wimpus Posted April 12, 2020 Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 Hi all. Since a few weeks we have been in lockdown here in Belgium. I drive a Spitfire 1500 (1978) as a daily car, 114.000miles in 6,5 years and now just done over 187.000 miles on it (yes original engine, pistons and head never been off). Engine needs another head because of oil use, but will be done on another time. I had some rust on the front valances (where new 7 years ago). As i know that they rust away at always the same spot, I bought 2nd hand fibreglass ones. Fixed them, repainted them etc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted April 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 Fitted the valances to the car. Also took the chance to swap over front bumpers. One of the previous owner hit something, made the bumper bend and became wider.. Noticed some rust at the front crossmember (whole front crossmember and hingeboxes where new 7 years ago). So stripped the front end and fixed the (surface) rust etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted April 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 Another big job i've done was de-rusting the rear inner wheelarches. Mostly the seam where the panels meet.. The original seamsealer fell out.. So sandblasted the seam, new seamsealer, brunox (rust convertor/primer, red oxide, stone chip, and body color. Yes the one wheelarch has seen a lot of attacking of a angry welder.. and yes it now needed some 2 by 2cm patches each side. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted April 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 Another thing I wanted to do was change the propshaft. UJ was bad and CV joint had play to I bought one a few weeks ago. And i also bought a spare 2nd hand exhaust (not so loud and can hang higher up !). Normally can use a car lift at my work, but because of the lockdown I needed to make something.. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted April 13, 2020 Report Share Posted April 13, 2020 The Fox is looking good Wim! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 13, 2020 Report Share Posted April 13, 2020 That is an amazing colour. Really suits the car! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted April 14, 2020 Report Share Posted April 14, 2020 Wim keeps the FOX looking amazing, especially considering the huge KMs he seems to cover every year! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted April 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2020 A few more jobs done. Mostly repainting wiper motor and horns + brackets Also fixing an exhaust leak I had at the front (lucky i needed to to an intervention at work, so could use the lift). Noticed wiper wheelboxes are getting very worn. Ordered new from the UK, but I guess it will take a bit of time to get here now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted April 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 Found the the throttle cable (parts of spitfire and from bicycle shop) connection a bit wonky and worn. So after all these years and +110.000miles, time to have a look at it. Cable was replaced 3 years ago and cable before that lasted also 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted April 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 After finding the U-clamp on Car Builder Solutions, I ordered 2 to have a spare. What i found.. Carb linkage i got a spare (but cant get it due to lockdown. Otherwise maybe looking for a new one. Throttle thingy I got several spare, but the holes are still pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted May 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Lockdown is nearly over in Belgium, schools re-open tomorrow. Here are some more things that i've done... Fitted new wiper spindles, old ones didnt turn freely and had play. Now they seem to work good after some problems with the parking switch (hatefull things..) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimpus Posted May 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Took the rear bumper off as it had some rust inside. Sandblasted the inside as far as i could. One of the bumper mounts was cracked/ rotten away, quick weld made it solid again. Sprayed rust convertor in it, red oxide primer & and grey paint. Fox does look good without a rear bumper ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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