Amy Wade

Sorry Steve, the car went a long time ago & I don't have any parts left from it.

It looks like you had a good time, such a shame I couldn't get Ellie the Spitfire ready in time. I'm looking forward to joining you next year.

An ad is far more effective if you include photos and price.

I think you might need to post on a Ford forum, I'm sure you'll find someone who knows the part number you need for the friction plate.

The parts needed are: Second hand Spitfire/ MG Midget 1500 flywheel. Flywheel bolt spacers, Paddocks have them in stock & are half the price of Canleys. https://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/flywheel-spacer-bush-2 Spitfire 1500 clutch kit (you only need the pressure plate & release bearing from the kit). https://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/clutch-assembly-1500-2 1600 Sierra clutch friction plate. https://m.buycarparts.co.uk/aisin/299946

The engine requires a 20W50 with a high zinc content, my personal choice is Duckhams Q although you'll find plenty of choice out there from other brands, even Halfords does an own brand classic oil range. The gearbox/overdrive/diff require a GL4 oil EP75W/90 multigrade is pretty easy to find & will do fine. Never put GL5 oil in there, it will destroy yellow metal.

I really like what Darren has done with it, the wheels are awesome and the Darren & Wendy Marmite sticker is a great finishing touch.

If they're small crank engines I'd go for one of these, the only differences I can think of are the cam profile (use the FD engine cam) & the compression ratio (use the head from the FD engine). I can't remember if the small crank herald engine has cam bearings, it's not a big deal if it doesn't but if you want to have them you could get the block line bored. If I've forgotten any other differences, I'm sure someone will point them out... @Matthew it's entirely down to you as to what you do, I'm just trying to minimise your expense.

Hi Matthew, What do you mean when you say you're looking for cylinder liners? On the standard engine the cylinders are bored in the block casting therefore there wouldn't normally be liners & the usual places wouldn't list them. If you're looking for dry liners to rescue a damaged bore, you need to take the block to your local engine machinist. They will find a suitable dry liner, bore the block to suit the liner & then bore the liner to suit the piston. It's a lot of work & if the block can just be rebored I would recommend doing that, you'll save yourself a lot of money. Obviously if it's already at its maximum oversize you will have to have liners fitted or find another engine. I hope that helps, Amy I'm talking from experience, engine reconditioning was my day job 25 years ago.

Does the hood frame foul the recliners?

Engine is now spoken for 😊

I have a 1500 engine surplus to requirements, I done a compression test on it before removing it from a scrap Spitfire & all cylinders had good compression. Carbs, flywheel, alternator inlet & exhaust manifolds don't come with it. Collection from Culham, Oxfordshire by the end of the month otherwise it will be scrapped.

Hi Tim, I'd be up for the drive too. 😊

While my engine's at the machine shop I decided it would be a good time to do a bit of tidying up of the bulkhead, the po had slapped some black paint around instead of doing a proper job dealing with the paint issues caused by spilt brake fluid. While stripping everything off the bulkhead to do the job I've found the live feed to the coil is melted. 😕 I've now got myself a rewiring job to add to the many other jobs to be done. At least I'll be able to strip out unnecessary wires from when I converted to alternator & add some relays for the headlights etc.

Sorry, the car has gone now.

Stripped down my engine, the centre main bearing was just showing a bit of copper, I've yet to mic up the crank but hopefully I caught it just in time. It needs new pistons, the ring grooves are worn so I'll treat it to a rebore while I'mat it. None of the valves are sealing properly so it will be valves faced & seats recut. None of it is a surprise, it's done nearly 100k miles & never been touched.

As do photos...

Hi Linda, is the overdrive gearbox fitted yet?

There was never going to be big challenging repairs carried out, there wasn't the time available during filming days.

I seen myself & Ellie (my Spitfire VHP503H) in a few background shots

I would agree with Wendy, try Mike Papworth for a recon gearbox, if you can get a 3 rail box it will make life easier regarding clutch. Don't forget you will need the correct length propshaft to go with it. On a different note, how have you got on with the ride height of your car?

Thanks for the offer, I have reclaimed shims from the rear of the Spitfire I stripped down, hopefully I'll be OK.

As I am stripping & rebuilding my suspension I'm going to need my suspension geometry set up. I'm looking for recomendations for someone that knows spitfire suspension & can shim it up, preferably somewhere near Oxford. Can anyone help?

Suspension bits painted, tomorrow reassembly starts with poly bushes all round.

That looks like an interesting engine 🤔 what is it?