Section : Electrical Equipment

Alternators, dynamos, lights, wipers, etc.

Various spitfire questions

Posted By : Brendan Delaney, 08-May-2004, 10:45am

Hi,
Can anyone help with a couple of queries about my 1500 spitfire 1976?
1. No light behind heater controls - went to change the bulb - no bulb, no holder no wire...... where's it gone? Any ideas how to get a replacement and where best to wire it to?
2. Hope to get a map light, can see the hole for it. Where does the wire go?
3. Also plan to get a hardtop, but looks like holes in the header rail dont go all the way through (can never had one fitted). Do I have to drill them, and if so what's the best way to do it?
Many thanks
May pop down to SEM on sun, if I can face the mud......
Brendan

Followups :

Various spitfire questions

Posted By : Chris Gray, 08-May-2004, 11:33am

There's meant to be a light behind the heater controls?
I guess mine doesn't work either then...

Chris.
- Various spitfire questions
  
  Posted By : Doug Paterson, 08-May-2004, 02:59pm
  
  Same here. I've always assumed there wasn't a light. Might take a peep tomorrow.
  - Various spitfire questions
    
    Posted By : Chris Wilson, 08-May-2004, 03:51pm
    
    All, I believe that most of us that have a UK spec spit (FH50001 onwards) will NOT have the bulb holder/bulb etc fitted. The general feeling is that it was incorporated for the US market? The fascia panel from FH50001 was changed to include the "bulge/receptacle" to take a bulb to illuminate the heater control positions. Why it wasn't a standard fitting on UK cars, I have no idea but I'm pleased with the result having incorporated it on my 1500
    
    Regards
Various spitfire questions

Posted By : Chris Wilson, 08-May-2004, 11:55am

Hi Brendan,

I can only give you advice on your first question (illuminated heater control). If you can get to the following link:

http://www.totallytriumph.net/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcbo...

you will see that this question has popped up before on another triumph site! If you have or can get hold of a Moss Spitfire Parts and Accessories catalogue (I think mine's the July 2003 edition - yellow spitfire on front cover!) and look at page 132, you will see the parts required - numbers 4, 5 and 6. If Moss cannot supply them then maybe Spit Graveyard near Derby? It works ok and does add that bit of extra "illumination" to the centre dash panel!

Regards
Various spitfire questions

Posted By : Philip George, 08-May-2004, 05:36pm

When I fitted a hardtop for the first time to my '79 1500 the holes didn't go all the way through but they almost did. It was only the vinyl trim on the bottom of the header rail which I had to drill. I did it from the bottom with a small drill and then a larger one until the bolt fitted.
- Various spitfire questions
  
  Posted By : Ian Mulford, 09-May-2004, 00:04am
  
  When my mother bought her spit it only came with a hard top. When I bought mine it only had a soft top. I borrowed mothers hard top over the winter and all it needed doing was removing the rubber plugs in the strip above the windscreen (next to the holes where the soft top fits) and punching a holes in the trim below. No drilling required. Also bike inner-tube works as a good seal to save on cost! (someone on ebay is trying to sell a full set for a hardtop for 75UKP).
  
  Cheers!
  - Various spitfire questions
    
    Posted By : John Davies, 09-May-2004, 09:48am
    
    "When Mother bought her Spit"!!!
    RESPECT!
    
    Wasn't there an original Spitfire ad strapline "Mother wouldn't like it"?
    
    John
    - Various spitfire questions
      
      Posted By : James Carruthers, 09-May-2004, 12:41pm
      
      I thought it was the MGB with the strap line:
      
      "Your monther wouldn't like it"
      
      Though I seem to remember the girl on the ad rather than the car...
      
      James