Stephen T

Thanks Josef I certainly would appreciate that - will get in touch I'm not anticipating many long distance runs so actually getting it on the road and see what its like is the best option here.

Thanks for the advice so far - sorry about the delay in getting back - not much rebuild time this week. Using the Canley method the Diff is definitely a 3.89 and FD therefore looking did indeed originate from a Mk 1 Vitesse (and possibly driveshafts as well) On the positive side it has been rebuilt at some point and doesn't leak (open threaded holes will be plugged!). Input and output flanges match the Spitfire half shaft / prop. As pointed out by Scrapman its the wrong ratio for UK cars so should be 3.63. From Mintylamb this looks like it equates to about 230rpm in OD top rev range. A quick look indicated 3.63 diffs are hard to get and expensive. Any views / experiences / suppliers? I can bolt the big lumps on / off but I don't have the skills to build recon one myself. Radius arms look like they have angled ends with 12 3/4 inch centres and the brackets are angled too see photo of drivers side set out on the floor. Is this correct for a 1500? - I only have 1 set of body tub mounting holes for the brackets. The bolt holes in the brackets are worn and will now be replaced. Thinking of going to adjustable radius arms to save time on set up. Polybush types seems expensive but get excellent reviews - presume blue for road use? Spring is also suspect and will be coming off soon.

I thought I was nearing the end of my Triumph apprenticeship ….. I have rear hub bearing problems on my 1978 Spitfire 1500 so am busy swapping over the half shaft for a nice new reconditioned long one. A manageable job I thought. However I have found my car is fitted with short shafts. Arg. Incidentally the front suspension / brakes have also been modified' by PO's to include early Spitfire vertical links Type 12 calipers (now type 14) and GT6 hubs and stubs which I have been able to successfully sort out - I hope. Looks like I have several generations of Spit / GT6 parts on my car. So my rear axle set up looks like I have short shafts on a 5 leaf swing spring - which may explain why the angled radius arms were so horrible to fit; or I may have incorrect radius arms or brackets? The skin has now grown back my hands so I'm ready for another go. The spring also has a strange rubber strip pushed into either side of the pivot box which isn't right so will be coming off whilst I have everything out. The Diff looks like it has been rebuilt and is a six hole rear casing (It should be four so is wrong) two of which have been left unplugged. I would rather use underseal than EP90 so suggestions please. I'm also struggling to find which diff it is as the numbers don't tally with the triumph records I have found. Close examination shows the number HD3999 but looks like it has been over stamped by a reconditioner as I can see an F under the H. The 'D' hasn't been overstamped so originally an FD Diff? Any ideas? It looks like a 'Type D' (Round front pinion flange)The 1500 propshaft flange matches the front input of the Diff. Outputs are square. It has the 'correct' 1500 engine which and I've done an O/D conversion (J type). I'm prepared to leave the Diff in if its got the right ratio ie not 4.11 or 3.27 - Ideally I think my best bet would be swing spring long shafts (I already have one side) and a 3.89 or 3.67? diff. Any views would be welcome? I bought the car as a partially completed restoration jigsaw - we can all make mistakes .....

Thanks Neil agree about the restoration manual - Will get some photos on once I work out how to do that here

Yes my bedtime reading too is now a Spitfire manual - much raised eyebrows from Better Half

Thanks very much I will take you up on that especially when I've seen the fantastic job you did on your Spitfire

Yes thanks Pete I have quite a selection the latest and newest favourite being Moss (others are available) as it gives better exploded views and parts in chronology (and it was delivered and free). I have lots of examples where the wrong part has been fitted to my car or there isn't one at all so it's helped with a lot of that. Stephen

Thanks Pete Ha ha and I thought getting a new loom would be a bit more plug and play ..... If I'm making up links presumably cable size is 1.2mm and would need a bullet on the other end of the eyelet to fit the earth in the loom? Now all I need is the crimp tool - early Christmas present? Stephen

Today I decided to fit the new Lucas 677 sidelights to my Spitfire 1500 only to find no earth wire or bullet connector bracket on my nice bright new shiny ones I bought and carefully stored several years ago. I subsequently looked at several parts suppliers who show photographs with no earth or bracket (although others do). Has it been found that there is sufficient grounding through the bodywork so it's not needed, or do I need a loop connection around one of the fixing bolts? Many thanks

Ha Ha Thank You Much appreciated

I'm sure you've heard this all before..... I have eventually managed to retire and now have all the time in the world (that's what I thought anyway) to restore my 1978 Spitfire 1500 which I bought in pieces. (Mistake No1) Unfortunately its a complicated jigsaw puzzle and whilst I can use a spanner I'm not an engineer so please forgive my probably daft / obvious questions. - There will be many. Thanks in advance Stephen