Charley Maresca wrote:
>
> Hi, listers. I've had this 1970 Spit in the garage for about a year and a
> half, and I think it's time to get it ready for the road. The PO put in some
> new floor pans, filled in some dings and then painted it fire engine red (of
> course). It has been run up and down the driveway, out in the street a
> little, but nowhere else for probably ten years. It seems to run pretty
> well. I would like to make it my semi-regular driver (I actually prefer
> public transportation here in Washington, DC, my hometown), but I don't
> have the money or the patience or the skill to do a restoration. Phase
> One will be the brakes and shocks: new shoes, pads, wheel cylinders,
> rebuilt calipers. Do I need new wheel bearings? Which shocks are
> recommended? Are new brake lines recommended if the old ones look
> okay? What else should I take care of while the car is up on stands?
> Thanks in advance. If you like, you can e-mail me directly at
> FamilyMaresca@compuserve.com.
Charley ... you don't need all that much skill to do a rolling restoration;
just some
working knowledge, a good manual, patience and advice such as what you'll find
on this
list. You don't need new wheel bearings unless they're making noise. There
are lots of
shock options -- it just depends on what you want to spend. Pick up a
catalogue and
browse. As for brake lines, I wouldn't replace them in your case, but you
should check
their soundness, and it might not be a bad idea to arrest their corrosion with
a product
such as POR-15 or Corroless. What else to do while the car is on stands?
Depends on
how ambitious you are. I have a personal rule (by which I usually abide) to do
no more
than one project at a time -- this keeps me on the road, and the frustrations
to a
minimum.
--
Martin Secrest
73 GT6
74 Spitfire
Arlington, VA
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