logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Feb 12, 2023 19:00:37 GMT
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Monday night was Club Triumph Hull area meeting, Great night (first Monday of the month, from 6.30 at sandpiper pub in melton just off the A63, all RR's welcome) Sam who lives in Halifax, came over to pick up the dolly glass I had picked up for him a few months ago, he also has some spare drive shafts, both a long and a short set, long drive shafts are not the easiest thing to find, so I grabbed them and passed on the short set seeing as I should have a spare pair in storage as well as the ones I took off the bond. Saturday was to say the least a disappointment, the plan was to strip the original hubs off the half shafts and swap them for the upgraded M12 stud hubs, I gave them a quick jet wash, coz it was minging  Bolted on the hub extractor and tightened it up, this one didn't make the satisfying crack the last one did, instead stripped threads on all 4 3/8s wheel nuts, resulting in this  Seeing as I intend to drive this car, I think this proved my point, and the spare pair of half shafts have disappeared. I was not a happy bunny, luckily I had a service on my mate's van and fault-finding the non locking tailgate and the destroyed AUX belt to distract me. In the evening I had a family party to go to in Keithley, just down the road from Halifax where the pair of short drive shafts I had cleverly said passed on were, but Sam was in Scotland looking at a house, he was back in time for me to pick them up on the way home. Sam also passed on a useful tip for getting the half shafts out of the rear uprights, take a front hub, unbolt the brake disc bolt the hub to the upright and use the hub puller to push it out, GENIUS. Sunday morning I headed out with some hope in my heart, went to pull the now M12 studded hub off and found some Acclaim wheel nuts, but they are an enclosed nut but not for long, once attacked with the angry grinder and the untapped bit at the bottom duly tapped to M12, the hub practically fell off, the brake backplate didn't put up much of a fight, anyone would have thought these parts had been reconditioned less than 10 years ago and dry stored. A pair of front hubs were stripped and converted to M12 which was so easy, unbolt the disc pop it on the swing press and the stud was out, refitting was just as easy just using a punch to seat the stud, less than an hour's work including removing the hub.  next was enacting Sam's genus idea for removing the half shaft, except I don't have any 5/16 UNF 3"1/2 long bolts, FAIL Instead, I converted the swing axel to swing spring, couldn't find a few bits I thought I had for it, top pad, through tube and bolt, but no matter they are easy enough to get. Then I pulled out one of the short shaft and held it against the one that wasn't right, and.....  I wasn't, from the centre of the UJ to the cup on the good shaft was 13"1/2, the not right one was 13"3/4 to the cup and over all the shaft appeared to be a few mm longer. Oh and I ordered the footwell pan and body mount for the body shell. |
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Feb 13, 2023 21:01:41 GMT
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Bolts acquired, Sam's genius plan executed.  Have to say it works a treat. It looks like the bearing was pushed too far on to the shaft. Causing the upright to be off set. |
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Feb 14, 2023 20:56:08 GMT
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thinking out loud (please feel free to pick holes or discuss anything)
At the moment the scrap bond shell is still on the chassis, letting me do a dry build of the suspension to see if any body mods are needed, this will also let me work out the fitment of the spit tank and fuel filler arrangement.
let's talk about weight,
Bond GT4s curb weight of 737kg
Spitfire 1500 curb weight of 815kg
so the swing spring should be close enough, I could use some of the air assist shocks from a corvette I read about in, Paul Geithner spitfire performance enhancements page if it needs stiffening or buy a GT6 swing spring.
The straight 6 will also need to be fitted, as that's a heavy thing.
Rear Suspension
I have most of the parts to rebuild the spit 1500 swing spring ordered, inc some polyurethane thrust buttons
Now I know the half shafts are OK it was the bearing position that caused the rubbing, I'll try to put it back together in the right place, and rebuild the other set of short half shafts with new bearings (what are the current supply of bearings like?) and UJs, later as the current diff has small flanges but the 3.63 that's planned to go in it has large flanges {stop sniggering at the back}
Front suspension
I currently only have spit 1500 or herald front springs, probably too soft for the straight 6, so vitesse or GT6 springs? Has anyone got a spare set they don't need?
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Darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,896
Club RR Member Number: 39
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Feb 14, 2023 22:18:51 GMT
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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If I was building a 4 pot yes perfect, but I'm planning on a straight 6. Thanks anyway Fast Road, Lowered Low fitted height - road spring, spring rate of 330 lb/in, fitted length of 6.875", part number TT4302 www.british-car-parts.de/Downloads/Spitfire.pdf page 36 |
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Last Edit: Feb 15, 2023 6:44:53 GMT by logicaluk
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steveg
Posted a lot
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Last Edit: Mar 3, 2023 7:31:48 GMT by steveg
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Yesterday I almost managed to fix the axle issue. I made 6" tube spacer to reset the depth of the grease cup, then pressed on the bearing to the correct depth and reassembled the suspension upright, fitted it to the car and hey presto, it still rubs on the radius arm, just not as badly. So I bodged it by fitting washers on the studs, then the wheel arch fouled the tyre, so I attacked clearanced it with the angry grinder.  then fitted the re studded front hubs, I will clean this car properly when the body is off.  Back on its wheels, I cleared out all the junk useful parts that had accumulated inside.  yes, the floor is just a thin sheet of fibre glass supporting some iron oxide  And stripped the last bits off the doors before placing them carefully in the scrap pile along with the useless spare tyre carrying loop that was welded to the front, this was fitted to the drivers' door, wired with coax.......  Then my neighbour stuck his head out and asked if I could replace a dip beam lamp on his Audi A6, as Halfrauds had failed to accomplish the task. And yes I could, but only if I took the wheel off and half stripped the arch liner out, as the access panel was way too small to be able to see let alone access the screws, but it was a simple job, for which I got given a table saw, yes random I know, but it's going to come in very handy for the wife's shed and the next phase of garage improvements.  Today I was confronted with Icantbearsedness and failed to get out of bed before 10am, but when I did finally get moving, I did some workshop tidying, and then went and had a look at the last job on the Bond shell, the spit fuel tank and staggggg filler. I'd like to say I cut out the hole in the bulkhead, but that would be an offence to primary school scissors. I hacked out an opening, killing 2 slitting disks, one of which got a bit unhappy with its boss.  And a jigsaw blade, finally loosing my curse word and picking up a hammer and chisel, to finish the job.  Then I decided it was a good time to stop for a cuppa to calm down. Suitably chilled, I fitted the tank and the rear seat back, and the tank sits flush against the back of the seat.    It just needs a frame to bolt to. Next up was cutting out the fuel filler, I had marked out what I thought was the best position for it some time ago, and cut it out, fettled it to fit and totally failed, it would not sit close to the body, lucky this body shell is scrap.   on the second attempt I found a really nice spot, so I tried again and bingo it fits beautifully,  The question now is do I fit it as is, or recess it in to the panel? My thoughts are it's not a huge amount of work, and it would look great, but there is little point as the door handles a not even slightly aero. The tank just needs a new filler pipe fitting on the corner to point roughly at the filler and a piece of hose to make it work, its almost like it was ment to go there  Anyway at this point I called it a day and tided up, had a brew and started writing this which got me thinking, that bond tank is heavy what does it weigh...... So back out with trusty bathroom scales in hand, first thing was to empty the best part of 2kg of rust and petrol varnish out, it smelled glorious, why doesn't modern fuel smell as good?  even the sender was prelightened  Bond tank without sender is 10.7kg Steel and GRP removed to fit spit tank 2.5kg Spit tank 5kg Plus there's the steel plinth, the tank used to sit on, to remove or slim down if I mount the battery on it. So not only is moving the tank from the wing to above the axle making the car safer in case of a rear end accident, it's improving the handling by reducing and relocating the weight. Sounds like a total WIN to me. |
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Last Edit: Mar 5, 2023 17:14:38 GMT by logicaluk
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Those look strangely familiar...  |
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Darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,896
Club RR Member Number: 39
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Those look strangely familiar... And are the only ones I am having trouble finding where I have put them - Found all the Fiesta ones today - together with some Escort brake discs! |
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Small note - the filler cap should be mounted the other way around, so if left open the wind/human body/passing truck etc will close it rather than ripping it off.
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Small note - the filler cap should be mounted the other way around, so if left open the wind/human body/passing truck etc will close it rather than ripping it off. Good point mark, I could fit it on the opposite side, I'll have a look and see how the contour fits to the body. Dan |
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Will it fit if you just spin it round 180 degrees?
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Will it fit if you just spin it round 180 degrees? Having looked at pics of triumphs they are all fitted on the opposite wing, there is a breather in the top so it will have to go in the other wing. Thanks for the info. Dan |
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Will it fit if you just spin it round 180 degrees? Having looked at pics of triumphs they are all fitted on the opposite wing, there is a breather in the top so it will have to go in the other wing. Thanks for the info. Dan Just popped out to check and yes it does look like it will fit the profile on the other wing. I'll have a go another evening as it's club Triumph night tonight. Dan |
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Mar 12, 2023 19:47:07 GMT
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None of your actual progress has been made due to poor weather, a leaking shed roof and an emergency bedroom wallpapering, so a friend could sell their house.
But some parts have been acquired, and imagineering has occurred.
Just about the only piece in the puzzle I'm missing is the inlet manifold and carbs, yes I know carbs are so last Tuesday, but I want to get this back on the road and driving this side of 2030, one quick phone call to Spitfire graveyard and some time in the next few days a Mk1 Vitesse 2ltr inlet fanymould and a set of parts that I am told will equate to a pair of carbs, albeit rather worse for wear and a bit sized, will be in my possession.
Until about 5 mins ago I was convinced I had been harbouring a MK1 GT6 engine under the bench in the back of the workshop for 10+ years, but having been back out to check it is a fairly early 4 digit Mk1 Vitesse 2ltr, Hopefully a "high" 9.5:1 compression one as the H or L is missing from the engine number.
Bizarrely, I hadn't given much though to the engine, I know it's going to want a full rebuild, and I know tuning options are thin on the ground, for the Mk1 straight 6, I'm not looking for a rip snorting race engine, but it would seem daft not to do any sensible upgrades whilst the engine is in bits, any thoughts?
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Mar 12, 2023 20:29:48 GMT
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My thoughts so far, having got my google-fu on,have been;
90 degree oil filter conversion (upgrade to 3/4" bore)
blueprinted oil pump (Chris Witor for £50 or do my own)
is there any benefit in drilling out the oil gallery like the 4 cyl to increase flow?
Cam shafts and larger lifters, Mk2 cams would seem to fit and, give a useable increase in power, although there maybe issues with the smaller lifters and non-standard high lift cams.
Carbs I have choices, std Stromberg CD150 (I'm sure DS mentioned something about getting them to flow better), I also have a couple of sets of Stromberg 175s in stock from the RV8.
Despite spending out on Mk1 manifolds, it's worth considering the pros and cons of going for a Mk2 head
tubular exhaust manifold.
Better flowing head.
Less chance of HGF thanks to the larger head studs
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Last Edit: Mar 12, 2023 21:01:24 GMT by logicaluk
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Mar 12, 2023 20:40:20 GMT
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In case it helps , when i first got my tvr 1972 2500m , it had a triumph straight six 2.5 engine.
This was the smog engine for the usa market , 104 bhp as standard ,fitted with the twin stromberg carbs.
Standard performance was :
Technical Data TVR 2500M
Production 1971-1977
Engine, cc 2498
Cylinders, bhp 6, 106
Top Speed mph 109
0-60 mph, secs 9.3
Torque ft/lbs 133
Now i don't know what had been done to mine , i had the car to experiment with turbochrged v8's , so i took out the 6 , but , it pulled to above 130 mph , it peaked around 6500rpm , and when i did a compression test on it , it had 225 psi on cranking .
my guess is a ported head , a cam in the 275 to 280 degree duration , and a compression ration of around 12.5:1 .
on those little strombergs it was a very surprising engine .
regards
robert
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Mar 12, 2023 21:47:50 GMT
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I believe they would have been Stromberg CD175 carbs, Robert, if only that engine was taking up space under your bench.
Hope you are fully recovered.
Dan
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Last Edit: Mar 12, 2023 22:00:31 GMT by logicaluk
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Could well have been Dan , only thing i remember was the carbs had a little white plastic bath tub on their sides , also , i had to do the head gasket on it , and that head was heavy . Thank you ! yes pretty much back to normal  i sold the engine decades ago ,to a person who was putting in a viva i think it was . |
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i sold the engine decades ago ,to a person who was putting in a viva i think it was .