Section : Moaning Students

Stupid old cars..... hmph 

Posted By : Brendon Elton, 07-Jul-2006, 11:46pm

Im not a student .. but im going to have a moan anyway.....



I have abducted my dads MK2 Spitfire (with his consent of course ) simply because he had left it in the drive being subjected to all weathers of the seasons with out the required protection for 4 years... He has allways said to me in the duration of the 4 years & I quote "when I win the lottery I will send her to a garage and get her done out like new!"


I stood before the spitfire. bemused to say the least, I had to do something.... I have always loved the car, I remember very vaguely my dad teaching me about con rods and gudgeon pins, scraper rings, compression rings & oil return rings etc when he was overhauling the original engine when I was little, I said to my self "cant watch this rare peice of brittish heritage corrode and my mum sweep it away in the dustpan for the rubbish" I decided I was going to rescue her!

After a load of arguing with my parents, they finally gave me the car, I was exstatic! (little did I know then that it was going to cost me everything) so, I got my dad to tow me up my house in the spitfire.

As soon as the mk2 arrived at my home, I dried all the water that has collected under the seats etc and covered her up in a massive peice of tarpaulin.

Since then my trouble started, researching the differences between mk1 mk2 mk3 mk4 spitfires, dredging through ebay for parts, and traveling to get certain heavy items I need. I would say I have spent the best part of &163;1000 just on parts and there is another &194;&163;500 set asside for the spray job, Its costing me a fortune and the strain on my relationship with my partner Jessica is back breaking! When I start something I wont stop untill its done and Jessica finds that difficult to understand!

I got my self now a MK3 for spares, I have now had to move my mk2 to where I work and start stripping the mk3 for necesarry parts. I have got to the point with the mk2 where I cant take anymore, I have discovered a hole in the passenger rear of the body tub (I thank my lucky stars I can weld but im not looking foreward to this) and I know I have to take the rear drums off, dad says "there is a leaky brake cylinder", the tub has to come away from the chassis because there is an inferior differential fitted apparently ..... this means I have to take the diff off the mk3 I need to change the steering rack gators .... I feel depressed allready! the car is never ending!


The car seems so close to completion but it still throws me off track by giving me new unexpected problems such as Leaky radiator... &163;70.50p later that was recored today......


when all this is completed I would say the car is ready for the body shop


If the spitfire ever gets completed, is it really worth it? I really need to know because I need the motivation to carry on!


somebody shoot me please!


Brendon

• Stupid old cars..... hmph 

  Posted By : Jason Chinn, 07-Jul-2006, 11:49pm

  If you want a sound financial investment you're wasting your time and your money - if you want something to enjoy, to cherish and to thrash about it then crack on!
  You really won't regret finishing it but get the balance right between car and replationship - otherwise you'll have no one to help you when you need to bleed teh brakes

  • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

    Posted By : Steve Cureton, 08-Jul-2006, 09:09am

    I agree you need to keep the balance right, otherwise who are you going to share the fun of the car with? Have you tried finding something she can get involved with in the restoration, don't just get her involved in holding a spanner in that difficult to reach place, everyone has something they can offer and will enjoy doing, you've just got to identify what it is. Once she's invloved in the bits she likes she'll soon enjoy the car as much as you and will be glad to help out in the other areas too.
    
    My better half doesn't like working on the car but she does enjoy going to motor shows and talking to people and helping me find those elusive bits or tools, I tell her what I'm looking for and she helps me hunt them down. I've even bought things I'll never use but it's her contribution that makes it worth while for both of us (and I've mangead to sell or give away the stuff I don't need . I also share the good moments, eg when I changed the engine she came on the first run with me, it wasn't a good drive but she shared the thrill and disapointment of that first outing.
    
    Folow these principles and you won't feel guilty, she'll be encouraging, and you'll get enjoyment out of putting that car back together and driving it.

• Stupid old cars..... hmph 

  Posted By : Calvin Andrew, 08-Jul-2006, 01:57pm

  Brendon,
  stick in there son,
  bring your partner camping at stafford, i did, then her family started coming, then workmates, and then they start to understand.
  
  My sister in law still thinks a convoy run is just a line of cars the same driven by anoraks, but she loved Stafford and crucial brownie points with my partner.
  
  My wife guarantees you that there will be at least one car that really impresses your partner, and that will be the way in to acceptance and understanding.
  
  
  cheers Calvin.
  
  ps, try a 7.5 year rebuild costing over 10 grand for a car that will be worth 2 if i am lucky, and does not even have a vanity mirror!!!!!!
  

  • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

    Posted By : Brendon Elton, 08-Jul-2006, 05:57pm

    Guy's, you are right! guess who unexpectedly turned up and helped me bleed the brakes today? after a couple of "down, back, down, back," she got bored but she completed the job nevertheless!
    
    I asked her bearing a green fuel can... "go fill this up at the fuel station!" she did to my amazement and returned so I put the fuel in the tank of the spitfire and fired her up, She couldnt believe her eyes! it was a picture after 10 years or more left idle the car actually started as soon as fuel rose to the carbs!
    
    I couldnt resist taking her for a little spin around our industrial area where I work! I have to say, these spitfires are an aquired taste to drive and a little bit sketchy! it didnt take me long to get the hang of it, quite exhilarating! this was the first time I have ever actually driven it!
    
    
    
    Looks like I have found the will to carry on restoring her! as soon as this butey is MOT'd..... its club meet time!
    
    
    Thanks for your kind replies all
    
    Brendon
    

    • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

      Posted By : Chris Taylor, 08-Jul-2006, 09:05pm

      Glad you seem to have regained some inspiration. Getting the engine running and then driving is the BEST motivator! Just one comment though amidst your earlier woes:
      you seem to suggest the body tub needs separating from the chassis to change the diff. NOT SO. The diff comes out downwards, so it can be done with the back of the car on axle stands, or over a pit if you're really lucky.

      • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

        Posted By : Brendon Elton, 11-Jul-2006, 08:56am

        Underneath the petrol tank there seems to be an inspection plate, If I take this off will this aid in changing the diff?
        
        
        
        
        Brendon

        • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

          Posted By : Mark Stradling, 11-Jul-2006, 09:07am

          Hard to remove the diff without removing that plate!
          
          Under the plate you will find the 6 bolts that hold the diff to the rear spring - just make sure you have the diff supported on a jack or similar before removing all the bolts!

          • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

            Posted By : Brendon Elton, 11-Jul-2006, 09:22am

            Cheers Mark,
            
            I had to ask, it did all look rather reletive, I will take the diff off the mk3 tonight, and fit it to my mk2!
            
            
            Regards,
            

            • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

              Posted By : Brendon Elton, 26-Jul-2006, 10:08am

              Hi all, Me again,
              
              
              When I took the diff off the MK3, something very unexpected happened..... the spring hit the body of the car rising about 4". My concern is, how do you stop this from happening? or is it suppose to happen if you don't compress the spring back untill you remove the diff?
              
              
              
              Any guidance will be appreciated!
              
              Regards,

              • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

                Posted By : Colin Wake, 26-Jul-2006, 10:27am

                Did you ever find out what was 'inferior' about the diff??
                
                as Mk2 and Mk3 are the same ratio.
                
                And yes, it presses up against the body.
                
                You did remember to put the chassis up on stands didn't you????
                
                Cheers
                
                Colin

                • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

                  Posted By : Brendon Elton, 26-Jul-2006, 11:50am

                  Hi colin,
                  
                  
                  My dad seems to think that the diff is inferior simply because it does about 60mph at 5500 rpm? he seems to think that it may have been taken out of a van?
                  
                  The mk3 was jacked up and axle stands were placed either side on the rear of the chassis. My question is, how do you get the spring back down to bolt the diff back into position?
                  
                  
                  
                  Regards,

                  • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

                    Posted By : Colin Wake, 26-Jul-2006, 12:28pm

                    you just need a long lever, and then once the first couple of bolts have caught then you can pull the spring back down with the plate.
                    
                    It does sound a bit like the wrong diff.
                    
                    a Mk3 should do about 100 at just over 6000rpm.
                    
                    check the diff ratio on the 2 and compare.
                    
                    should be 4.11:1, you may have 4.55:1 or 4.875:1, though I would not expect either of the 2 lower ratios to have lasted very long......
                    
                    Chances are it is actually a duff rev-counter.......
                    
                    Colin
                    
                    

                    • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

                      Posted By : . Phoenix, 26-Jul-2006, 03:25pm

                      you should raly undo the 2 bolts that hold the spring on each side, behind the wheels. then the spring wont be under tenshon and plate wont fly off and knock you out and spring hit car body. there is then the 3 flanges to undo underneath, 9/16th or 1/2" spanners needed, then the put jack under to suport, and remove the 2 on wing suport at front of diff, it will then drop down/ swing on rear bolt. then the you have the hardest bolt at the rear of diff to undo before removing, slowly let down jack. if it falls let it! its heavy enogh to break your finger, i should know i did just that.
                      
                      iv got a 1300 diff 4.11.1 if your other one isent, i had my 1300 engine doing 85 smoth with it. works great, smooth

                      • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

                        Posted By : Chris Taylor, 26-Jul-2006, 10:42pm

                        If you release the shockers from the vertical links and allow the suspension to drop as far as possible, then carefully remove the spring eye bolt from the vertical link, (on both sides of the car) then you should avoid the problem you refer to. You should be able to fit the spring to the diff without compression. The use a lever to raise one side of the spring at once until you can fit the spring eye bolt to the vertical link. When both sides are done, a jack under the vertical link will raise the driveshaft far enough to refit the shock absorber.

                        • Stupid old cars..... hmph 

                          Posted By : Claire Hill, 26-Jul-2006, 10:59pm

                          You don't need to wait until your car is on the road before attending your area meetings. Go along one night and you will be surprised at the wealth of information and advise that can be gleaned from these events. You will probably find that someone has had the same problems as you and will know of a solution - or will know a man who does!