1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[aar0sc]

It's my first car; Flamenco Red; with black interior and the original hood etc. It's been "restored" (80s style) a few times; but not for about 15 years now; so it's in need of a bit of TLC.



Currently have the engine; interior; gearbox and bonnet off/out; as I'm having to swap my old engine (drank oil quicker than petrol) for a new one
This afternoon I'm off to get it in fact!

Aaron

[Deleted]

Nice looking spitfire from the photo's prefer chrome bumper spitfires, even with the big overirders! over the mg rubber bumpers.

[aar0sc]

Cheers! Apparently Triumph had the right friends in the US government; so they only gave US cars plastic bumpers; and only right at the end

As it is now:

[ian65]

that's a familiar sight..... I've owned and restored loads of Spitfires over the years.... great British roadster and easy classic to own.... are you dropping another 1500 engine into it?

here's my last one...

ians-spit.blogspot.com/

[aar0sc]

Yep; another 1500 - I'm going to rebuild it over winter

Edit: I'm going to rebuild my old engine over winter; the one I'm dropping in is a temporary thing; ex Dolomite

[aar0sc]

Well I'm not for one minute going to let you guys know that RR is affecting me....

But I have found a set of slotmags and I'm fitting them

Also; engine pics:





Old engine's bore...


Interesting pipeage.... in fact; is that really Spitfire stuff?


Much cleaner waterways than the last one; ran clear instantly


What's this funny pipe for?


Plenty of sealant...!


Aa

[elmotheewokking]

Aaron, I hope you've found out how much that's going to put your insurance up first...
Though when I fitted the mods to mine, it went down. No, I don't know either.

[aar0sc]

I'll check; if it makes a difference then I'll stick with steelies and hold onto the Slots for a year or two

It's already got K&N filters; Pheonix Twin S/S exhaust; MkIV seats; Mountney Steering wheel; and of course an aftermarket radio. And having told the insurance company all of that (and probably some other stuff I've forgotten!); they put filters and 'zorst on the mods section :?

[elmotheewokking]

They probably weren't all that fussed about the seats, seeing as they're from another Spit. Wheel and radio is a surprise though.
Anyway, good luck with it, I've been keeping an eye on progress on the TDC forum too...

[aar0sc]

Ooo I'm being stalked for once! It's normally me stalking Howard

[aar0sc]

Just to keep you up to date with were I wam now. Oh; and you'll love this; I was explaining to mum that the battery's a tad curse word and that I plan to replace it with a better one - mum: "So maybe this car wasn't a good buy then? Maybe you should sell it and buy a better on?" :roll:

Anyway; rad on (harder than normal (oo eer!) as the bar that holds it has twisted in due to the weight of the last engine sitting on it before we got it out :? Probably putting the jack there tomorrow will help; but I've pulled it back enough to get three of the four bolts in); plumbed and filled with water; tightened up everything and fitted the clutch slave cylinder - needs bleeding. Gave it a little extra oil (the stuff it had in is disgusting but I'll change that and the filter as soon as it runs (it's encouragement, right? Like a reward?...) ). Popped the LHS carb on and tightened it up; (new gaskets); then put on the throttle and choke shafts - bit of twiddling about as neither Haynes nor Leyland say which way they go round; so after a bit of guesswork I got them both on (then I put on the other carb).

So now I gave everything one last check; tightened up all of the fuel and water lines; and hooked up the battery to give it a whirl. Nowt. Took off the fuel line at the carbs to see if there was any fuel there - none... odd! Check the pipes - fine; so took off the top of the fuel pump - dry... weird; it sprayed everywhere yesterday! Lowered the cap slightly whilst looking at the innards of the pump; and fuel began coming out again! Filled the cap; so tipped that into the body of the pump; assuming this might prime it...?
No; it didn't. So I switched to my old pump; bit of hammering to get the linkage back in (fell out when I removed the last engine); and a quick change meant no lost fuel - turned it over and petrol sprays up at the carbs - hook them back up again; hold the choke open and went for it!


Not a cough. :cry:
So I got the HT testers that we bought for the Austin; and hooked them up - each one lit up in turn; 1-3-4-2. Hmm. Played around with it abit. Went to a car show. Came back. Played a bit more. Still nowt :?

A bit later; I swapped the HT leads round; incase it was 180 deg out - a bit of a cough.
Then came back inside

Aaron

[aar0sc]

IT RUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Just gotta refit the bonnet and interior and it'll be pootling about Haslemere this weekend!

[MightyMork]

Excellent, well done

[contractman]

Nice - These cars are well underated

[aar0sc]

My Spit will be at the Goodwood Revival, Car Park C - and I'll be in the marshall's tent if you want to give me parts for it (as if (But if you want to, I mean; I'd be happy to ).

[aar0sc]

Sept 13, 2011 21:27:44 GMT aar0sc said:

My Spit will be at the Goodwood Revival, Car Park C - and I'll be in the marshall's tent if you want to give me parts for it (as if (But if you want to, I mean; I'd be happy to ).

*cry* no it won't 'cos dad won't let me drive it there!

Will have to hitch a lift with someone

[aar0sc]

So; if you're interested, here are a few photos of the Spit, between my getting the engine started and going for it's first drive:

Bonnet on

Headlamps working

Grille; splitter etc

Aerodynamic numberplate...!

Interior in (GOD that center panel's a female dog!)

And it's first drive... to the petrol station

And as it is now because I stupidly decided to change a brake line as a "simple" job...

[AtomicRooster]

No pictures this end!

[aar0sc]

Oct 1, 2011 19:40:26 GMT AtomicRooster said:

No pictures this end!

Hmmm... me neither!

Other forums let me link them off facebook, is this retrorides thing?

[aar0sc]

Ok; I've had a play around and it's a retrorides thing... how do I get round this?