Tommy Gets His Spitfire Going Nov 13, 2007
With new plugs, points and a careful tune (that Rennie and Tim helped me with) the car started right up. It didn't want to run on anything but carb cleaner for the first few minutes, but then it ran fine from the fuel in our newly refinished fuel tank.
After sitting for 20 years, the engine compartment of our Spitfire was coated in a layer of filth. We needed to clean it up and repaint parts of it.
To start, we removed the front grill and the horns. After masking the wiring and chrome, we painted the frame rails the original French blue. Once the paint was dry and everything was reattached, we moved to the firewall where we removed the wiper motor and cleaned up around the battery area.
We also had to deal with a leaky radiator. It comes out with just a few bolts and Tim mentioned Robbins Radiator, a local shop that can patch and rod out a radiator. Rodding a radiator is literally sanding off the stuff that sticks to the the insides of a radiator. It is done with what looks to be sand paper on a thin flat stick. This can make a radiator almost as good as new.
While the radiator was out, we sand blasted and repainted all the radiator surround pieces. With a new battery in place and everything hooked back up, we replaced the plug wires and distributor cap. If you replace the wires one at a time, it is not very hard. With new plugs, points and a careful tune (that Rennie and Tim helped with) the car started right up. It didn't want to run on anything but carb cleaner for the first few minutes, but then it ran fine from the fuel in our newly refinished fuel tank.
We replaced the old, cracked engine mounts and the rusted out exhaust system. Gary Hunter helped us remove the exhaust system from the parts car that Rennie found for us for free and Tim jacked up the car so that we could replace the engine mounts quite easily. Victoria British has the engine mounts in stock and they were less than $10 each
Our work under the hood was done for now.
First Event in the Spitfire Dec 11, 2007
After working feverishly all day to get the car finished, we took the Spitfire to the SE VTR convention at Jekyll Island just one hour after the paint was dry. After a quick test drive around the island, we decided that the Spitfire was ready for the autocross. Surprisingly, it did well. It was the second-fastest Triumph powered car, taking first in its class.
The car show was the next morning, and the car didn’t look so good. We had painted the hood with a spray can, and it still needed to be wet-sanded. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain and we didn’t have a covered place to work. So, we drove around the island and found an old carport behind a gas station. When we asked the attendant if we could use it, he told us we were welcome to one of the service bays.
We worked all afternoon on the car, detailing, painting and sanding. In the end, we had a respectable-looking car. We were happy to get it prepared in time to make it to the car show, and it even took third place--although there were only three cars in our class. In the end, it was a very good event.
Installing a Radio Feb 24, 2008
Next came the moment of truth: putting the radio into the dash. Surprisingly, it fit. It even turned on when I pressed the power button.
Once the Spitfire was running and driving, I realized that I needed a radio. Although the original AM radio worked, it didn't sound very good. I also wanted to be able to play my iPod through the radio. The search for a new head unit was on. After a few weeks of looking, we found a slightly used Alpine for only $100. My dad bought it, claiming that he would be putting it into the Miata.
About a month later my birthday came, and what did I get? The radio and a set of Kenwood speakers. The next morning, I ran out to the shop and started installing them. My dad helped me cut out a new dash plate from stainless steel, and I painted it to match the interior. After confirming that the radio would indeed fit into the hole, I began the wiring. Putting a two-year-old radio into a 35-year-old car isn’t easy. The old radio used two wires; the new one used about 12. Three hours later, I had everything wired correctly. Next came the moment of truth: putting the radio into the dash. Surprisingly, it fit. It even turned on when I pressed the power button. The only minor error was the lack of speakers. I still hadn’t figured out how to mount them.
Then next day, my dad had a brilliant idea. We would mount the speakers in boxes on the rear package shelf, using quick-release fasteners. This way, we would be able to pop the big speakers into the trunk during events. After a quick trip to the stereo shop, we had the boxes and were ready to begin. I installed the speakers into the boxes, and mounted the boxes into the car. To take them out, I only have to undo one screw.
I turned the radio on and plugged in my iPod; it sounded wonderful.
Fixin' a Hole Apr 30, 2008
Lately, the Spitfire hasn’t been needing much work. We’ve taken it to many more events, and it has run perfectly. The top, however, was another story. It kept rain out about as well as a colander, and it looked like one too. Also, the back window was so discolored, you would have to unzip it to back up the car. It was time for the Spitfire to get a new top.
Victoria British kindly sent us just what we needed. After taking it out of the box, we found the new top to be very well made. However, the company wasn't as thorough when it came to the instructions: “Attach top at back of car, then stretch over the frame and attach at front.” They weren’t even written for a specific kind of car.
First, we removed the old top from the frame and set it aside for future reference. We scuffed up the frame, and then painted it semi-flat black. After the paint dried we attached the rear retaining bar to the top, and reinstalled the frame in the car. Then, we put in the rear snaps and installed the top on the car. We were ready for the last and hardest part--stretching the top over the front of the frame. We coated the front edge of the top with glue, then stretched the top over the front of the frame and let the glue set. Once it had, we riveted the retaining bar over the front and slid in the rubber seal. The job was complete--my Spitfire had a new top.
Seating Arrangements Jun 16, 2008
Black isn't exactly the best color for a Florida interior, as you could easily cook an egg on the seats after a hot day.
Although the Spitfire had only one rip in its seat upholstery, the foam underneath had turned into powder.
Whenever we took a seat in the car, a shower of foam would fall onto the floor. Also, black isn't exactly the best color for a Florida interior, as you could easily cook an egg on the seats after a hot day. With both of these problems in mind, we ordered a complete interior kit in "biscuit" from Victoria British.
After a few days of waiting, our new interior arrived. The kit was very complete--it even came with full color instructions.
Before we could install the new seat foam and coverings, we had to pull all of the old material off. We spent about an hour pulling clips out of various layers of fabric, then sat back to admire our work. From there, we cleaned and painted the entire frame, and replaced any broken straps. After the paint dried, we glued on the foam.
Now that the foam was on the frame, it was time to put on the covering. We turned it inside out and rolled it down the seat frame, affixing the bottom with the factory clips.
With the seat back done, we tackled the seat bottom. First, we had to pull out all of the hog rings that held the old fabric in place. After that was done, we removed the old fabric and foam. Next, we cleaned up the seat pan and painted it flat black. Once it dried completely, we placed the new foam in the pan, stretched the fabric over it and secured it with new hog rings. The seat bottoms were done.
With the first seat done, we simply followed the same steps for the other. The new seats are much more comfortable than the last, and they look better, too.
Sponsors:
