John Bonnett
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Posts posted by John Bonnett
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It would be interesting to hear what revs you are doing at a true 30 or 40mph in 4th gear.
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With the car finished, I'm casting around for things to do. I shall never fit a radio or use the slot for additional gauges so I've made a cubby box to fit the slot. This will give easy access for small items like house keys, electric gate controller and things like that. I've just given it a quick coat of paint but it will be powder coated in due course. Here are a couple of photos in case anyone might be interested.
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That was me Colin and have to admit John's is better :-(
But then mine works and is still in place. Looks a bit tidyer now I've repaired and painted the area.
And the great thing is they work
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Hi Darren you do have some fun land at you door Ha!
as some switches of the era would turn back to power the diesel pre heaters
it was sprung. , just out the box thoughts.
if the column earth was missing could the key entry mate the inner with the outer via the lock plunger
or some wild idea to make a working earth when the correct route has failed , is there a wire across the uj
and a link from the rack greaser to the chassis ?
pete
I could understand it that way Pete but the way I read it is that the key inserted into the switch breaks the earth. How weird is that?
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All very odd Darren because the horn is independent of the ignition switch. Does the horn on you car go through a relay? The GT6 does but the 1500 spitfire doesn't. Not that the relay should make any difference to this particular problem. Is the horn push on the steering wheel or on a stalk?
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Rain water collects in the bottom corners of the tailgate aperture which is not a good thing. We discussed on my build thread about putting in drain tubes and i believe Alan C actually did it. I had not done it at the time my car went for painting but the painter flagged it up and reminded me. So in the nick of time I machined two steel fittings which were welded in and i am pleased to say that they work. A couple of pictures follow. I though it might be of interest to anyone at a stage in their rebuild where they can install them.
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Can I please add my belated birthday wishes Pete and what a lovely and richly deserved present. You are a mainstay, hugely appreciated and respected and without your help many of us would be floundering.
Best regards
John
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I totally agree Pete. The 12mm studs certainly are a cheap mod and instil a lot of peace of mind.
I have to say that I am in the original steel wheels camp. It is absolutely a matter of personal taste but in my opinion a set of pristine original steel wheels with a nice set of centres cannot be beaten. You may well say then why did you fit Minilites? I pondered long and hard before making the decision and in the end it was the cost of refurbishing a set of steels and the slight weight saving offered by the alloys.
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roger was in my area with his Vitesse until he moved .
duxford is no booking if the suns out its a brilliant day
our area has run it for 23 years now,
you can even stop over at my pad
Pete
Pete that is so kind of you, thank you. We'll keep in touch on Duxford.
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round of applause i reckon... clap clappity clap
Kop Hills in my area but never managed to get in so far
But youre welcome at DUXFORD sept 12th
Pete
I've put an entry in for Kop Hill Pete but so far I haven't heard from them. My friend Roger England had immediate acceptance for his Gilbern so if we get a static parking place we will be there.
John
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stunning car and colour.
i hope to see it in the flesh at some point.
all the best
paul
Hi Paul,
I hope so too. I'm actually missing the car very much at the moment. We are on our way back from Aquitaine after a couple of weeks holiday and because the Triumph still had some work to be done, we took the trials car. It has performed amazingly well but I'm really looking forward to seeing the Triumph again.
Classics Monthly may be coming down next week to finish an article on it so we'll hope for a fine day; better than the last time they came down.
I'm hoping to get the car to the VSCC meeting at Wiscombe Park on Sunday 8th May so perhaps see a few Triumph people then.
Kind regards
John
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By the piece do you mean the finisher? If so, it should just tap on and be the correct shape and length. However, the one I used was too long and needed trimming. I don't have any pictures unfortunately. Can you offer it up and post a couple of pictures?
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Hello Richard
Mine is fitted in the bottom of the rad and is a dual temperture switch as I have 2 fans.
switching on at 82deg/78deg and 88deg/82deg
To me it seems the correct place, why would you wan't to cool the water before the rad had done its job?
Also is it not better for the engine to have water coming back into it at not much lower temperature than it runs at for maximum efficiency?
Roger
Very well thought out and neat fan installation Roger. Do you have a part number you could let me have for the dual temperature switch you are using.
Thank you
rgds
John
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Thank you Aaron and Steve for your support and patience following the ups and downs of the build. I'm really pleased that you like the car because I know that for a number of members it really isn't their cup of tea. We are all different and that's what makes life so interesting. Personally I am absolutely delighted with the car; the way it looks and particularly the way it drives. Fitting the four cylinder engine was definitely the right decision and this has made a major contribution to the way the car devours bends and twisty roads. It really is a delight and is providing the kind of handling and enjoyment that I had only experienced in a Caterham. My six powered GT6 was a great touring car eating up the miles with consummate ease; all very relaxed and leisurely. This car has a totally different character; manic and highly strung are words that come to mind.
I really do hope I'll be able to meet many of you this year and hope this might be possible and some of the events I've booked. I am hoping to be at Santa Pod, The Silverstone Classic and our own Devon event at Powderham. I'm also hoping to take the car to Germany at the end of September for the GT6 gathering. I've put an entry in for the Kop Hill hill climb in September but I'm still waiting to hear if I've been accepted. Perhaps they are not keen on my car either
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Hello John.
What a beautiful car and very well done.
Thank you for sharing the rebuild and still taking time out to offer advice where it was required.
Did you use Templar Performance to get your rear screen done ?? I know you mentioned you were looking at them to do the job. I have a vested interest as I'm looking to get my Alpine rear screen replaced.
Best wishes.
Richard.
Richard, thank you very much for your very kind words. Yes I did get Mike at Templar Performance to make and supply the windows and what a good job he's made of them. I'm really pleased and they weigh nearly nothing. The rear window was moulded to the exact shape and size as the original and fitted perfectly. I'm sure yours will be the same. Please let me know how you get on.
Kind regards
John
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Just by way of an update, it's very good news on the engine front. I collected the car from the builder after he'd set it up on the rolling road and drove it home. The difference is phenomenal. Power comes in from pull away and is delivered smoothly right through the rev range. It's been a bit of a rough road to get to this point but it does look as if at last I've got the kind of performance I was hoping for. So we're pretty much there now with the project with just a few minor jobs to do. These include fitting the Canley lightweight alloy rear wishbones, M12 studs to the rear hubs and the Minilites.
It has been an interesting project and I am really pleased with the result. I hope that the car will provide a lot of enjoyment during this Summer and along the way I do hope that at the various Events I'll be able to meet many of you who have been really supportive and encouraging throughout the highs and lows that accompany any ambitious project. Thank you all.
Kind regards
John
THE END
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I shall put it in a safe place....
Thank you Clive. I've not got my car back yet so unable to take any measurements. I'm hopefully driving it back from the rolling road tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait
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If you can be sure the seals and bearings are higher quality than are being used in the new units, it would make sense.
Or find genuine NOS ones, they do turn up. I have a Unipart spit 1500 one here I ought to sell...
I'll give you a call Clive. My water pump pulley is forward of the crank pulley by about 5mm. It is supposed to be correct for a 1500.
Sorry for the thread drift.
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After speaking to Nick Jones at the weekend, I'm going to get a set. I might even go for the the Timken bearings as well.
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Good news indeed. Let's hope he takes notice and slows down a bit. Agree he is a really nice bloke.
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Hi all, my name is Rob and i'm a new TSSC member. Don't really know what i'm doing with this laptop thingy but i'll have a go. I'm currently restoring a mk2 Vitesse convertible and was wondering if Spitfire seats with headrests tilt forward at all because if they do I might consider fitting them to my Vitesse? If not, I know the ones in late model MGBs do because my wife has got one. (Better not nick hers, I don't think she'd be very pleased). Has anyone else fitted MGB seats to their Vit and if so was it difficult? hope one or more of you can help. Thanks
Hi Rob, welcome to the forum and the Club. Nice to hear from you.
I have a pair of Spitfire 1500 seats in my car and they definitely to tip forward by operating a locking lever that releases the seat from the sub frame. It then hinges forward. Not much use in a GT6 because the headrests hit the roof.
rgds
John
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With the mechanical and electrical sides of the car now complete I've turned my attention to reinstalling the interior which is turning out to be a much more lengthy job than I was expecting. Not helped by dropping a 3mm Allen key down below the petrol tank. This would not have been so bad but a second followed in the same way. So it does look as if the tank is going to come out to retrieve them. But on the plus side the seats are in together with the three quarter panels and the carpets. Messrs Chapman & Cliff have made a really nice job of the dashboard and I particularly like the way they have rebated the apertures for the instruments. Here are a few photos which bring things up to date.
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I'm assuming MK3 GT6 MK4 Spitfire handles. Here's a picture of the inside of the handle. When you open the door the white plastic piece is moved out and the adjustable screw head acts on a steel arm. Cold it be that the screw needs adjusting up a tad? I hope the picture is of some help.
rgds
John
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Here's how the original Girling servo mounts.
Gt6 wheel/tyre size - speedo not reading correctly
in General
Posted
That's interesting. On my car fitted with 155 80 13s , 3.89 diff in overdrive fourth 60mph is the same as yours; 3000rpm. Rather than mess about trying to find a speedometer to suit you could get yours calibrated by Speedy Cables.