, Wim

[Spit 1500 steering rebuild]

Also found the front end a bit to low.

So made up some spacers as I had 5mm nylon sheet in the shed.

Previous :

Front height: 56,5cm (From the ground to wheelarch)

Rear : 59,5cm

After the spacers fitted the front was at 58,5cm & rear stayed the same.

Do like the look better now !

[Spit 1500 steering rebuild]

Hi.

I had play in the column, the rack etc..  

The column was never rebuild in 42 years (exept top bush renewed 7 years ago.

The whole car had done over 300.000km/185.000miles.

 

2 Weeks ago i've put in a new rack.

Last weekend column out job !

Also fit a new steering UJ as the previous felt notchy/not so smooth anymore after 5,5 years.

She now drives totally different !

[Steering rack]

Had a talk with Mark Field (of Jigsaw Racing), he said to buy one at Bastuck Germany (180 euro).

They are very well made and dont fail like other do (quick racks etc sometimes fail fast.

 

So going to see at Bastuck.

[Steering rack]

Some play.

Even up and down !

Right side of the video is where the steering column/wheel attaches.

 

I've rebuilded 2 steering racks before.

 

But i know the pinion runs in a metal bush, to have play like this... its fucked

[Steering rack]

It has play where the column/steering wheel attaches !

So pretty terminal... 😕

[Steering rack]

Hi all.

After 185.000miles my LHD steering rack has play at the pinion on my daily in use Spit 1500.

Are the new LHD racks any good ?

 

Regards, Wim

[Spitfire high milage engine using oil]

Hi Pete 

56 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:

Hi Wim,  you must be heading for a record with a 1500 to last that long 

whats the engine breathing like  if the tin rocker cover check the gauze inside at the outlet tube is not blocked ,  on the basis the std oil supply to the rockers is pretty limited there is not much that can get down the guides   but do check the breather and hoses etc   is all ok

i take it there is no external rocker feed kit fitted ??

there are no seals on the valves but high oil use is looking like a oil control ring problem 

any blue smoke after overun ??

Pete

Hi Pete,

Will check that the rocker cover (got another few rocker covers in my spares to keep Fox/Spitfire running).

 

No extra oil feed kit installed  ( those are bad things !) 

 

Blue smoke.. 

Well in september i came back from the finish from the 10Countries Run in the Netherlands and could see some smoke on the motorway.

And pretty black at the rear.

 

Later could see a bit of blue when setting off at traffic lights, but none under driving.

But now cant see anything behind me Exept a not so nice smell, seems many people hate to stand behind ne now.

Even had a few friends driving behind me and could not see anything out of the 'blue'.. no smoke.

Had a few talks with a teacher at the school I work at.

He says inspect & measure the bores, hone it with flexhone and to fit new rings (already bought).

 

And yes i know... this is one of a kind engine !

The one time they build a good one 😂

 

 

[Spitfire high milage engine using oil]

Hi all, 

Some of you may know me from on the CT forum.

Now.. my daily in use spitfire 1500 engine has done nearly 300.000kms/186.000miles.

Pistons  have never been out and head never been off in 42 years.

All crank bearings are replaced (main crank a few times), has a recent duplex timing chain (previous still original).

And new rocker shaft assembly.

 

But since a few months she likes to drink oil.. 😕

Done a compression test (dry and was hot/driven 30min before) all between 175psi and 182 psi.

Oil pressure still 55/60 at 2000rpm.

25/30psi when really hot on idle.

 

1 plug seems to be more oil burning (no3).

Already got a replacement head to put on as i suspect worn valve guides.

Could this be (worn) piston rings to ? (Checked bores with a camera, looks good).

 

Wim

[Electronic ignition]

I have a kit from SimonBBC on my Spit 1500 and done around 100.000miles in the 5 years of fitting it (yes i drive her to much).

Never failed me, got my money back big time !

Using NGK BP5ES, coil is a very old blue Bosch 12v one.

[Hi from me and the Fox]

12 minutes ago, yorkshire_spam said:

Hey Wim, welcome! Nice to see some recent FOX photos!

Hi Sam, recent.. not so.

First 2 are from the nightrally in the Netherlands oct 2018.

Other one i just found on my phone.. really needs a clean up

[Hi from me and the Fox]

Hi all, 

Some will have seen the Fox on other forums etc.

But been looking as this forum for a few months, so why not introduce myself.

 

I'm Wim, 29 years old, live in Belgium and I daily drive (yes my only car !) a Spitfire 1500 (1978) named Fox.

I've done a lot of kms/miles in 6 years that i drive it and done a lot of jobs myself.

Total kms/milage on Fox: 295.000kms/183.000miles

What i drove in 6 years: 178.000kms/110.000miles

And yes.. engine never been fully rebuild !

But soon has some work..

 

Regards