GT6 Suspension, bodywork and window

[pablo]

I have a 73 mk3 GT6 which was fully restored about 10 years ago, it had new leaf spring and shocks fitted... however, when i bought it i noticed it was a little lopsided, very slightly... since then it has got worse.

The back end is down over the drivers side back wheel, which is more evident on the front end over the passengers side wheel (about a 3 inch gap at front between wing and wheel at drivers side and about 5 at passenger side)....

I did take it to the garage last year for them to look at and they spent a while looking around and only reported that the underside looked in excellent condition, as did the suspension and said they couldn't see a problem... (this was also the same on the MOT about two months ago)

Does anyone have the same problem and if so, know how to remedy it?  Im worried it may get worse.... and i although i don't particularly like it looking like that, i want to make sure im not going to knacker it up by continuuing to run it!

Also, does anyone know any good classic car body shops near Manchester they can recommend???

Aand, to get my two penneths worth, does anybody else have the problem of the glass coming out the the runner all the time, anybody know any nifty tricks to solve it? Glue didnt work

Cheers, P

[CHRIS211083]

Hi, buy a new window rubber seal that fits in the top of the lift mechanism. That will stop the glass falling out, most dont have them, hence the problem(i used and old rubber innertube). As for the rear spring it could be your leaf spring has lost its temper and you need another. However you could first try replacing the caps that fit in-between the leaf's first as this is cheaper. Problem is you need to remove the spring to do this so you might as well buy a new one and just swap them. I would also check for free play in any of the drivers side bushes. Hope this helps, im sure one of the gt6 owners will ring in here with more suggestions. Chris.

Also read this:
http://www.triumphspitfire.nl/rearspringpads.html

Some gt6's are the same as spitfire rear ends.

[pablo]

thanks very much, that may prove to solve it, it being a new-ish spring i should imagine it is ok and it may very well be the bushes (at least this time i can actually have an aim at what to look for as oppose to a general look....

as for the rubber runner, i actually had a new one fitted but it keeps jumping out of the track every now and then, quite annoying when you have to open the door and reach up 5 feet at mcdonalds!

thanks for the help

p

[JensH]

Do check the front anti roll bar is not bend

[junkuser]

If you are referring to holding the glass in the channel that attaches to the winder mechanism then raw rubber strip is probably best to use.
This should be available from any glass place that does car glass replacements.
It grips the glass and channel better than cured rubber and is easier to use but inner tube, as Chris suggested, has been used successfully.

[junkuser]

Regarding the lop-sided body, best check chassis to ground measurements to see if the problem is with the suspension or body not mounted evenly on chassis.

[CHRIS211083]

if you cut the inner tube into four to five strips of 2"x1" then evenly place them front to back and it will grip better and will slid in easier and will seat at the bottom properly. Too many people have a complete strip and dont seat it fully in the channel.

[pablo]

This might sound strange but how do i tell if the shell is lopsided on the chassis?

It was completely restored abotu ten years ago so was stripped back and thi smay be the problem, but not sure how to tell?

P

[Nick Moore]

I'd start by parking the car on flat, level ground and jacking up the back under the diff. Once the back wheels are off the ground, give it a wobble (obviously with no one underneath) to settle the front suspension. If the front is still lopsided, the problem probably lies at the front - a twisted anti-roll bar, broken spring, cracked wishbone or a seized shockie or bush. You can disconnect one end of the anti-roll bar and try again, to eliminate possibilities.

If the front does appear to be level, do the same with the back - jack up the front from a central location. Move the car back and forth a bit first, as little Triumphs' rear suspension tucks in when jacked up (fun can be had with junior tyre fitters here). If the back sits at an angle, it could be a broken spring leaf, or again a seized shockie or bush.

If neither cunning stunt works, it may be the chassis is twisted, either the main rails of the front or rear take-off points. The only easily replaced parts are the front turrets, as they unbolt. I'd start checking this by sitting the chassis on four equal-height blocks or axle stands. If it doesn't sit flat on them, the whole chassis is twisted. Maybe it was straightened during the restoration (eg after a crash) and it's relaxing to its old shape... The best solution then is a replacement chassis. That's a worst-case scenario, though. My guess is it'll be a broken spring or seized joint somewhere.

Cheers,
A Nick

PS Any photos? They might not help but we like looking at Triumphs!

[Richard B]

Nick_Moore wrote:

If the back sits at an angle, it could be a broken spring leaf, or again a seized shockie or bush.

Quite often it can be a seized trunnion at the back.