From shurd at sasktel.net Sun May 1 17:11:20 2011 From: shurd at sasktel.net (Stephen Hurd) Date: Sun, 01 May 2011 16:11:20 -0700 Subject: [Spits] 1976ish Spitfire for sale, Lake Forest, CA - $1800 Message-ID: <4DBDE898.2040004@sasktel.net> My wife has finally prevailed upon me to sell me Spitfire. I haven't drove it for almost a year and a half now and haven't done any work on it for at least eight months. Some health expenses have cropped up, so I can't justify keeping it anymore. Anyway, on to the details (pics link below) The door plate (and registration) claim the spit is a 1976, but the engine number and bonnet suggest is it a couple years older. No overdrive, electronic ignition, electronic fuel pump (oddball one mounted on the firewall) Weber 2bbl carb. Soft top is pretty much dead but the frame is good zipper on the . Dash was "custom" when I got it and I haven't finished fixing it... the wiring is a mess. It doesn't pass smog due to a missing EGR valve. The headers that are on it have a mount for an EGR, and it wouldn't be too hard to dummy one up, but the intake doesn't have a coupling, so it would need to be drilled and tapped for a proper mount. No EGR, but it's not a California car... though it was smogged as one in the past. Monza exhaust. Yes, blows some oil out of the dipstick. Four new tires and brake pads (one rim leaks air slowly - about 2 weeks to flat). New stereo and speakers, but I'm not sure if I know where the faceplate is. It comes with a new set of engine gaskets (top and bottom) and an original carb, intake, flapper, etc. as well as a pair of u-joints and some other misc. parts. There is a custom towbar which mounts to the front bumper. I drove it regularly for about a year with no major problems but lots of minor ones. Once I get all the information together and take a few current pictures, I plan on listing it on Craigslist for $2000. As with everyone else who has ever sold a spit, I have more in it than that. :-) I'll sell it to a list member with $1800... it would be better if you come look than have me get the details together for an email or phone call, because when I do, I'll be listing it on CL. I'm in no hurry to sell, so when I do list it, it will be at least a month before I go with best offer. A gallery of old pics (hasn't changed much - hubcaps are lost) is here: http://imgur.com/a/lfQ6o The magnifying glass icon shows the full size image. Please reply off list or phone 949-457-9501 and ask for Stephen. Evenings and weekends are best, but I work pretty erratic hours... I *do* return calls so please leave a message if there is no answer. From mkcaspian1 at aol.com Mon May 2 17:05:09 2011 From: mkcaspian1 at aol.com (mkcaspian1 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 19:05:09 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Spits] car cover for Spitfire Message-ID: <8CDD734846BB7EE-1F04-145F6@Webmail-m104.sysops.aol.com> Hello all - I am looking for a car cover for my totally restored 78 Spitfire - It has indoor storage -= but I am looking for something to cover it and protect it in 'the parking lot at work - I do need to drive it to my job at the golf course 5 days a week - but I can put it indoors at work if it starts to rain - there are tons of custom covers that would fit just right, but I am looking for some recomendations - John 1978 Spitfire From buss3 at rogers.com Wed May 4 14:44:19 2011 From: buss3 at rogers.com (Grant Buss) Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 16:44:19 -0400 Subject: [Spits] electronic speedometer Message-ID: <4B10F468EAF242AFB9D3998FE0B29545@FUNPLACE> Has anyone installed a Smiths, Electronic (Programmable) Speedometer ? It has an inductive speed sensor that sends a pulse to the speedometer when it "sees" the bolts on the driveshaft . I need information From brianharlan at scrtc.com Wed May 4 18:01:32 2011 From: brianharlan at scrtc.com (Brian Harlan) Date: Wed, 04 May 2011 19:01:32 -0500 Subject: [Spits] Mirror placement Message-ID: <4DC1E8DC.4020803@scrtc.com> I own a 68 Spitfire Mk3. When I purchased it, the previous owner had replaced the original right and left side view mirrors with the type that are designed to mount on the fenders (wings). I know the original placement was on the doors, but I really like the fender mounted look. I want to relocate mine to the fenders. Does anyone know, is there a specific or preferred location for the fender mounted mirrors? Could someone give specifics, actual measurements and perhaps photos? Anyone who might have done this, any regrets? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience, Brian From mark at bradakis.com Wed May 18 20:06:24 2011 From: mark at bradakis.com (Mark J Bradakis) Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 20:06:24 -0600 Subject: [Spits] Team.Net issues Message-ID: <4DD47B20.7050107@bradakis.com> Those of you who also subscribe to triumphs at autox.team.net may have noticed no Triumph list mail lately. I am aware of the problem, and trying to resolve it. At least some of the more popular lists are working. As well as http://www.team.net/forums, maybe folks will work on getting the TR fix there for the time being while I wrestle with the mail list software. mjb. From Mackmi at usa.redcross.org Wed May 25 10:42:19 2011 From: Mackmi at usa.redcross.org (Mackmi at usa.redcross.org) Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 12:42:19 -0400 Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue Message-ID: <32B95304CB44EF4E81483EEA6D0597820F9F667F@brnyrchex2.bio.ri.redcross.net> I have a shifting issue with my Spitfire, and I'm looking for some suggestions for a fix for it. 1979 Spitfire with OD Last fall I went for a drive, and it shifted as it should. I stopped at a Store. When I started it would not go into gear. I was about 15 miles from home, and didn't want to call the wife or a tow truck. I was able to start the car in 1st, then coax it into 2nd, then 3rd and limp home. At each stoplight, I had to shut off the car and start again. I figured that I needed to bleed my clutch, and I would be all set. It was last bled about 5 years ago. New Master, Slave, pipe, and DOT 5 Silicone fluid then. I bled the heck out of it last night. Didn't fix the problem. No Shifting. So what's next? Thanks in advance, Mike Mack 79 Spitfire 73 Stag (w/Chevy 5.7 engine) 80 TR8 70 GT6 From bill at gingerich.us Wed May 25 11:15:31 2011 From: bill at gingerich.us (Bill Gingerich) Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 12:15:31 -0500 Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue In-Reply-To: <32B95304CB44EF4E81483EEA6D0597820F9F667F@brnyrchex2.bio.ri.redcross.net> References: <32B95304CB44EF4E81483EEA6D0597820F9F667F@brnyrchex2.bio.ri.redcross.net> Message-ID: <00c701cc1aff$5acba560$1062f020$@us> Mike, I had a similar situation in my '74 a couple years back. In my case it was the pivot pin for the clutch release lever. They tend to fall out. If it's only part way out you might be able to drive a bolt through the hole in the bell housing. If it is gone, then you pretty much have to pull the gearbox. If you put the bolt in from the top the bolt head keeps the problem from happening again. Some other (possibly simplistic) thoughts: Check the position of the slave cylinder. They can move some in the bell housing. Make sure it is all the way forward when you tighten the pinch bolt. Also the slave cylinder push rod can wear. I'd also check the pivots for the brake pedal arm itself, and where it connects to the master cylinder. And make sure the bleed screw is in the top hole of the slave. If it's on the bottom you'll never get it bled properly. Let us know what you find. BillG Hastings, MN '74 Spit and various other Triumph projects -----Original Message----- From: spitfires-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:spitfires-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Mackmi at usa.redcross.org Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 11:42 AM To: spitfires at autox.team.net Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue I have a shifting issue with my Spitfire, and I'm looking for some suggestions for a fix for it. 1979 Spitfire with OD Last fall I went for a drive, and it shifted as it should. I stopped at a Store. When I started it would not go into gear. I was about 15 miles from home, and didn't want to call the wife or a tow truck. I was able to start the car in 1st, then coax it into 2nd, then 3rd and limp home. At each stoplight, I had to shut off the car and start again. I figured that I needed to bleed my clutch, and I would be all set. It was last bled about 5 years ago. New Master, Slave, pipe, and DOT 5 Silicone fluid then. I bled the heck out of it last night. Didn't fix the problem. No Shifting. So what's next? Thanks in advance, Mike Mack 79 Spitfire 73 Stag (w/Chevy 5.7 engine) 80 TR8 70 GT6 _______________________________________________ Spitfires at autox.team.net Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html Suggested annual donation $11.47 Archive: http://www.team.net/archive Forums: http://www.team.net/forums Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spitfires/bill at gingerich.us From lfritz82 at hotmail.com Wed May 25 20:31:01 2011 From: lfritz82 at hotmail.com (Lorne Fritz) Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 22:31:01 -0400 Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue In-Reply-To: <32B95304CB44EF4E81483EEA6D0597820F9F667F@brnyrchex2.bio.ri.redcross.net> References: <32B95304CB44EF4E81483EEA6D0597820F9F667F@brnyrchex2.bio.ri.redcross.net> Message-ID: Have someone watch the crank pulley as you press on the clutch pedal. If the pulley moves you may have had the trust washers drop out of place. When this happens the travel you need to release the clutch is used up pushing the crank ahead. Lorne > Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 12:42:19 -0400 > From: Mackmi at usa.redcross.org > To: spitfires at autox.team.net > Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue > > I have a shifting issue with my Spitfire, and I'm looking for some > suggestions for a fix for it. > > > > 1979 Spitfire with OD > > > > Last fall I went for a drive, and it shifted as it should. I stopped at > a Store. When I started it would not go into gear. I was about 15 miles > from home, and didn't want to call the wife or a tow truck. > > I was able to start the car in 1st, then coax it into 2nd, then 3rd and > limp home. At each stoplight, I had to shut off the car and start > again. > > > > I figured that I needed to bleed my clutch, and I would be all set. It > was last bled about 5 years ago. New Master, Slave, pipe, and DOT 5 > Silicone fluid then. > > I bled the heck out of it last night. Didn't fix the problem. No > Shifting. > > > > So what's next? > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > Mike Mack > > 79 Spitfire > > 73 Stag (w/Chevy 5.7 engine) > > 80 TR8 > > 70 GT6 > _______________________________________________ > > Spitfires at autox.team.net > Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html > Suggested annual donation $11.47 > Archive: http://www.team.net/archive > Forums: http://www.team.net/forums > Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spitfires/lfritz82 at hotmail.com From cleoburyp at gmail.com Wed May 25 21:50:07 2011 From: cleoburyp at gmail.com (Phil Cleobury) Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 23:50:07 -0400 Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue In-Reply-To: References: <32B95304CB44EF4E81483EEA6D0597820F9F667F@brnyrchex2.bio.ri.redcross.net> Message-ID: <4DDDCDEF.3080109@gmail.com> Exactly what happened to mine - thrust washer dropped out Spent days bleeding the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder Trying to work out how to extend the push rod in the slave cylinder to get it to work Drained the engine oil and the magnetic sump plug had the trust washer attached to it Dropped the sump looked at the damage and cried! Cost for forcing it in gear and driving it - ie wrecking the engine block = $2000 engine rebuild! Regards Phil On 5/25/2011 10:31 PM, Lorne Fritz wrote: > figured that I needed to bleed my clutch, and I would be all set. It > > was last bled about 5 years ago. New Master, Slave, pipe, and DOT 5 > > Silicone fluid then. From doug at dougbraun.com Wed May 25 22:22:27 2011 From: doug at dougbraun.com (Douglas Braun) Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 00:22:27 -0400 Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue In-Reply-To: References: <32B95304CB44EF4E81483EEA6D0597820F9F667F@brnyrchex2.bio.ri.redcross.net> Message-ID: A while back, I had heard about the thrust washer issue, and I measured my crankshaft endplay. It was about twice the spec, so I ordered some new thrust washers. They turned out to be only about 0.001" thicker than the originals, so installing them would have made no real difference. So either the (steel) crank wore instead of the washers, or the end play spec was not well-controlled in the factory... Doug On Wed, May 25, 2011 at 10:31 PM, Lorne Fritz wrote: > Have someone watch the crank pulley as you press on the clutch pedal. If the > pulley moves you may have had the trust washers drop out of place. When this > happens > the travel you need to release the clutch is used up pushing the crank ahead. > Lorne >> Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 12:42:19 -0400 >> From: Mackmi at usa.redcross.org >> To: spitfires at autox.team.net >> Subject: [Spits] Spitfire Shiftless issue >> >> I have a shifting issue with my Spitfire, and I'm looking for some >> suggestions for a fix for it. >> >> >> >> 1979 Spitfire with OD >> >> >> >> Last fall I went for a drive, and it shifted as it should. I stopped at >> a Store. When I started it would not go into gear. I was about 15 miles >> from home, and didn't want to call the wife or a tow truck. >> >> I was able to start the car in 1st, then coax it into 2nd, then 3rd and >> limp home. At each stoplight, I had to shut off the car and start >> again. >> >> >> >> I figured that I needed to bleed my clutch, and I would be all set. It >> was last bled about 5 years ago. New Master, Slave, pipe, and DOT 5 >> Silicone fluid then. >> >> I bled the heck out of it last night. Didn't fix the problem. No >> Shifting. >> >> >> >> So what's next? >> >> >> >> Thanks in advance, >> >> >> >> Mike Mack >> >> 79 Spitfire >> >> 73 Stag (w/Chevy 5.7 engine) >> >> 80 TR8 >> >> 70 GT6 >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Spitfires at autox.team.net >> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html >> Suggested annual donation $11.47 >> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive >> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums >> Unsubscribe/Manage: > http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spitfires/lfritz82 at hotmail.com > _______________________________________________ > > Spitfires at autox.team.net > Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html > Suggested annual donation $11.47 > Archive: http://www.team.net/archive > Forums: http://www.team.net/forums > Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spitfires/doug at dougbraun.com From jimmuller at rcn.com Mon May 30 16:37:14 2011 From: jimmuller at rcn.com (Jim Muller) Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 18:37:14 -0400 Subject: [Spits] Whew! Finally, GT6 progress Message-ID: <4DE3E3DA.4248.E9D1549@localhost> It's been a long wait... I haven't been active in either of these lists for many months. But today I finally got some free time and therefore got some car work done. First, I got the Spitfire fired up after its long winter's nap. It seems to have suffered no ill effects from such a long sleep except for a thoroughly dead battery. If it doesn't hold a charge after begin on a charger for a few days I'll spring for another battery. It's been getting weaker for years anyway. More importantly, I started re-assembling the GT6 gearbox. It took some doing to get the 3rd gear circlip in place, the one at the front end of the mainshaft. But I got it firmly in. Don't know why it was so hard, even after ordering two new ones from Spitbits. Then I got the mainshaft, input shaft, and reverse gear all in place and in the gearbox! The layshaft is next, but I know a few tricks to make that job easier. I need to go to work tomorrow so I can rest. Happy summer, everyone! Drive safe. Jim Muller jimmuller at rcn.com