Spitfire74

The issue is though, the houses we can afford in the areas we are looking won't have the space to do this...! Hence trying to look at possibility of buying or renting workshop/domestic garage space elsewhere.

Evening everyone, We are looking to move house and sadly this might mean I won't have a garage/workshop for the Spitfire 😢. I've tried to find private (I.e. not commercially licenced) workshops/sheds for sale through Google but to no avail. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find any? Not looking to commit to anything just yet, but researching incase our move doesn't involve a workshop/garage included with the house! Cheers in advance, Nick

Potentially interested. Could you post some photos?

Rob, Ah ok I hadn't realised that was all it was! Reference the 'second connection to the positive terminal', I assume this is what would be attached to the empty spade? That tape on the white wire is there because the plastic cover has worn away so just covering the bare wire under part of it. Cheers, Nick

Hi Danny, Thanks for your reply. I note what you say about no pink/white wire in the pictures, however having looked at the wiring diagram for a 1500 in the back of the Haynes Manual, I'm not certain that any of those wires are the correct colour! Are you able to advise as to where I would be able to locate the ballast resistor if present? I'm away from the car until Friday but will check the resistance when I am back with it (I assume it is a terminal of the multimeter onto each winding screw?). Thanks again.

Evening all, So I need to replace the coil on my Spitfire (MkIV with a 1500 engine). I want to use a Sports Coil in order to upgrade from the current (possibly original but now buggered!) coil. I have found this one (https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/triumph/spitfire/electrical-system/ignition-system/sports-coil.html) on Moss Europe, but am unsure whether I need a ballasted or non ballasted coil? Is anyone able to advise? Pics of my current coil below; Thanks in advance, Nick

Ah yep just seen that, that seems to be the solution to the problem of lifting on the sills as I guess they would just sit under the appropriate jacking points like a normal trolley jack would! I was worried about the idea of just driving on like the sped hump approach you mention, couldn't see how that would not be bad for the car!   Also, would love a 2 post lift but sadly it won't fit in under the rafters of my garage. This would and would still allow me to raise the car so the wheels are approximately shoulder height and give me much better access under vehicles than jacking onto axle stands. But I hope you've spotted that the website states "Out of stock" Ah damn, it wasn't when I posted this haha! Andy, surely that kind restricts access underneath even more as you have the gubbins of the mechanism in the middle under the car!?

Hi Rob, what would be your reason for not using? Curious as having done research into lifts, this style seem very popular and indeed recommended!   Your suggestion of making lifting pads makes a lot of sense. Thank you!

Colin, what do you mean by adjustable pads? All the ones I've seen have got fixed widths and the lifting platforms don't move sideways (see link above) so you wouldn't be able to make it less wide to fit inside the sills.

Evening all, I'm thinking about installing a scissor lift (https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7532b-3-2t-mid-rise-scissor-lift/) in my garage for maintenance of my vehicles, including the Spitfire MkIV. My concern though is that the lift would damage the sills of the Spitfire. Has anyone got any experience with these with Spitfires? Thanks, Nick

Ah right glad to know I have the correct gearbox for the engine then. Is that an issue having the wrong diff?  On the inside of the bonnet there are two distinct lumps at the right distance for the badge pins but I can't see any evidence on the rear wings. 

Hi Rob   1.) Reverse is on the RHS of the gearstick and I have Overdrive 2.) Commission number on the bulkhead (RHS drivers side for me) matches. I have no body number anywhere but the original paint code on the commission plate is correct for my car (mimosa yellow, and there is evidence of this on the interior of the doors and behind the dashboard at least) 3.) When I had to replace the rear diff I sent it off to Fitchetts, they sent me a replacement 3.89:1 as a one for one. So short answer is, I have a 3.89:1!

So my Spitfire was made in 1973 and first registered in 1974. It was a Mk4 with an engine number prefix FH. This engine number and 1296cc capacity still appears on the V5 and I have never thought to actually double check this. However I've always thought it a little odd that at some point in my car's life it has had the Mk4 badges removed and 1500 stickers placed on the bonnet and boot.   For whatever reason curiosity got the better of me today and I decided to check the engine number. After rubbing away a few layers of grime I was surprised to find a number with an FM prefix...clearly a 1496cc, 1500 engine!! Should I now contact the DVLA and ask them to change my V5, I feel like I should! I also now can't decide on a couple of things, a.) What is my car!? Is it still a Mk4 with a 1500 engine (should I replace the Mk4 badges). Or is it a 1500 and should I leave the 1500 stickers!? b.) Is there any way of tracking down the original engine!? Is there also any way of finding out what car my engine came out of...other than a heritage certificate from Gaydon (I have one for my car already and they aren't cheap!) c.) Should I replace the engine with a Mk4 engine!?

Hi Danny   Thanks for the reply, I thought that would be the case to be fair. My frame doesn't have any pop rivets on there for them. Should they be like the ones on the rear bar of the frame to hold the hood on? Do you have any photos of the rivets themselves?   Cheers, Nick

Hi all I recently came across and bought these plastic covers to go over the hood frame in My Mark IV. I believe they are the pop rivet fitted version? What I would like to know is how to fit them, should there be pop rivets on the hood frame or do they pop onto the inside of the hood?   Thanks in advance for any help!   Nick