Great video - thanks. A word about the rear spring sagginess. It's wear on the interleaf buttons causing the sagginess. The reason is they use a 'Swing Spring' which means the leaves slide across each other. It alters the geometry in corners to reduce wheel tuck. Replace the buttons and ride height is restored.
Really appreciate! I own a 79 almost exactly like your! Bought new when 21 yrs old. 60,000 miles. Time for a 2nd redo. Been sitting in the garage for 20+ yrs. Will really follow u. Ran fine and had great service when I dove it daily in the 80’s. Thank you!
This is good stuff.. I plan to eventually get one of these myself so very interested in following your videos here to see progress and get inspiration.
Nice job and good luck to you. I'm working on my 75 with a rebuilt 78 motor. Next step for me is cutting out and welding in a drivers side floor. You are now amongst an very supportive group of people. Be well, see more of you soon.
Poly bush ( U.K ( silicone ) is the way to go when replacing those perished rubber bushings , you can even select your preferred grade of stiffness and customise your suspension , best bit is they last 4 - 5 times longer .
Thanks for the tip, I think I'd like to go poly and never have to mess with them again. As long as the ride doesn't get too bumpy, then again it's already very bumpy!
@@chhindz thanks for sharing. That sounds like a great time. Our only snow this year was too deep for the Spitfire. If we get another one I’ll give that a try.
Make sure you check the lower front trunnions, they can collapse if not maintained. That part you said was a fuel pump looks like the water heater valve
My father owns a 1970 Triumph Spitfire. Had in my family ever since. It was partially restored in the early 90s but has been stored ever since. Would love to get the old spitfire and it’s tiny 4 cylinder back on the road.
I have heard pledge furniture polish will clean up the vinyl windows. But that advice came 30 years ago. I never got the chance to verify because I ended up replacing my top due to a tear. I've had my 78 1500 since 1988. Getting ready to do a complete restoration on it once I make room by selling another car.
You might want to get under and look at the condition of the floor pans and the heel board. You tube has some examples of really rotted metal cars being restored. Elin Yakov for example.
Love a bit of quality automotive archeology. Good stuff mate. She/he is in good hands (i personality think the gender of the car becomes apparent after driving it and working on it). Im not the biggest fan of these but looking forward to see more
Hi, great your love of spitfires. I have had 14. I have 2 now. One with a ford puma 1.7 vvt engine. Bit frustrating seeing you not know what parts are, the heater valve is not a fuel pump! Rear diff seal in the boot! I know every nut and bolt having had them for over 30 years, my love of them from my aunt who used to drive me in hers in the 70's. Drop me a line if you need to know anything. I would definitely get the tie bar rust sorted with your rocker as these are structural on a spitfire. Keep it up
In mid 1978 Spitfire's a Mota-Lita steering wheel with a real leather rim was fitted as standard. In the later Spitfire's a Plastic/Rubber thing was fitted.
Great project, good luck, and once finished please DO NOT CRASH. Ask me how I know... Drive defensively, Spitfires are so extremely low others cannot see you, some motorcycle rules of the road will go a long way.
Thanks for the kind words! I got it driving better recently have just yet to have time to make a video. I've ridden motorcycles for years so thankfully I'm familiar with acting like no one sees me in traffic, because you're right, they don't see the Triumph!
A word of caution. Many new parts are aftermarket and poor quality or even unsuitable. For instance, the new fuel pump that is fitted, quite likely is producing far to much pressure, which will cause running rich. Likewise many replacments steering racks and rear springs are garbage! The sagging rear may need just replacing buttons, but if that does not cure the sag many owners fit mid 70's era Corvette air adjustable shocks, that happen to fit perfectly. Nice project !
Great advice! I actually had someone local tell me about the Corvette shocks too. I haven't made an update video in a while but it's running rich no matter what I do with this new weber, and I had just started questioning fuel pressure. That pump may well be the culprit
I've never tried but if you could they probably wouldn't be in stock, only special order. In my experience, when it comes to obscure cars the local stores often cost more than a specialty store even with international shipping. I've also gotten the wrong part on several occasions, but rarely if ever has that happened with a specialty shop.
The UK spec had no emission stuff and twin HS4 su carbs.About 25% more power that the US version. Believe me, you don't want too much power as these feel that they're doing 100mph at 50mph 😁
We actually got it going and enjoyed it all last year! Ended up breaking down again toward the end of last year and just haven't had time to put the videos together. But they are coming!
I found a 78 and am trying to trade my 67 Bel Air for it. I believe my car to be worth twice what the little spit is worth but owner won’t trade (also in MO)
Great video - thanks. A word about the rear spring sagginess. It's wear on the interleaf buttons causing the sagginess. The reason is they use a 'Swing Spring' which means the leaves slide across each other. It alters the geometry in corners to reduce wheel tuck. Replace the buttons and ride height is restored.
Really appreciate! I own a 79 almost exactly like your! Bought new when 21 yrs old. 60,000 miles. Time for a 2nd redo. Been sitting in the garage for 20+ yrs. Will really follow u. Ran fine and had great service when I dove it daily in the 80’s. Thank you!
Small world! I live in Kansas City and bought a '77 Spitfire, just around the first of August. Even the same color. Love the car. Fun little car.
Fantastic! Congratulations. Might see you out and about if I'm ever up that direction.
I just picked up a 78 from a friend who garaged it over 35 years ago with the hard top.
This is good stuff.. I plan to eventually get one of these myself so very interested in following your videos here to see progress and get inspiration.
Thank you! You absolutely should get one. I've been working on it as I get time, there should be another video coming soon.
@@justindake looking forward to it brother. Subscribed!
Nice job and good luck to you. I'm working on my 75 with a rebuilt 78 motor. Next step for me is cutting out and welding in a drivers side floor. You are now amongst an very supportive group of people. Be well, see more of you soon.
Thanks for the support! Likewise I hope all goes well on yours. Sounds like you're doing a pretty thorough restoration
Poly bush ( U.K ( silicone ) is the way to go when replacing those perished rubber bushings , you can even select your preferred grade of stiffness and customise your suspension , best bit is they last 4 - 5 times longer .
Thanks for the tip, I think I'd like to go poly and never have to mess with them again. As long as the ride doesn't get too bumpy, then again it's already very bumpy!
Had a 77, enjoyed riding in snowfall with tonneau cover half open, heater blasting or both sides open with passenger.
@@chhindz thanks for sharing. That sounds like a great time. Our only snow this year was too deep for the Spitfire. If we get another one I’ll give that a try.
Make sure you check the lower front trunnions, they can collapse if not maintained. That part you said was a fuel pump looks like the water heater valve
My father owns a 1970 Triumph Spitfire. Had in my family ever since. It was partially restored in the early 90s but has been stored ever since. Would love to get the old spitfire and it’s tiny 4 cylinder back on the road.
I have heard pledge furniture polish will clean up the vinyl windows. But that advice came 30 years ago. I never got the chance to verify because I ended up replacing my top due to a tear. I've had my 78 1500 since 1988. Getting ready to do a complete restoration on it once I make room by selling another car.
The first item is a Ignition switch on the back side of the Steering lock
The second item is your heater Valve.
Ah okay, very good. Thank you! I wonder why these are here considering the heat and ignition both work... 🤔
@@justindake i suspect the ignition switch is 1976 or older.... looks that way to me
You might want to get under and look at the condition of the floor pans and the heel board. You tube has some examples of really rotted metal cars being restored. Elin Yakov for example.
Love a bit of quality automotive archeology. Good stuff mate. She/he is in good hands (i personality think the gender of the car becomes apparent after driving it and working on it). Im not the biggest fan of these but looking forward to see more
Thanks for the kind words! I'm excited to see if it lives up to the hype I've built for it in my mind. The MGB set a pretty high bar.
Hi, great your love of spitfires. I have had 14. I have 2 now. One with a ford puma 1.7 vvt engine. Bit frustrating seeing you not know what parts are, the heater valve is not a fuel pump! Rear diff seal in the boot! I know every nut and bolt having had them for over 30 years, my love of them from my aunt who used to drive me in hers in the 70's. Drop me a line if you need to know anything. I would definitely get the tie bar rust sorted with your rocker as these are structural on a spitfire. Keep it up
Somehow missed your comment but thank you! Holy cow 14! I've got a long way to catch up.
On my third gt6, just starting to restore it now.
In mid 1978 Spitfire's a Mota-Lita steering wheel with a real leather rim was fitted as standard. In the later Spitfire's a Plastic/Rubber thing was fitted.
Ah! That's pretty neat. Boy this car must be all original then except the roll bar.
@@justindake it's also the most desirable spitfire steering wheel - available only for 78. TR8 had one too. not the TR7 however.
Wow! That is fantastic.
Great project, good luck, and once finished please DO NOT CRASH. Ask me how I know...
Drive defensively, Spitfires are so extremely low others cannot see you, some motorcycle rules of the road will go a long way.
Thanks for the kind words! I got it driving better recently have just yet to have time to make a video. I've ridden motorcycles for years so thankfully I'm familiar with acting like no one sees me in traffic, because you're right, they don't see the Triumph!
you call gary on the business card? that could be funny. Also the first item you ask about is the ignition switch and the second is the pcv valve.
That's a good idea, I'll have to do that
It looked like the sender for the set busser.:ie: passenger set.
A word of caution. Many new parts are aftermarket and poor quality or even unsuitable. For instance, the new fuel pump that is fitted, quite likely is producing far to much pressure, which will cause running rich. Likewise many replacments steering racks and rear springs are garbage! The sagging rear may need just replacing buttons, but if that does not cure the sag many owners fit mid 70's era Corvette air adjustable shocks, that happen to fit perfectly. Nice project !
Great advice! I actually had someone local tell me about the Corvette shocks too. I haven't made an update video in a while but it's running rich no matter what I do with this new weber, and I had just started questioning fuel pressure. That pump may well be the culprit
Curious but can bushings, ball joints or brake parts be found at say a NAPA/Carquest or do most of the parts need to be sourced from the UK?
I've never tried but if you could they probably wouldn't be in stock, only special order. In my experience, when it comes to obscure cars the local stores often cost more than a specialty store even with international shipping. I've also gotten the wrong part on several occasions, but rarely if ever has that happened with a specialty shop.
The UK spec had no emission stuff and twin HS4 su carbs.About 25% more power that the US version. Believe me, you don't want too much power as these feel that they're doing 100mph at 50mph 😁
Always keep your air filter clean
I am guess the Spit has been put in a corner and forgotten about? 2 years since the video was posted.
We actually got it going and enjoyed it all last year! Ended up breaking down again toward the end of last year and just haven't had time to put the videos together. But they are coming!
@@justindake Love to see how things progressed with it. Hope to see them soon. Thanks
I found a 78 and am trying to trade my 67 Bel Air for it. I believe my car to be worth twice what the little spit is worth but owner won’t trade (also in MO)
The spare part you couldn't identify is the egnition switch
IGNITION SWITCH
Those nasty rubber overiders need to ne removed