Clive Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 1 hour ago, RobPearce said: Today I put some oil in Toby's gearbox (it was, indeed, quite low) then went underneath to see if I could spot a leak. Nothing obvious on the gearbox, but the sump is missing two bolts. Unsurprisingly, it's the two that screw into the rear oil seal housing, and the alloy threads are completely stripped. I've got plenty of 5/16" UNF helicoils but from a brief inspection it looks like at very least a sump off job and quite possibly an engine out. Years ago I had teh same with the front, and managed to drill the sump flange to 10.5mm and then tapped the block to M10. (yes, I know, but I hadn't even heard of helicoils and only had metric taps) I then reduced M10 setscrew heads down to fit 1/2" spanner. Today I would try cap heads. But I reckon it may be do-able in situ, you may need a way of extending the tap though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iani Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 GT6 Mk1: We went to Northampton Motorsport on Tuesday to have the DCOE's setup, I had sorted an exhaust leak out last weekend but there was still a bit of a blow at the manifold, it's never easy getting a good seal with aftermarket manifolds, the face heights are very different. Anyway, the session resulted in 192BHP, I was happy with that as my target was 180 (same as my EFI'd TR6). I will revert to using studs & nuts for the bottom row of manifold fixings, I have access trouble on a couple of the allen headed screws I am currently using, hopefully that will sort my leak out. PI Saloon: sulking under its cover, will get it out this weekend. TR6: Good run out last Sunday, it hasn't sold yet, no rush as I still love having this car. Mk1 2000 Estate: This car is so far exceeding my expectations, I picked it up from EJ Ward's this week, they fitted the brakes & suspension that they'd removed from my PI Saloon in December, all low mileage but standard spec' parts. The also swapped the drivers seat for an Alfa one I gave them, I will swap the passenger one myself, a tremendous improvement. Ward's also got the Overdrive to work, there was no supply to the relay. I had already gone to their yard and done the negative earth & alternator conversion myself. I'm thoroughly enjoying driving this 65mph "bruiser", I'm still mulling over an engine swap though, I have a fast road 2.5 head arriving next week (a warranty claim post an earlier failure on the GT6) and I have a set of PI kit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 At most Just fit the estate with a PI cam Will give it bit more “pep” without spoiling the MK1 engine too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 18 hours ago, Clive said: But I reckon it may be do-able in situ, you may need a way of extending the tap though. The problem with the back ones is access. The holes in the sump are too small for the tap (and have reinforcement plates) so that needs to come off, at least. Then the backplate is still in the way for all the tools being used. I'll give it a try, though, as I really don't want to take the engine out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 I think you can drill the sump holes bigger in situ but it will probably need a long drill bit and leave countersinks in the alloy seal housing holes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iani Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 PI Saloon: Went for a drive today, car has developed an overdrive fault, started slipping & dropping out, now won't engage at all, I can hear the solenoid activating when the switch is made, will check oil level but as that wasn't done long ago, I'm suspecting big bill coming Mk1 2000 Estate: Coolant flushed & heater now working. I removed the broken horn ring to fit a replacement, pulled out the horn pencil to find it was broken, not really surprising as it appears to be original, it was an orange one. I now have a working horn. Washer bottle bracket replaced with a newer/cleaner one, washer wiring swapped round post neg earth conversion. I then changed the wiring over to the lighter socket too, I can now charge things. I also fitted the passenger side Alfa seat, these are a huge improvement over standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 Today I got to take the mk3 spit for a short run (it was chucking it down with rain, and no roof) and the good news is the rebuilt engione is great, lovely and crisp but needs a bit more tuning. Considering it is a herald GE engine, it pulls brilliantly. Downside is that the reverse light switch has packed up again, so a new one ordered. Just needs the tunnel out😒 It is sitting on a set of bolt on wire wheels, which the new owners wanted over alloys or original steel wheels. Madness. Only jobs left to do are fit the rear bumpers, swap the headlights to LHD and a bit of tuning. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 Got the 2000 out from under the cover yesterday and it was given a good thrashing round the lanes of Essex on a 12-car. when I pulled up in driveway last night realised why the headlights were so crap, outer main beams don’t come on anymore. hopefully a quick fix in morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Discovered during re-assembly the sodding track rod end on the Spitfire has a metric thread with an odd pitch.... which explains why I can't get a UNF nyloc to fit. Re-used the old nyloc for now (when I finally found which one it was in the pile of old ones) but I've ordered replacements. M10x1.25 I think. (Hope!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Dawes Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 12 hours ago, yorkshire_spam said: Discovered during re-assembly the sodding track rod end on the Spitfire has a metric thread with an odd pitch.... which explains why I can't get a UNF nyloc to fit. Re-used the old nyloc for now (when I finally found which one it was in the pile of old ones) but I've ordered replacements. M10x1.25 I think. (Hope!) 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Bancroft Posted January 16, 2023 Author Share Posted January 16, 2023 Sam, Decent length wheel studs there, excellent. Are you fitting the arb again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteStupps Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 On 13/01/2023 at 18:14, iani said: GT6 Mk1: We went to Northampton Motorsport on Tuesday to have the DCOE's setup, .... Anyway, the session resulted in 192BHP, I was happy with that Blimey! I'd be happy with half that. Result 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 9 hours ago, Tim Bancroft said: Sam, Decent length wheel studs there, excellent. Are you fitting the arb again? Thanks Tim! Been running Freelander studs since 2013! (https://yorkshire-spitfire.blogspot.com/2013/05/and-some-fitting-osr-done.html) Yes, ARB will get refitted with new links of this type: Cheers, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Car currently in many bits with lots of new shiny bits in boxes( or on order). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Bancroft Posted January 17, 2023 Author Share Posted January 17, 2023 Alex, put your tools away!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosbif Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 6 minutes ago, Tim Bancroft said: Alex, put your tools away!!!! Children! They never put their toys away 🙄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 24 minutes ago, Tim Bancroft said: Alex, put your tools away!!!! I did ….. then I got them out again. It’s all tidy now though. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iani Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Too cold for much work in the brief gap between finishing work & darkness today: 2000 Mk1 Estate - ceiling light now screwed to roof, it was working fine with a new bulb but for some reason it had just been dangling. Voltage stabiliser was playing up, gauges working intermittently, swapped out with spare and now gauges are working. Mk2 2.5 PI Saloon - Collected Alfa seats from trimmer today so refitted runners with Shacktune bits, will swap out at weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 23 hours ago, iani said: Too cold for much work in the brief gap between finishing work & darkness today: 2000 Mk1 Estate - ceiling light now screwed to roof, it was working fine with a new bulb but for some reason it had just been dangling. Voltage stabiliser was playing up, gauges working intermittently, swapped out with spare and now gauges are working. Mk2 2.5 PI Saloon - Collected Alfa seats from trimmer today so refitted runners with Shacktune bits, will swap out at weekend. Seats look lovely too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 10 hours ago, Alex said: Seats look lovely too! Just need to colour them Cactus.. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iani Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 hour ago, thescrapman said: Just need to colour them Cactus.. 🙂 It was really bad timing, the brown set were a light grey when I bought them, they would have looked better in the Cactus Estate, the second pair I bought are black and I could have lived with them in the PI and saved £800 on having them retrimmed, I really must learn to be more patient! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bunney Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 Quick update on my carpet install. Made in sections to allow easy replacement of parts if need be. The slits down the back will be covered. The slits allow the carpet to contour around the cars shape without issue or gluing down. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Dawes Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 11 hours ago, thescrapman said: Just need to colour them Cactus.. 🙂 Need to get my mc5 seats re-trimmed in cactus for my Hersld, lovely colour 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iani Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 32 minutes ago, Wendy Dawes said: Need to get my mc5 seats re-trimmed in cactus for my Hersld, lovely colour 😊 Have you found a source for cactus vinyl Wendy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 hour ago, iani said: Have you found a source for cactus vinyl Wendy? I want Cactus leather, though leather cloth will do as a compromise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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