Anyone know anything about Spitfires??

[docwra]

Talking to the old chap last night, and he wants to buy a Triumph Spitfire as a second car http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif
Whats even better is that Mum has agreed is so he is going to buy one!! http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/smile.gif Ace!! http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif
Just thought Id ask to see if anyone knows where to get info/anything worth knowing etc. about these.
We have plans to mod it a bit as well .............. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif
Have considered most other two seat sports cars of similar vintage, and they tend to come out too expensive/unreliable/difficult to source, so it looks like it will be a spit. I cant wait http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif

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92 200SX, grey
K+N 57i (Im ready for max power now!!)
Jap spec engine fitted by yours truly
Nismo paddle clutch
Uprated cams
Bit of ICE, cant be arsed to take the dash off to put more in
Never refuse a challenge!!
gentlemen prefer blondes ......

[This message has been edited by docwra (edited 18-01-2002).]

[This message has been edited by docwra (edited 18-01-2002).]

[Billy]

Madness!!

I had one of these for a year while the owner was abroad. Re-built the engine, new g'box, lowered, Spax etc.

What would I advise? Jeez.

Here goes.

Avoid the 1500 engine. It knocks out the centre main, due to being long stroke and only three mains.

I suppose it's down to taste, but I prefer the Mk3 over all. The Mk1 and 2 are prettier, with the lower front bumper, but the Mk3 has the most power. The Mk4 is US biased hence less power from the same 1300cc. The 1500 is more torquey, but doesn't like revs and isn't any quicker anyway.
I would hope to find an oil cooler fitted, as a sign of good maintainance, since they are all a bit marginal in that area.

Suspension wise, I'd say look out for rotten trunnions at the front, but they're so cheap to replace that I'd do them as a matter of course, and with good reason. The trunnion holds the hub to the bottom wishbone. It is attached to the hub by a coarse thread which acts as the steering swivel, so when you turn the steering wheel, the road wheels go up and down. Not a great design, but the real flaw is lubrication. There is a grease nipple on the outside through which GEAR OIL should be pumped until it oozes out the thread. The trouble is people see a grease nipple and in goes the grease! This fails to get to the outer reaches of the thread as it's too thick, so the thread gets wet and corrodes. Then the trunnion snaps (usually while cornering) and hey presto! Three wheels on my wagon....This happened to me. It's not nice. At all.
Rear suspension is OK or horrible according to whether it's late or early (in that order), but it's all interchangeable and easy. It's a bit strange though, with a single transverse leaf spring which acts as the upper wishbone, and the driveshaft is the lower wishbone. This is the point at which the word "Rotoflex" appears in the ads. Or not, as the case may be. It's a GOOD THING though.
In fact it's a very easy car to work on all round. The one exception is that the gear box comes out through the cockpit. You WILL love working on the engine, sat on a wheel, makes you wonder why all cars aren't designed that way.

Later single rail gearboxes are better than the early three rail types, but there's not much in it.

Bodywork is, well, bodywork! They're all so old now that anywhere could be a rust spot. Favourites include around the fuel filler and hood rear fastenings, A-pillar and bulkhead ends, front valance panels, and the sills.While i'm on the subject of sills, they ARE structural on the Spit, unlike the Herald whose chassis was shortened for this application. The side runners were removed, leaving the main ladder rails and outriggers. Be warned! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Tuning wise, either forget it or fit the 2 litre 16v Dolomite sprint engine. (130bhp)
It's not a straight swop, but put against the 70 odd bhp of the standard lump it is a very tempting proposition! And it's a good excuse for fitting a GT6 bonnet bulge....

If you need any more guff, just ask.

Ahh, the nostalgia.... http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/smile.gif

[docwra]

billy, you are undoubtedly the man http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/smile.gif http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif
First pointing out jezz is frank Zappas love child http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif, then this - is there anything you cant do???
While Im here and testing you mate, maybe you can answer the unanswerable question - why do geese live in fields and ducks on water?
Cheers mate - Ill let you know how we get on http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
--------------------
92 200SX, grey
K+N 57i (Im ready for max power now!!)
Jap spec engine fitted by yours truly
Nismo paddle clutch
Uprated cams
Bit of ICE, cant be arsed to take the dash off to put more in
Never refuse a challenge!!
gentlemen prefer blondes ......

[Billy]

The Zappa thing wasn't me.

However, on reflection, Jezzamond IS the bastard love child of Frank Zappa and Bill Bailey. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Geese live in fields and ducks live on water because the chickens got all the houses.... http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/smile.gif


And I forgot to mention, look out for fibreglass panels. There's nothing wrong with them if you don't mind non-originality, but they are a good bargaining point.


Jezz will never speak to me again now....

[Jezz_S13]

Bill Bailey FFS?

I have a lot of hair & so does me pops. And I'm a skinny fvcker too.

Will speak to you.


Billy Brains, have a look at my last post on this thread and tell me what you think. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002928.html

Do you reckon it'd work?

Cheers,
Jezz.

[Billy]

I think you'd be better off grinding some nice little saucers into your pistons. It will have the added advantage of unshrouding the valves too, as you can lose the cutouts.
You dont need to take off much. If, for the sake of argument, you were going to add 1mm to the head gasket, this would equate to approx 2mm off the piston crown, which isn't even the bottom of the cutouts.(Obviously you'll only be grinding half the crown area in this example.). 2mm is feck all from the pistons point of view,(it wouldn't be that much anyway) and if you polish it all up nicely when you've finished, then it will be better than new. No sharp edges, no lathe marks, so nothing for the carbon to stick to and one (or two) less possible sources of pre-ignition.

If the pistons are flush with the top of the block at TDC (zero deck clearance), then I would be looking to fit the thinnest gasket I could find. Well, 40-50 thou anyway, which is 1-1.2mm, which is standard isn't it?
Squish is fundamental to good combustion, and the more you can get, the better.

OK maybe not Bill Bailey. How about David St. Hubbins? http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif