DCZ1643 Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 Hi All, I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce myself. I recently retired after 37 years in education and thought I would buy a spitfire to add to my small collection of cars. I eventually found a red 1974 1300, in good condition, so went ahead and bought it. Its not the first spitfire I have owned, in fact when I first started teaching in 1980, I had a white 1974 1300 spitfire. The car is generally in good condition but is not without some issues. It is rust free and has had a fair bit of work done on it mechanically but the interior is a bit tatty. I will re-foam and recover the seats, as well as the door cards and the rear panel behind the seats, along with new carpets. One good thing is that the dashboard was recently, professionally replaced, so that helps but the steering wheel is not good, so that will also be changed. As well as the interior stuff, I intend to make some mechanical mods, such as changing the head to run on lead free petrol, as this has not yet been done. I may also consider electronic ignition, adding a brake servo and putting a stainless steel exhaust system on the car. I love blasting down the country lanes with the top down and I think a nice sounding exhaust would be great. All in all, its going to be a lot of fun and I look forward to being part of this great forum.....Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 Theres enough lead memory in the head to last you for years, save you ££till you have to remove the head then consider exhaust inserts Till then it will run happily onn97 ron UL fuels. Save witha servo fit mintex 1144 disc pads easy upgrade stops on a sixpence Available from club shop or other suppliers Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCZ1643 Posted June 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 Thanks for your response Pete, I will take your advice and leave the head for now. I will also look at uprating the break pads and see how that goes. Cheers....Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 See that's just saved 4 tankfulls of fuel, easy to keep the smile going Theres a certain bedding proceedure for 1144 its on here somewhere Will search when back on the laptop not this silly tablet thingy Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted June 21, 2018 Report Share Posted June 21, 2018 13 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: Save witha servo fit mintex 1144 disc pads Derek, Fit Mintex 1144s AND a servo, I have, well worth it, I wouldn't be without either. Owen at Park Lane Classics is highly regarded and the best/cheapest for seat foams and new covers. I got my foams from him, he also does door cards. http://www.parklaneclassics.co.uk/ With carpets you have to decide if you want moulded or loose. Moulded are easier to fit but generally man made fibre and fairly cheap. Loose are what was fitted originally, well on mine anyway and better quality, wool mix etc. and more expensive. I just got loose carpets from Coverdale. TSSC club shop sell moulded .http://www.carcarpets.co.uk/ Good luck! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCZ1643 Posted June 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 Thanks for the advice Doug, it is very much appreciated....Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 I have M1144 fitted to my Spitfire 1500 and I'm very very happy with them. No servo, but brakes feel great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 As many point out the servo does not make braking better. What it does is make braking more like a modern. So the "surprise" of swapping from your modern to your Triumph no longer has that "What the....***?!!!" moment. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 there's ' No Stopping ' Doug Ha , mind you i had this set up on my rorty Vit6 and use 1144 on the 2000 1) Clean discs with brake cleaner 2) Following initial brake test start with 3 – 4 light applications from 30mph down to 0mph. After these, follow the steps below according to Material. M1144: 6 / 7 medium pressure applications 70mph down to 30mph M1155: 8 / 9 medium pressure applications 90mph down to 30mph M1166: 9 / 10 medium applications 90mph down to 30mph When carrying out the bedding process, do not allow the brakes to drag, do not left foot brake. To do so may result in damage to, or failure of the brake system. Leave the brakes to completely cool. For Further information please contact Richard Barton on 0127485403 mintex bedding.odt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 Doug- Is this the servo unit.. https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-RH5272 How easy is it to fit? Rimmers have it listed at £102 inc vat at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 yes its a universal kit sold by many and at varying costs search all makes , anything from mini to jag suppliers often down to £80 its a fits all with some jigery pokery to make it onto whatever car you have its not dedicated to Triumph or ...........anything else just a box of aftermarket brackets and some pipe ,and a servo unit there are two ratios available out there ... for more or less assistance maybe do some deeper homework for more clues or just go with RB. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 BW, Yes like that, the Lockheed type, Girling were the originally fitted servos but they're not as good. My Girling never really worked and eventually filled up with brake fluid, so I scrapped it and got a Lockheed. £102 is a good price, they were £80 to £120 when I bought mine 5 years (?) ago. I'd go for the Rimmers, the £80ers are assembled in China by 8 year olds, probably Rimmers as well, but at least with RB you can demand recompense if you get a dud. I had to fix my dud by myself. I Learnt a lot about servos! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 Will probaly wait for the next RB 'special weekend' offer. They appear to have regular 'knock down/discount weekends' fairly regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 Welcome! I'm in the Mintex 1144 and no servo club - never found an issue swapping between various moderns and the GT6. Good looking Spitfire - certainly the weather for one at the moment ? Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted June 23, 2018 Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Hi and welcome. Love your Spitfire ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 23, 2018 Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Welcome Derek - that's a nice car! What's the significance of your user name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCZ1643 Posted June 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Hi Colin.... My user name isn't that significant, its just a number plate I used to have, nothing exciting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCZ1643 Posted June 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Thanks for the nice comments guys.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 24, 2018 Report Share Posted June 24, 2018 On 6/23/2018 at 7:26 PM, DCZ1643 said: Hi Colin.... My user name isn't that significant, its just a number plate I used to have, nothing exciting? My first instinct was that it was a Northern Ireland number plate, hence the question! I checked the photos to make sure it wasn't on your Spit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCZ1643 Posted June 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2018 Spot on Colin, I bought it many years ago but lost it when I forgot to renew the retention (DVLA making money for nothing). It is the first private plate I had, so I know the number, when I need a user name other than my own, I use it. Cheers....Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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