cliff.b
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Posts posted by cliff.b
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Will be giving the Spitty a service shortly and thought I might replace the plugs.
Some time ago I read recommendations for Bosch W78 but then read they are now hard to find.
So just wondered, can you still get then, if so where, and if not, are there any other recommendations?
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4 hours ago, Jonah said:
Thank you, I didn’t realise that, the other bulbs are certainly old so I’ll change them
they’re all 2.2watt screw in type Lucas bulbs
Replace with LEDs if tou want them brighter. If the the voltage gauge is new it might already have an LED built in
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3 hours ago, NonMember said:
I love the drives out and would far rather use my Triumphs than sit in a field for a static show. However, I didn't get to do as many this year as I would have liked. The only significant one was the C2C (Porthmadog to Dungeness, overnight) in the Spitfire. Last year had a holiday in Yorkshire, a trip to the peaks (I had to retire from that before the lakes and dales bit due to a failed gearbox mount) and the RBRR.
Yes, I don't mind turning up to one of these meets where you stay for an hour or so and get to look at other people's cars, but generally, I prefer to drive it.
I'm not really very interested in having to turn up somewhere early and commit to leaving the car there all day so the public can see it.
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43 minutes ago, rogerguzzi said:
Hello Cliff
We covered 6421miles this year.
We went to Spain in June 1900miles
Spa 6 hours September 1200/1300 miles.
Plus out most Wednesdays with a small group of friends.
On the Spain trip we were averaging 48/49 MPG!!!!
But we had a lambda sensor fail and with the new one and having to remap the EFI we are only getting 40mpg? (I will sort it out in the spring!)
We do have overdrive and it is a 28% unit so good for cruising on motorways.
Plus we run EFI with ITB's so can tune it for better cruising!
Plus the engine is fully balanced and ported and has a Newman PH2 cam (Fast road) and the block is decked with piston pop up etc
Roger
I would like an o/d but I'm sure I will get around to it eventually.
Interesting the difference in fuel economy with EFI. What do you use and did it take much playing with to set up optimally?
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1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said:
I feel I used mine too much, too many miles. Our local tendency is towards 'social' outings ie a very long drive with a meal at the end, sometimes up to 200 miles and although we try to vary them in many cases it's the same small area and the same roads, nose to tail driving in a convoy for sometimes over three hours without a break that finishes miles from home, so a long drive back afterwards. At our AGM in December the members voted against attending static shows in favour of these marathons. I'll drive miles to a show, to park up and see other cars, or to a local workshop to work on cars or have work done, but I'm fed up with this endless switchback tour of little roads many of which members attend in their modern cars.
So: 2023, more shows for me, more autojumble or static events, but less miles.
Yes, I have been on some of these long drives out, although the chap that organizes them works out a circular route which limits the distance you get from home. Also heads off on different directions with no duplication of routes so far.
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2 minutes ago, Steve P said:
Usage for me, i am ashamed to say not much. I seem to be working more now than 20 years ago in my 30`s.Loss of storage has meant not much opportunity to work on my 2 cars either.A house move may be on the cards to get more space.
Going to Brooklands on New Years day though. And my Vitesse will be a wedding car to the chapel in Windsor Great Park in June.
S
A shame you haven't been able to use it more but at least a goal to improve on that next year.
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4 minutes ago, clive said:
Nope. it has a ford engine, and that has been bulletproof since fitted.
It will happily cruise at 110mph if you can afford the fuel (the gauge seems to visibly move) and the rest of the car has been built to match. However, it is very much a jack of all trades, master of none. So it handles pretty well, has fairly good gearing (longer would be good on trips, shorter on track) and so on. But I will never willingly part with it.
I would imagine a Spitfire with that much power feels fairly brisk at times 👍
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7 minutes ago, clive said:
Spitfire has done about 7K tis year. Mainly clocked up in longer trips. Scotland, Le mans, 10CR. I think only 2 track days, and 1 nav rally. Must try harder on that front.
No idea on overall MPG, some will be single figure (trackdays) but did get high 30's on motorway sections on holidays. Highest speed reached 114mph, on a German autobahn after I took the wrong turnoff and had to catch the rest of our group.
No real brakdowns to report. An exhaust hanger broke, used about 2L of oil all together, and my AFR controller had a hissy fit. Tyres all replaced this year too.
Next year I ought to attend to a few rust bubbles that are growing on the front wings. And fit the new doorcards that have been sitting next to the fridge for 2 years.
114mph in a Spitfire 😱
I assume the engine is not as it was when the car left the factory 🤔
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22 minutes ago, steveo said:
My Herald has bee used quite a lot in recent months due to moving house, she has done dozens of trips to the recycling centre fully loaded with scrap metal, wood & plastic etc.
Only had it on the road from the summer but done 2 shows & 1 vintage car run, not sure of the miles done as only fixed the speedo a few months ago but it got to be getting on for 1000 now, she ain't no show pony & gets used for everything in all weathers, I have loved every mile driving her.
Probably one of the cheapest & tatty classics I have had but got used the most due to not having to worry about it, always brings a smile to other motorists !
Cheers, Steve.
That's great. I have made a couple of trips to the recycling centre and always make it clear I'm not leaving the car there lol.
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Don't think I will have an opportunity to take the Spitty out again this year so have drawn a line in the little notebook I keep in the car. It tells me I have covered 3050 miles over the last year and used just under 500 litres of fuel. So by my calculation about 32mpg average, which doesn't seem bad for a 1500 without overdrive.
I can also see my highest mileage in one day was 160 miles but on one of several weekends away, covered 250 miles over 2 days.
As for problems, nothing that stopped me going where I needed to go. Distributor & starter motor replaced last January as planned work and the only significant unexpected issue was replacing a drive shaft and bearings in June, but that didn't stop me getting home. Apart from that, just servicing and replacing oil in gearbox and diff as I didn't know what was in there.
Car tucked away in garage now but hopefully not for long and hope to use it at least as much next year.
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Anyway, part 2 of the plan is to monitor these over time and see how they perform. I will report back, eventually.
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20 minutes ago, alan.gilbert_6384 said:
Was it easy to do? I have a slight lean to the driver side and was thinking of putting in one of these to correct it.
I found it pretty easy but I don't know if that is because it's a swing spring. Also, when I did the second side I found it easier to remove the old button from the location nearest the wheel which gave a little more clearance for the inner position. The outer one was easy to insert anyway
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2 minutes ago, alan.gilbert_6384 said:
Hi Did it make any difference ie ride height to one side (higher) ?cheers
I did both sides together but after a test drive it does look higher, certainly half an inch, maybe more. Ride feels much better as well.
Also I think less camber Before and after camber pics below.
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Decided to carry out the plan to replace 2 buttons on each side this afternoon.
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5 hours ago, Stratton Jimmer said:
I had no spares so went to my local security specialists who cut me sets for both my Mk3 GT6 and my Sixfire 1500. They are very competent:
Thanks. I've got my key now but if I need anything else I go back to Swindon occasionally so could pay them a visit 👍
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4 minutes ago, Chris A said:
I was certain it would
Obviously they have cut a new one to a pattern and comparing to my original shows how much that one has worn. So if I had found someone that could have copied that it might not have worked well anyway.
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Replacement received from Keytrader and works ok 👍
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17 hours ago, Mathew said:
Wisbech, near the crossing by the church car park. The key shop there cuts the ones for me and keeps a large stock.
Thanks. If the replacement sent to me still doesn't work I will give them a try 👍
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They are sending me a new key so I will await it with anticipation 🙄
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Hmm, new key arrived today and didn't work. When I compared to original it is completely different.
I have advised Keytrader and awaiting a response.
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16 minutes ago, Fergusminto said:
That’s the ignition taken care of now. Ballast Resistor bypassed. Can’t say the started any better but at least she started! I suppose, now, I will have to retune the engine - mixture, carb balance and timing. Can anyone advise on the definitive static/strobe timing on a 1977 1.5 Dolomite engine. I was, at one point, advised 14btdc but due to starting probs I took it back to 10.
Thanks to all btw - I seem have been running that engine with a 12v coil and a 6v supply.
The engine in my 1500 has a DM number so presume from Dolomite, but I believe it is supposed to be the same. I am currently running at 14deg BTDC and it starts on the button in warmer weather but needs a bit more cranking when it's cold out. But last year I was running it at the spec 10deg and it was exactly the same. It does crank slightly slower when cold, presumably due to thicker oil, so maybe that contributes. Or maybe it's the fuel not vaporising as much when it's cold but in my car, the timing doesn't seem to have much effect on this.
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1 hour ago, Stratton Jimmer said:
My Sixfire has all LED lights which are bright and effective. They were fitted by the PO but came from a company who's website is at: https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/ (Thank heavens for having a history file!)
Many thanks 👍
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I had forgotten about this issue and looked at it again this afternoon.
I found that connecting the tail light side of the LED bulb to a 12v battery on the workbench it lit as expected, but if I touched the brake light connection to -ve it went out. So clearly the 2 parts of the bulb are not isolated and there must be some sort of electrical connection between them.
Anyway, observing this everything fell into place. I had originally only changed one bulb as I wanted to compare brightness and as discussed previously that meant the brake light wire now had a path through the other filament bulb to ground. Removed the filament bulb, tried fitting LED again and all working, although not as bright as I hoped and disappointing difference in brightness between tail & brake lights. Should probably have bought better ones 🙄
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8 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:
i think remove the spring..... then only have to do it once
if you do make sure you have enough side room to extricate the spring its longer than you think
doing spring work on the car is asking for a few sticky plasters or A &E visits to patch up the pinkies
you will need to remove some or all the diff studs to fiddle the spring out
Pete
That is good advice, and if I knew that the replacement pads are definitely up to the job I would probably take it 🙂
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Mini woe 🤬
in My NON-Triumph cars
Posted
Went to start our old Mini Clubman Diesel last week as I needed to be somewhere and my Wife was out in the newer car.
Had been sitting outside covered in ice for over a week and was barely turning over then all the dashboard lights went out every time I tried. So put the battery on charge and had to get the trusty Spitfire out of the garage to get me where I needed to be (never driven it in such appalling weather)
Next morning, Mini battery charged and turning over fine, but wouldn't fire up. Found no fuel getting to filter on engine and on further investigation, fuel pump not running.
So rigged up an old electric pump with a separate diesel supply, but still nothing.
Eventually got the AA to come out and fixed it in 20 mins without even getting his tools out.
when the battery died it had reset the ecu which then was no longer communicating with the engine. He had to use software on his computer to reconfigure it and it then started fine.
Guess that's progress 🙄