Spit 1500 / FOX

[WIMPUS]

Worked on a german car, Fox to the rescue !

Friend of mine broke down, then starter failed and oil leak.

Had it towed to his local garage and friend of his.

I fitted a new Bosch starter and it fired straight up.

When ideling oil started to poor out...

New valve cover gaskets

Drove around for an hour.. big oil leak at the valve covers again, ffs ...

But now on the other side, fixed that again...

Next day we wanted to take it for a testdrive again ...

Refused to start, but sort of fired, like it was out if fuel, my friend told me it was the same as 2 weeks ago..

Ok.. had a think.. condensor !

Swapped that, fired back up like nothing, drive around for 2 hours.. no oil leak ! 

He was going to now use it for a few days daily to see how it goes.

Need to do some other jobs on it to.

But first a bit more maintenance planned on Fox.

Then I've been asked to look into why a Porsche 911 Sportomatic doesnt have a clutch anymore, it works with a servo/vacuum.. sound interesting..

Normally its a no, but its from the TR5/Dolomite owner I help out a lot for the past 7 years now (time fly's !).

[WIMPUS]

The german cars are still playing up.

 

So time to continue with british ones..

 

Noticed a crack in the rear gearbox mounting plate to chassis.

Welded it up for now.

Will look for another one.

 

 

So also did a gearbox + overdrive oil change + OD filters.

[WIMPUS]

Today fitted new front brake pads to Fox.

At the finish of the last 10 CR, i had some Mintex m1144's 'delivered' by Clive.

Due to brexit they became 3 tines more expensive here it you can find them..

Was currently running greenstuff pads and wasnt fully happy with them..

Fitted the Mintex and could feel the difference from even cold and not bedded in.

Its like having servo.

 

Tomorrow a +200mile trip to the 'Dutch National Triumph Day' etc.

[WIMPUS]

Fox did it pretty great again.

45mpg, not to bad !

Only thing is.. front discs are not straight anymore, already had this due to Greenstuff pads.

Will change them tomorrow.

 

Its always funny that all the belgians start the conversation 'from where are you in Belgium?'

 

[Rubce]

A good selection of Triumphs

[WIMPUS]

9 hours ago, Rubce said:

A good selection of Triumphs

There was even a Dolomite of the 30's, a stand full of Sah heads + info, a Stag Estate (Del Lines) + Stag trailer etc.

[WIMPUS]

Brake saga... 

Fitted new discs.. still not good, mostly on the right side.

Pads moving up and down and noises..

Yesterday evening had another look, got the dial gauge out !

Run out on the right side +0.300mm.

This morning went again after new discs, fitted one to the right side as test.. just the same !

Ok.. what could be wrong?

First did a run out test with the gauge on the left side .. 0.060mm.

Got 2 spare used hubs out of my stock, fitted new bearings in one of the hubs, new disc on as test and on the car.. 0.063mm !

Fitted the previous disc back, 0.055mm run out !

So.. its that hub or bearings 🫠😅

Testdrive.. good brake pressure and no noise, only a short drive as 32°c outside today.

Longer test is for this evening.

 

Sooo... my first disc could wel be straight to, will keep them on the shelf.

Edited July 19 by WIMPUS

[WIMPUS]

Yesterday a trip to near Brussels to sort out a Spitfire and get it to pass the technical inspection.

It needed new anti roll bar rubbers, track rod end gaiter and some extra self made exhaust hangers.

Then it was time for a tune-down for emissions.

Only 20mins drive to the test center in LEZ Brussels (crazy that Fox isnt allowed in as its a daily..).

Testers where very friendy etc.

Car passed without advisory's.

Then we did a tune-up again.

 

On my way back a text from my 75year old back neighbour.

'Help, my Spitfire wont start'

So went by, fuel filter empty.

Walked to home to get a vacuum pump.

Wanted to disconnect the line at the pump and spotted the problemo...

yes.. the inlet pipe was loose in the pump.. ffs repro parts.

Lucky he had a bad pump laying around, stole the top of that one.

Sadly his battery was a bit flat.

But.. many months ago my uncle bought me a 'Gooloo'.

Powerbank with jumpstart function.

Bloody hell that worked great, we where both in shock.

Spit started up fine and let it idle to see for leaks, all ok.

This afternoon hes driving it to the Netherlands to the camping. 

[WIMPUS]

Just 10mins ago i heared an very loud Abarth exhaust roaring on a Spitfire 1500 in the street behind me.

So walked over, he needed to get fuel and then hes driving to the Netherlands.

He dropped me off at home in the spit.

Actually his car was sort of an example for Fox.

Maybe next week giving it a tune up, etc, then hes back home for hospital checks (last 15-20 years hes got all kind of cancers).

 

[WIMPUS]

The guy of the Dolomite,TR5 etc etc needed some help on his.. Porsche 911E Sportomatic.

Normally I say no.. but for him I wanted to have a look.

Main problemo is.. the 'automatic' clutch aka. Sportomatic doesnt work anymore.

Found out after some tests.. vacuum servo is leaking.

but vacuum out of the engine and out of the valve is spot on.

(ofcourse all tested with a Spitfire coolant hose 😆 )

Probably its all from 1968.

Even the bone hard hoses !

 

You cant find any rebuild kits here, only servo's.. but costly !

But found a guy that makes and sell the parts in the USA for a 10th of the price of a new servo.

[WIMPUS]

Now back to Fox..

Found another 2nd hand original screenwash tank bracket a few weeks ago, cleaned it up.

Europe cars used a bigger tank and rare bracket.

Now to fit it like it was intended 'original'..

I had 2 10mm holes in the bulkhead.

After looking on the canley website, found out it needed rubber nuts inserts and spacers to.

Amazon to the rescue and made up some spacers.

 

 

[WIMPUS]

A bit more stuff done..

My front extra spot lights repainted + all the brackets.

Just need to find my bottle of PastX to clean the lenses.

 

This week I put Fox in the air.

Need to clean up a few things before the yearly inspection and winter.

Also been looking at my uneven tyre wear (outer).

Bought a camber gauge and had a look.

Left side 0.5 to 1° neg.

Right side 0.5° neg, now 0.5° neg with 1 shims under both lower arm points.

Toe-in set up and drive a lot better.

(Pic of testing the rear, 1° neg.)

 

This week she didnt like the hot weather, friday evening have her a quick tune up and she was again good for 'action'.

Edited August 4 by WIMPUS

[WIMPUS]

Yesterday evening a guy came over with his 1978 Spit 1500 (around 2100 cars build behind Fox).

He had been to 2 garages, last year he drove to Goodwood.

But on the way back wasnt that all happy but got home.

I checked ignition.. ofcourse i spot some strange stuff right away ! 

condensor wire cut and fitted/bodged a classic vw beetle condensor to the outside, lots of tape etc.

+ hole in the cap 🫣

Fixed that with parts out of my stock.

Fires up and running better.

Fuel pump leaked fuel, extra fibre washer and fixed, spotted a rubber fuel line that is going bad... also replaced and inspected all the rest.

Mixture was way off on one carb.

But throttle spindles very work, very old waxstat jets with bodged linkages etc 🙄

Brakes , they stop the car.. but not great pedal feel.

Brakes and carb rebuild + waxstat conversion is for this winter.

 

[WIMPUS]

Yesterday..

Alternator failed again on Fox, another diode pack bad/loose diode found.

Idle 12,8 volts

2000 to 3000 rpm from 14 to 15,7 volts.

Was near a friend, so swaped it on his driveway with my spare out of my boot.

Now all good and.. already have another spare in the boot to.

[WIMPUS]

Today..

The black Spitfire of this week returned.

He wanted to change his oil himself.

But.. his square sump plug was very very tight and a bit rounded off.

So he came back to me.

Tried my square wrench.. nope it was to rounded.

Stilson.. nope.

Ok.. time to weld a nut.

4 nuts welded on... no luck.

5th one welded on and Makita impact from my uncle.

5 Secs and loose !

Time for an oil change.

Then filter..

He went to a local generic parts supplier and i told him to get a Mann W713/14.

But no.. they had another brand.

Threads where way deeper in it, so could not get it on his adaptor for his oil cooler..

(Just looked up the part no... 3/4 unf threads, ofcourse that doesnt fit the 5/8 unf threads. Ffs)

Another trip to my stock for an GFE150 one (need to order some Mann's).

All done and a check of ignition again, testdrive etc

And he could drive home once more.

Edited August 11 by WIMPUS

[WIMPUS]

Fox her alternator wasnt that really happy.

Yesterday changed it again for another spare.

After having my battery on charge, it gives 14,3 / 14,4 volts.

Previous 13,5 to 13,9volts, but sometimes would drop..

 

Fitted an extra digital volt gauge + switch.

 

Edited August 18 by WIMPUS

[WIMPUS]

Yeaterday a guy from around 30 came by with another 1978 Spitfire.

I worked on this car at a garage for the previous owner in 2021.

It ran not well now.

Every stop it died, overheating etc.

 

Had a quick look.. points would not open anymore, adjusted and idled fine (kids cant adjust points these days 😅 ).

But could hear it still wasnt happy.

Took plugs out... grey, to lean!

Checked timing... way off !

Adjusted it all and testdrive, owner said it drove a lot better.

Cooling temp was not to to bad.

But in traffic it went up to 3/4th, still has original small rad.

He 'flushed' his coolant etc a few months ago, i looked.. al very rusty.

He never opened up the bock drain plug or got all the lines off to flush it good..

That will be my next job then.

[Dannyb]

Keeping you busy.

😁

Danny

[WIMPUS]

From thursday morning, i had a strong fuel smell in my garage..

So went to investigate, wet fuel pump.

Nipped the top bot up.

Still sometimes a bit wet.

Really hate these repro pumps, has 5 times that it was leaking oil on the starter.. this one to.

So.. time to go electric again ?

 

Had a look... ordered a Hardi 13312 pump from Amazone, saturday evening deliverd.

This morning fitted it all, electrics where still in my car + safety switch from my previous Facet electric one in 2018 (failed in 2019).

 

The Hardi has the right fuel pressure, but keeping the Malpassi installed for now, mostly to use it as adaptor from 8 to 6mm fuel line.

Went up to 4500/5000 rpm, no problemo !

And fitted my fuel pump 'delete' cover

Edited August 19 by WIMPUS

[Martins Stag]

Nicely installed in the boot. If it ticks too much you can get rubber mounts for them too ? Like mini cotton reels 

 

Martin

[Dannyb]

I was pleased with the quality of the Hardi. 

Danny

[WIMPUS]

10 hours ago, Martins Stag said:

Nicely installed in the boot. If it ticks too much you can get rubber mounts for them too ? Like mini cotton reels 

 

Martin

Its fitted on rubbers from when i had a Facet pump.

And Hardi pump just fitted straight on to them.

Actually no noise while driving, at least nothing that annoys me.

The Facet posi-flow did make more noise.

Only hear it tick a few times before starting up.

Edited August 22 by WIMPUS

[WIMPUS]

Yesterday red Spit came back.

Still was overheating...

So removed all the hoses, needed to cut a few hose clamps..

1 Hose was very bad and fully rusted shut.. as was a part of the water return pipe where it was on.

 

Flushed it with the hose, amazingly block drain was still free.

 

Lots of rust came out, then soda crystal water mix in.. gone for an hour drive.

Let it back off,  lots of dirt came out, flushed it again, then coolant on.

He had an 82° thermostat.

But still would creep up a bit in traffic.

So fitted a 74° one that i had laying around.

Owner was a bit more happy with that.

Need to make a list on to do's for this car 😅

 

[WIMPUS]

Last 2 days i had a strange noise coming from front suspension.

Yesterday found it..

Told a friend where i been to friday that he needs to keep his stone to himself (driveway with these same stones.. )😅

[WIMPUS]

Yesterday evening my door wouldnt lock by remote anymore.

Central locking motor was dead, lucky I had a spare, 15min job and fixed 🙃