AlanT Posted March 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 Good progress today. Got the new (2nd hand) starter in and it spins super fast now, filled and bled the brakes. This took a while as the whole system was new. The new floats have cured the flooding issue. Seat 1 stripped awaiting new foams,boards, foam, covers (due this week). Houndstooth black. Engine idles a little lumpy but will run it a bit before refining. And the sun is out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 Spoke too soon! Front carb still flooding despite new needle valves and float. As soon as the engine is revved up. Slightly baffled as the fuel pump should be fine as Roger ran it on his car. It has the correct spacer. May swap back in one of the old valves to see what happens. At least explain the slightly lumpy idle. Perhaps the pin that holds the float needs replacing for a new one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 Done a bit of research and the SU site suggests it could be blocked breather(s). A job for tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 Well I’m baffled! How do you get a new gator over the handbrake? Expertise very welcome! Engine side panels on. These are 2nd hand but have had a coat of blackboard paint. Using what I’ve got on the shelves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 21, 2022 Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 I think the gaiter is supposed to go on before the grip handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 Hmmm. Sort of helps…but how does the grip come off? Mine seems well attached. @Mathewdid you have to do one of these on your yellow Spit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 Thanks. Seems tight, so May unpick and restitch if required Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted March 21, 2022 Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 unless someone's glued it on the grip does pull off, the daughters Mk2 Spit had the later grip as yours I pulled it off and replaced with the earlier thinner unit, I've also replaced the Vitesse's with a new old style grip just to look cleaner & new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Twitchen Posted March 22, 2022 Report Share Posted March 22, 2022 Andy Cook's article in the most recent Courier on refurbishing his arm rest has details on how he removed his handbrake grip. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2022 Thanks Peter, Dick, Now where did I put that magazine… Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2022 Hi All, it’s seat time! Question for experts please. On the seat pad cover there are two straps inside. Presume to make the crease fit. Should these go through the foam? No slit in the foams. Thought best ask before I cut them. Going to look a lot better. When I bought the car (blind) the interior was described as ‘surprisingly well preserved!’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted March 27, 2022 Report Share Posted March 27, 2022 Mine (from Park Lane) did not have anything like that on the seat base cover. The covers were very close to the ones I removed in design with a fabric panel to tension the crease above the fluted section on the seat back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2022 Thanks Josef. I’ve got a mix of some Park Lane parts but the foams and covers from elsewhere since Owen doesn’t do houndstooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted March 27, 2022 Report Share Posted March 27, 2022 I suppose the houndstooth panels might need slightly different treatment / support on fitting than vinyl or leather given they’re a cloth type material. What do the instructions with the covers say? With my leather ones I had to glue the square-ish section where you actually sit to the foam, and then the rest of the cover was pulled round and cable tied to the wire basket part. Couple of WIP photos here which might help, though there’s not really anything detailed about the steps you’re talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted March 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Thanks @JosefI’ve been back to Mike at classic British sports car trim (supplied). The straps do indeed go through the foams on houndstooth to hold it in position. Fitter had to make the necessary slits in the base. Ala 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted April 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 Well here it is. Finished after 5 years. Still a few niggles (front carb floods after switch off despite new viton valves, may reduce float height more). Back in 1988 (I was 19) I went to a beach party at Budleigh Salterton. Someone had a white, overdrive, 1500. I wanted one but bought a non overdrive rust bucket WNE 963S (scrapped or in a garage?). Drove it for 7 years and it never worked for more than two weeks without an issue. So I decided to build myself the Spit I always wanted. Thanks to everyone for their advice and support. Going to enjoy this! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted April 1, 2022 Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 That's a great looking Spitfire, I love the wheels👍 I can remember the owner of our local Newsagent having one brand new same colour and year, I used to see it parked outside when going to school and then work, I wonder if that car is still around? You've done a cracking job, Enjoy😉 Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted April 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 Thanks @Gary Flinn I got lucky with the wheels. They were on eBay at the start of first lockdown. No one bid. Paid£65. Just had to wait (no issue anyway) to collect them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted April 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 Just driven it. It’s fantastic! Goes really well. Brakes need bleeding again as they are a bit spongy (to be expected as all new) and I’ve somehow got the drivers seat in slightly lopsided by having too many layers near the tunnel. Every is working first time out. All gauges, heating, overdrive, the lot! So, my final question to the experts…what type pressures for modern 170/70s? The old sorts used to be about 22 but that seems crazy low! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted April 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 Sorry…tyre pressures. A bit happy at the mo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 1, 2022 Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 52 minutes ago, AlanT said: Sorry…tyre pressures. A bit happy at the mo! I run 25psi all round. Seems to work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted April 1, 2022 Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 I tend to run mine a bit harder than Clive - about 30psi all round - but the only one with 175/70 is a GT6, so a tad heavier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanT Posted April 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2022 Thanks. I’ll go for 25-27 and see how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 2, 2022 Report Share Posted April 2, 2022 yes mdern tyres seem to like higher pressures than the 1970's the trouble is on our old uns the tyre does a lot of the suspension work on a modern the tyres are firmer and the suspension does all the work I think mdern tyres are made to suit this evolution and therefore around 30psi keeps the tyre stable without making pot holes into bullet shots and contains good cornering its all down to preference and a bit of trial and error to find what suits the weight of car is in the case of a spitty much less than a modern but also the load in the boot all affects feed back from hard tyre pressures its do what suits your car and your driving style Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 2, 2022 Report Share Posted April 2, 2022 I find 30psi makes the car skittish. Our cars are very light compared to modern stuff. The other issue is I have no idea how well calibrated my pressure gauge is. My PCL (very pukka, but probably quite old) inflator gives a different reading to my halfords (made by sykes) pressure gauge I carry in the spit. As to the little inflators, they vary by about +/- 5psi. Hence I carry the one gauge I know at 25psi is ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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