Part identification - poor description!

[Mk3Spitfire]

Hi,

First off, sorry for the vague/poor description, but I am wondering if anyone can help me identify a part for my Mk3 Spitty.

Cards on table...I am a newcomer to mechanics, and would describe my knowledge as....minimal.

Anyway...I was driving home on one of the last days of nice weather, and realised something was wrong. I was losing water (oily water at that) and there was hell of a grating noise.
Opened the bonnet (I can do that bit fine) and finally located the problem. The only way I can describe it is as follows;
It is a pipe. It leads from the radiator alongside the bell housing, to two plastic pipes, one of which goes through the bulkhead to the dash (heater pipe?), and another back to the engine block if I recall correcty. I assume its the pipe that feeds water from place to place?! it essentially looks like a "t" lying on its side.

The actual problem was a little hole which has somehow formed along the length of the pipe, the pipe tself though is far from rusty. I have bodge repaired it by removing the pipe (very impressed with myself) and then using metal repair stuff to fix the hole. It seems to have worked, but I would rather replace the part than drive around with a bodge job on a pipe.

Sorry for the hideously poor description, but like I said I am no expert! Just a fanatic. Any help would be much appreciated. I should have taken pictures, but the car is all tucked up and sleeping and I don't want to wake her. That and its raining and I don't want to go outside.
Thanks,

[Electron]

Hi

From your description it is the metal water feed pipe from the water pump to the heater.

You can get a replacement from Moss and others ..

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.asp...

Part number 33 ??

Cheers

Chris

[Electron]

Hi

From your description it is the metal water feed pipe from the water pump to the heater.

You can get a replacement from Moss and others ..

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.asp...

Part number 33 ??

Cheers

Chris

Edited by Electron on Thursday 12th September 21:06

[Electron]

Hi

From your description it is the metal water feed pipe for the water pump to the heater.

You can get a replacement from Moss and others ..

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.asp...

Part number 33 ??

Cheers

Chris

[Mk3Spitfire]

Electron said:

Hi

From your description it is the metal water feed pipe from the water pump to the heater.

You can get a replacement from Moss and others ..

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.asp...

Part number 33 ??

Cheers

Chris


Cheers Chris...

From that diagram, it is No.33, so cheers.

On a sadder note....of all those 50 parts...No.33 is the only one No Longer Sold! Typical! Im sure Ill be able to find it somewhere else though. Cheers.

[shoehorn]

^ he only asked once

[shoehorn]

^ he only asked once

[Rickyy]

^Oh the irony! Or is that a parrot heading my way?

[littleredrooster]

Part number 33 is only used when a heater is not fitted according to that diagram. Are you sure you don't need Part Number 31 (which - joyfully - is available)?

[spoodler]

If you are relative novice it would be well worth your while contacting Rimmer Bros and getting hold of a (free) catalogue. Lots of exploded diagrams, descriptions and even fitting advice... well worth a phone call.

[shoehorn]

Rickyy said:

^Oh the irony! Or is that a parrot heading my way?

[Mk3Spitfire]

spoodler said:

If you are relative novice it would be well worth your while contacting Rimmer Bros and getting hold of a (free) catalogue. Lots of exploded diagrams, descriptions and even fitting advice... well worth a phone call.

Thank you. I will do just that. It does look like part 31 is actually the one I need, but Ill get the rimmer bros catalogue to as it cant hurt.

Thanks for your help guys.

[nta16]

OP free parts catalogues are fine but do cross-reference any parts or numbers with another reliable source as it's not unknown for any publication or database to have errors and omissions

a Owners Handbook relevant to your model will tell you so much about your car including the servicing requirements, schedule and how to do the work

the factory Workshop Manual will give you further information so will the factory Parts Catalogue

personally I prefer paper versions of all these (certainly the Owners Handbook) which you can buy new or s/h or get all three in the less convenient electronic form of a DVD - http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-HMCC7005DVD

the car will become and remain fun and reliable if you regularly drive and service it all year round, laying it up for months on end will pause this process or even slip it back

good luck

Edited:
as I forgot to check the hyperlink was working as "my tea was getting cold"

Edited by nta16 on Saturday 14th September 01:03

[Mk3Spitfire]

nta16 said:

OP free parts catalogues are fine but do cross-reference any parts or numbers with another reliable source as it's not unknown for any publication or database to have errors and omissions

a Owners Handbook relevant to your model will tell you so much about your car including the servicing requirements, schedule and how to do the work

the factory Workshop Manual will give you further information so will the factory Parts Catalogue

personally I prefer paper versions of all these (certainly the Owners Handbook) which you can buy new or s/h or get all three in the less convenient electronic form of a DVD - [url]http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-HMCC7005DVD[/rl]

the car will become and remain fun and reliable if you regularly drive and service it all year round, laying it up for months on end will pause this process or even slip it back

good luck

Thanks mate.
Have ordered a Haynes, so that should be as accurate as I can get. I have also ordered the original Users manual...more for show than anything, but it may help.

Love classic cars...just wish I had more of a mechanical background. Nothing easier to learn on than a Spitfire though I suppose!

[nta16]

Mk3Spitfire said:

Thanks mate.
Have ordered a Haynes, so that should be as accurate as I can get.

wow, you are new at this, not your fault but that's a newbie assumption, Haynes often have errors and omissions, I've '74 and '80 editions for my car both carry some of the same errors and omission

Mk3Spitfire said:

I have also ordered the original Users manual...more for show than anything, but it may help.

get the Owners Handbook and actually fully read it and refer to it and you will know more than some long term owners and have the correct information rather than incorrect assumptions and wrong information

if you were only allowed one book on your car the Owners Handbook would be it, I suggest that those considering a classic buy the Owners/Drivers Handbook and thoroughly reading it before even going to look for the car as it tells you so much that you need to know about the car

and the Haynes is for repairs whereas the Owners Handbook is for prevention

Mk3Spitfire said:

Love classic cars...just wish I had more of a mechanical background. Nothing easier to learn on than a Spitfire though I suppose!

there's a book that can help you learn this, guess which one, you've probably spotted my theme by now

the Owners Handbook was what you got with the car when new - so 40 years on your car is no longer new so some of the settings could be taken as guide starting points to allow for wear and tear (and modern fuels (and oils) but almost all of the info will still be current now

most regular servicing work boils down to cleaning and lubricating but if not done regularly (or at all in some cases) then things get worse and more work is required such as repairs

maintaining a classic is not about an oil change every few years and constant fiddling with the carbs (serving should be more regular and once the car is serviced and set up the carbs should be left alone)

do a 36k-mile service/check up ASAP (info in a a certain book) in stages between using the car regularly and that will prevent and find common problems from previous owners

one of the major faults with classics is previous and present owners, don't become one of them

[itiejim]

Mk3Spitfire said:

...Nothing easier to learn on than a Spitfire though I suppose!

It's definitely part 31 - though they're a bit of a pita to fit as you're trying to do everything with the exhaust manifold and the carbs in the way. A proper grazed knuckes job (you'll feel like a proper mechanic when you've done it though)!

[Mk3Spitfire]

nta16 said:

there's a book that can help you learn this, guess which one, you've probably spotted my theme by now

the Owners Handbook was what you got with the car when new - so 40 years on your car is no longer new so some of the settings could be taken as guide starting points to allow for wear and tear (and modern fuels (and oils) but almost all of the info will still be current now

most regular servicing work boils down to cleaning and lubricating but if not done regularly (or at all in some cases) then things get worse and more work is required such as repairs

maintaining a classic is not about an oil change every few years and constant fiddling with the carbs (serving should be more regular and once the car is serviced and set up the carbs should be left alone)

do a 36k-mile service/check up ASAP (info in a a certain book) in stages between using the car regularly and that will prevent and find common problems from previous owners

one of the major faults with classics is previous and present owners, don't become one of them

I feel like a naughty schoolboy! Lessen learned...Haynes crap, owners manual good. Thanks for the advice, I will digest the manual, and light the fire with the Haynes! ;-)

[Mk3Spitfire]

itiejim said:

It's definitely part 31 - though they're a bit of a pita to fit as you're trying to do everything with the exhaust manifold and the carbs in the way. A proper grazed knuckes job (you'll feel like a proper mechanic when you've done it though)!

Ok, good. Part 31 on the way. I have already smeared myself in oil, and used WD40 as a deodorant. So the pipe change should be the icing on the cake!!

On a separate note...what engine oil should I use on a 44 year old car? And is it easy enough to get hold of? I have heard regular oil is a no-no. (I am fully prepared for a bking from nta16 ;-) )

[itiejim]

Originally 20W50 was specified, Valvoline VR1 is about the best you can buy:

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/pv-96506-valvoline-vr1-r...

If you're anywhere near Worcesterstershire / Herefordshire I've got an unused can you can have for beer money. It's no good to me since I put a VVT K-Series engine in my MkIII.

[nta16]

Mk3Spitfire said:

... and used WD40 as a deodorant.

ohhh, no, no - don't have just WD40 also get a good penetrating/releasing oil like PlusGas

Mk3Spitfire said:

On a separate note...what engine oil should I use on a 44 year old car? And is it easy enough to get hold of? I have heard regular oil is a no-no. (I am fully prepared for a bking from nta16 ;-) )

well now, you'll certainly get more than one answer and opinion on that

you can find the information about weight and quantity of oil in a book

on a car you don't know the full history of I'd say Halfords Classic 20w/50 as it's readily available and sometimes on special offer

the frequency and thoroughness of the oil (and filter) changes are important too - you want the oil as hot as possible and left to drain for as long as possible

I used to have a set of my non-mechanical, non-technical, very general notes for Spitfire but lost them but if you want ones for MGs (mostly very general so are transferable) then PM me