Paul Amey

I'm currently using Castrol Classic 20/50. I noticed that my local spares shop is now stocking Duckham's 20/50. They tell me this had just been relaunched AND is indeed still green!

Thanks Colin. I know for sure that I need a spacer. It was the shim I was told to leave off with a Hi Torque starter motor. Working on your calculation Colin, I need a 1/4 inch spacer. Thanks.

I've ordered a spacer on ebay, thanks everyone for your help. Without this forum I would have been scratching my head for a lot longer. Bear with me Paul H whilst I work out how to do that! (put photo on here). So, just to clarify, with the Hi Torque starter motor, I need the spacer but leave the shim off?

For the record, the old starter motor is made by Lucas. I have just given it a good examination (Hammer included) there is no spacer stuck on it. Thanks Pete, I will have a look on ebay. Steve P, I have an idea how you found out lol.

Right, thanks. Now I understand. When I bought the car it started on a starter motor. This unit had no spacer or shim on it. It had a very thick body however. So I had no idea that a spacer or shim existed. Since then I have obtained what turns out to be a shim. But I have no spacer. Paul

Argh, thanks

Right, thanks. So do I have a spacer or a shim? It fits the starter motor but isn't all that thick. Could this just be a shim? I estimate it's about 2mm thick. If this is a shim, where do I get a spacer? Paul

Thank you for the advice.

I was told I didn't need it.

Right, I thought of that. I was told to leave it off by the supplier. Thanks.

I thought I had posted this last night, but can't find it now. I fitted the gearbox back in to my Vitesse mk1 2 litre. Also a Hi Torque RAC 101 starter motor . Now when I turn the engine by hand I hear a noise which sounds like something just catching on the flywheel ring gear. Any ideas? Paul

Thank you for your help there. Yes the chap said he had made a couple of "adjustments" but that otherwise it seemed fine. The guy who sells his version of the radiator isn't impressed with the China made one's , but I guess he wouldn't be. Paul

Thanks Rob, I think there might be an issue with how flat the cast manifold is. When I removed it I noted that it had two gaskets on it!? Paul.

I've fitted a non overdrive gearbox to my Vitesse 2 litre mk1 and a Hi Torque RAC 101 starter motor minus the spacer . When I turn the engine over by hand there is a noise which sounds like the ring gear on the flywheel catching some thing. This noise is still there with the clutch depressed. Any ideas, before I take the starter motor off again and possible the box back out? Thanks. Paul.

I was talking to a chap at a sprint meeting last weekend who has just fitted a Chinesse made alloy radiator which cost £89 to his Spitfire. Are they a good idea? They are a heck of a lot cheaper than British made traditional radiator's! I worry about the quality. Paul.

Hi, we've talked about this before, but is the general opinion that a banana manifold is more trouble than it's worth and it's best to stick with the heavy cast mainifold? Paul.

Thanks folks for your input. There is at least now plenty to refer to about the subject on here. Paul.

I would say cost wise additives are extremely expensive. But having said that, if you do feel the need to use them Millers do the best range on the market in my opinion. The problem I have identified with not doing a lead conversion on the head is , if you don't know the history of what fuel it's been running on, the lead embedded in the valve seats could have eroded long ago. The problem being it's about twenty years since leaded fuel was available in this country. Paul

Thanks for all that advice! So, just to be absolutely clear on this. When I bought the car there was a bottle of lead substitute in the boot. Do I continue to add that to the petrol tank or not? Paul

Thank you.

Hi, does anyone have an recommendations for getting a Vitesse cylinder head converted to run on unleaded fuel? Paul

Does anyone have any thoughts on lot number eight at this coming weekend's auction at Mathewson's? I checked this car out last week. It appears solid enough but has had a cheap not well finished respray recently. Paul.

Thanks Colin!

Has anyone on here any experience of fitting a GT6 poly gearbox tunnel cover to a Vitesse? I am told the gear lever hole needs enlarging at the rear to make it fit. So this will leave a gap at the front. Is it a big gap? and is it easy to modify the hole?

Thanks Pete, I've just edited my second comment with an update. Paul