Blanking Out

Could someone advise me a bit re: timing sequence please? I always thought that it was 1,3,4,2 for a Spitfire (I've got a '79 1500), but I think mine might be set up for 1,2,4,3. Does this mean that someone's fiddled with it at some point and changed the sequence? Also, I'm not quite sure where the '1' starts on the distributor. I've been experimenting with the order and at one point thought I had it cracked - it started up and drove great with so much vigour (though I had just changed the ht leads and added N12YC plugs as opposed to N9YC). I started it up recently and that immediacy and vigour had disappeared.  I think it's running rich, though, as well, because it takes no time at all for the plugs to become totally black and sooty. Cheers, Rob

Ok, maybe not so bad (just watched a video on it), but removing manifolds...hmmm.

Oh blimey, this sounds like it might be a bit beyond my capabilities. But thanks for the info - very interesting! I might try another flush or two first, while I psyche myself up for those plugs.

Thanks to both of you there! The frost plugs - are those the circular things on the side of the block that are supposed to pop out if the coolant freezes, or have I got that totally wrong? Getting inside sounds like it might be necessary, but so far the thought of that seemed beyond me - but maybe not, though (I'm quite a novice). I might try directing a hose into that drain plug area. I blew down several pipes and a certain amount of muddy-looking fluid flew out, but maybe there is more, so I'll try again with the flush. The heater doesn't work, but the lever on the dash is permanently in the hot position (heater valve is jammed). There are a lot of bits to put right! When I did drive it it seemed to drive pretty well, though, apart from starting to overheat (oh, and the bad fumes). Cheers Rob

Hi, I'm trying hard to work out why it is that I can only get 2 litres of water/coolant back into my 1979 Spitfire cooling system (it should be 4.5 litres, I think). I drained the old coolant, then flushed out as many pipes as I could get at, checked thermostat etc, but still the radiator is overflowing by the time I've only got 2 litres in. I also unscrewed the engine block drain plug but nothing came out, The 'hole' doesn't really seem to lead anywhere, though - just up to what seems like solid metal (maybe the side of a cylinder block?), but there is a small amount of dry, black residue that I've scraped out of there. I gave it a go with some chemical flush and started the engine, but after only a few minutes it sounded like a noisy crackling, fizzing noise from inside, as if overheating badly, so I abandoned that. I might as well also add that there are fairly bad, smelly exhaust fumes, but that might be a separate issue? The aspect of only getting 2 litres in is baffling me. Any ideas would be great. Rob