swifty

Could be a groove in the back of the crankshaft. Basically where the rear crank oil seal meets the crank it gradually wears a groove in the metal which means it won't seal anymore. I've had the same problem myself. Others have solved the issue using a "Speedi-sleeve" which is a cylinder of very thin stainless steel with a very tight interference fit that you tap onto the crank with a hammer, purposely designed to solve these exact issues They cost about £30 on eBay, but of course it's a gearbox out job to access it...

Got to admit to loving these spoiler mounted ones on this car - very clever and natural looking...not so keen on the bonnet ones though... <a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1977-TRIUMPH-SPITFIRE-1500-SILVER-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqJ,!qQE+nJqfhvBBP6gNYlW7Q~~60_12.JPG">http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1977-TRIUMPH-SPITFIRE-1500-SILVER-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqJ,!qQE+nJqfhvBBP6gNYlW7Q~~60_12.JPG</a>

Sorry , link no longer available Previous thread in relation to poppers etc.

I had this problem when I replaced the rubber pad in my leaf spring for a competition polybush one - I did overcome it eventually but am a bit vague as to exactly how. The problem as I remember it was that obviously the clamp is a solid box, so once the sides meet the base plate it will not compress the spring any more and allow the bolt hole to align properly. I believe I might have wedged a screwdriver temporarily between the bottom plate of the clamp and the bottom leaf to effectively allow the leaves to compress a bit more when I did the clamp up and the bolt hole to align. But then this was a standard leaf spring rather than a competition one... Sorry to be a bit vague, but is was something along those lines...