Gully

According to the engine number, it is a GT6 Mk 2 unit - the HE is high compression engine, so flat top pistons is correct. Afraid that's the limit of my info - over to someone more knowledgeable than me for heads and push rod data! Do you have reason to believe that it's not standard? Gully

Let us know how you get on please Doug! Gully

And when you do still have the original hooks fitted in your Mk 3, there's no guarantee that the shape of the replacement metal seat belt bits will fit / hang off them! Wonder how I know... A mod to be done one wet winter's day! Gully

I wonder how the NOS suppliers get away with selling pads containing asbestos these days? Needs clamping down on in my view. Gully

@Jezza - Vulcan's display is deemed a fly past display, not aerobatic, so we are not affected by the temporary restrictions imposed by the CAA. The VTTS Trust confirmed this earlier in the week. Hope you enjoy Dunsfold! Gully

My GT6 used to run overdrive with a 3.27 diff - to say it was long legged was an understatement. Made it a pig to pull away on any form of hill! I changed to a 3.63 and have been really pleased - seems a good balance of acceleration and keeping the revs lower than the factory fit 3.89 would have done. I believe GT6 guru Cookie also runs with a 3.63 diff and D type overdrive. Gully

I recently drained my GT6 Mk 3 cooling system via the block drain plug and bottom hose. After replacing the radiator (which now has 50% more cores) it took over 6.5 litres to refill, so most of the coolant will come out! The handbook recommendation for filling to avoid air locks worked well for me: 1. Fill the system via the radiator filler until full. Fit rad cap and half fill the expansion bottle. 2. Run engine at fast idle for 30 seconds, stop engine and top up system via the radiator filler. Refit cap. 3. Run the engine up to normal operating temperature. Stop and allow to cool, then top up expansion bottle until half full. Cheers, Gully

'Twas a good way to spend my birthday! Thanks to all involved in organising the day and planning the route - thoroughly enjoyable. Gully

It's a pretty common exclusion now. My wife is a stay at home Mum and we saved money by dropping to social / domestic / pleasure insurance cover on her car. My modern is SDP, plus commuting and Class 1 business usage - the latter allows me to drive it on work business during the working day. My GT6 policy with Peter S Taylor is SDP only and I've no plans to commute in it! Gully

Sounds as though it should keep the deposits from the bottom of the tank out of the fuel lines too! Gully

Seem to recall Saffron being dropped from the GT6 range in mid '72, so if that is the original colour, then it doesn't fit with the '73 registration and non-rotoflex status. But Saffron does go with the dials! Gully

Sorry for the thread creep!

I'm actually the Vulcan to the Sky Club Secretary, so will certainly be there to see it! I've seen her 5 times already this year... Yesterday's display at RIAT, flown by Kev Rumens, was awesome and followed up with 2 fly pasts in formation with the Red Arrows with Bill Ramsey (former Red) at the controls of 558 . Vulcan will be much missed when she's gone Gully

Unfortunately it clashes with my annual pilgrimage to Bournemouth air festival Gully

I have blue poly bushes on my steering rack - they look a bit squished like your pictures! I also found that they lifted the rack a tad which meant the nut on the steering joint rubbed on the member it passes through on the GT6 - small amount of filing solved that! Gully

Had a mesh one on an Astra twin top a few years ago which worked very well and folded away nicely. I think the ability to fold and stow is the big benefit of the mesh ones. Gully

Good advice from Pete - I took the inertia reel belts out of my GT6 and replaced them with statics for two reasons. Firstly, there was so much drag in the system I doubt they would have ever locked. Secondly, I was forever loosening them. Happy with the decision! Gully

Another tale of woe with Tex wipers. Replaced the set on my GT6 last September ahead of the MOT. One has already split. Must have seen about 50 sweeps across the screen before failing - most of which were when I fitted a washer motor during the winter! Must point out that despite the title of this thread, they did not come from the Club shop. Gully

Welcome! Gully

I converted mine last year. Used the original bottle and fitted a Lucas motor attached to the bulkhead and fed via the washer switch fitted by a previous owner to operate the horn! Took the live feed for the motor off the live feed to the wiper switch. Removed the push / rotary switch and replaced it with a Lucas rocker switch for the wipers. All seems to work just fine. Gully

No brakes should be spongey - sounds as though something's awry. My GT6's brakes aren't servo assisted, but are just as sharp as modern brakes if jabbed quickly - just need more pedal pressure. Locking up is easy, even with modern tyres! That said, I'm always mindful that more pedal input is needed to get a response when jumping between cars. On a previous car when I bought it I had a set of front pads which had worn unevenly due to poorly lubricated pins - changed them and applied lots of copperslip and the brake feel was transformed. Could be something that simple. Gully

Take a look at the Club shop - GKN standard and heavy duty (Land Rover spec) available. Gully

Thanks Bob - that's useful to know. Gully

One of my medium term plans is to get the original wheels for my GT6 refurbished and then replace the Minilites. Need to find a powder coater a bit closer to Hitchin though! Gully

The prototype Spit and early production Mk I airframes had 2 blade props, but were soon replaced by a 3 blade unit. The 4 blade prop was introduced on the Mk VI (aside from a few Mk V experimental high altitude airframes). The Merlin engine Spits from the Mk VI onwards had 4 blade units, whilst the Griffon engine aircraft had 5 blade props. There's a late mark Griffon engine Spitfire on the air show circuit with two contra-rotating 3 blade props - I think it uses a Shackleton gearbox arrangement. Gully