Daily Spit 1500 body repairs & more..

[wimpus]

1 hour ago, Mathew said:

At least you could get a spare engine to swap out while you do your original. 

I do have a spare engine in my stock.

Last run 7 years ago, but I do try and turn it every month.

[alan.gilbert_6384]

Hi Just out of interest, why are you taking the windscreen out ?

[Chris A]

3 hours ago, alan.gilbert_6384 said:

Hi Just out of interest, why are you taking the windscreen out ?

Because it's there. 

[wimpus]

On 20/06/2021 at 12:49, alan.gilbert_6384 said:

Hi Just out of interest, why are you taking the windscreen out ?

Because water is getting in from the screen for years.

The rubber was new in 2013, but never fitted right.. 

The screen itself had a lot of little markings on it + moisture getting between the layers of glass.

And... driving in the sun is a bit of a nightmare as its nearly like the moon.

Very tiny spots all over.. but its in the glass..

 

I do suspect and could just see rust at the spot where it leaks.

 

So its the only way to go ! 🙄

[wimpus]

4 hours ago, Mathew said:

Badly fitting screen rubber is a known problem, i had to cut and glue my screen rubber to get it to fit. I think there is a dealer selling the correct profile one, someone will know who, as my yellow spit will need one by the end of the year, i know its not the one in Lincoln as thats where my over size one came from.

There is a post on going here on the forum.

 

Best rubber is from COH Baines, so ordered 2 of them.

 

So hopefully its all going to fit.

[Badwolf]

Wimpus - Let us know how you get on with the Baines rubber seal. I am going to be getting one along with other rubbers in the future.

[Nick Jones]

Baines are the ones. Correct profile, correct hardness, correct length.  
 

Unlike certain others. Had two from Paddocks (who were very helpful btw) that were both way too long and one was about 30mm longer than the other. Tried shortening the longer one so it was a snug fit around the screen and it was better (could actually get the screen in the car), but still wouldn’t sit right in the corners. Baines one went straight in and sat right first go.

Nick

[Badwolf]

If you buy rubber seals by the length rather than pre-made, what is the best adhesive for joining the cut ends. I was recommended to use bicycle puncture repair adhesive, others superglue (but that tends to be brittle in my experience).

[Badwolf]

Mathew - Sorry 'cv' repair kit?? As you can appreciate, over the years I have collected and tested a lot of adhesives plus, I have a few that were samples and never get tried out.

[Badwolf]

2 minutes ago, Mathew said:

The split rubber boot kits to replace the perished ones

Thanks... Noted.

[wimpus]

On 26/06/2021 at 10:20, Nick Jones said:

Baines are the ones. Correct profile, correct hardness, correct length.  
 

Unlike certain others. Had two from Paddocks (who were very helpful btw) that were both way too long and one was about 30mm longer than the other. Tried shortening the longer one so it was a snug fit around the screen and it was better (could actually get the screen in the car), but still wouldn’t sit right in the corners. Baines one went straight in and sat right first go.

Nick

Nick,

 

The seam of the seal (where the two ends are together).

Should that be at the bottom or the top ? 

 

On Fox now its at the bottom.

But the manual (a bentley book i think ive seen it in) said that it needed to be at the bottom...

 

I have put the new seal around the new glass and only could fit it with the seam at the top.

 

Could you take a look for me or ask Chris ?

[Nick Jones]

Hi Wim, 

I think we put the join at the bottom on both the Spitfire and GT6. It shows less there but I don’t think it makes any practical difference.

Ni

[Badwolf]

My weird logic would put the join at the top. Not to be awkward, but it would get marginally less water running over it (no water spill from the windscreen/wipers) plus any leaks can be more easily spotted and dealt with rather than running unseen down the back of the crashpad, dash and the inside of the front bulkhead.

[wimpus]

Oh well... on another note...

We changed the engine on Fox the last 2 days 😅

With the help of my uncle his Linde forklift out of 1985 !

 

Also... more welding etc

Needed to strip the whole suspension turret of the left side for it (never been off in 43years).

Finally after all these years we got room to hammer the radiator support back (i got the car like this).

 

Drove Fox home this evening, timing etc needs better adjusting , exhaust manifold blowing a bit and oil leak from the rocker cover.

 

[wimpus]

Little video after a little tune, but still a bit lean etc.

 

The engine was bought running in a '79 Spitfire by me 7 to 8 years ago incl carbs etc.

For like £450 (incl used diff etc !) 

 

It a DM*****ESS engine (supplied spare 1500 block).

Oil pressure seems really good, everything original inside !

Did check crank bearings etc a few years ago.

[wimpus]

2 hours ago, Mathew said:

I always wondered where engines came from, then i see yours hiding by the bush. My mum said i came from the gooseberry bush, i never believed her as she also said she was 29 when my sister turned 21! 🤣😅. Seriously though , well done, showing us how to keep a car on the road. Will you get straight on and restore the original engine or leave it for a while and run with the one you just put in.

My 'plan' is get the original engine apart, then let it re-bore, crank checked etc etc.

 

Maybe mk3 style camshaft (but only fitted a new standard 1500 cam (10.000kms ago)in january this year when the headgasket failed.

 

After 325.000kms/201.000miles its the best I could do I think.

 

She did do it well all those years.

But she was using oil, not very fun on long trips (is something that im planning to do next year when corona etc is over .. I hope).

[wimpus]

More done today.

One corner was rotten and a few more areas needed attention.

 

Sadly after 2 try's this evening to fit the windscreen .. we gave up.

 

Tomorrow we will try again !

 

[wimpus]

8 hours ago, Mathew said:

Probably the worst part to do, is this the first time you have had to leave immobile? Soon be back on the road.

The last few months I needed to use another a car for a few days.

For sure when doing sills etc.

But still only 10 to 14 days I think it was .

[wimpus]

And...   its IN ! 🙃

With thanks to my uncle and a friend.

+ another local guy came by, fitted new spark plugs (previous owner fitted resistor plugs..) and replace his screaming alternator.

 

The screen and rubber do fit a lot better then before ! 

[wimpus]

Seems my washer jet tubing now leaks, onto the loom and into the radio... that's now doing strange stuff.. time to buy a new one I think 😓

[DVD3500]

Any aquarium tubing will work... I bought some with silicon in it so it doesn't go stiff (like the fish in tank  did...)

[wimpus]

Seems I was lucky.. radio again works as normal.

And tubing pushed futher up the jet.. no leaks for now.

 

[wimpus]

Yesterday evening a quick testdrive to test everything.

I go around  corner... a loud bang.

Bottom leaf of the rear spring broke!

 

Got it apart in the dark and got a new spring this morning.

After an good hour she was back on the road 😁

Now to fix a coolant leak (bottom hose of rad... typical !)

 

 

[Ian Faulds]

the fox's big brother wimpus, spotted at the park ,ha ha

[wimpus]

2 Days ago done some bodywork on the bonnet.

 

Fixed the 10 dents that where in it and put primer on.

 

Now she's nearly back in one color exept the door 😅

 

Always fun when you open the bonnet and see coolant..

Waterpump failing after... 7 months.

Put on a new one on yesterday.