MarkB

Agree, crude but functional chassis repair. Quality prep/ paint job though. Fact that it's been restored on tv may push up the price/appeal to somebody. £300+ for a used chassis? Watch the price of them go up on ebay. They will be on there for a very long time. As mentioned above, shame to have butchered a fairy reasonable chassis, thought those sections were available from rimmers etc. They are not living in the real world, they've got a budget to throw at the project to make an interesting and entertaining programme which I think they did. Allan Milyard is a one off, top level engineer/fabricator with skills and abilites I could only dream of.

Wish I had thought of that 40 years ago! Impatience of youth.

Once you remove the nut, best to use a two or three legged puller. The boss will be initially very tight on the spline. Learnt my lesson 40 years ago removing a steering wheel from a Vitesse. Hands at quarter to three, a few hard yanks, it suddenly came off and cracked me across the bridge of my nose. Makes your eyes water.

Frustrating to say the least! You put me to shame with the amount of maintenance work you carry out on your car, but you do really use your car which is great. Keep up the good work.

Originally all Spitfire's sat higher at the front from the factory. Years of people fitting shortened ' uprated' front springs, (me included), became the normal look. See an original Spitfire with standard springs and they look jacked up in comparison, despite years of wear. Plenty of ground clearance for speed humps and a comfortable ride.

Owned a mk2 gt6 for 20 years bog standard unrestored, still has all the original cardboard rad cowls. Never had any overheating problems, even stuck in miles of traffic on a hot summer's day, standard engine fan. Inside the car is a different matter.

That sounds like a better idea, mine were bought years ago and are flat. Love buying tools, but can't justify buying any more.

Owned a Hilka set for forty years. Maybe used a few times. Nice idea, but in practice because they lay flat on the nut/bolt, usually things are in the way, so you can't get the spanner to seat, or if you can, you can't get a swing on them. In my experience it's easier, faster to use a socket.

That's interesting. Sprayed several cars over the years and always used cellulose. My Vitesse I sprayed a few years ago took a year before you couldn't leave a fingernail mark in the paint, a nightmare really, especially after all the restoration and new panels up to that point. I don't think cellulose is the same chemical mix as it used to be. My Dad was a paint sprayer, using cellulose through the 60's and 70,s until it all went 2k and never used cellulose again. I would help him as a boy, and he would spray the car in cellulose one day unmask the following, and then leave it out in the open with no issues. The other problem I have found with cellulose is that it shrinks, and can develops hairline cracks along seams. I'll have to look into the non Iso paints, got a spitfire to paint at some point and don't want the nightmare I had with the Vitesse.

Like a lot of you, been driving 40+ years, and being caught in the beam of LED head lights is a distraction and dangerous. Noticing it more and more with the piercingly bright headlights fitted to modern cars. Eyes tested recently, fortunatly healthy, just needed reading glasses. Think the potential saftey benifits are out weighed by the dangers to other road users. How they passed scrutiny of the various regulatory bodies surprises me. Upgraded the Vitesse to Halogen lights, more than bright enough in my opinion, unless your on a night rally, through the woods.

Looking good! I seem to always be fixing something on my Triumphs, sort one issue and another comes along. Nature of classic car ownership I suppose. As a boy in the 60s & 70's, most Sundays, I would see neighbours out servicing/ fixing their cars ready for work on the Monday, rare sight nowadays. Good luck with the inspection Wednesday!

You don't hang about! Looking good, great job!

That's a nightmare! Fortunately on your first coat. Pain, as its going to hold you up. I resprayed a Vitesse bonnet in a gazebo, decent weather, left it in there over night to dry, no rain forecast. Checked on it in the morning, bright sunny day, as the sun warmed up the gazeebo, condinsation built up inside and dripped all over the cellulose paint finish ruining it. You should be fine if your using 2K.

Times I have put things down in a rush, then cant remember where. I then go around and around looking for it, and then hours later it's just there, right in front of me. It's as if my brain makes the thing iam searching for invisible. Lost items are usually found in the place where you know they won't be, so always look there first.

First thought was fuel starvation, float, blockage etc. But don't assume anything, check basics ignition, spark, plugs, points etc. Distributor hasnt moved? Lose pinch bolt. Then I would make sure fuel is getting to and through the carb.