Section : Bodywork and Interior

Mk III Body dimension 

Posted By : Alistair Mathie, 24-Sep-2004, 08:44pm

Hi,

i'm in the process of restoring a MK III and am looking to find out what all the body dimensions should be. I've already got and read the official workshop manual, however it doesn't give door gap and diagonal (front on lhs to rear of rhs door gap etc) dimensions.

I've made up a drawing and taken all the existing dimensions, however as i'm about to cut out floors and sills i'd like to know what they should be, not necessarily what they were!.

can anybody help?

thanks in advance.

Al

• Mk III Body dimension 

  Posted By : Gregory Alan Lowe, 03-Oct-2004, 05:29pm

  Al,
  
  I'm having the same problem as yourself with my own 1969 mark 3, to the best of my knowledge there are no such measurements written down, and even on sound Spitfires they may vary from car to car.
  
  I've been advised to use my chassis as a "jig", and rebuild from the bulkhead towards the rear of the body tub keeping both sides symmetrical, and "building in" an even gap around the doors before welding the sills permanently into place, one side at a time.
  
  Hope this has been of some use to you,
  
  Greg

  • Mk III Body dimension 

    Posted By : Alistair Mathie, 03-Oct-2004, 06:49pm

    Greg,
    
    thanks for this, what you say is pretty much the approach i'm going to take; i'm replacing floors, sills and rear wings so i'm working on the principle that if i take my time and keep trial fitting everything before i weld it into place i should end up with something that looks good.
    
    hope your on re-build goes well.
    
    thanks again.
    
    al
    
    

    • Mk III Body dimension 

      Posted By : Michael Charlton, 04-Oct-2004, 12:53pm

      Can't remember the title - - Gold ?? the history and write ups of all spitfires.?
      Got it at home .It gives line drawings of spits.eg 5 1/4 " is the dimn from sill to ground etc,etc
      It should give you what you want
      
      (my memory is going ,but could advise later)
      M

      • Mk III Body dimension 

        Posted By : Alistair Mathie, 04-Oct-2004, 07:51pm

        Michael,
        
        thanks if you find the book can you drop me a mail, meanwhile i'll do some digging around and see what i can find, if i get stuck i'll post back.
        cheers,
        
        al

        • Mk III Body dimension 

          Posted By : Michael Charlton, 05-Oct-2004, 05:25pm

          I think I may have what you want .
          If you ring me 07766256432.,I'll go through it and maybe copy it instead of buying the book for one page.
          
          Mike