Black Cat Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 Hi Gents, I’m new to Triumph's but have just brought a 1978 Triumph Spitfire which is in need of some tender loving care. The good thing is the car is quite sound apart from the usual oil leaks and a little bit of rust. There are a couple of things I need to undertake as a matter of urgency as I want to keep the car on the road for the next couple of months before I start the complete restoration which will involve taking the body off, engine gearbox and diff rebuild, any bodywork replaced or repaired and respray. Firstly, the exhaust system needs to be replaced, not sure what the previous owners have put on it, they claimed it was from a Triumph Stag and that it sounds sporty but to be it sounds like there is a great big hole in it. Had it up on a hoist today and no sign of any holes but would still like to replace it with a Full stainless steel sports system with twin rear silence. Where is the best place to get an exhaust system, how much will it cost, and should I also get a stainless steel manifold at this stage or wait until the rebuild? The engine doesn’t run very smoothly at the moment, I’m hoping with the new exhaust in place the carbs can be reset up and then the car will run a lot nicer. Secondly, there is a leak in the radiator, only a small one, again at some point I will replace this with a large aluminium one. I think these work out at about £100.00 plus, is it worth having the rad I have repaired or should I just bight the bullet now and buy a new one with a new fan? Many thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 looks like a semi-sport rear box meant for a spitfire. Twin wheelbarrow type will be louder..... and despite me being referred to as a hooligan by some, I find sports exhausts too loud. So have a think, a std GT6 rear box may work better and be easier to live with. If you get the stainless manifold now, get that with a GT6 mk2 system. At least, that is what I would do for an easy life. It will all fit together... Timing of purchases is always difficult. But keep an eye out for discounts/offers. Club shop gives a fair discount if you area club member, and their exhausts are good.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 I've got the bell wheelbarrow system, I had to fit a centre resonator to tone it down and it's still a bit loud. A new rad will probably work out cheaper than a re-core. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 1 hour ago, clive said: looks like a semi-sport rear box meant for a spitfire. So have a think, a std GT6 rear box may work better and be easier to live with. I was actually going to suggest that THAT is a GT6 rear box already.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 I would just fit a new full size radiator - stainless if you want, but I didn't bother - also a new frame (they aren't expensive) as the chances are it will be rotting behind the expansion bottle. As for exhaust, I have a wheel barrow type with a 4-2-1 manifold - I got it second hand but almost unused - it came from Rimmers and has a centre silencer and I find the noise levels perfect - and sounds like a sports car should. (IMHO!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 11 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said: I was actually going to suggest that THAT is a GT6 rear box already.... It looks too "short" and the entry/exit pipes go into the end of the silencer, but the GT6 the pipes enter/exit the body. Argh, difficult to explain! pic link attached which is worth many thousands of my words https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID008010 I had a semi-sport on a spitfire many years ago. Certainly not subtle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 12 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said: I was actually going to suggest that THAT is a GT6 rear box already.... No, as Clive said, that's a semi-sport after-market box. The standard Mk2/Mk3 GT6 exhaust is very similar to a 1500 standard system so it will fit and give sensible noise levels. I'd recommend that option (my Spitfire is a Mk3 so its tubular manifold is coupled to a standard Mk1 GT6 exhaust). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 Not the MK3, which as you say comes out of the box itself, but the MK2. Phoenix GT6 MK2 stainless system looks quite similar, as does Rimmer's own MK2 rear box.... https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GEX3483SSSPORT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 The original factory parts manual page on the Canley Classics site shows: for the Mk2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 Sorry... sometimes I forget this forum.... I never said it was an ORIGINAL MK2 box.... I suggested it MAY be a MK2 box already... as in an aftermarket stainless box fitted by a previous owner. However, I'll bow to those in the know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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