Anything and everything Spitfire.

General Spitfire messages

Firstly thanks to the Stag that stopped to check -- appreciated!

Just got home after an interesting drive home....
Had a blow out in offside front at speed that ended up with me going long enough to get control, check handling and pulling over from outside lane across traffic I'd just passed before stopping safely on hard shoulder
Did wheelchange and last 35odd miles on new tyre (brand new spare). Car handles fine both at low, medium and 'brisk pace', no pulling, snatching of brakes, funny noises etc gauges all seemed fine. No leaks on drive (just looked out window - car is 6 ft away!)

Obvious 'damage list' is a new offside valance (fibreglass), repaint and re-underseal wheelarch and general area... and some serious attention to the front part of lower sill which is slightly peeled back at joins to other panels, dented and holed further back - above/around the OE 'drain hole'. That looks the worst. Chasis outrigger is fine - lost couple coats of underseal - showing original colour scheme , a nice blue! - And new tyre!

Next, common sense and 'twitch factor' suggests I scrap wheel - is that needed? - No obvious damage apart from odd marks in rim from road surface but not confident. (tyre had also only done 150 odd miles on - was brand new spare in car when I got it in Oct).

Also only done 150 miles since new steering rack bushes, offside front brake caliper replaced, both look OK still but will check.
What else am I really wise to check before I do the daily drive tomorrow??

Can I get damaged section of sill cut out (first 6 - 8 inches) and new 'patch' welded in or is it probably more serious?
Right, now a medicinal cuppa needed!
Al M

Alan,

Presuming that the wheel is a standard steel one and not an alloy, you should be fine to use it again. Check that there are no sharp surfaces left by contact with the road, basically nothing that could wear a hole in the next tyre. Next check that the basic shape of the wheel is still true (find a way of spinning it relatively quickly and check from both above (for side-to-side damage) and facing the wheel (to see any flat spots. Finally, give it a gentle tap with a metal hammer and check what noise it makes - a nice 'ting' indicates no damage where-as a dull thud might suggest that the metal is cracked - it shouldn't be from this sort of incident though. Normally steels wheels are only properly broken by a direct impact (ie with a kerb or a deep pot-hole). If in doubt you're local tyre place should be able to tell you if it's okay.

If however you have an alloy it's far more likely to be damaged due to the relative softness of the metal.

Good idea, Neil!

Alan, take it down to your local tyre depot, and aks them to put it on their wheel balancer.
Some balancers spin the wheel, some rotate it gently, but either way you should be able to see any run out.
My local KwikFit guys would do this, but choose a slack time - not Saturday am!
And you should, of course, buy your new tyre there!

In any doubt at all, bin it. Spitfire steels are easy to find.
Good luck!

John

Thanks,
Having had a cuppa and a relaxed look over the damage, the sill seems to be limited to the front 5- 6 inches of the lower outer sill, guess where tyre thrashed itself to death! even end piece seems to be only slightly deformed rather than dented/chewed. Quarter valance is terminal, a good couple of inches chewed off. Wing will need a respray.

Steel wheel has a couple of chips' that need smoothing but seems OK. Thanks for tip on balancer, got a place in town that has done me two tyres in last month (one for modern MG, one for Spit last week prior to MOT!) so guess they owe me a little favour for a bit more business!

Is this the start of another histoire d'Alan, with all the intrigue and emotional ups ands downs that i have come to expect?
Calvin,
i'll get me hankies

Hopefully not, this one seems to be straight forward, new quarter valance, bit of cut n weld on front of sill and think I'll scrap wheel, not convinced it isn't cause.
Was the in boot spare with a brand new tyre on it when bought car, only did 150 miles on axle, have put original wheel with new tyre back on, just driven 45 mile to work (20 of it on A1 with roof down in the rain- c'est la vie!!) and car is handling smoother so......
Just glad its a week after MOT and not other way around!!
But I'll try to keep you amused!

AL
Take care...

Section : General

Blow out on A1 at 80.....i

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Blow out on A1 at 80.....i

Blow out on A1 at 80.....i