[Sticking brake]

Thanks all that is really useful info. I was coming back from a car show and had to brake suddenly. About 3 miles later noticed a drop in performance and car acting sluggishly. Will investigate all round tomorrow and see what I can find.

p.s. Is there a set of brake service seals that you can buy from dimmers etc?

 

[Sticking brake]

Hi All

My 1976 1500 spitfire seems to have a stuck on brake. If I manage to get the caliper off and remove the piston. Is it then a case of fitting new seals or do I need to be taking anything else into account?

Not tackled brakes before so any advice welcome. I also assume I just need to bleed the hydraulic fluid from the side that I am working on.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Martin

[Installation of bell sports exhaust]

That is great Thanks Colin. Really helps. Did you have to drill the mounting points or can it be done without drilling? I think I may have to settle for 4 axle stands although having a car hoist looks extremely useful for this particular job. 🙂

[Installation of bell sports exhaust]

Thanks Pete and everyone else for the input.

 

Martin

[Installation of bell sports exhaust]

Thanks all. Copper grease I have and sounds like a good idea. Will purchase some lengths of the canvas strapping in readiness. I do not know what comes in the fitting kit but I am hoping it is everything I need as I guess these have been supplied for many years. I have already purchased a 1300 gasket (on recommendation from Roger G) to replace the 1500 manifold to head gasket. Hopefully then I am all set.

The current jets in the car are brand new so I should have some control over the fuel mixture. How does everyone check the fuel mixture is optimum without a machine or colour tune? Colour of the plugs after a few miles of running?

Martin

[Installation of bell sports exhaust]

Hi All

 

I have on order a bell twin exhaust purchased from TSSC. I also have a bell manifold. Before the exhaust turns up I wondered if any of you had any experience of fitting and can suggest any extra items I might need in addition to the kit which comes with it (other than exhaust sealing paste).

I have seen several articles where additional exhaust clams were used. Would like to get anything I need in advance so that hopefully can get this put together in one go. I also realise that I may well have to change the jets to accommodate for the additional airflow.

Any other tips or pointers greatly appreciated

Thanks

Martin

[Spitfire 1500 underider]

You have to buy them as a set of two and I only need one. Any one have a spare nearside underrider?

Thanks

Martin

[Spitfire 1500 underider]

Might just bag one of those then. Cheers

 

[Spitfire 1500 underider]

Hi Folks

 

Does anyone have a spare spitfire 1500 nearside underider they would like to sell. Current is plastic but I guess metal would do also. 

Thanks

Martin

[Removal of chrome fuel cap]

Thanks All

[Car speakers]

Good solution. What are those spacers made of?

[Removal of chrome fuel cap]

Just a quick one folks

I want to re-chrome my fuel cap. I have a 1976 spitfire 1500. I can see that there are two small holes at the back and side of the cap. Does this contain a retaining pin? If so can I just knock this out and remove? If not what is the easiest way to remove?

Thanks in advance

Martin

[Car speakers]

I actually have one of those and I believe the cheap stereo I have does accommodate blue tooth. Might try that for a while. Ta

[Car speakers]

Not a bad shout. To be fair the stereo is pretty cheap anyway for exactly the same reason. Will probably look at something similar and easy enough to chuck in the boot if need be.

 

Thanks

 

Martin

[Car speakers]

4 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said:

The previous owner installed speakers in my door panels, I replaced them a couple of years ago with modern units. The old ones had cardboard cones, the new are plastic which are a much better sound. Mine were JVC, these, I think.

JVC 500W Total 5.25" 13cm Dual Cone Car Van Truck Door Shelf Speakers New Pair 4975769413766 | eBay

To be honest I wouldn't have cut the door panels, but I'm stuck with it. You have to get the wires into the door which means they're going to flex and break, eventually.  I'd have put the speakers in boxes on the rear "seat" 

Doug

That sounds like quite a good idea. Hopefully can still hear them with the roof down. Thanks Doug

[Car speakers]

Hi All

 

Just a quick one. Can anyone recommend speaker size for the door panels of a spitfire 1500 and where best to place them so they will not interfere with cables/window mechanism etc.

 

Thanks

 

Martin

[Solenoid right or not?]

Thanks Guys as always. Will return for exchange unit. Much appreciated

[Solenoid right or not?]

Apologies I did mean to attach photos which will probably make things clearer. Please see below. Hopefully they are clear enough?

[Solenoid right or not?]

Hi Folks

 

Had a few problems with solenoid sticking so ordered a replacement which is supposed to be suitable for Spitfire 1500. There seem to be a connector missing which I have on the one already in the car. Have I got the wrong part or do I need to "wire" differently.

 

Any advice, as always, extremely appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Martin

[Gasket hole line up]

The old gasket and the payene gasket holes line up perfectly. 

 

Martin

[Gasket hole line up]

Ok 👍 

[Gasket hole line up]

Ok Thanks Roger. Surprised I didn’t notice it last time. Excuse my ignorance but is it an oil way?

[Gasket hole line up]

Ok might be worth making a little larger. I assume this will not compromise gasket strength. There is quite a bit of material around it though

thanks

Martin

[Gasket hole line up]

Hi Folks 

 

Just about to put the head back on the block (in a very cold garage) I have noticed the payene gasket has one of the holes (I assume oil/waterway) is slightly blocked by the gasket not lining up correctly. I checked with the ajusa one I removed and it appears to be the same. Is this an issue does anyone know? Seems worse by number 1 cylinder and not so bad at number 4

 

Martin

[Blocked channels?]

Hi All

I am just about to put the cylinder head back on to the block and was doing a final check of waterways etc.  Can anyone tell me if the highlighted should be clear i.e. a channel of some sort or should be blanked./blocked off as they appear to be

Just want to make sure all is good before the reassemble.

Thanks