'72 “Blue Lightning” Spitfire 2023 Update (2024 Outlook)

[DVD3500]

I introduced my self almost 4 years ago... here is my first update...:

I have been keeping quiet about my project because frankly there wasn’t much to report on.

The car left in October 2021 and since then has been at a workshop in Stuttgart.

The car was acid dipped, galvanized, primered and some body damage came to light. By this point the guy who runs the shop (is essentially a one-man shop) had other projects that he thought he would get done quickly (a ’63 Beetle that came in for rocker panel/sill work and ended up being a body off restoration). Plus he is known in the area for allowing other people to do their work on their cars there.

Once I was there a guy was swapping out the gearbox on a BMW 3 series for a better one…

The original plan was to send everything off to Poland and then build it back up.

One of the local Spitfire drivers who is a master mechanic and helps build protypes for a star car manufacturer in Stuttgart pointed out how much Spitfire bodies flex (even with strengthening) and since the car obviously had had a few dings maybe we should make sure everything fits since banging and welding into a freshly painted body would be somewhat annoying… putting it mildly.

We will have the chassis and the underbody painted in the final color (Cobalt Blue) but leave the other panels until it all fits up nicely. I know many cringe at the effort of getting panel gaps to fit but this guy hung the doors back on after the dip and they are already nearly perfect.

As idle hands are the devil’s work he is having all the suspension components powder coated and I will put them together on the bench so that when the body is ready for the first test fit we can just bolt them on to get the whole thing rolling.

Then the rest of the car will get the final coat(s) of paint and I asked to have them put in the windshield/windscreen as I don’t have the skill for that.

Then she will come home and I can do the rest!

Only minor hiccup I see is the guy I had lined up to do my diff (convert it to 3.63, put an aluminum casing on it and overhaul it in general) says he can’t get the shims to do it. I tried to convince him but so far no joy. There is a company that will do it for about 1000€ but I was hoping to not have to go that route…  Open to offers! 😄

While I wait for the powder coated parts I am reading up on best practices for fitting the bushes. I got my Dad’s tap and die set and will chase the threads with that. Feels good to have them in my hand again after almost 25 years. I have some upgraded parts from the US and am tempted to put lightweight hubs on the front but the Finance Dept. might not approve that! 😄

So with any luck, sometime in the Spring she will come home and I can report back as I stumble through such tasks as:

Rebuilding and upgrading (relays!) the wiring loom from scratch

Upgrading the heater motor and wiring

Trying to find a way to mount a third brake light without it looking crap

Making a custom dashboard (see comment about new powertrain)

Rebuilding the top/hood frame (luckily I have two, one original and one refurbished in parts)

Reupholstering the seats/installing the interior (to a point… we are resto-modding the powertrain so may leave some of that to the very end)

Re-installing the windows (I have hands smaller than some former president’s so I don’t mind. 😊)

Etc etc etc…

Watch this space!

To all who celebrate something this time of year: Happy Holidays and wishing you all a great new Gregorian new Year!

 

 

[Josef]

If you can find out what shims your diff rebuilder is stuck on, try Mike Papworth who might be able to point you in the right direction, and always worth perusing Mick Dolphin’s catalogue for stuff you think you’ll never be able to find. If shipping to Germany is proving the awkward thing, then feel free to PM me and I’d be happy to act as an intermediary. 

[Pete Lewis]

i would be on the search for a 3.63  as sounds like your man was about to swap crown wheel and pinion 

without a selection of shims and the now how to adjust the backlash and diff brg preload is really heading for deep water 

an alloy rear case fits all and wont upset any settings 

you may also find the ratio change needs a different diff bevel gear carrier depends on the CW offset can vary with ratio

all seems a bit of a long shot to be successful

Pete

 

[DVD3500]

Thanks both!

I have a distant cousin on the wife's side that lives near London which could be an option...

In general shipping to from the ex-EU country doesn't cost more these days. It just takes longer and requires more hassle with larger items.

I now have two 3.89 diffs and the innards of a 3.63.

Given the car will have more horsepower and torque than original I went with a 1500 gearbox from Jigsaw Racing (which arrived on 23 Dec 2020).

Somehow I didn't twig and get the diff at the same time (with the higher ratio)...

There is a place a few hours away I could take the lot (Bastuck) and they have the aluminum casings as well.

It will likely run north of 1000€ and have a 3 year guarantee.

They claim they can do 3.27 as well but given the scarcity of those I doubt it plus I am worried about the carrier thinness so often mentioned...

I realized after having the suspension parts at the sandblaster/coaters I still have the seats that need stripping!
I hope to get them to him before he treats the other parts!