Trimph Spitfire first car!
Discussion
Agrispeed said:
My thoughts exactly, seems to only appear when warm and only when the pedal is fully down, lift it a bit and nothing, fine for me 
That sounds like the thrust washer in the engine has worn. That is bad news if so.Check for end float on the crankshaft pulley.
Can terminally damage engine if left too late
Well Gents, progress on the Brakes.
I ordered 2 packs of shoes (Canley said axle set, but that i would need 2, so I figured another set would be handy anyway, and they will get used one day) and 2 wheel-studs so that I have a spare.
New shoes fitted (Jesus what a pain!) also the little cup/spring things are an arse to fit!
wheel-nut fitted and pulled through correctly so that's fine.
had one problem with a bleed nipple rounding but i managed to get a 6 point socket and bar on through the suspension.
Only thing is I need a new bleed nipple, where would be open on a Saturday which sells them? (I figured Mill Auto or halfords) - hoped to fill it up, bleed and put it back on its boots tomorrow.
Here is a terrible pic of the ingredients to a lot of swearing at the rear brakes (yes the carpet is normally that dirty
...
I ordered 2 packs of shoes (Canley said axle set, but that i would need 2, so I figured another set would be handy anyway, and they will get used one day) and 2 wheel-studs so that I have a spare.
New shoes fitted (Jesus what a pain!) also the little cup/spring things are an arse to fit!
wheel-nut fitted and pulled through correctly so that's fine.
had one problem with a bleed nipple rounding but i managed to get a 6 point socket and bar on through the suspension.
Only thing is I need a new bleed nipple, where would be open on a Saturday which sells them? (I figured Mill Auto or halfords) - hoped to fill it up, bleed and put it back on its boots tomorrow.
Here is a terrible pic of the ingredients to a lot of swearing at the rear brakes (yes the carpet is normally that dirty
...Great first car, I had one at 18 - an early mk4 like yours with the black dash. I sold that on and bought a mk3 in 9'5 which I still own (albeit vastly modified from standard).
Those pre-facelift cars like yours also ran the mk3 cam profile which is a bit perkier than the post facelift ones.
Great to see you making progress and sticking with it!
Those pre-facelift cars like yours also ran the mk3 cam profile which is a bit perkier than the post facelift ones.
Great to see you making progress and sticking with it!
Well a slight update..
new brake shoes were fitted, along with new bleed nipples, and the car is bled and adjusted, which was surprisingly easy
Sorted out a few minor electrical problems as the rear bulb holders had died, all the rear ones are now new, and I have a special hatred for Mr. Lucas aka the Prince of Darkness New seatbelt was fitted as the old one had started to fray, and the car is currently at the MOT station being tested by a pleasantly enthusiastic bloke (although I did have to force myself not to laugh as he tried to get in...
Here is a flattering picture of it tucked away in the garage...
more pics to come soon..
new brake shoes were fitted, along with new bleed nipples, and the car is bled and adjusted, which was surprisingly easy
Sorted out a few minor electrical problems as the rear bulb holders had died, all the rear ones are now new, and I have a special hatred for Mr. Lucas aka the Prince of Darkness
New seatbelt was fitted as the old one had started to fray, and the car is currently at the MOT station being tested by a pleasantly enthusiastic bloke (although I did have to force myself not to laugh as he tried to get in...Here is a flattering picture of it tucked away in the garage...
more pics to come soon..
Agrispeed said:
Yes, often makes people do a double take, sitting there (and makes a nice noise when you start it up) originally sold in Bodmin, then lived in Plymouth before coming home there are 2 I know of in Cornwall, although the other is faded red and a later MKIV, often see it in Falmouth.
Am from Cornwall, live in St Ives and Pz originally sold in Bodmin, then lived in Plymouth before coming home there are 2 I know of in Cornwall, although the other is faded red and a later MKIV, often see it in Falmouth. Me and my mate Dan are building a Mk3 Triumph GT6.. very similar to the Spitfire, just with a hard top and a bigger motor.
Lee540 said:
Am from Cornwall, live in St Ives and Pz
Me and my mate Dan are building a Mk3 Triumph GT6.. very similar to the Spitfire, just with a hard top and a bigger motor.
Yes, I've helped out on one, light blue with a red Interior... was very nice! Me and my mate Dan are building a Mk3 Triumph GT6.. very similar to the Spitfire, just with a hard top and a bigger motor.
on the MOT front, they failed it as the rear marker lights and sidelights didn't work... Odd, as when he drove it into the test station I could clearly see them on. Car is now home and they are not lighting up. f
king useless.also, the other fail was that the windscreen washer didn't work - one of the tubes to the pump had come out, however the little b
d fitting on the pump snapped partially whilst i put it on (bar a few pipe changes as they were orignial rubber pipes!) Hoping that the pump fitting can be bodged, or I will have to go to a car that I'm helping breaking and see if I can get one, or order it.Pissed off now, the car went in for it's MOT working fine
My first car after passing my test in 1988 was a T reg 1500, I bought it to replace the motorbike over the long, harsh Surrey winters. It was a piece of st but I loved it. The girlfriend managed to change gear so cack-handedly once that the gears twisted around by about 30 degrees: the H-pattern no longer fore and aft, rather diagonal. It slowly reverted to normal. Rust was a constant battle but mechanically it never let me down. I wouldn't be able to get into one nowadays, but still have a penchant for old-ish cars due to that old Triumph (I have an 82 manual 520i as a daily driiver).
Good luck to you
t but I loved it. The girlfriend managed to change gear so cack-handedly once that the gears twisted around by about 30 degrees: the H-pattern no longer fore and aft, rather diagonal. It slowly reverted to normal. Rust was a constant battle but mechanically it never let me down. I wouldn't be able to get into one nowadays, but still have a penchant for old-ish cars due to that old Triumph (I have an 82 manual 520i as a daily driiver). Good luck to you
Agrispeed said:
Yes, I've helped out on one, light blue with a red Interior... was very nice!
on the MOT front, they failed it as the rear marker lights and sidelights didn't work... Odd, as when he drove it into the test station I could clearly see them on. Car is now home and they are not lighting up. fking useless.
also, the other fail was that the windscreen washer didn't work - one of the tubes to the pump had come out, however the little bd fitting on the pump snapped partially whilst i put it on (bar a few pipe changes as they were orignial rubber pipes!) Hoping that the pump fitting can be bodged, or I will have to go to a car that I'm helping breaking and see if I can get one, or order it.
Pissed off now, the car went in for it's MOT working fine
The bulb holders are poor, especiall6 the new ones. I add a little bit of wire to each to join the two metal parts, improving the earthingon the MOT front, they failed it as the rear marker lights and sidelights didn't work... Odd, as when he drove it into the test station I could clearly see them on. Car is now home and they are not lighting up. f
king useless.also, the other fail was that the windscreen washer didn't work - one of the tubes to the pump had come out, however the little b
d fitting on the pump snapped partially whilst i put it on (bar a few pipe changes as they were orignial rubber pipes!) Hoping that the pump fitting can be bodged, or I will have to go to a car that I'm helping breaking and see if I can get one, or order it.Pissed off now, the car went in for it's MOT working fine
Spitfire2 said:
The bulb holders are poor, especiall6 the new ones. I add a little bit of wire to each to join the two metal parts, improving the earthing
Turned out it was the new bulbs - they blew after 3 miles, and are fused. I tend to pre-bend the metal in the holders, and solder the earth on them properly, I agree that the new ones are crap now (like condensers)electric washer pump now ordered, a manual one is £40
wiring is all done for it now.Bent the brackets so the brake hoses don't rub at full lock (which you can't properly do while driving anyway) and fitted new (well, new/old, I'm helping break another spit') pedal rubbers, which was an advisory.
Beaumont94 said:
Have you past your test yet? sorry if i've missed it earlier in the post, but who are you insured with as I can't find any classic car insurance at 18? and how much if you don't mind me asking. nice first car tho I'm hoping to get something a bit different to.
Passed my test fairly recently, and mine costs £900 (could've been £800PA but £1000 excess!) Can't do classic insurance, even the people TSSC recommend tell you to go away, even if the useless bds advertise that they do any age, then you call up and some moody cow tells you its over 25 only! Classics are still very cheap to insure compared to modern cars, for example a diesel Fiat Panda was over £2,500 let alone a Corsa etc.I followed the loom unplugging and it now works, so god knows what the MOT guy did, Never heard of them failing a car for something that they admit worked before they started the test... (basically they broke it)
Beaumont94 said:
I have had a few quotes on mini that are £70 less than a quote on a pug 306 1.4 but even rusty ones are expensive now, and as I already have one rusty car taking up my time and garage space I think I may have to go for a modern car instead.
Yes, that is the main problem with a classic, you do really need both the time, the space and the tooling to work on them, or they can get very expensive, fast.for example here is a spitfire 1500 I am helping to break. It was stored outside since 1991 (last tax disc)
(not a great pic)
The bumper had rusted away, leaving a paper thin chrome facade, and I sat where the drivers seat should be to remove the dash and went straight though, ending up sitting on the floor with my feet on the pedals
Agrispeed said:
Yes, that is the main problem with a classic, you do really need both the time, the space and the tooling to work on them, or they can get very expensive, fast.
for example here is a spitfire 1500 I am helping to break. It was stored outside since 1991 (last tax disc)
(not a great pic)
The bumper had rusted away, leaving a paper thin chrome facade, and I sat where the drivers seat should be to remove the dash and went straight though, ending up sitting on the floor with my feet on the pedals
Luckily my anglia is solid where it needs to be and should be able to get back to work on it next week, still can't decide between restoring to standard or fitting a zetec. As for my first car I'm going to keep an eye out for a cheap mini if they still exist for example here is a spitfire 1500 I am helping to break. It was stored outside since 1991 (last tax disc)
(not a great pic)
The bumper had rusted away, leaving a paper thin chrome facade, and I sat where the drivers seat should be to remove the dash and went straight though, ending up sitting on the floor with my feet on the pedals
Well done that man. I had a 1975 1500 two years or so ago (I was 23). It was a brilliant car and I sold it for a small fortune. The MX5 is 'better' but the Spit had so much character.
^^^ with regards to girls this is true they will literally love it!
Be careful of the back end though.
^^^ with regards to girls this is true they will literally love it!
Be careful of the back end though.
well a slight update, as I'm back at uni the car is once again hidden away in the garage, Although I did get a few miles on it, as well as fixing the brakes, and a new electric washer pump (hand ones are £40!). I also committed the crime of driving it in the pouring rain, which it did without any hassle (the wipers are actually rather good) and some Ice (bloody scary ) I also had to remove and ungum the starter motor, which proved a tricky, but very simple job
However on the last day I drove it, the handle for the drivers side door has pinged (what it felt like) on the inside and has no resistance, and the exterior handle can be pulled all day without opening the door. This means that the door is stuck shut, which entails a somewhat tiresome procedure of folding the roof to step over the door, which as it turns out girls do not find attractive
I have taken apart the doors from another spitfire, but does anyone know what might have gone wrong? the exterior handle wasn't working very well before sometimes needing several pulls to unlatch the door, and the locks dont work. also, how do you take off the trim panel with the door shut? is it possible.
Even with the slight hiccup, it was good fun to mess around in, (although scary on ice) and I cant wait to get back at Easter!
oh, also the clutch squeal seems to come and go, and I checked the movement described earlier and found nothing, so I can only assume that it is either the release bearing or its haunted.
) I also had to remove and ungum the starter motor, which proved a tricky, but very simple job However on the last day I drove it, the handle for the drivers side door has pinged (what it felt like) on the inside and has no resistance, and the exterior handle can be pulled all day without opening the door. This means that the door is stuck shut, which entails a somewhat tiresome procedure of folding the roof to step over the door, which as it turns out girls do not find attractive
I have taken apart the doors from another spitfire, but does anyone know what might have gone wrong? the exterior handle wasn't working very well before sometimes needing several pulls to unlatch the door, and the locks dont work. also, how do you take off the trim panel with the door shut? is it possible.
Even with the slight hiccup, it was good fun to mess around in, (although scary on ice) and I cant wait to get back at Easter!
oh, also the clutch squeal seems to come and go, and I checked the movement described earlier and found nothing, so I can only assume that it is either the release bearing or its haunted.
Edited by Agrispeed on Thursday 31st January 16:19
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