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Triumph Repair/Questions Answered by Expert Jim
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Differential | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a '78 Spitfire 1500, there is play in the diff causing a thumping sensation when ... A: Mike, Is it a single "thump" or does it keep thumping accelerating/decelerating? Single thump ... | |
| replacing clutch | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: would you happen to know where i can get labor times for this vehicle.. A: Jeff, Ahh, so you're a small repair shop owner trying to make a killing changing the clutch on a ... | |
| Using 1300 cam in 1500 engine | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: I am currently having a 1500 engine rebuilt. As you are well aware of, the 1500's did not come with ... A: Kevin, Yes, you can fit a 1300 cam and cam bearings into the 1500 block, it's the "hot rodders ... | |
| Oil out the dipstick tube | 12/27/2010 |
| Q: I just converted a 1976 spitfire 1500 to a Webber downdraft carb from the stock system and emission ... A: If the manifold doesn't have a fitting in it you'll have to pull the manifold and drill/tap a ... | |
| spitfire ignition | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: I'm installing a petronex ignition on a 1977 spitfire. The kit mentions a possible ballast that ... A: Claude, Yes, the '77 should have a ballast resistor. Now for the fun part. Depending upon when ... | |
| spitfire/gt6 | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: i need to know if im able to drop my 1500 spitfire engine into a gt6? im not sure if the mounts are ... A: Nick, The short answer is, yes, you should be able to drop the 1500 into the GT6 without too much ... | |
| Rough idle when starting warm | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Spitfire is a good running car. The only issue that I have had since the day I ... A: Frank, The late Spitfire 1500s were 7.5:1 compression in stock form and the carbs were set to avoid ... | |
| 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: (definitely related). I replaced the spark plugs and tried your suggestion of pulling a spark plug ... A: Hugo, The stock paper air filter adds a bit of restriction to the airflow in to the carb, causing ... | |
| triumph spitfire 1500 engine | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: im re-building my 1976 triumph spitfire engine. (my first engine blow out and i bought the same year ... A: Nick, Lots of people tend to get confused between the Spitfire and Spridget (Austin Healey ... | |
| Milky Oil | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: I know that milky oil usually means a head gasket, none of the other tests and signs indicate a head ... A: Tom, A head gasket failure is usually caused by 1 of 3 things: Failure of the gasket itself (not ... | |
| Milky Oil | 11/24/2010 |
| Q: I know that milky oil usually means a head gasket, none of the other tests and signs indicate a head ... A: Tom, If you'd done an oil change yesterday then went for a ride and found milky oil today... yeah, ... | |
| Crankcase/Rocker cover vent | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: Hey Jim, I have a 1971 Spit with a 1296 in it. I've added a 4-2-1 header, free flow exhaust, ... A: Jay, Sorry, no pics available at this moment. One friend took a salsa jar (literally), punched 2 ... | |
| Crankcase/Rocker cover vent | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: Hey Jim, I have a 1971 Spit with a 1296 in it. I've added a 4-2-1 header, free flow exhaust, ... A: Jay, What internal work was done to take advantage of the twin DCOEs? And what kind of ... | |
| Loud noise from engine | 11/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a 77 spitfire with a weber carb, and when i start the car it runs quietly for a few moments, ... A: If it's taking a few minutes to be apparent then the viscous clutch on the fan is a highly possible ... | |
| 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: First off, thanks for all of your answers, you have a wealth of information on these pages (and in ... A: Hugo, Yes, it sounds like the mixture it still off. Have you made sure the carb dashpot is full? ... | |
| 1975Triumph TR6 | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a leak at the brake peddle when i depress and release coming from the rod behind the peddle. ... A: Martin, Are you saying you have a fluid leak from the master cylinder? Fluid dripping down into ... | |
| car not starting after clutch replacement | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: I just rebuilt the transmission, replaced the clutch, and replaced the slave cylinder on my 1977 ... A: Rob, A scraping sound suggests that either something that rotates in the front of the engine which ... | |
| trasmission noise | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: 1970 Triumph GT6 + with electric overdrive, in reverse, let out the clutch, get a very loud noise? ... A: Dale, When was the last time you checked the transmission oil level? The reverse gear teeth are ... | |
| trasmission noise | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: 1970 Triumph GT6 + with electric overdrive, in reverse, let out the clutch, get a very loud noise? A: Dale, In my autocross Spitfire I get a loud noise in every gear when I let out the clutch. Tire ... | |
| electrical | 10/26/2010 |
| Q: i recently purchased a 1979 spitfire, in central pa, and all of the electronics seemed to be ... A: Stock wiring harness? You can check with the usual parts suppliers, or try British Wiring ... | |
| electrical | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: i recently purchased a 1979 spitfire, in central pa, and all of the electronics seemed to be ... A: John, The short answer is no. No direct connection between the wiper switch and the tail lights ... | |
| n.american 72 tr6 leaking carb | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: float chamber plug is leaking. have prised out plug do i just replace single o ring? and to refit ... A: Leslie, If the plastic plug is still basically sound a new o-ring should do the job. If you fit a ... | |
| clutch release bearing 77 spit | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: hey jim, i'm having fits removing the release bearing. i simply cannot drive out the pins on ... A: Rob, You might be able to get creative with a couple of blocks of wood (oak works great if it's ... | |
| triumph 76 Spitfire | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: Just acquired this car - good shape, lots of fun - however, seems engine won't go above 4000 rpm - ... A: Norman, I think you answered your own question.. the mixture is off on the car and it's getting too ... | |
| triumph spitfire rear axle. ? | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: i have just brought an old kit car,a marlin roadster, its fitted with a triumph 6 cylinder engine ... A: Steve, To the best of my knowledge all the Triumphs with wire wheels used a bolt on adapter. I ... | |
| 1975 Triumph Spitfire reverse | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: I am looking at buying a spitfire that seems to be reluctant to go into reverse. The forward gear ... A: Penny, I'm guessing that there is no gear grinding when you try to get to reverse, just that the ... | |
| red hot exhaust | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I own a 1980 Spitfire. I bought it 9 years ago. The car has driven only 3000 kilometers since ... A: Harry, Are you positive the car is timed correctly? That's the starting point on any engine ... | |
| egr valve hissing | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: What could cause a egr valve to hiss? i roll started the car a few days before it began, i read ... A: Rob, I've never heard of any other car using an EGR that's close enough to swap in directly. ... | |
| egr valve hissing | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: What could cause a egr valve to hiss? i roll started the car a few days before it began, i read ... A: Rob, Short answer? Age. The EGR valves are made of iron and will get quite hot when the car is ... | |
| triumph clutch | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: last year my water pump went out on my 78 and i replaced it but then when i went to drive it the ... A: Christiana, The clutch on the Spitfire is hydraulically operated. That mean that in addition to ... | |
| 77 spitfire hissing | 10/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1977 1500. The clutch has some serious issues and I have ordered a 3pc clutch kit as well ... A: Walter, Best advice for clutch work is to pick up a good manual. Robert Bentley publishers have a ... | |
| 79 Spitfire starts but won' go | 10/10/2010 |
| Q: Have a 79 Spitfire that was running great then one day I was just stranded. Told it was probably ... A: Tiffany, Stock Stromberg? Or aftermarket setup? If it's the stock Stromberg is the dashpot ... | |
| coolant leak | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: My 1975 spitfire has developed a coolant leak that appears to be coming from the water pump housing ... A: Gus, Most likely it's just the gasket between the pump housing and the cylinder head. Normally ... | |
| 76 triumph Spitfire | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: installed new rear leaf spring,didn't see on spring any marking that said front,the drivers side of ... A: Thomas, Gotta ask.. why did you fit a new rear spring? Too much rear camber already? It's ... | |
| TR6 Turn signs/Flashers | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I recently had problems with my turn signals. I had my mechanic replace the turn signal switch. The ... A: Pete, I'm a bit confused also. When I'm confused, the best bet is to get properly grounded. ... | |
| Triumph MKIV 1972 | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: ! Anyway, to cut a long story short, is it possible to fit the cylinder head from a Dolomite onto a ... A: As in all things mechanical, there's no such thing as "impossible". There are however the unlikely ... | |
| rough idle | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: 1975 Spitfire purchased 10 days ago not ran for any time to speak of in last four years. Ran fine ... A: John, Couple of thoughts. I agree that the dirty air filter may have been too restrictive, ... | |
| TR6 hard to start warm | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I have 1973 TR6 that is hard to start when warmed up.it starts right up cold.If I shut it off ... A: Bob, It could be the thermal compensators. The Bentley manual has good troubleshooting ... | |
| bond equipe | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: i have a 1965 bond equipe which will not start off the ignition switch but will start off the ... A: Steve, If they followed the standard british wiring color conventions when the car was built you ... | |
| 1957 Triump TR-3 | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: All orig., matching numbers, complete some rust on drivers floor under seat, body perfect(only one ... A: Michael, Your best bet is to run the question past the TR2/3 vehicle consultant at the Vintage ... | |
| 1976 triumph spirfire | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: i have just rebuilt my 1976 triumph spitfire engine, it was put back in and wont fire. the timing ... A: Nick, Are you saying it's backfiring? Puffing gas out without igniting? The basics to get the ... | |
| alternator/wiring | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I'm finishing up a 2 year off-body restoration, im at the stage of putting everything back to order ... A: Earl, The dog broke off the plastic connector holder? Or cut the wires themselves? There were ... | |
| 79 triumph spitfire 1500 | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: Two questions, 1. Do you know what size and length bolts are used to connect the drive shaft to the ... A: Scott, After 8 years of sitting, lots of checks to make. Look for evidence of rodent damage to the ... | |
| 73 Stag carbs | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I have an all original 73 Stag with dual stromberg carbs. Several people have told me that I mys ... A: Mitchie, I suspect they're suggesting you should make sure the dashpots are topped up. On the top ... | |
| flashers | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I'm going mad with my triumph GT6 mk 3 1971, look for trouble in the flasher wiring. Warning operate ... A: Herve, First step is to remove the right side flashers (front and rear) and make sure the ground ... | |
| Bumper swap | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1979 Triumph spit. I would like to swap the "rubber" bumpers for the chrome. I believe ... A: Billy, The Spitfire Mk IV/early US 1500 bumper setup is the best looking setup for the squaretail, ... | |
| spitfiretransmission | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: i have just purchesed a 1980 spitfire 1500 with an o/d unit. it had an engine fire before i bought ... A: Stephen, I see two possible scenarios. 1) You cannot get the shifter lever into the correct ... | |
| Converting a Spitfire to Tanden brakes | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to convert a 1978 RHD Spitfire from single line to dual line brake system. There ... A: Tony, Not sure what you're trying to do here. The '60s Spitfires with single line brake master had ... | |
| ignition control block on '75 spit | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: My '75 spit 1500 was a freebie. I need to get it to turn over. I have used a new battery and ... A: Ian, I suspect that what you're calling an "ignition control block" is really the starter solenoid. ... | |
| Ignition switch | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1972 Triumph Spitfire Mark IV I need to know the correct wiring on the back of my ignition ... A: Jeff, According to the factory diagram, the wires on the ignition switch should be as follows: 1 ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire valve springs | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I'm having the heads on my spitfire reconditioned by a local speed shop. My question is, is there ... A: Bill, You neglect to mention if it's an 1147 or a 1296. Also, what are your plans for the engine? ... | |
| u-joints? or bearings? | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1978 Spitfire 1500 - i would swear that my right rear u-joint is gone . It has the usual ... A: Mike, It can be difficult to track down rear axle noises on the Spitfire. It's worth making sure ... | |
| generator | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: Jim Just replaced the generator in my 1965 MK2 Spitfire. When I started the car the generator ... A: Jeff, How about some hard numbers? Did you put a voltmeter on the battery car off/ car on? With ... | |
| su carb conversion gt6 | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I have two rebuilt su carbs that I would like to put on a gt6. I purchased a tr6 intake manifold ... A: Tom, Not sure what your real question is. The wedges sound interesting. Still, I'd be more ... | |
| Starter not disengaging | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I put a 1977 1500 motor from a Spitfire into a 1974 Spitfire. I also brought over the ... A: ED, There's nothing in the stock wiring harness that would keep the starter solenoid and ignition ... | |
| Starter not disengaging | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I put a 1977 1500 motor from a Spitfire into a 1974 Spitfire. I also brought over the ... A: Ed, This is the project you bought sans engine, with the engine from the parts car? Are you sure ... | |
| clutch/brake | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: I was going to take my 77 1500 out for a runabout after sitting this winter for two months. Clutch ... A: Darren, That is quite the coincidence. I'm guessing everything worked fine when parked 2 months ... | |
| GT6 Gearbox | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: You've helped me before with some 1500 advice but I have now moved on to a new GT6 MK3 1971 project. ... A: Jamie, The GT6 gearbox is based off the original Spitfire/Herald unit with the "3 rail" shifter ... | |
| spitfire restoration | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I want to get my husbands spitfire restored for his birthday. I was just going to get the process ... A: Lynn, That's a tough question to answer. It'll all depend upon the car, and what your husband has ... | |
| Ignition | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: Hope you got my last mail about how we put the body back on the frame and how easy it was. The car ... A: Roger, To be honest, when the Lucas unit failed on my '78 I just borrowed the Delco points ... | |
| Ignition | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: Hope you got my last mail about how we put the body back on the frame and how easy it was. The car ... A: Roger, How about a little more information? When the car starts, does it stay running? Or does it ... | |
| Transmission comes out of first gear | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I recently had a shop rebuild my transmission and install a shift kit. I've had to take it back to ... A: Bill, Not sure why you're bothering with a shift kit. The Triumph transmissions are not racing ... | |
| 78 Spitfire wont stay running!!!! ERRR!!! | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a 78 spitfire that will not stay running. There is no time interval of when it dies, ... A: Dave, In order for the car to run you need 3 things... fuel, fire(ignition spark) and time ... | |
| clutch master cylinder | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: can you give a good idea to free up the piston/plunger in the clutch master cylinder. its stuck and ... A: Jon, I take you've already pulled the m/c from the car? If so, take a good look into the ... | |
| Convertible tops | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I am going to replace the soft top on my 1979 spitfire 1500 thru a local installer in Kankakee, ... A: Steve, Yes, the Mk IV (1971-1972 US, 1971-1974 rest of world) soft top is the same as on the 1500s. ... | |
| spitfire 1500 - diff colapsible spacer | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: im currently changing my diff oil seal on the propshaft end, my question relates to the collapsible ... A: Luke, The collapsible spacer does compress when initially torqued, then it stays at it's collapsed ... | |
| replacing front and rear suspension | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: i am a novice and i am trying to replace the bushings on my front and rear suspension please help i ... A: Frederick, The best tool I've found for removing/installing new suspension bushings on the Spitfire ... | |
| engine / tranny match-up | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I have an 1974 spitfire and tranny with overdrive, but no engine. I also have a 1977 1500 and ... A: Ed, You can use the '77 engine in the '74 chassis, as long as you fit a '73/74 US spec 1500 clutch ... | |
| 1979 Triumph Spitfire | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I am 16 years old and I recently bought a 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 and I do not know too much ... A: Mike, Assuming it's the stock carb setup, there's a special tool for moving the needle in the ... | |
| 1979 Triumph Spitfire | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I am 16 years old and I recently bought a 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 and I do not know too much ... A: Michael, 1) Ignition switch problem. The ignition lock is supposed to stay in the "run" position ... | |
| Herald 1200 main bearing size? | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I know you don't specialise in Heralds but i thought i'd ask a question anyway in the hope that you ... A: Rob, What brand replacement bearings did you pick up? And part number? And did you try to look ... | |
| Herald 1200 main bearing size? | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I know you don't specialise in Heralds but i thought i'd ask a question anyway in the hope that you ... A: Rob, Yes, it's true that the Herald 1200 is basically the same as the Spitfire MkI/II 1147 engine ... | |
| 1978 triumph spitfire bumper | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: Are there any chrome over riders to replace the rubber ones on the front and rear bumper for a 1978 ... A: Dan, There were never any chrome over riders from the factory. And so far I've never seen anyone ... | |
| clutch problem | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: One day I got in my 1975 spitfire 1500 having not driven it for no more than 5 days and found I ... A: Oliver, First off, when you push the clutch pedal, how quickly do you start to feel resistance? ... | |
| Re: Distributor Replacement | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have upgraded my old Stromberg for a Side draft DCOE 45 Weber. The Weber is not compatible with ... A: Jeff, On the Mallory the best bet is to talk to the vendor and see if it's already prepped to be a ... | |
| Re: Distributor Replacement | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have upgraded my old Stromberg for a Side draft DCOE 45 Weber. The Weber is not compatible with ... A: Jeff, Here's a couple of possibilities. Depends upon your mechanical abilities and budget. The ... | |
| What weight of oil and plugs to use for a 76' spitfire 1500 | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I just brought home a 76' 1500 has about 54k miles wonder is there a certain type of motor oil or a ... A: Lee, Typically the Spitfires do well with 20W50. Personal preference is Castrol GTX, but that's ... | |
| Single rail gearbox -Spitty 1500 | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Do you happen to have gear counts for the spitfire 1500 single rail box. I have a mixture of gears ... A: Roger, Sorry, I don't have the tooth counts for the single rail gearbox ratios. You might try some ... | |
| accent 99 prime oil pump | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I want to start a rebuil motor but how to prime the oil pump? A: Cesarin, 3 ways that I know of: 1) Fill the oil pump with petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline) before ... | |
| drive shaft oil flinger | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: You gave us good advice in 2008 about removing the tub. Well its being painted at this moment and ... A: Chris and Roger, It sounds like someone may have had that axle out of the trunnion at some point. ... | |
| 1976 triumph spit 1500 | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: i have just had my car krypton tune and it backfires when pressing the gas,it pops through the air ... A: Tony, If you're in the UK and it's a "home market car" then it should have twin HS4 SU carbs. ... | |
| 77 spitfire wheel stud adapters | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a 77 spitfire with what i believe are american racing rims - after mkt. These have a ... A: Rick, I'm not really familiar with the aftermarket rim setups. You might try searching the online ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 trunnion lube | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: How do you get 90 wt grease(oil)to stay in a greese gun? I mean doesn't it leak out before you ... A: Jan, The gun I use is one of the ones that takes a small diameter short cartridge. Picked it up ... | |
| 1976 triumph spit 1500 | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: i have just had my car krypton tune and it backfires when pressing the gas,it pops through the air ... A: Tony, Not familiar with Kryton tune.. but it doesn't matter. Your car is running rich. Stock ... | |
| 77 spitfires fuel sender float | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: Is there a "easy way" to replace the old unit with a new one? I get no measure at all on the gauge. ... A: Darren, Drive the car until the gas tank is almost empty. Then you can pull the sender unit from ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 Trip Odometer Reset | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Just acquired a 1978 Spitfire 1500 in close to original condition. Very drivable, which I'm doing ... A: Kevin, The Spitfire has a trip odometer reset that is a black plastic twist knob with a black ... | |
| 1500 j type with over drive | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I have got a gearbox from a 1500 spitfire its a laycock J type with overdrive on 3rd and 4Th gears, ... A: Geoff, As a swap it's usually easier to take the complete engine and trans as the flywheels and ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I am able to start my car but as soon as I set the key to the run position it stops. The car has nut ... A: Noah, If the oil light is going out as the engine is trying to start, it's not likely to be a an ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: I am able to start my car but as soon as I set the key to the run position it stops. The car has nut ... A: Noah, The late Spitfires had an ignition system with a 6V coil and a ballast resistor in the wiring ... | |
| 1980 spitfire u joint flange removal | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: Lost an axle shaft u joint which damaged axle flange how do you remove, is it a press fit and is ... A: Jerry, The axle flange is held in by a roll pin, and typically 30 years of corrosion. Not sure ... | |
| Seats for Spitfire | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: MY seats in my 78 Spitfire were worn out. I didn't want to pay the money for new foam and covers ... A: Dan, Sorry to say, there aren't a lot of alternatives to the stock seats as most automakers build ... | |
| steering column | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: I have substituted the two bearings (upper and lower) and the flexible joint (refer to Anglo Parts ... A: Carlo, You don't mention which model year, but despite the steering column change near the end of ... | |
| Rocker shaft dissasembely | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: on vitesse do you know how to get the pin out to replace a rocker arm as one of mine has broken? i ... A: Jonny, According to the factory manual the rocker shaft assembly is held together with a "Mills ... | |
| Spitfire Differential | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: Have found the drain plug at the bottom of the differential; however, cannot locate the filler plug. ... A: Greg, There is a fill plug on the right side rear mounting ear. Look for a 7/16" square head plug. ... | |
| door panels | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: How do I remove a door panel from a 73 Tr6 without destroying it? A: Randy, The door panels are held in place with metal clips around the perimeter, and the door ... | |
| Spitfire ignition timing | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Triumph Spitfire. (California model) The car has ALL of it's pollution control devices ... A: Ed, It's going to be a question of how well the carb is setup. Hopefully the jets in the DGV are ... | |
| Spitfire ignition | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: Jim, This is a what's better question. I'd like to know what the benefits are or installing a ... A: Mack, Figure that any of the original distributors are 30 years old. The Lumenition did not have a ... | |
| 73 Spitfire Catb Heat Shield | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: Jim- I am trying to fit a carburetor heat shield in my spitfire, and I can not figure out how it ... A: Ross, Sorry, the US spec 1500 does not have a heat shield for the carb. Looking at manuals for the ... | |
| Clutch Problems | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I have replaced the master and slave clutch cylinders and bleed completely but I still do not have ... A: Paul, First off, any wear on the end of the clutch pedal, clevis pin, or the push rod end will lose ... | |
| 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I am going to make this short and sweet. I have no clue what I am getting into, but I adore the ... A: Jennifer, Hmmm.. the "short and sweet" questions make for the most difficult answers. It helps to ... | |
| Triumph Repair | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1967 Spitfire and am having a trans problem. I was trying to shift into reverse and it ... A: Matt, The shift lever is held in place in the transmission with some plastic pieces. With age the ... | |
| Ignition | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 73 TR-6. I have replaced plugs, coil, distrib. cap, rotor wires etc. Set the dwell. ... A: Joe, There is an electrical switch connected to the ignition lock assembly. Usually held on by 2 ... | |
| battery | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: what is the proper battery and cranking power for the 1973 triumph spitfire 1500? thank you,paul A: Paul, Stock car? No earthshaking sound system (other than the muffler ;)? And running the car in ... | |
| 1979 Triumph Spitfire | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: Would you have detailed instructions on how to reupholster my seats? The ones that came with the ... A: Tim, I've been looking around, I thought at one point someone had published a good set of ... | |
| Turn Signals, 1977 Spitfire | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: I have been restoring a '77 Spitfire and am currently working through the electrical gremlins. Your ... A: JC, There should be a light green/brown wire between the hazard switch and the turn signal flasher. ... | |
| Starting A 1500 Spitfire- No spark | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1976 Triumph Spitfire. The other night whilst driving the tachometer fluttered with no ... A: Kyle, ? "the on terminal"? I'm guessing you mean one of the battery terminals was bad? Or a ... | |
| spitfire has no spark | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I changed the distibutor to a pertronix in my 78 spitfire and rushed and hooked the coil backwards ... A: Jeff, First off, if you're running a ballast resistor then you should be running a 6V coil. Have ... | |
| Right Rear Suspension Sag | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: After lowering the car back down, I noticed that the suspension height on the passenger rear of the ... A: Adam, You've got the KYB regular shocks and not the pneumatic "helper" shocks? If you disconnect ... | |
| Triumph TR6 excess brake peddle movement | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: Noticed you had this problem on your TVR some time ago. I have it on a TR6 belonging to a customer, ... A: John, I suspect you're thinking of one of the other experts, but I'll toss out some ideas anyway. ... | |
| Spitfire Overdrive | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a 78 spitfire. My overdrive won’t engage until it “warms up” or about five miles if I turn ... A: John, The overdrive on the Spitfire uses an electrical solenoid to move a mechanical lever that ... | |
| rear end noise | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a clinking noise in the rear end of my 75 Spitfire which is speed related - reduces or ... A: Ron, The absolute best way is to open the diff case and count teeth on the pinion and ring gear. ... | |
| No low beam but have high beam on headlights | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1978 Spitfire and my headlights dont work on low beam but they work on high beam. What do ... A: John, Power for the headlights goes directly from the battery to the headlight switch, then to the ... | |
| Mixing and matching spitfires | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I have several parts cars. I think this will work but thought I would ask the experts first. I ... A: John, One of the neat things about the Spitfire is that with a big of careful research and ... | |
| fuel gauge | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: Jim...my fuel gauge keeps reading full...have a new voltage regulator, in fact the sending unit is ... A: Chris, Empty the tank below the level of the sender unit and make sure the sender is moving freely ... | |
| rear end noise | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a clinking noise in the rear end of my 75 Spitfire which is speed related - reduces or ... A: Ron, Check with the parts suppliers. I haven't seen a differential rebuild kit as such, but the ... | |
| TR6 | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: Can you please advise on the best way to replace the speddo cable in a 1973 tr6 (with over drive)? ... A: Bill, The best way is to pull the transmission tunnel, that way you'll have easy access to remove ... | |
| Ignition light | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I was messing around with my 67 triumph spitfire speedo (still not working), had the dash partially ... A: Paul, The ignition light is connnected to the top fuse on as the "power feed" and grounds through ... | |
| Herald | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: Also looking at putting on extractors for my herald 1200. Is there anything I can use e.g spitfire ... A: Brett, I suspect the Spitfire Mk 1/2 parts will fit without major modification. One way to check ... | |
| Herald | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a herald 1200 and would like a bit more performance. Can you please tell me the manifold I ... A: Brett, Best suggestion is to go find a manifold with carbs from (or for ;) a 1962 thru 1966 ... | |
| Reverse gear spacer | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I am reassembling a 79 spit transmission that was not taken apart by myself. I am installing reverse ... A: Dean, From the sound of it, whoever pulled the transmissions apart weren't able to find the correct ... | |
| Ballast resistors | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: My GT6 MK3 is, I think a 'mixture' of parts,and could have a loom from a n other vehicle,(1)how can ... A: Nick, Regardless of coil installed: All measured at + terminal on coil: With Ballast Resistor- ... | |
| Ballast resistors | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: My GT6 MK3 is, I think a 'mixture' of parts,and could have a loom from a n other vehicle,(1)how can ... A: Nick, The ballast resistor is used to lower the voltage that the coil sees under running ... | |
| Ballast resistors | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: My GT6 MK3 is, I think a 'mixture' of parts,and could have a loom from a n other vehicle,(1)how can ... A: Nick, Let me take them in order: 1) ID the loom? I've seen the loom maker's tags on some looms ... | |
| jacking a 1971 TR6 w/floor jack | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: Where are the correct points on the frame when using a floor jack to raise my 71 TR6. I have looked ... A: Mike, As long as the frame is sound, you should be able to jack under the suspension pickup points ... | |
| Distributors/Camshafts?Carbs/Inlet manifolds | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I am running SU H6 carbs on a TR6 eng,(presumimg a 125Bhp cam) with a Lucas 41202B dissy.(it has a ... A: Nick, Here's a quick list I found online of TR6 cam specs. Part # Application Timing ... | |
| Distributors/Camshafts?Carbs/Inlet manifolds | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I am running SU H6 carbs on a TR6 eng,(presumimg a 125Bhp cam) with a Lucas 41202B dissy.(it has a ... A: Nick, I see listings for both vacuum advance equipped and not vacuum advanced equipped 123 ... | |
| clutch Problems | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1976 spitfire, I recently bought the care and it needed care from not having been driven ... A: Kent, It does sound as if you didn't get the clutch push pin into the slave cylinder. Best bet is ... | |
| tr6 | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: my 1972 tr6 with twin stromberg carbs has aslight misfire and pinking both when accelerating and ... A: Les, Twin carbs? US spec model? The '72 US Spec TR6 was equipped with a vacuum retard unit. ... | |
| Fuel doesn't want to go into the gas tank | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I've got a '78 Spitfire 1500, CA car. When I try to put gas into the tank it back washes out again. ... A: Mark, Does the problem only happen at one gas station, or all the gas stations you go to? In the ... | |
| Tires for 1977 Triumph Spitfire | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: The tire I currently have on my Triumph are 155R13... there's no middle number. The tire store here ... A: Omar, The original tires on the '77 were either the 155SR13 or a 155/80-13. The first number in ... | |
| turn signal on spitfire | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: its all running well except for the left turn signal is not working. when turning right all is ok ... A: Mark, If it's just one side not working, the problem is likely either the turn signal switch ... | |
| Core Plug (freeze) | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: I just had the engine of my TR6 rebuilt. The engine has zero miles, but as I was breaking it in, ... A: Carl, I doubt you'd be able to seal it with anything short of epoxy, although epoxy might work. ... | |
| 1974 Spitfire Bleeding Brakes | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: Jim- I hads to replace my rear brakes includinghte calipers and I cant get any of them bled now. ... A: Ross, You'll get air from the bleeder via the threads.. there's a bit of clearance between the ... | |
| 1974 Spitfire Bleeding Brakes | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: Jim- I hads to replace my rear brakes includinghte calipers and I cant get any of them bled now. ... A: Ross, Rear calipers? You mean brake cylinders, correct? Is the brake warning lamp lit if you ... | |
| brakes | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: 1979 triumph spitfire 1500..has new master cylinder and brake shoes look good. They were bled out, ... A: Paul, Not quite clear on what you mean by "not working". Brakes don't work at all? Soft/spongy ... | |
| 1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500 shifter | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased the Spitfire listed and need to know if the shifter behavior is normal. It is ... A: Gary, There might be some dirt/corrosion built up in the area where the cap sits. A small wire ... | |
| Oil Leak - out of dipstick | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 73 Spitfire that has an oil leak. When the engine is hot I noticed that oil was actually ... A: Darryl, I had the same problem on my '73 1500. In my case it was a ring failure, allowing too much ... | |
| electrical | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: I have lost all gauges in my '78 spitfire 1500. I replaced the voltage stabilizer which did not ... A: John, The white/slate wire is the sense lead (signal wire) from the coil to the tach. There ... | |
| 64 Herald 1200 Convertible US | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I saw another question from someone with the same car as I am restoring. I need to replace the rear ... A: Peter, Rear wheel cylinders are measured inside the cylinder bore. Sometimes the size is indicated ... | |
| Is my clutch slipping or worse? | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Spit 1500, the engine was replaced with a new Ivor Searle 1500 engine in 2004, I ... A: Tom, Sounds like two potential issues. The first issue sounds like a clutch slip. A typical way ... | |
| 1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500 shifter | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased the Spitfire listed and need to know if the shifter behavior is normal. It is ... A: Gary, In a car in good shape the shifter pattern is not a perfect North -South but off by a few ... | |
| 1976 triumph spitfire steering rack | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: I have just rebuilt the steering rack and found that I could turn the wheels left to right in ... A: Tom, The factory didn't have any provision for limiting the steering rack travel, other than the ... | |
| 1976 Spitfire Steering Rack | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: Hope you can help me as I have now dismantled the steering rack several times and the same promblem ... A: Tom, Not sure how you define "extreme turning radius"... Triumph was quite proud that the ... | |
| Sport Windshield | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: Jim, Do you know where to get a sport windshield, these are the ones that look like half of a ... A: Ron, Are you thinking of the Brooklands windscreens, small glass half ovals in front of the driver ... | |
| Rear suspension | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I'm restoring a 1969 MK3, I'm reading about the wheel tuck problem, can a leaf spring from a MK4 be ... A: Ron, The factory solution for wheel tuck in competition is a camber compensator. Joe Curry has a ... | |
| Idle spit, won't turn over | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: hey Jim, my '75 triumph spitfire has been in my garage all winter, and when i tried to start it up ... A: Harold, Have a friend try to start the car while you put the voltmeter on the battery. If you see ... | |
| 77 spitfire 1500 gears grind | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: Also there is a when I push down the clutch pedal there is a small space where there is no ... A: Kyle, The clutch on the Spitfire is hydraulically operated. In the engine compartment there is a ... | |
| Idle spit, won't turn over | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: hey Jim, my '75 triumph spitfire has been in my garage all winter, and when i tried to start it up ... A: Harold, First off, you've got to have a good battery to get things working. After "charging for a ... | |
| Spitfire steering rack | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: I will need to refurbish a steering rack in a 1968 TVR Vixen. I am told they use a Triumph steering ... A: Bob, Yes, the Vixen used the Spitfire steering rack, which itself was shared with the Triumph ... | |
| Carburetor | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1976 Triumph Spitfire. Does anyone manufacture a California Street Legal Carburetor for ... A: Jim, There is a street legal carb for the '76 Spitfire in California. It's the Stromberg CD150. ... | |
| 1979 1500 Transmission refitting | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a 1979 1500 and found that the clutch disk had rusted to the flywheel as ... A: Jamie, The 20 spline clutches setups used with the late Spitfire single rail gearboxes make final ... | |
| 74 TR 6 | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: after being in storage for 2 years,car is cranking over but not starting.where should I start ... A: Tom, Keep in mind that you need basically 3 things in order to get the car running: Fuel Fire ... | |
| Triumph keys | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a 78 spitfire,and I lost the keys a year ago.Could you PLEASE let me know if you find someone ... A: Tom, A good locksmith should be able to make a key for you. It's worth calling around and getting ... | |
| loss of power | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1974 Spitfire. Just getting it to the point to drive on the street after sitting for ... A: Shields, Several possibilities. Fuel passages blocked in the carb or the float/needle sticking. ... | |
| Summer time going out! | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering how can i put oil in my Triumph TR6 differential! If you can explain the steps that ... A: Oli, Assuming a North American market car, the oil fill plug is on the differential casing on the ... | |
| transmission substitutes, re: 1966 to 1980 | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: Jim: Good Morning. I have a 1966 Triumph Spitfire 4, MK II, that has a 4 speed manual ... A: John, I suspect that you're thinking of the overdrive transmissions fitted to the Spitfires, there ... | |
| Identification numbers | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: My car is a Spitfire 1500, 1975, USA spec, There is a spot welded plate on the chassis just below ... A: Jeff, I've never seen a reference of the frame ID numbers to know which year a particular frame was ... | |
| spitfire running odd | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1974 spitfire IV everything was going good so far until this morning, My car started right ... A: Mark, Having to keep the choke pulled out is a sign that there is a some form of fuel delivery ... | |
| spitfire blowing fuse | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I have an 77 spitfire project car. It is blowing the top fuse in the bank of three when the ... A: Scott, Then I hope the blue factory wire for radio power feed is properly insulated? According ... | |
| speedometer cable relacement | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: I want to relpace the speedo cable on my 1979 Spitfire. My book states I can remove the old one from ... A: Jan, What's possible is that the speedometer cable isn't pushed all the way up into the ... | |
| 74 Spitfire Timing | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a 74 spitfire 1500 that I am finishing up the rebuild on. I had a local machine shop ... A: Wes, There is a 2:1 ratio on the Cam to crank gears. So when the crank is at #1 TDC the ignition ... | |
| Front Bumper Mount | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: How should I mount a GT6 '63-65 front bumper to a 1979 Spitfire 1500 so that the hood hinges will ... A: Terry, If you truly have a '63-'65 GT6 bumper you should get the rest of the car and restore it, as ... | |
| speedometer cable relacement | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: I want to relpace the speedo cable on my 1979 Spitfire. My book states I can remove the old one from ... A: Jan, Easiest way to work on anything transmission related is to pull the trans tunnel cover and do ... | |
| More information required re: Replacing the distributor | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a stupid question...I need to replace my distributor what are the correct steps to complete ... A: Josephine, Ok, glad we're clear on the terms. As to replacing the plug wires, there's a ... | |
| More information required re: Replacing the distributor | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a stupid question...I need to replace my distributor what are the correct steps to complete ... A: Josephine, Let's review and agree on some basic terminology so I can be sure I understand what your ... | |
| More information required re: Replacing the distributor | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a stupid question...I need to replace my distributor what are the correct steps to complete ... A: Josephine, I need some more information before I can attempt to answer this question. Which model ... | |
| stranded | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a 73 1500. Once in a while it won't start, I just get the "click" similar to a dead battery. ... A: Dennis, There are basically 5 different problems that will cause the problem you describe: 1) Low ... | |
| Steering wheel column | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a major problem with my steering column and I hope you can help! I bought a new steering ... A: Kevin, The late Spitfires (1978-1980) used a larger diameter steering shaft, similar to what you ... | |
| Rear engine mount replacement | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a '74 Spit that needed new engine mounts. My grandson and I replaced the front ones easily ... A: Smokey, Yes, you'll need to pull the trans cover in order to access the rear mounts. It'll mean ... | |
| brake master cylinder | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to restore my 62 TR4 and am having trouble removing the piston from the brake master ... A: Gene, What you might try is to push the piston all the way up into the m/c and use some steel wool ... | |
| Reverse gear | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: One of the teeth of the reverse gear of my laygear of my 1500 is damaged (it misses a piece). For me ... A: Michel, As long as most of the gear tooth is still there it should be ok. Just keep in mind that ... | |
| engine | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: i have a 1975 spitfire and it wont star every thing electrical is good it terns over its getting gas ... A: Joe, Keep in that for ANY gas powered engine you need to have 4 things to get it to work: 1) Fuel ... | |
| 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 frozen engine | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 left sitting for three years. Pistons "frozen" in the cylinders. What ... A: Joe, Keep in mind that the small furry critters love to make nests in Spitfires.. especially up in ... | |
| 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 frozen engine | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 left sitting for three years. Pistons "frozen" in the cylinders. What ... A: Joe, Was the car running when "left to sit" 3 years ago? That'll be a big factor when it comes ... | |
| voltage stablizer | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: Jim: Thanks for all your advice. Here is a new conumdrum. I have a 1965 Spitfire Mk2. The gas ... A: Jeff, All the documentation on the Spitfires indicates that there was a voltage stabilizer for all ... | |
| Repairs to Triumph Spitfire 1500 | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I have owned my 1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500 since 1984. When I bought it it already had a few ... A: Marigold, Actually the floor pan repair is fairly straight forward, assuming the rocker panels are ... | |
| J - Overdrive | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a 77 Spitfire, the overdrive works up to 50 mph; once I go over 50 mph, it slips in and out ... A: Howard, The overdrive works by using gear oil pumped into the engagement pistons, with an ... | |
| valve lash clearance. | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1960 triumph3A I need to check the valve lash clearance on. How do I do that? thank you. ... A: Steve, I'm not an expert on the wetliner engines but I'll hazard a guess that they're similar to ... | |
| 76 TR6 coughs | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: My 76 TR running standard carbs, coughs as Im driving. Usually at lower rpm like when Im driving up ... A: Mark, If the car responds better with the choke pulled... it's running too lean. It can be either ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 water temp and oil pressure | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I recently refinished my dash and replaced the stock temp gauge and sending unit with a new ... A: Steve, Your oil pressure readings are spot on for a Spitfire 1500 in good health. The water temp ... | |
| tr6 not charging | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: hey jim, i have a 74 tr6 and i cant seem to get it to keep a charge on the battery. i have a new ... A: Bernie, When you turn on the ignition, does the ignition light come on? The alternator works by ... | |
| 1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500 | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: While hitting about 3000 rpm, I felt some bucking and loss of power. Thought it was fuel issue but ... A: Bob, Is the car fitted with the original Lucas electronic ignition, or a points type distributor or ... | |
| differental oil seals | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a question I am going to tackle the oil seals on my differental axles and pinion. do you have ... A: Mark, If all you're doing is replacing the pinion seal, simply count the number of turns/partials ... | |
| differental oil seals | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a question I am going to tackle the oil seals on my differental axles and pinion. do you have ... A: Mark, Changing the seals is a fairly straightforward process, providing the side axle bearings ... | |
| Down draft Webber conversion | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I bought a car with the Webber conversion all ready done. My question is there are a few things ... A: John, The best bet is a Robert Bentley manual. I don't know of any online diagrams of the vapor ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire Rear Trunnion | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I'm rebuilding the rear suspension of my 1976 Spitfire 1500, and am having a heck of a time trying ... A: John, The best I've come up with over the years is to use a sawz-all (or similar) and cut the bolt ... | |
| overdirve for my spitfire | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I own a 1975 Triumph spitfire 1500 and I was wondering if it is possible to add overdrive to it and ... A: David, It's a fairly simple install to fit an overdrive trans. First off, you'll need to get an ... | |
| shift knob | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1976 spitfire and we are trying to get the shifter knob off .it has a slide lockout in the ... A: Jeff, That's an aftermarket piece of junk and you need to send it to me immediately. My home ... | |
| disc brake conversion | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1978 Spitfire. I am doing an off frame restoration. I thought it would be nice to put disc ... A: Shawn, You might take a peek at PRI Race (www.prirace.com), last I'd heard they either had a kit or ... | |
| vitesse non starter | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: i can't get my 2 litre mk1 vitesse(with luminition electronic ignition) to start. I've got ... A: Chris, Get a can of starting fluid (starting ether) and spray a shot into each carb. Put the air ... | |
| water choke on 79 spitfire | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: Jim, The choke is flooding out the carb. when the car is running more on the hot side(which seems ... A: Clarence, Let me put in my plug for the Robert Bentley repair manual, if you can find the late ... | |
| 1977 Spit 1500 | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: So I read up on back end sagging and have launched into my first project with my "new" Spitfire. My ... A: Linda, Interesting... I've never had issues getting the "stock" shocks installed. One idea is to ... | |
| fuel pump | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: Recently I have had some troubles fixing up some minor problems on my 1978 1500 spitfire. It would ... A: Anson, Obviously you want to check the line from the fuel pump back to the tank. There might be a ... | |
| GEARSHIFT KNOB REMOVAL | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1980 EUROPEAN SPECS Spitfire (no mods). I am attempting to replace the clutch slave ... A: Andy, Don't remove the gearshift knob from the gearshift lever. Remove the carpet and undo ... | |
| Installing a MK1 Vitesse 2ltr engine into a 1500cc spitfire! | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I am just about to buy a 6 cylinder Vitesse MK1 2 litre engine with the intention of taking out my ... A: Kevin, The Spitfire + 6 cylinder engine swap is common and there are some good online resources. ... | |
| Brake Fluid for Spitfire | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 1979 Spitfire 1500. I have experienced the brake petal traveling all the way to the ... A: Bill, If you're not going to rebuild the entire brake system then I'd recommend going with DOT4 ... | |
| TR6 Inspection | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I am looking at a TR6 in Sandy UT. I am trying to find some one to go look at the car for ... A: Stephen, Best bet is to look at the chapter listing at the Vintage Triumph Register website ... | |
| Triumph Vitesse 2 litre MK 1- non starter | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: After fitting a recon gearbox(with D typeoverdrive)on my Vitesse, i can't start the engine.The ... A: Chris, Verify battery voltage with a voltmeter (should be greater than 13v for a "good" battery) ... | |
| Gas Tank Removal | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1979 Spitfire that has been sitting for a while. It looks like the gas has all evaporated ... A: Fred, Typically the rubber filler neck piece "glues" it's way onto the metal of the tank and filler ... | |
| spitfire body removal | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: I'm about to remove the body from the frame of my 79 Spitfire. I have everything unbolted but I'll ... A: Matt, You could leave the doors in place and rely on them to keep the shell from crumpling. Or ... | |
| dry and wet test | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: Jim, 1974 spitfire IV..I have just done a dry and wet test on my engine. Dry I got readings of 135 ... A: Bruce, I'm guessing that it was the same cylinder with lower readings both times? There are no ... | |
| 76 Spitfire | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I was googling a possible solution to a starting problem when I came across your correspondence with ... A: Dave, With the ignition turned on (engine off) if you can't keep voltage to the coil then the car ... | |
| Roll bar/cage Vitesse | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: I quick question about roll bar/cages for a Triumph Vitesse convertible, as their is no expert on ... A: Chris, I've never seen the roll bar setups for a Vitesse, so I have to base my experience on what ... | |
| engine cutting out | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: I really need your help on this one I am so stumped. 1972 spitfire IV with a 74 1500 engine. My ... A: Mark, Fuel in the air filter housing is a sign that the float level is set too high, or the needle ... | |
| engine cutting out | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: I really need your help on this one I am so stumped. 1972 spitfire IV with a 74 1500 engine. My ... A: Mark, Odd set of symptoms. Hard cornering/braking sounds like a float sticking, but the Stromberg ... | |
| Transmission and clutch | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: Jim- It is Ross again. I was able to get the new transmission into the '74. Everything looked ... A: Ross, "when I put into gear I can not turn the driveshaft by hand like I can when it is in ... | |
| diff qstion | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: i have a 77 spitfire and i have to change the differential , i just get a used diff. in good shape. ... A: Manuel, You're correct, the FK differential is a 4.11 ratio and your car should have a 3.89. The ... | |
| Transmission and Drveshaft Questions | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: Jim- I have a '78 spit (parts car) and a 74' spit restoration project. My transmission does not ... A: Ross, First question. Count the splines (ridges) in the center of the clutch disc. And measure ... | |
| D204 distributor in a GT6 | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 1973 GT6 drivetrain in a 1980 Spitfire body. The PO had a shop do the conversion and ... A: Bob, From what I've been able to discover, the D204 Spitfire distributor is essentially the same as ... | |
| 76 Spitfire | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I was googling a possible solution to a starting problem when I came across your correspondence with ... A: Dave, The quickest test is to get a basic voltmeter and connect the positive lead to the + power ... | |
| Transmission and Drveshaft Questions | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: Jim- I have a '78 spit (parts car) and a 74' spit restoration project. My transmission does not ... A: Ross, If no one has tinkered with the cars previously, the '74 should have a 3 rail transmission ... | |
| diff. qst | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: .. when i buy my 77 spit.. has a big noise at the rear end . like a click click when the tires are ... A: Manuel, If you've replaced all 4 u-joints (driveshaft and side axles) and you're still getting a ... | |
| Flasher units | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: Another query about flasher units. On a Triumph Herald when the indicator switch is activated the ... A: Chris, I have be honest, I've been fighting that battle with my '78 Spitfire also. One blink... ... | |
| mark 111 | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: I own a 1968 triumph spitfire mark 111, I live in winnipeg canada, where in this neck of the woods ... A: Rick, Best bets..... Look on the Vintage Triumph Register website (www.VTR.org) to see if there is ... | |
| exhaust manifold | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 80 spitfire 1500 with a cracked exhaust manifold. I am looking at headers from spit ... A: Daniel, I guess my take on it would be... if you're going to stay "original" then you need to find ... | |
| TR6 Pollution Equipment | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: To get the car running, the previous owner fiddled with the pollution control equipment on my 75 TR6 ... A: Cam, Some of the emissions gear reduced performance, but some other parts of the system actually ... | |
| 79 Spitfire cold starting problems | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: I frequently have to charge the battery on my spit during winter (once or twice a week). The car is ... A: Joe, If the electrical system is showing 14v with the engine running then the issue is not the ... | |
| Spitfire choke? | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1980 1500 Spitfire, is it meant to have choke? there is one spare item on the dash that ... A: Tom, The 1980 Spitfire was equipped from the factory with a water temperature controlled automatic ... | |
| crown wheel and gear | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1972 spitfire IV the engine was replaced with a 1500 motor. and I still have a 4.11 rear ... A: Mark, Unless you have a good tool setup replacing the ring and pinion yourself successfully isn't a ... | |
| Flasher unit | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: i've purchased a half restored Triumph Herald, and have fitted a indicator/flasher unit. With the ... A: Chris, I'm guessing it's a negative earth (ground) system? You might check all the ground points ... | |
| spitfire 1500 clutch problem | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: our recently purchased spitfire 1500 1979 has been running fine, if a little bit notchy on some gear ... A: Peter, It's a bit of a coincidence that both would fail at the same time. Not impossible.. just ... | |
| Prop shaft alignment | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: Jim , first you may recall you gave us advice (all good) about removing the tub. Well its off. We ... A: Roger and Chris, While you've got everything apart it's not a bad time to check the frame for ... | |
| another question | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: by the way already check that ligth and it doesn't turn on when a start ignition, and I check the ... A: Manuel, In order to fit a Spitfire Mk II bonnet/bumper on you car you'd need: Spitfire Mk II ... | |
| tuning 1500 | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: I have just brought myself a colourtune kit as it worked wonders on my friends mg, where on my 1500 ... A: Thomas, If your car is still fitted with the factory HS4s then the adjuster is in the traditional ... | |
| in 72 the TR6 was split in two. how do I know which part mine is | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: Is there actual date that a difference in car parts for the TR6 happened. and how can I tell which ... A: Antonio, The most obvious change in the TR6s that occurred in the early 70's was a change in the ... | |
| triumph 1979 spitfire | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: I am going to change out my us rubber bumpers with the chrome. One of the articles said I need to ... A: Lee, The easiest thing to do would be to find someone locally with a chrome bumper car and look ... | |
| 1974 Spitfire 1500 | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a general Spitfire question. I grew up on Triumphs, and MG's and loved them, but never had a ... A: Don, I hate to have to say this... but it sounds like you need to find another mechanic. At least ... | |
| heat insulation | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: Jim: To continue our conversation about installing heat insulation. A few web sites talk about ... A: Jeff, When you say "transmission housing" I'm guessing you're referring to the transmission cover? ... | |
| heat insulation | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: Jim: To continue our conversation about installing heat insulation. A few web sites talk about ... A: Jeff, Let's back up a step or two. Have you made sure that the trans tunnel is sealed completely? ... | |
| vitesse Gearboxes | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: Recently bought a 1968 mk1 2ltr Triumph Vitesse and the gearbox is incredibly noisey(it whines). I ... A: Chris, I haven't had the pleasure of working on a Vitesse (they're fairly rare on this side of the ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 Engine Rebuild Questions | 2/3/2008 |
| Q: I have a 78 Spit 1500 with flat top pistons, a Kent Cam (slightly hotter than stock, but not a race ... A: Cy, If you're just using the "stock" 9:1 flat tops the standard head gasket should be ok. If you ... | |
| 1976 Triumph Spitfire Clutch | 2/2/2008 |
| Q: My specific question is in regards to the clutch disingagment from slave cylinder. How far should ... A: Wayne, I don't have the exact number but 3/4" sound about right for the slave cylinder throw. Keep ... | |
| Engine Replacement | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1964 Spitfire triumph with a useless engine. I would like to replace the engine with ... A: Michael, Are you saying the engine is shot, or that it doesn't have the performance you want? The ... | |
| firewall insulation | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: Jim: as always, thanks for all your great advice. I have a new challenge for my 1965 Spitfire. ... A: Jeff, In the footwell area? Peel back the carpet and make sure that nothing has been rerouted ... | |
| firewall insulation | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: Jim: as always, thanks for all your great advice. I have a new challenge for my 1965 Spitfire. ... A: Jeff, I've never dealt with installing insulation... in Texas we just accept the heat and bear it. ... | |
| Spitfire Engines | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: Jim- I am also restoring a 1971 Spitfire that has a frozen engine. Is there another type of engine ... A: Ross, The only non-Spitfire engine that is a direct drop in for the Spitfire engine is.... an MG ... | |
| line on carb | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I was looking at my carb. today stromberg 1972 spitfire IV. I found a line at the the bottom of the ... A: Mark, Sorry, there's no email associated with this account. If you can post it on one of the ... | |
| line on carb | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I was looking at my carb. today stromberg 1972 spitfire IV. I found a line at the the bottom of the ... A: Mark, There are no external fittings on teh bottom of the carb or mount on the stock Mk IV ... | |
| tr6 wheels | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: i'd like other options besides panasports, wires, or stock wheels. i'd like to go to 15x7's and i ... A: merle or rusty, Keep in mind that when you're talking about wheels and offsets, it's related to ... | |
| tr6 wheels | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: i'd like other options besides panasports, wires, or stock wheels. i'd like to go to 15x7's and i ... A: merle or rusty, One option for custom wheels for the TR6 is Diamond Racing wheels ... | |
| spitfire transmissin | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: Last year a friend and I rebuilt the transmission in my 79 spitfire( witho/d). We put it together 3 ... A: Kurt, I highly recommend the Bentley manuals for the Spitfire. Make sure you get the manual for ... | |
| 1976 Spit | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: Jim, My husband is trying to set the ignition points. Can you tell him what they should be set to? A: Donna, The '76 Spitfire should have had the Lucas electronic ignition setup. Do you know which ... | |
| engine not shuting off | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: 1972 spitfire IV this just happened today never had troubles like this in the past. I haven't ... A: Mark, This is an odd one. As delivered from the factory there was no connection between the ... | |
| 79 Spitfire differential | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I rebuilt a 79 Spitfire but didn't refurbish the diff. It has been fine until recently. It ... A: Fred, You don't need a diff case spreader to remove the back cover (back casing) portion. You need ... | |
| TR7 differential problem | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: I know this question might be a bit outside your specialised areas, but looking at your great ... A: Fernando, 4 speed or 5 speed? Is it better or worse when you accelerate? Back off on the gas? ... | |
| 79 Spitfire differential | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I rebuilt a 79 Spitfire but didn't refurbish the diff. It has been fine until recently. It ... A: Fred, Before you disturb the pinion flange pull the back diff cover off (you need to remove the ... | |
| 1500 journal measurements | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a customer restoring a rubber bumper Mg Midget which as far as I know shared the same engine ... A: Since I'm geared towards helping the enthusiast, I suspect you won't mind paying my consulting rate ... | |
| pulley nut removal | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: Jim, Sorry, but after I re-read my letter to you I noticed that I left out a key word. The ... A: Chris, Couple of different possibilities. Even without the engine locked via the trans it's ... | |
| 1979 1500 Valve Adjustment | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: I've done VWs and V8s. I guess it is different than I'm use to. Could you explain? A: Jerry, I'm not sure what you don't understand. I'm looking at the Haynes Spitfire manual now and ... | |
| State Emissions Test | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: The reason I am asking this question to a non-jeep owner is that my situation would seem at least to ... A: Mike, What I'd suggest is get the vehicle warmed up and look at the tail pipe. If it's still a ... | |
| POP NOISE REAR END? | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: Glad to see your back.. I am having problems with pop noise on my 1972 spitfire IV. I have looked at ... A: Mark, If the prop shaft bolts were loose for a while it's possible that either the bolts are worn a ... | |
| POP NOISE REAR END? | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: Glad to see your back.. I am having problems with pop noise on my 1972 spitfire IV. I have looked at ... A: Mark, It sounds like something is getting torqued under acceleration... then moving back when you ... | |
| Spitfire cam timing | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: I am going crazy! How can I set the cam/crank timing on a Spitfire 1300 motor? I have checked and ... A: Benjamin, You need to put #1 at TDC and with .050 clearance on both the intake and exhaust valves ... | |
| Gas Smell | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: My 1977 Triumph " Project" Spitfire smells smell like Gas...how do I narrow down the solution? I'm ... A: Brad, There are several types of supports available. Of the axle stands, there are two main types, ... | |
| Rear Bearing | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1976 Spitfire 1500 and there is a clicking noise coming from the rear when I am driving. ... A: Florian, Aft of the transmission the Spitfire has 4 u-joints (or three if the driveshaft has the CV ... | |
| Gas Smell | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: My 1977 Triumph " Project" Spitfire smells smell like Gas...how do I narrow down the solution? I'm ... A: Brad, Keep in mind that the fuel filler cap is only about 3 feet away from the driver's seat. If ... | |
| Gas Smell | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: My 1977 Triumph " Project" Spitfire smells smell like Gas...how do I narrow down the solution? I'm ... A: Brad, Is it while you're driving? Sitting still? Just walking into the garage? Look for obvious ... | |
| Oil specifications | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: What type oil should be used on a 1973 triumph tr6 A: Glen, Personally I don't recommend using any oil ON a TR6, use a good wax instead. As to motor ... | |
| 1979 triumph spitefire | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I'm restoring my 79 spitefire and need a front overrider bumper, and I would like new original seat ... A: Dennis, There is a good list of vendors on the Vintage Triumph Register (www.VTR.org) website. ... | |
| Will a 1500 engine fit? | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: Greetings! Thanks in advance for the assistance! I have a 1971 Spitfire that I'm attempting to ... A: Dave, Externally the Spitfire blocks are all the same, from the first 1147s to the last 1500s. ... | |
| '74 Spitfire catch bottle | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: Jim, You recently gave me some advice for installing a catch bottle on my '74 Spitfire. I ... A: Tom, If you're getting that much blowby then it's a sign that something is quite worn in the ... | |
| TR6 | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: Jim, Kevin again regarding my TR6. Thanks for the quick answer to my question about quick reving ... A: Kevin, Ok, that's a bit different. Fast idle is normally 2000-2500 rpm... what you're describing ... | |
| TR6 - Choke Sticking | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: The weather has turned a little cold here (-2 Celcius) in Calgary, Alberta. When I start my TR6 ... A: Kevin, Hmmm... any thoughts eh? How about moving somewhere warmer? Nah... just kidding. ... | |
| 77 Spitfire Ignition problem | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I have been chasing sparks on my 77 Spit for a while. I'll break this down to make it easier to ... A: Mark, The electronic ignition unit replaced the points in the old style ignition setup. In the ... | |
| 77 Spitfire Ignition problem | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I have been chasing sparks on my 77 Spit for a while. I'll break this down to make it easier to ... A: Mark, There should a ballast resistor in the system. Typically they were mounted near the ... | |
| Clutch Problems | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I recently brought a 1980 Spitfire 1500 RHD, a month or two after having the car I experienced ... A: Thomas, There are several things that could be causing the problem. First off... when you bleed ... | |
| spitfire indicators | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: i have a 1979 1500 spitfire, when the lights, or a lot of power is being drained from the ... A: Glyn, One other thing it could be is the flasher unit itself. Just about any autoparts store ... | |
| seat retrofit | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: we have a 1979 spitfire 1500 and the seats need to be replaced/reupholstered. I have seen Miata ... A: John, I've heard from several people who have fitted the Miata seats. From the comments made: 1) ... | |
| spitfire indicators | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: i have a 1979 1500 spitfire, when the lights, or a lot of power is being drained from the ... A: Glyn, When you turn the turn signal the light does light up? Just not blink? Or no light ... | |
| triumph spitfire 1500 | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: Hey. So I have a spitfire 1500 and have some weird problems that my mechanic claims arent there. ... A: Daniel, If you remove the rubber seal at the soft top header (the part that attaches to the ... | |
| TR7 wiper motor wiring | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: Hey Jim I have a strange question. I am working on a friends car that has a TR7 wiper motor ... A: John, Got me confused. There should be a wiring harness with connector on it for the wiper motor. ... | |
| Water Pump leak | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: My water pump start to leak slowy from about two days ago, but I still drive to work and carry water ... A: Leon, Keep in mind that you have a cast iron block and head. After a day or two you'll have orange ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 78 tub removal | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: My son Chris and I have disconnected everything (we think) and the 12 bolts are out. How do we lift ... A: Roger, You should be able to remove the tub without bracing the door openings, as long as the ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 78 tub removal | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: My son Chris and I have disconnected everything (we think) and the 12 bolts are out. How do we lift ... A: Roger, Don't forget to unhook the parking brake cable at the rear wheels, or undo the entire cable ... | |
| Spitfire Diverter Valve | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: I live in California and have a stock 79 1500 Spitfire. All the smog equipment is in place. The ... A: Brian, I don't know of anyone making a GM diverter fit... it doesn't mean it can't or won't work, ... | |
| Spitfire catch bottle | 10/22/2007 |
| Q: Jim, Thanks for your recent help regarding my 1974 Spitfire 1500 distributor. You have also been ... A: Tom, No problem, I just blame it on the cold rainy weather that just arrived. What the catch ... | |
| triumph spitfire 1500 | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: Hey. So I have a spitfire 1500 and have some weird problems that my mechanic claims arent there. ... A: Daniel, It could be the ignition switch itself giving problems. Another test is to put a voltmeter ... | |
| triumph spitfire 1500 | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: Hey. So I have a spitfire 1500 and have some weird problems that my mechanic claims arent there. ... A: Daniel, The vibration on the highway at 3500 rpm is likely caused by more than one thing in the ... | |
| 1974 Spitfire distributor | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I am restoring a '74 Spitfire 1500. It has a Delco D204 distributor. When I got it after ... A: The catch bottle can be made from just about anything, keeping in mind that it's got to fit into ... | |
| 1974 Spitfire distributor | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I am restoring a '74 Spitfire 1500. It has a Delco D204 distributor. When I got it after ... A: Tom, From the factory there was a hose from the valve cover and a hose from the carb fitting that ... | |
| 1974 Spitfire distributor | 10/19/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I am restoring a '74 Spitfire 1500. It has a Delco D204 distributor. When I got it after ... A: Tom, First off, proper point gap is .015 As to the orientation of the plug wires in the ... | |
| tr250 head gasket leak | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: I installed an aluminum[TRF] valve cover[with vent tube] and now oil is heavily seeping from the ... A: Tom, Carefully de-oil the engine. Once it's dry either put a chalk mark all the way around the ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire transmission | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: It helped a lot. My Spitfire is an MKIV manufactured in 1970 as a 1971. First gear is not ... A: Wes, Keep in mind that you'll need some specialized tools for the rebuild and that while you're in ... | |
| 22'radiator | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: Question I have a 1972 spitfire 4 with a 15" radiator on it that was old and leaking need to be ... A: Mark, It sounds like either the lead from the temp sensor is disconnected or shorted, or the wiring ... | |
| 79 Spit Carb Issues | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 79 Spit with a Stromberg carb (converted to a manual choke) and had troubles in ... A: Don, Blue smoke is a sign that oil is getting burnt in the combustion chamber. Is the smoke on ... | |
| Spitfire transmission | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: Recently I was descending a steep route and my transmission popped out of 2nd gear. It has been ... A: Wes, The gears ride on the mainshaft on bronze bushings and are "locked" into gear with spring ... | |
| Spitfire engine swap with Datsun/Nissan | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: My son recently purchased a used Spitfire from a local used car dealer, not sure if '76 or '77 with ... A: Carl, What was the extent of the damage? One or both valves bent? Did it crack the rocker arm(s)? ... | |
| 73 TR6 engine into a Spitfire | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: can you put a TR6 engine and trans in a spitfire without any major modification? and what all is ... A: Wes, I guess it depends upon your definition of "major modification". The Triumph factory ... | |
| ignition wiring? | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a '77 spitfire with a rebuilt engine and Weber carb. It ran great until one morning, ... A: Adam, US Market car? If so, the white/blue wire is the feed from the drive resistor to the ... | |
| TR# rear shock replacement | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a 1960 TR3. I noticed the car had a list to one side and now I find a ... A: Tim, Basic advice: Good jack stands and make sure the car is well supported before crawling under. ... | |
| 1981 Triumph TR7 | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: My car won't start. I took it to a mechanic and he replace the Electric Fuel pump, the gas filter, ... A: Carlos, The plug with the 3 white wires are necessary to make the distributor actually deliver ... | |
| Spitfire Convertible top window seal | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I have read through the post and did not see one with the same issue. I have a couple ... A: Bob, Some of the tops had a flap of vinyl attached to the underside that clipped around the top ... | |
| Distributor & Ignition Switch | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: I am restoring a 74 Spitfire 1500 and want to upgrade the distributor from stock. I also want to ... A: Kris, If the bushings in your stock distributor are ok then the quick upgrade is to fit a Pertronix ... | |
| Blown engine | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: I had a DCOE 45 carb installed in my 1975 Spitfire. On the way home from the shop an engine rod came ... A: Frank, Bolting a carb that will flow more gas such as the 45 DCOE will definitely put more stress ... | |
| Rear Suspension | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1975 spitfire 1500. The rear wheels look very bowed out. the rear leaf spring was replaced ... A: Ken, As the springs "de-arch" the wheels will gain negative camber (bottom of wheels "out"). Not ... | |
| Triumph spitfire disc brake removal | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: I would like to know how to remove the grease caps from the front hubs of my '71 spitfire. I have ... A: Alex, There are a couple of different methods that'll work. Some of the grease caps had a hole ... | |
| ignition light stays on over heating | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me what I should look for My ignition light stay red all the time in my 72 spitfire 4. ... A: The part you're looking for is a "Voltage Stabilizer". At Rimmer Bros (www.rimmerbros.co.uk) it's ... | |
| new spitfire owner advice | 9/9/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I recently purchased a 78 Spitfire 1500. I do not plan on maintaining it on my own, as I have ... A: Kristen, Partly it will depend upon the shop. Since repair shops also make some money on selling ... | |
| ignition light stays on over heating | 9/9/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me what I should look for My ignition light stay red all the time in my 72 spitfire 4. ... A: Mark, What is the voltage at the battery with the engine off, and with the engine running? The ... | |
| 1979 spit | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought a 1979 spitfire for my wife, and it does not get spark from the coil all of the ... A: Jarod, It's possible to verify that all the mechanical parts in the choke assembly are clean and ... | |
| 1979 spit with no fire | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought a 1979 spitfire for my wife, and it does not get spark from the coil all of the ... A: Jarod, The late Spitfires used a 6v coil and a ballast resistor in the wiring harness for running, ... | |
| 1979 Spitfire EGR valve | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I am in the process of replacing the original Stromberg carburetor with a Weber DGEC ... A: Lance, I guess it depends upon what your goal is. The EGR valve lets exhaust back into the ... | |
| carb | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I own a 74' spitfire, what would be the best carb? Also i am a novice mechanic- i bought the car ... A: Earl, In an perfect world the timing should be independent of the carb used. In reality the ... | |
| 77 Spit Diff ratio | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 77 Spit which I believe has had the differential gears changed. The differential ... A: Mark, The typical overdrive unit ratio is approx. .79. So adding overdive to the original 3.89 ... | |
| 1968tr250 | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: my car was running fine and just died now i have no spark. the car has a new distributor coil points ... A: Chris, Work through it logically, go for the basics first. 12v at the + terminal on the coil with ... | |
| 1972 TR6 PDWA Issue | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: I'm restoring a 72 TR6 and was bleeding the brakes when I discovered that the PDWA switch was ... A: Ken, If it's leaking through the switch then it's possible that replacing the switch itself may ... | |
| twin SUs on a 1500 engine | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: I have been helping my cousin with her 70 Spitfire MKIII. The engine needed to be rebuilt so she ... A: Keith, If the car is a true '70 model then the single Stromberg was the correct carb for that year, ... | |
| startermotor problem ! | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: I have bought a MK 1V 1971 Triumph Spitfire, the engine is a 1500cc engine with a 1300 gear box, it ... A: Mark, All years of Spitfire used the same starter motor. The clutch disk did change and in order ... | |
| twin SUs on a 1500 engine | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: I have been helping my cousin with her 70 Spitfire MKIII. The engine needed to be rebuilt so she ... A: Keith, What I'm suspecting is either the timing not being correct or the carbs not balanced or ... | |
| sending unit | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1976 Spitfire 1500. I replaced the stock temperature guage with an Autometer Z series 2 ... A: Matt, Using the upper radiator hose for a measuring point sounds like the best compromise you can ... | |
| Carb adjustment | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: I bought a 1977 Spitfire and I am trying to get everything tuned to the best possible fuel and power ... A: Mark, One thing I wonder is if the engine was ever rebuilt... if so it could have the high ... | |
| Carb adjustment | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: I bought a 1977 Spitfire and I am trying to get everything tuned to the best possible fuel and power ... A: Mark, Gray/white smoke on the overrun is a lean condition. Black soot on the bumper is either the ... | |
| brake master cylinder | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: I Jim, I rebuilt my brake master cylinder about 6 weeks ago and now it has begun to start to leak ... A: Mark, A lot of the brake rebuild kits these days are coming from one manufacturer in Australia. I ... | |
| sending unit | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1976 Spitfire 1500. I replaced the stock temperature guage with an Autometer Z series 2 ... A: Matt, One idea for the thermostat housing would be to drill/retap the housing to take a larger size ... | |
| ignition ab14 lucas | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: i just recently bought a 74' spitfire. I am a novice mechanic but i greatly enjoy learning and ... A: Earl, There are a couple of things you can do without opening the block. Most basic is to improve ... | |
| No fire at distributor | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: I just purchased a real nice 1978 Spitfire with 37,000 actual miles that has not run for about 6 ... A: JD, A problem with the electronic ignition system is that the unit either works or does not work, ... | |
| spitfire ignition | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: I ahve a 78 1500 spit that I have had for several years and never driven. my sone and i have begun ... A: Bucky, The next step is to figure out which ignition system is installed in the car. Originally it ... | |
| ignition coil | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: Jim On a triumph tr-4, does the + or- terminal on the coil go to the distributor? ... A: Jerry, Basic rule of thumb: whichever way the car is grounded, connect that lead from the coil to ... | |
| Spitfire hardtops and softtops | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: The first question is in regards to my softtop for my 66 Spitfire Mk2. I have recently sent it in to ... A: Phil, I'll have to profess ignorance when discussing tops on Spitfire4 and Mk2s. The best manual ... | |
| Triumph Power Problems | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I own a 78 Triumph Spitfire 1500 that I've had for three years. I am an extremely novice mechanic. ... A: Ryan, The needle on the Stromberg CD150s should be spring loaded and move fairly easily in the ... | |
| 1500 1976 triumph spitfire back firing | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: My car started back firing last summer. I've changed the air filter and spark plugs. What else ... A: Backfiring is typically a symptom of the timing being off. At the same time it's worth checking to ... | |
| 1974 Spitfire Thermostatic valve hookup | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: welcome back. I have a late model 1974 Spitfire with the 1493cc engine,a supposed 150CD4 Stromberg ... A: Bob, How long have you had the car? There should be a fitting on the top of the carb near the ... | |
| carburator | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: i just typed anouther question a minute ago and fould that you had already awnsered most of it. but ... A: Jerry, There are the two fittings on the side of the carb throat towards the firewall. The lower ... | |
| Ignition Problem 79 Spitfire | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: I am the proud owner of a 1979 Triumph Spitfire that up until recently was running just peachy. We ... A: Justin, First step: contact the vendor you bought the distributor from and ask for a proper hookup ... | |
| more on oils | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: Some of the guys racing in Australia are running 85 / 140 Hypoid oil, stating that the Spitfire diff ... A: Martyn, Using a thicker oil will increase the temps in the diff as the oil itself will add some ... | |
| 76 Spit - EGR light | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: I knew I was forgetting something. Ever since I got the car, the EGR light has been on -- I take ... A: Thomas, From what I can tell the EGR light was tripped off the service interval indicator. I don't ... | |
| 76 Spit - various questions | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: a couple more questions about my car -- When I shift into 3rd from 2nd, and especially downshift ... A: Thomas, Let's see... 1) Gear shift "clunk" or grind. If it's not happening in other gears and ... | |
| running to hot | 7/15/2007 |
| Q: I own a 75 spitfire and I,m haveing a problem with it running to hot. I had the radiator boiled and ... A: David, There should be a sticker on the inside of the bonnet with the correct timing settings. If ... | |
| electric cooling fan | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: I have just removed the cooling fan on my mk2 triumph spitfire because it also has an electric fan ... A: Kevin, I guess the question is... how is the electric fan controlled? Is it on a thermostat sensor ... | |
| running to hot | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: I own a 75 spitfire and I,m haveing a problem with it running to hot. I had the radiator boiled and ... A: David, How do you know it's running hot? Temp gauge or is it overflowing the radiator system? If ... | |
| carburator | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: Anyway the previous owner removed the carburetor and now i cant figure out where all the lines go. ... A: Jerry, The main fuel feed to the carb comes off the fuel pump on the drivers side of the block and ... | |
| tr7 want start | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I checked the ignition and there isn't any fire coming to the spark pluges. It has electroic ... A: Jim, If it's the original Lucas system the best test seems to be to set the coil lead where you can ... | |
| Collars for front shock | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: I have a set of NOS Unipart front shocks for a '79 Spitfire 1500 (I don't have the original Unipart ... A: Fred, Not sure about Charlie.. I've seen his name mentioned several times in the recent past but I ... | |
| Collars for front shock | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: I have a set of NOS Unipart front shocks for a '79 Spitfire 1500 (I don't have the original Unipart ... A: Fred, Small world. I was a member of the club in '89. Having reawakened those dormant brain ... | |
| Ignition Problem 79 Spitfire | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I am the proud owner of a 1979 Triumph Spitfire that up until recently was running just peachy. We ... A: Justin, Not sure why you had to replace the distributor... the bracket that holds the distributor ... | |
| Another question and a clarification | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I just sent a question about half an hour ago, and forgot a couple things. First off, it's a White ... A: Thomas, First thing to do is pull the door panel. It's a pain removing the window crank but it can ... | |
| Spitfire Rust and Mileage | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you knew whether I could put 15% ethanol has into a Triumph? This isn't E85 -- ... A: Thomas, Mid to high 20s for a Spitfire isn't terribly bad. I've had people claim that low-30s is ... | |
| Collars for front shock | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I have a set of NOS Unipart front shocks for a '79 Spitfire 1500 (I don't have the original Unipart ... A: Fred, Couple of things you can do. First off, have you tried the local club? There's a good DC ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire Mechanic in Honolulu | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: Jim: Aloha from Hawaii. I recently purchased a 1973 Spitfire 1500. Its' in great shape, but I do ... A: Steve, Sorry, I don't have any good leads for mechanics in the 50th state. You might try joining ... | |
| Sptfire Carb problems | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1500 with a stromberg 150CD, when I accelerate the Air Valve and needle valve are not ... A: Garth, It sounds like the diaphram is starting to split or tear, allowing air to leak past. ... | |
| Radio | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: I have what I think is a simple question. I have a 76 Spitfire. I pulled out the aftermarket radio ... A: Matt, If the radio from the TR6 fit without modifying the TR6 dash support then it should fit the ... | |
| choke conversion | 6/26/2007 |
| Q: I've been looking for the parts to do a conversion from electric to manual for my webers I'm putting ... A: Dave, I can recommend a couple of good vendors, but I'll let you do the legwork to verify if any ... | |
| radiator overheating | 6/26/2007 |
| Q: I have another question for you. As The heat in Florida rises so does my 1972 spitfire mk4. the ... A: Mark, No, the Spitfires weren't really made for the American market, even though we got most of the ... | |
| Speedo | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: My speedo decided to quit working recently, although the cable is actually not all that old (maybe ... A: Steve, The gearbox end of the inner cable was simply squashed to flatten it enough to grab the ... | |
| Ignition coils | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: Jim I have a 1976 spitfire and I need to replace the coil it is leaking fluid. I went to a part ... A: Kenneth, You'll be much better off sticking to the original setup, it'll make trouble shooting ... | |
| 1977 Spitfire Speedometer | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I am replacing my Smiths speedometer with an aftermarket speedo and was wondering if you ... A: Mark, If you look at the speedometer face down near the bottom you'll see a 4 digit number. That's ... | |
| spitfire ignition | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: I bought a '78 spitfire 1500 with no keys. I am trying to take the ignition cylinder out to have a ... A: Jamie, It might be better to remove the entire lock assembly and take that to the locksmith. The ... | |
| 76 spitfire | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: i bought my spitfire for $5400 4 yrs ago. it is in great shape. i was wondering what is it worth ... A: Kitty, There are a lot of variables in figuring the price on a Spitfire. What options does the car ... | |
| Triumph Power Problems | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: I own a 78 Triumph Spitfire 1500 that I've had for three years. I am an extremely novice mechanic. ... A: Ryan, Now I'm curious... where can you still find non-ethanol enhanced gasoline? I thought it was ... | |
| 1975 Spitfire Timing Confusion... | 6/21/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to arrive at the correct timing specifications for my '75 Spitfire. In the Bentley ... A: Jeff, It's really a bit of an iterative process... you adjust the timing then tweak the carbs then ... | |
| 1977 Spitfire Fuel Gauge replacement | 6/21/2007 |
| Q: On my 1977 Spitfire I am wanting to replace the fuel gauge with an aftermarket gauge. To make sure ... A: Mark, The stock sending unit should read from 20 ohms (full) to 200 ohms (empty). You can verify ... | |
| 1975 Spitfire Timing Confusion... | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to arrive at the correct timing specifications for my '75 Spitfire. In the Bentley ... A: Jeff, Keep in mind that the ignition settings are based on EVERYTHING else being within spec. Carb ... | |
| Steering problem | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought a 1976 1500 and after having it for about 3 weeks I brought it to get the oil ... A: Zeb, I can't imagine offhand what they might have done, although let me toss out some ideas. First ... | |
| '77 triumph spitfire idle battery issue | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: I was putting a new radio in my 77 1500 and went for a ride afterwards. I went in to a parking lot ... A: Will, If the battery isn't charging, it's one of two things... the battery or the alternator. ... | |
| revving then stalling | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I have a '73 spit 1500 and recently when starting the car fully choked it turns over and revs ... A: Bob, Next time, try popping open the fuel filler cap. If you get good gas flow then... it's the ... | |
| revving then stalling | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I have a '73 spit 1500 and recently when starting the car fully choked it turns over and revs ... A: Bob, It sounds like you're not enough fuel to the carb. Quick test: Get a can of starting ether ... | |
| 1977 Spitfire Distributor and Timing | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1977 Spitfire that I bought used and in really great condition. Just a quick rundown. It ... A: Mark, Keep in mind that during the '70s Triumph was constantly struggling to meet federal emissions ... | |
| Alternator Conversion | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a MK2 Spitfire. I want to convert for the generator to an alternator. Do you have any advise ... A: Sorry, I guess if I'm going to plagerize someone else's tech link I need to include the whole thing. ... | |
| Alternator Conversion | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: I have a MK2 Spitfire. I want to convert for the generator to an alternator. Do you have any advise ... A: Phil, Here's a good set of directions I found while poking around.... Fitting the GM Alternator to ... | |
| headlights and diff mount bushes | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: On 1972 spitfire mk4 This is what they are doing. I turn my headlight switch to headlight on ,and ... A: Unfortunately I'm not near my repair manuals with the wiring diagrams so I can't give detailed ... | |
| rear hub removal. | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: Jim, sorry to bother you again so soon but am backed up in a box again. I am trying to replace the ... A: Lamar, Sorry to say it, you need to get your hands on the proper hub puller, it's much cheaper than ... | |
| breaks | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: keep up the good work off helping out people and speading your knowlage! my question is how do ... A: How about we use the term "brake" for the system and parts that stop the car? When they stop ... | |
| 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: I own a 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500. I had the engine rebuilt and have slowly but surely, as $ ... A: Tony, I believe the common name for the part you're looking for is the "service interval ... | |
| breaks | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: keep up the good work off helping out people and speading your knowlage! my question is how do ... A: Jack, Don't hate brakes.. they keep you from having worse breaks. Seriously, to remove the ... | |
| 1978 Spitfire automatic tranny | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1978 Triumph Spitfire that has a 1500 cc engine. My wife fell in love with this car but she ... A: David, There's no "drop in" automatic transmission that I've heard of. There are companies making ... | |
| 70 Spit nut sizes | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: a real strange question but very serious to understand. The Spit is a British car but my metric ... A: Lamar, At the time that your Spitfire was produced, the "standard" hardware used in the UK was UNC ... | |
| Putting a J drive OD in a 1969 TR6 | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: I have installed a J Drive OD Trans in my 69 TR6. It has a new Roadster factory wiring Harness. Is ... A: Stephen, Not sure what you mean. Is the unit fully installed with driveshaft connected? Did you ... | |
| 1975 triump spitfire 1500 | 6/10/2007 |
| Q: If i want to remove the emissions canister from my 75 spitfire 1500, how do I reroute the hoses? ... A: Larry, I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish. The carbon cannister on the later Spitfires ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 lower on drivers side than on passenger side | 6/8/2007 |
| Q: My spitfire is lower on the drivers side than on the passenger side. I have checked the distance of ... A: Brendan, That's a common complaint with the Spitfire, especially the later cars with the "swing ... | |
| TR3 timing & advance curves | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: Where can I find advance curves for 1959 TR3? Distributor has both centrifugal and vacuum advance ... A: Jim, I'm a big fan of the Bentley manuals as being good resources for technical and repair work as ... | |
| Weber Carb Problem | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: Our problem seems to be progressing and I was apparently way off base thinking it was the carb. ... A: Dan, There's an electrical switch at the back end of the column lock. It's not unusual to have ... | |
| 79 spit tranny | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: love your expert advice!My question is:I have a 70 1500 spit.Will the gears from a 74 spit tranny ... A: Pam, Do you want to swap the actual guts of the transmissions, or swap transmissions as units? ... | |
| '72 Triumph Spitfire | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: I just purchased a 72 Triumph Spitfire. The brakes went out as soon as I bought it. It had not been ... A: Joel, There are two possible problems... air in system or the rear brake shoes are adjusted too far ... | |
| brake and clutch fluid change | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: I love reading your tips on all experts everyday it has saved me so much time and money so far.. ... A: Mark, Yes, as the hydraulic seals age they release bits of the seal material into the fluid. ... | |
| Coolant in #4 Cylinder | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 1979 Spitfire that recently had a stuck #3 exhaust Valve. Removed the head and took ... A: Scott, All I can think of is that the gasket might have a bad spot around one of the water ... | |
| 1978 Spitfire Rattling etc. | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: ..I have a couple questions... Question #1: I know this is probably a broad question, but I was ... A: Ethan, Let me see if I can cover all of this. And if there's anything you feel uncomfortable ... | |
| 74' Spitfire 1500 power improvement | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: I have just purchased a 74' Spitfire 1500 (at least the badging on the outside says 1500). Car runs ... A: Todd, First off... bolt on power kinda limits what you can do. Essentially you can either improve ... | |
| Spitfire Mk4 Coughing and Spluttering When Cold | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: I've already had some electrical work done on her for other reasons but one of my remaining issues ... A: Mike, First suggestion... find a better garage. When the car is cold it will not run at it's best, ... | |
| fluids what to use | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: I have a question I just got a 1972 spitfire. that has been sitting for 16 years looking to change ... A: Mark, Manual trans and differential. 90wt GL-4 (never GL-5) gear oil. Castrol Hypoy-C used to be ... | |
| Tr6 cutting out | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: Hey Jim, I own a 76 triumph and it has been driving well until it has suddenly done this thing where ... A: Ben, You're running the stock Stromberg carb setup? If so, have you checked the dashpot oil? They ... | |
| Tr6 cutting out | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: Hey Jim, I own a 76 triumph and it has been driving well until it has suddenly done this thing where ... A: Ben, Does it happen when you're starting to coast, or just upshifted? Have you pulled the ... | |
| Tr6 cutting out | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: Hey Jim, I own a 76 triumph and it has been driving well until it has suddenly done this thing where ... A: Ben, Does it seem to have the problem when you've been driving the same amount of time? Hard ... | |
| weber carb problem | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: we have a 1978 1500 with a weber DVG carb. The car was stored about 1 and 1/2 years with half tank ... A: Dan, Well, I was going to start off guessing that the car ran ok before it was parked... with the ... | |
| window to soft top seal | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: Jim Thanks for the prompt response. I agree that a wet country has done an amazingly bad job of ... A: John, My first Spitfire had been hit with a boat trailer, bending the soft top frame. With the ... | |
| '76 Spitfire diff noise | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: We have a '76 Spitfire at the shop that has a clicking noise in the rear of the car when cruising, ... A: Sean, Where is your shop located? Which way does it make noise? Right or left? Or don't you ... | |
| window to soft top seal | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: Jim I skimmed through your previous answers listing and can't find one that deals with my question ... A: John, What's a soft top? Just kidding.. too many years of autocrossing the dedicated race car.... ... | |
| tr-6 starting | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: My 76 tr-6 starts right up when cold, but refuses to start when warmed up. It readily starts by push ... A: Mark, Have you taken a look at the spark plugs? Sooty black or clean white? When you try to start ... | |
| Gt6 Gearbox | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: i have a 1973 Triumph GT6 which i have been told is fitted with an american box (whether or not this ... A: Jamie, I have no idea what an "american box" is, all the GT6s had the same gearbox regardless of ... | |
| 1976 Spitfire | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: Threequestions: 1. What is your recommendation for a service manual for 1976 Triumph Spitfire. I ... A: Rex, In my opinion the Robert Bentley manual for the Spitfire is the best resource for the car. It ... | |
| triumph speed | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: I have a Triumph 1500. On the Highway, I rarely do 65mph due to the high revs of the car. Is there a ... A: Benjamin, How much do you want to spend? There are two options with the stock drivetrain. Either ... | |
| Spitfire Mk 4 Horn and Wiper Problem | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: Both the horn and wipers were fine, then the horn failed and then shortly after the wipers failed. ... A: Mike, The fuse box is on the drivers side (LHD cars) on the firewall above the footwell. It's got ... | |
| '79 Spitfire Not starting | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a '79 Spitfire 1500 that is suddenly not starting. The battery turns it over but nothing is ... A: Bill, Well, you need three basic things to get the car running: Fuel Air Fire Most problems are ... | |
| triumph 1973 spitfire 1500 backfire | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: i just purchased this car it was running fine at purchase and now it is sputtering and backfiring ... A: Andy, It's either ignition or fuel. Go for the basics first. Ignition: Verify all 4 cylinders are ... | |
| Runawy Spitfire | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: My idle has climbed in 2 days from 900 RPM to now its at an unbearable 3500 RPM – its like riding a ... A: Chris, Now you've got me wishing I had either my manuals or a spare carb sitting here at work.... ... | |
| Fuel flow from tank stops | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I have a bizzare problem in which the gas stops flowing from the fuel tank suddenly. I have already ... A: I run my Spitfires in the Texas summer and haven't had fuel flow stop from vapor lock. I have had ... | |
| Runawy Spitfire | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: My idle has climbed in 2 days from 900 RPM to now its at an unbearable 3500 RPM – its like riding a ... A: Yes, that's the proper process for adjusting mixture. One word of caution, there's a special tool ... | |
| weber carb/spit 1500-uphill run problem | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: Jim, Both you and Howard have been very helpful. Thank you. Problem: Having chased a lean condition, ... A: Brian, Are you sure the ignition timing is correct? And you've verified the float level in the ... | |
| Fuel flow from tank stops | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: I have a bizzare problem in which the gas stops flowing from the fuel tank suddenly. I have already ... A: Bob, It sounds like you still have some junk in the system. When I bought my '73 1500 I installed ... | |
| Sudden Ignition Failure | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: I own a 1979 US model spitfire 1500. I use it as a daily driver here in Seattle. A couple of weeks ... A: Joshua, Let me give you some basic ignition theory then we'll dive into your system. The coil in a ... | |
| Runawy Spitfire | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: My idle has climbed in 2 days from 900 RPM to now its at an unbearable 3500 RPM – its like riding a ... A: Chris, If you're having trouble getting the needle adjusted properly it's possible to swap in a new ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire clutch | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Spitfire that the clutch was slipping on. I replaced the clutch and pressure plate ... A: Keith, Yes, having the clutch disc in backwards will make it difficult/impossible to release the ... | |
| Fuel flow from tank stops | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a bizzare problem in which the gas stops flowing from the fuel tank suddenly. I have already ... A: Bob, Refresh my memory, what year car are you working on? If it's an "emissions" version then the ... | |
| Fuel flow from tank stops | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: I have a bizzare problem in which the gas stops flowing from the fuel tank suddenly. I have already ... A: Bob, What year Spitfire? Did you clean the fuel lines all the way back? Are you still running the ... | |
| shifting problems with a 1976 spitfire 1500 (no overdrive) | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: I recently went to put my 1976 triumph 1500 in reverse and something has happened and the shifting ... A: Tom, Actually there is a short linkage on top of the trans. If you remove the trans cover you'll ... | |
| 76 Spitfire | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: I'd like your recommendation on the best oil (make & grade) & gas (octane) for a 76 Spitfire. A: Oil? Castrol GTX of course! Grade depends a bit on engine condition and your local temperatures. ... | |
| Runawy Spitfire | 5/11/2007 |
| Q: My idle has climbed in 2 days from 900 RPM to now its at an unbearable 3500 RPM – its like riding a ... A: Chris, What condition are the plugs in? Bright white insulators or sooty black? Typically an ... | |
| Fluxuating loss of power at 80-100km | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a 77 spit. New gas tank, new/rebuilt SU carb, new gas filters, new mech pump, fuel lines away ... A: Nelson, Which SU? One of the HS? Or an HIF? If it's an HS, it's easy to check the fuel level, ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 electrical issue | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I just acquired a 1976 spitfire. It has not run for five years. I have replaced the battery ... A: Andy, First off, make sure you've got some good tools. A decent multimeter/voltmeter is a must. ... | |
| 75 Spitfire | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: The square O-rings in the pressure differential switch actuator (the witch turns on the break light ... A: Thomas, There are several options. First off, I did a quick check of vendors and Rimmer Bros in ... | |
| engine quits to idle | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: Everytime I rev the engine to 2000-3000 rpm, it almost stalls out and goes back to idle. This ... A: John, It sounds kind of like a fuel problem, although since it continues to idle then the car is ... | |
| Ballpark cost for Spitfire 1500,'76 | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1976 Spitfire that I parked 15 years ago. It has been covered and on jacks in a garage. ... A: Gary, There are too many variables involved. First off, what shape was the car in when it was put ... | |
| 1967 Triumph Herald 1200 saloon pinion tail bearing removal | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me how to remove the pinion tail bearing in the Herald 1200. I have removed the shaft ... A: Dominick, In order to do the job properly it's necessary to remove the ring carrier from the ... | |
| Replaced all ignition - still no spark!! | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: Really hope you can help me, I'm utterly, utterly dejected here! I'm having huge problems trying to ... A: Ewan, You neglect to mention whether the car is still fitted with the factory Lucas ignition system ... | |
| Idle adjust for 80 spitfire | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a totally stock 1980 spitfire and having trouble with the idle settings. It has the auto ... A: Edward, You should have the water choke, if it's original for the 1980. Correct? It's a bit ... | |
| Clutch | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: Jim, Just rebult my 76 Spit. engine. Got a new clutch before putting the engine back in. Working ... A: Roy, There's a push rod that connects the brake pedal to the clutch master. It's not uncommon for ... | |
| high oil pressure | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: My Spitfire's oil light came on the other day. I installed an oil pressure gauge so that I could ... A: Brian, The main drawback to slightly higher oil pressure is that it will rob some engine power in ... | |
| high oil pressure | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: My Spitfire's oil light came on the other day. I installed an oil pressure gauge so that I could ... A: Brian, Was the runnning obersvation taken on the road? Or just in the garage? 65 is still on the ... | |
| Steering | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: Jim: You have helped me a lot with my 65 Spitfire and I have two more questions for you. First, ... A: Jeff, You might check/bleed the clutch system, if you're not fully disengaging the clutch that ... | |
| fan belt | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: what is the recommended replacement belt for a '74 1500 A: Dennis, A quick peek found one supplier (Quinton Hazel) lists the fan belt as a "QBA-1088". It's ... | |
| Spitfire mk3 will not start | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: Similar to the question from Gavin. My 1964 mk3 spit has been stood some considerable time and when ... A: Paul, Couple of thoughts... I had a similar problem with my '73 1500 in that it'd start ok, rev up ... | |
| Spitfire Speedo Pinion | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: Jim, Do you know where I can find a NKC49 - 18 tooth speedo pinion that won't cost a fortune? I ... A: Mick, Have you tried any of the US suppliers? The NKC49 was used on the US spec J-type overdrives ... | |
| Metallic rattle at 3400 rpm | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Spitfire (no overdrive) that runs and shifts well. Recently it has developed a ... A: Corey, It could be just about anything that's loose mechanically.... although when you're driving ... | |
| triumph spitfire clutch | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: Anyway the last one i bought is a 1980 & its all running well apart from the clutch pedal has gone ... A: Vince, It's likely one of three things: 1) Clutch slave is frozen in the full out position 2) ... | |
| Spitfire Engine & Box | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: Could you tell me if its possible to fit a 1980 spitfire 1500cc Engine & box into a 1974 GT6? ... A: Jamie. Anything is possible, although it might be tough to fit a Spitfire engine into a 1974 GT6, ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 1977 | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: i am in the process in restoring my 1977 spitfire. my question is: is there anything especial about ... A: George, Well, how many other 30 year old cars do you see around these days? ;) The Triumph ... | |
| GT6 Identity Plate | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: Im restoring a Triumph GT6 and am just about to finish it and ive realised that ive lost the ... A: Jamie, The only way I know of properly documenting your original commission plate is to get a BMIHT ... | |
| Steering | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: Jim: You have helped me a lot with my 65 Spitfire and I have two more questions for you. First, ... A: Jeff, 1) Steering column "free play". There are a couple of places to check. The front end of ... | |
| spitfire rear hub seals | 3/13/2007 |
| Q: Rebuilding spitfire rear half shafts...everything apart no problem, cleaned up and all ready to go ... A: David, According to the factory manual the seal is pressed into the trunnion with the lips ... | |
| Spitfire Seat Covers (1972) | 3/1/2007 |
| Q: Any idea where I can purchase seat covers for my 1972 Spitfire (U.S. Model) without being taken for ... A: Matt, What you might do is look in the yellow pages for a local upholstery shop. I've had friends ... | |
| spit tranny follow up | 2/19/2007 |
| Q: ,, it really helps me get on the right path. My follow up is .>>> are the flywheel bolt dimensions ... A: Keith, 1) For SAE bolts they're defined by the diameter of the bolt thread (shaft). So a 3/8" ... | |
| Zenith Manual Choke Conversion | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: Jim, The water choke on my 79 Spitfire (Zenith 150) is not performing very well. I've tried ... A: John, I haven't done the conversion on a Zenith Stromberg but I did to the converion on a Weber ... | |
| spit tranny | 2/16/2007 |
| Q: ,I have this 1296cc motor >(FK27556UE),,,and I wanted to know if this transmission >(FH 53 91) will ... A: Keith, The FK Engine and FH gearbox are from the same series car, Spitfire Mk IV. There shouldn't ... | |
| 1972 GT6 | 2/15/2007 |
| Q: The GT6+ needles are a good suggestion, I should be able to find out what type they were easy ... A: Craig, I personally haven't tinkered with any of the GT6's I've had, so I'm not the best source of ... | |
| Triumph 1963B | 2/13/2007 |
| Q: My husband recently passed away and left his 1963B Triumph in the garage. He was the original owner ... A: Norma, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. The best way to get an "expert" appraisal would be ... | |
| Stripped Sump bolt hole | 2/9/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I recently picked up a winter project - 76 Spit, my first sports car. While replacing the ... A: Adam, It may be possible to remove the front sealing block with the engine in place, but as you've ... | |
| oil sump removal - part 2 | 2/8/2007 |
| Q: Jim: As always, thanks for all your great advice. I'm ready to remove the oil sump and replace the ... A: Jeff, Well, usually the engine compartment benefited from the "Triumph corrosion prevention ... | |
| how to split the rearquarter pannels | 2/7/2007 |
| Q: how to split the rearquarter pannels, after taking off the little clips. A: Jeff, Which Triumph are you working on? I'm going to guess Spitfire, correct me if I'm wrong. The ... | |
| oil pan gasket | 1/21/2007 |
| Q: Jim: I very much appreciate all the help you've been as I restore my 65 Spitfire. I'm about to ... A: Jeff, Yes, it'll help keep your garage floor clean (and your rides uneventful) if you properly glue ... | |
| ignition timing | 1/21/2007 |
| Q: i have a 1979 triumph spitfire 1500. i am putting a new electronic ignition in the car but in order ... A: Travis, The simplest thing I can think of is to put a band of masking tape around the distributor ... | |
| 1975 Spitfire 1500 Rear End Oil & Top Speed | 1/17/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1975 Spitfire 1500 and I recently drove around town for approximately 90 miles. During that ... A: Todd, It's possible that if a bearing is failing in the differential it could put enough drag on ... | |
| 73 spitfire | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: I have stripped down a 73 spit. for complete restoration but have a problem as I am about to put ... A: Neil, Yes, all of the manuals seem to conviently leave out the details on where the frame/body pads ... | |
| 1976 spitfire | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: My son is restoring a 1976 Spitfire and he severely damaged the passenger side rear axle while ... A: Doug, Yes, there is a special heavy duty puller designed to remove the hub from the axle without ... | |
| TR6 Brakes | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: My daughter has a 1972 tr6 not run for 10 years, her Husband has fitted new brake system, but is ... A: Doug, Is it confirmed to be "air" or is is just a spongy pedal? Couple of things to check: Make ... | |
| 72 Spitfire Mx IV. Weber Carb - Cust out when warm | 12/17/2006 |
| Q: I swapped the carb from the Zenith/Stromberg to a Weber 32/36 DGV with a water choke. Everything ... A: Gavin, That sounds like either a) the choke isn't disengaging completely (but you've ruled that ... | |
| TR3 A | 12/12/2006 |
| Q: I'm fairly confident that I got the fuel float levels correct. I'll look in the dashpot area and ... A: Chip, The rotor is easily replaceable, it's the shaft that the rotor sits on that's part of the ... | |
| CLUTCH | 12/11/2006 |
| Q: I did what you told me THANK YOU. Now it appears I need fluid for the clutch. What type of fluid ... A: Ben, The hydraulics in the Spitfire were designed for the normal DOT brakefluid, currently at DOT3. ... | |
| TR3 A | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: My TR3 loses power in higher gears. As I get into 4th gear, the car starts to lose power. The ... A: Chip, It's either a timing issue or a fuel supply issue. When you rebuilt the carbs did you set ... | |
| 1974 tr6 timing | 12/7/2006 |
| Q: what is the best way to set the timing and what should it read A: Zane, The best way to set the ignition timing is to use a timing light. Static timing on the 1974 ... | |
| Bumpers 1980 spitfire | 12/7/2006 |
| Q: Jim, You have answered questions on my 1980 spit before and have been a great help...thanks. I ... A: Dan, You're right, the rubber bumpers are tough to find as they were only used for the last year or ... | |
| 75 Spitfire Breakerless Ignition | 12/7/2006 |
| Q: Just thought you might like to know how everything turned out. I am presently looking for a points ... A: Well, good luck with the distributor issue. As to the clutch, let me see if I can get ahead a bit ... | |
| 75 Spitfire Breakerless Ignition | 12/6/2006 |
| Q: One last question, as I am quiet new to refirbing old cars especially british cars, what would you ... A: Thomas, The simplest mechanical points system I can recommend it to hunt for a good condition ... | |
| 75 Spitfire Breakerless Ignition | 12/6/2006 |
| Q: The Distributor and plug wires are ok. I used an ohm meter to check and I can see a spark with a ... A: Thomas, One last check.... crank the engine (or hand spin it via the crank pulley) with the ... | |
| 75 Spitfire Breakerless Ignition | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: I have preformed the experiment that you suggested and I have fire at the coil wire, however when I ... A: Thomas, I hope you mean you had the plug wire lodged near the grounded metal and weren't holding ... | |
| CLUTCH | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: JUST BOUGHT A 1980 SPITFIRE 1500, AND WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR. IS ... A: Ben, The easiest way to get access to the clutch slave cylinder (and bleed nipple) is to remove the ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire 1972 - Not Starting | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: Perfect! Thanks, Jim. It's running. Next issue is the carb. (Surprise!) I'm running the Zenith ... A: Gavin, I take it you're referring to the dashpot? It has the mixture needle affixed to the bottom? ... | |
| 75 Spitfire Breakerless Ignition | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: I just purchased a 1975 Spitfire that has sat in a garage for the last 28 years. The last time it ... A: Thomas, The simple test for the "Opus" system is to take the high tension lead from the coil to the ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire 1972 - Not Starting | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: I just bouight a 72 Spitfire. It is in pretty good condition, but it is just not starting. The ... A: Gavin, Yes, #1 is the plug at the front of the engine. Normally the distributor cap is set with #1 ... | |
| triumph spitfire not getting fuel | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: ok, so i followed your advice and sprayed starter into the carb and the car starts instantly and ... A: Tom, There are several things that'll keep fuel from getting into the engine. Before I start, ... | |
| Crankcase Pressure 80 Spitfire | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: Jim, This engine has 51K mi. I put new rings on old pistons. I had the block and pistons gauged ... A: Dan, What you want to do is apply engine vacuum to the crankcase to help keep oil IN the engine. ... | |
| Crankcase Pressure 80 Spitfire | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I just put new rings and bearings in in the last couple of weeks, I can't believe that could ... A: Dan, The best setup is to run the vent from the valve cover into a sealed catch bottle then into ... | |
| 1972 Spitfire clutch problem | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: I hear a whine when I push the clutch in. It doesn't happen all of the time. There seems to be no ... A: Alan, When the sound does happen, is it constant? Or does it die away in a couple of seconds? If ... | |
| spitefire engine swap with GT6 engine | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: ihave a 79 spitfire, i want to place a GT6 engine in it. what do i need to do, can i also use the ... A: Wes, Installing the 6 cylinder into the Spitfire isn't too difficult a task, but there are some ... | |
| Crankcase Pressure 80 Spitfire | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I have just put a Weber downdraft on my Spitfire after rebuilding the engine and it runs ... A: Dan, The factory setup for the Spitfire had the vent from the valve cover going into a T fitting. ... | |
| 1980 Spitfire 1500 | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: My carb needs to be rebuilt, two questions Is this a Stromberg Carb or Weber and how difficult is ... A: Bob, The original carb on the Spitfire is a Stromberg CD variant. As your car is 26 years old it ... | |
| not starting | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: ok, i tried it... plenty of spark. what would my next step be?hi. i just bought a 78 triumph with ... A: The basic equation for a running engine is that you need: 1)Fuel 2)Fire (spark) 3)Timing You've ... | |
| conversion | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: i have another question... i'm not sure yet the route i want to go with the triumph. whether i ... A: Tom, Keep in mind that the Honda engine is for a Front Wheel Drive setup. So the first issue would ... | |
| not starting | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: i just bought a 78 triumph with only 40000 original miles. i was driving it about 2 straight hours ... A: Tom, What's possible is that by running the battery down you killed the Lucas electronic ignition. ... | |
| Compression Problem 80 Spitfire | 11/13/2006 |
| Q: Jim, If I am not making any since it's because I am banging my head against the wall. After I had ... A: Dan, All I can suggest is doing a tear down to check the cam. If you're not getting good ... | |
| 79 Spitfire Clutch Problem | 11/13/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I recently aquired a 79 Spit that has been sitting indoors for 6 years. I've got it running ... A: John, What sometimes happens is the clutch disc bonds itself to either the flywheel or pressure ... | |
| spitfire questions | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: the first one is there any interchangable rims with a trimph spitfire 1500, i need a wider rear tire ... A: Miguel, The only cars that I know of that used the 4x 3.75 PCD of the Spitfire are: Triumph ... | |
| 1980 spitfire | 11/11/2006 |
| Q: i am looking at purchasing a 1980 spit, i owned a 1979 a long time ago. loved the car, getting back ... A: Scott, There are quite a few things that could cause the car to "just quit". The fuel pump is one. ... | |
| Fluid on Driver Floor Mats | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1975 1500 that's all original except for a new master cylinder (a few years ago). It has ... A: Todd, First guess would be brake fluid (or clutch... same fluid). There's typically not much ... | |
| Spitfire startup | 11/9/2006 |
| Q: Have a problem starting my 1500. Seems I need to prime the carb with starting fluid before it'll ... A: Butch, First off, are you using the choke when you start the car? Or do you have a later water ... | |
| 1973 TR6 | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: any idea ware i can find a modern pi setup?hello I'm trying to deiced if I should install a super ... A: Frank, One vendor of a replacement FI system is TWM ... | |
| '79 Spitfire Distributor replacement | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: Alan, What manual are you reading? I'm working off the Bentley Manual for the 1975-1980 ... A: Alan, Do you know which distributor body was used for the Pertronix setup? The early Triumphs ... | |
| '79 Spitfire Distributor replacement | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: The new distributor is the CEI version while the old one was the EID version. I got everything ... A: Alan, What manual are you reading? I'm working off the Bentley Manual for the 1975-1980 ... | |
| '76 spitfire MC | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: Looking for the correct exploded view diagrams for the tandem Master Cylinder( small cap ). The ... A: Jerry, Not quite sure what you mean. The rear brakes aren't working? First off, the '76 Spitfire ... | |
| '79 Spitfire Distributor replacement | 10/21/2006 |
| Q: while restoring a '79 California spitfire to driveable condition (previous had it 'stored' for two ... A: Alan, The #1 cylinder position should be closer to the 11 o'clock position, looking from the ... | |
| 1973 TR6 | 10/21/2006 |
| Q: Frank A: Frank, Sorry, I can't give much help either way. Both approaches have their positive and negative ... | |
| TR6 PI oil | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I have a problem with my tr6pi and can't solve the problem. After I while, 20 minutes, the car ... A: Edwin, That's the "charm" of driving an old English convertible. There's a reason the rear end of ... | |
| Tips on changeing the kingpin and engine tunning. | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I've just recently bought a triumph spit 1500 1981. after only three weeks problems have started, ... A: Ian, If the vertical link snapped in the trunnion then it's definitely worth taking a good look at ... | |
| Compression Problem 80 Spitfire | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: Jim, Yes -Did both tests and it has std. size pistons and cylinders. We are double checking the ... A: Dan, There aren't "sleeves" in the Spitfire block, it's all one casting. The depression in the ... | |
| Compression Problem 80 Spitfire | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: Jim, Thanks for the quick reply...yes, we have double checked the valves. The machine shop that ... A: Dan, Did you try a wet compression test, or only dry? And what size pistons are in the block? Std ... | |
| Compression Problem 80 Spitfire | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I bought a 1980 Spitfire that sat in a warehouse for 8 yrs. It is in great shape, no rust, ... A: Dan, Two thoughts. One is that it is possible that the cylinder is ovalled.... that's why it's not ... | |
| 1979 1500 No Spark | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I just bought a very nice original 1979 Spitfire 1500 that has been sitting indoors for five ... A: John, As you'll need a new battery anyway it's the cheapest way to start troubleshooting. Yes, ... | |
| rear pivot arm spacing | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to restore a 1977 spitfire. I did not take the tub from the chassis so I did not remove ... A: Richard, Those shims are used to correct set/correct the toe on the rear wheels. As the cars all ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire Mk III | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: I wonder if I could ask you a question on a 1968 Triumph Spitfire Mk III? Please tell me the optimum ... A: Phillip, It depends upon what "optimum" you're looking for. Performance? Economy? Reliability? ... | |
| Spitfire trans slipping | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: Jim... Did a body off resto of 64 Mk1 Spit. Put in reman'd 4-spd tran from Spitbits. No overdrive. ... A: Larry, It sounds like either the pressure plate isn't down tight or the throwout bearing is hanging ... | |
| leaking carb | 9/25/2006 |
| Q: I fixed the leaking carb with a new float, needle, and gasket. The needle was no longer shutting ... A: Jeff, There's one item I didn't see in your "fixed" list.. the brakes. The Spitfire does have a ... | |
| lost spark when engine cranks | 9/25/2006 |
| Q: Jim ,it appears to be a stock lucas eid distributor the coil looks newer and has no external ... A: Dave, A couple of thoughts for trying to pinpoint the problem. First off, get a decent multimeter ... | |
| lost spark when engine cranks | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: My son and I are restoring a 1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500. We got the car running but now lost spark ... A: Dave, In the stock setup you have a 6 volt coil and a ballast resistor in series with the coil on ... | |
| TR4A timing cover tensioner | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: my tr4a (1965) has a front seal leak. i took everything off and the whole cover leaked as well. ... A: Joel, From all of my information the tensioner pin is essentially a clevis pin, held into the ... | |
| rebuilt engine | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: Aloha, I live in honolulu hawaii and need a rebuilt engine for a 77 triumph spitfire 1500 that I'm ... A: Kelly, I'm sure that several of the vendors listed on the Vintage Triumph Register Website ... | |
| Fuel | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: Jim I own a 1978 triumph spitfire 1500. I have owned the car for 10 years. The previous owner ... A: Brian, If the car is stalling when you step on the gas it's either mixture or timing. Simple ... | |
| Fuel sender alignment on Spitfire 1500 | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: The fuel guage on my 1980 Spitfire reads about 1/2 a tank low (i.e. when the tank is full, the guage ... A: Jim, The sender is keyed so that it should only be possible to fit into the tank in the correct ... | |
| Wipers won't stop (park) on Spitfire 1500 | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: I have an '80 Spitfire 1500. My problem is that I can't get the windshield wipers to stop after ... A: Jim, The way that parking wipers work is that in addition to the power signal from the wiper switch ... | |
| Spitfire wiring harness | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1977 spitfire that has had the wiring totally screwed up the wire under the dash looks like ... A: Chris, There are several things you can do. One is to read the classifieds (or post a wanted ad) ... | |
| 1980 triumph spitfire | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: and thank you for taking myI am a former owner of a '68 GT6(purchased 1971)and now am about to buy a ... A: Mike, The most common problem with English cars of the era is rust. Especially as you're in an ... | |
| Spitfire tandem master cylinder | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: Please can you let me know the correct orientation of the 4 seals in the master cylinder on my 1980 ... A: Alvan, I take it you didn't observe the orientations as you removed them? Keep in mind that the ... | |
| Stromberg carb adjustment | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1972 triumph spitfire with 60,585 original miles. I began noticing or smelling gas under ... A: Miguel, The "so called" proper tool for adjusting the float level is a pair of Needle Nose pliers. ... | |
| TR-4A clutch adjustment | 9/17/2006 |
| Q: Jim: My neighbor has a 1967 TR-4A. We installed a rebuilt tranny but we are having problems ... A: Keith, As you know the clutch is hydraulically controlled. If it's not releasing far enough that ... | |
| 1977 Spitfire Carb and Timing | 9/16/2006 |
| Q: I have a 77 Spitfire that was backfireing through the exhaust until I adjusted the timming to 2 ... A: Thomas, If it is still the original carb (after 29 years) it will be a Stromberg CD150. Either the ... | |
| clutch hard line problem | 9/15/2006 |
| Q: i have recently begun restoring a 1967 triumph spitfire with a 1974 engine. now i havent got the ... A: Sam, Where does the grounding strap from the battery go? Typically the "ground" lead gets bolted ... | |
| 74 spitfire 1500 lights | 9/13/2006 |
| Q: is the oil light suppose to come on when the igtion key is turned on? and the hazard flaher or the ... A: The oil light should be lit until the oil pressure has reached minimum operating pressure. Usually ... | |
| ignition switch | 9/13/2006 |
| Q: Great site___ I have a 1976 Triumph Tr6 1500 The problem I have no key for the car or trunk I am ... A: Joe, Which car are you working on? A TR6 or a Spitfire 1500? You can usually remove the trunk ... | |
| leaking carb | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: It's a stock fuel pump, but the folks where I bought it call it a reproduction. Should I check the ... A: Jeff, Which carb, HS2 or HS4s? If you're getting smoke from around the throttle shaft it sounds ... | |
| Clutch slave bleeding | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I have bought a 1980 Spitfire that has sat in a warehouse for 8 years with out being started ... A: Dan, One possibility is that the pressure plate has bonded to the driven disc after sitting for so ... | |
| leaking carb | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: The fan is fixed, and I installed a new fuel pump. Now I seem to have a leak in the front carb. ... A: did you replace the fuel pump with a stock unit or did you convert to an electric pump? If it's ... | |
| spitfire 1500 differential noise | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: I rebuilt my Spitfire's rear end about 3000 miles ago. All new gears, seals, and bearings. It has ... A: B C, Did you use the proper crushable spacer or did you have to resort to shimming the pinion to ... | |
| GT6 Rotoflex rear hub fitting | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: When fitting the rear hub on a rotoflex equiped car, the shop manual says to use a churchill tool to ... A: Brett, I've been polling my own experts about this problem and the best solution seems to be: Fit ... | |
| head gasket | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: 1977 triumph spitfire, water in raditor bubbles, water in oil, motor rebuilt bord 0.40 over head ... A: Larry, Was the block decked? Enough to eliminate the "sealing ring" machined into the top of the ... | |
| spitfire mk4 1300 gearbox | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: I need to change my gearbox. Is there any gerabox from another spitfire model that fits? or with ... A: Carlos, You can (in theory) fit any year Spitfire or Herald gearbox into you car, with all the ... | |
| TRIUMPH TR6 BRAKE REPAIRS | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: I have been following the Haynes manual but find this section vague. I have the brake drum off and ... A: John, The shoes are held in place by the springs (top and bottom of the shoe) and by retaining pins ... | |
| 1975 Spitfire - Starting Problem | 8/26/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1975 Spitfire 1500 with a Zenith Stromberg CD Carb - The manual choke incorporates a valve ... A: Paul, Are you positive that the choke cable is moving the choke lever the correct amount? That's ... | |
| Spitfire Rear Axle Re-assembly | 8/24/2006 |
| Q: Jim - I am rebuilding my '78 Spitfire 1500 rear axles. I am in the process of assembling the rear ... A: Ross, Ok, with a bit of digging I think I found the answers you're looking for. I'll just give the ... | |
| Carburator stromberg DC4 | 8/21/2006 |
| Q: Hallo Jim, I have A Triumph spitfire 1500 When the engine runs free I can give full throttle and the ... A: Lode, It sounds like either a vacuum leak or the fuel mixture is set incorrectly. Or that the ... | |
| 74 Spitfire | 8/20/2006 |
| Q: My future son-in-law has a 74 spitfire, he let me drive it and it was great, but after that he tried ... A: John, As that plug/o-ring keep gasoline from dumping on the exhaust it's a good idea to make sure ... | |
| fuel gauge | 8/20/2006 |
| Q: Need help thank you for all your help. on the sending unit there is a black wire and a green with ... A: Belvin, At the gauge the green wire is supplying voltage from the voltage stabilizer (attached ... | |
| hood prop-rod | 8/19/2006 |
| Q: this is almost too simple to ask, I have just purchased a 1980 spitfire. the hood prop-rod is with ... A: Randy, The hood ( bonnet) prop-rod is bolted to the inner fender and the suspension tower on the ... | |
| spitfire paintwork | 8/17/2006 |
| Q: i bought a 1966 mk2 spitfire in great condition only six months ago,but i have a problem with the ... A: Tony, It sounds like either a poor paint job or an old paint job. If the spots are reappearing ... | |
| generator fan | 8/16/2006 |
| Q: My generator has a fan just behind the pulley that seems to be loose. It turns independent of the ... A: Jeff, It's been a few years since I pulled one of those apart... as memory serves the fan was keyed ... | |
| no spark | 8/16/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1968 triumph spitfire mk3. it ran great when we bought it, we drove it about 500 miles and ... A: If it has a Mallory dual point distributor, why did you only replace 1 of the points sets? Are you ... | |
| 1980 Triumph Spitfire | 8/15/2006 |
| Q: I recently acquired my 1980 Spitfire from my father-in-law who bought it new. The car is all ... A: George, From what little info I can find on the '79/'80 cars the sensor switch on the radiator ... | |
| engine1500cc crankcase presure. | 8/14/2006 |
| Q: I have a 73 spitfire for 29yrs now. the last 16 it didnt get drove much. putting it it on the road ... A: Darrell, Was the rebuild done before or after the car sat? And was anything done to the car while ... | |
| tr 6 differential | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: I get a loud bang when I let out the clutch in the rear end. I checked all ujoints ok, I pulled the ... A: John, When you replaced the rubber bushings did you check the frame to make sure it's not cracked? ... | |
| lights | 8/11/2006 |
| Q: what are the lights on the center panel for. there is a green one and a red one circular in size ... A: Belvin, The light on the left is the indicator light for the emergency flashers. The indicator on ... | |
| 1980 Spit Air pump | 8/11/2006 |
| Q: Jim, Bought this car recently and by all looks is stock except the air pump was disconnected and the ... A: Paul, First off, check with your local authorities to make sure that you don't need to keep ALL the ... | |
| overheating | 8/10/2006 |
| Q: I've got a 1979 Spitfire. I just replaced the thermostat and water pump within the last few days, ... A: Daniel, Have you checked the compression? How do the spark plugs look? How does the car drive, ... | |
| Ignition Timing | 8/7/2006 |
| Q: We ahve a Spitfire 1500 which has post/pre ignition and was overheating - we have replaced the ... A: Harold, Which year Spitfire 1500? There were several distributors used during the production of ... | |
| My 1977 Triumph Spitfire overhaul/restoration | 8/7/2006 |
| Q: I parked my '77 the day after my father died in 1992 and it is still sitting in the same spot. It ... A: Nicole, I guess you need to decide whether you really want to drive the Spitfire again. In terms ... | |
| fuel pump | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: Yes, there is gas going to the pump and the line to the carbs is clear. I ordered a fuel pump from ... A: Jeff, The fuel pump should be fairly easy to install. The only thing to keep in mind is that the ... | |
| '79 Spitfire overheating | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: We just bought a 1979 Spitfire last night & had overheating issues on the drive home. We test drove ... A: Ann, If the radiator is empty then there is a leak. It's either an external leak, from the ... | |
| TR6 Clutch Replacement | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: How long should I expect it to take to replace a clutch in a Triumph TR6 A: Craig, It depends upon the condition of the car and your skill level. A clutch job in a TR6 in a ... | |
| ign. system | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: does my 1980 spitfire have a 6 volt coil or a12 volt A: Donald, The correct ignition coil as originally fitted is a 6 volt coil. There is a ballast ... | |
| spitfire 1500 front suspension | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: I have noticed tha when I turn right I can hear a banging noise coming from the front right wheel. I ... A: Andrew, It really sounds more like the A-arms are shifting on worn bushings. Trunnions either ... | |
| fuel pump | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: I now think my fuel pump is broken. I removed the top and can't tell what's wrong, but I did ... A: Jeff, I hate to ask this, but are you sure there's fuel in the tank? That's the first thing to ... | |
| Manifold removal | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: I have a Triumph 1500 1978 with twin SU's and am currently strippng off the exhaust and inlet ... A: Carl, Does the car have the standard exhaust manifold or an aftermarket kit? Regardless, as the ... | |
| spitfire 1500 front suspension | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: I have noticed tha when I turn right I can hear a banging noise coming from the front right wheel. I ... A: Andrew, When you're making a right turn is it a constant noise? Or just once when you make the ... | |
| will my Spit pass inspection? | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: Greetings. I purchased a 1980 Triumph Spitfire from a gentleman who used to race it in SCCA races ... A: Brian, You need to check with the your local state authorities. Some states have set a rolling 25 ... | |
| mpg | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: used to own many Triumph Spitfires, but I can't recall what MPG they normally acheived (when driven ... A: Greg, Keep in mind that many things affect gas mileage: condition of the car, state of tune of the ... | |
| General automotive-spark plugs | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: Jim I have a 1978 spitfire 1500. I recently chagned the spark plugs and set the gap to .25 like ... A: Brian, I hope you set the plug to .025", not .25" What new plugs did you install? Were they the ... | |
| Emissions on 69 TR-6 | 7/29/2006 |
| Q: I have a 69 TR6. The hydro carbons are too high at idle. I have checked compresion and they run ... A: Dennis, I'm guessing you're trying to get past an emissions inspection? From past experience, in ... | |
| How to replace U joints | 7/29/2006 |
| Q: I have recently been given (Yes! Lucky me!) a (Jan) 1973 TR6 that's squeaking and creaking in the ... A: Tracy, The neat thing about the most of the English cars is that they are fairly easy to work on, ... | |
| Gas Mileage | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: I'm considering a 1973 Triumph Spitfire that has, at least according to its owner, been completely ... A: Sherry, Different Spitfire owners have reported gas mileage of anywhere between 15mpg to 40 mpg. ... | |
| Electrical -TR3 | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I just acquired a fully restored TR3B. After having the safety inspection completed, along with a ... A: Doug, I don't have a TR3 wiring harness in front of me but it sounds like someone has been doing a ... | |
| Bleeding the clutch system on 1500 | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I cant get any pedal on the clutch system on my 1980 spit I have rebuilt the master and the slave ... A: Raymond, It seems a silly question... is there fluid in the clutch master reservoir and is the ... | |
| Idle and Transmission | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: Answer - Carl, Let's see if I can cover all the questions. 1). It sounds like either the mixture ... A: Carl, If the center of the derby is open it really sounds like the retainer cap for the shift ... | |
| Need wiring diagram for Spitfire FM92941U | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: Where can I find the most accurate wiring diagram for a 1978 US Spitfire FM92941U? Tks. A: Harve, The Bentley manuals have the reprints of the factory wiring diagrams. The Haynes Spitfire ... | |
| Clutch | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1979 Spitfire. When I push in the clutch it goes almost to the floor before it disengages ... A: Bob, There are two fairly quick and easy things to try. First, there might be air in the line. ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 - Removing Cal emissions | 7/7/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1978 TR Spitfire 1500 that was a California car when originally manufactured. I don't live ... A: John, I'm don't know of a "conversion" article, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I guess a ... | |
| Idle and Transmission | 7/7/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I just bought a 77 spitfire last night here in Denver, CO. The body is SUPER solid and just ... A: Carl, Let's see if I can cover all the questions. 1). It sounds like either the mixture is off or ... | |
| turn signal and four ways | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I have 1975 spitfire and the problem is that I do not have turn signals in the front or rear and ... A: Frank, Yes, the problem could be coming from the fuse box. What most people don't realize is that ... | |
| Tie rod connection to steering rack | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: I am doing a complete restore of a 72 TR6. I was in the process of putting the front suspension back ... A: Bob, Are you installing the shock absorber also? On the Spitfire the shock absorber limits the ... | |
| TR6 Brake Problem | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: I forgot to metion, I replaced both front brake hoses when I rebuilt the calipers. If that were the ... A: Jeff, Darn, I thought I had a simple solution for your problem. I should have picked up on your ... | |
| TR6 Brake Problem | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: I recently began working on a 1976 TR6 that has been in storage for several years. I have replaced ... A: Jeff, The problem is likely in the flexible rubber brake hoses near the brake calipers. With age ... | |
| Tie rod connection to steering rack | 6/27/2006 |
| Q: I am doing a complete restore of a 72 TR6. I was in the process of putting the front suspension back ... A: Bob, Are you saying that even with the wheels angled in towards each other you can't get the tie ... | |
| Spitfire 1500 Starts then Stalls | 6/25/2006 |
| Q: My '79 Spitfire 1500 had been running fine before winter. Then it sat in my garage for the winter ... A: Ed, It is possible for the timing to be off, but it sounds more like fuel starvation. Will the ... | |
| no spark in points | 6/23/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to get a 1974 Triumph TR6 started I am not getting any spark from the points. any idea ... A: Ralph, Stock ignition setup, I take it? Troubleshooting no spark: 1) With the ignition on you ... | |
| 75 Spitfire Crank Shaft Pully | 6/22/2006 |
| Q: Jim, thank you very much for your prompt reply. My impact wrench didn't budge the darn thing. Can ... A: Jim, Yup, I completely blanked on the old rope trick. Luckily I haven't had to use it but I've ... | |
| 75 Spitfire Crank Shaft Pully | 6/21/2006 |
| Q: I'm in the process of replacing the timing cover seal on my 75 spitfire. Can you suggest a couple ... A: Jim, There are several different things you can try, depending upon what resources you have locally ... | |
| Backup switch | 6/18/2006 |
| Q: What is teh easiest ayt to change a backup switch on a 1978 Triumph spitfire 1500? A: Brian, The easiest way is to pay someone to do the work, of course. But I'm guessing that's not ... | |
| Reverse on 1978 Spitfire | 6/16/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 1978 Spitfire with 56,000 that has just begun to jump out of reverse. It won't even ... A: Tom, Usually when the Spitfire trans starts popping out of gear in the forward gears it means that ... | |
| Spitfire Emissions and Hydrocarbons | 6/16/2006 |
| Q: 1977 Spitfire 1500 - SU H2SE carbs Recently failed my MOT on emmisions. Failed as the hydrocarbons ... A: Mike, Rather than answer your questions point for point can I suggest that you investigate a bit ... | |
| dpitfire rear end shakes when letting out clutch | 6/15/2006 |
| Q: I have 1969 spit in great condition recently rescued from storage . the car runs great but when ... A: Jeff, Is it just a momentary shake or does the rear end keep shaking while the car is driving? The ... | |
| 76 TR6 sputters from idle to 2000pm? | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: Jim, i fixed the previous problem because it was running a little rich, however now it seems as my ... A: Ben, I trust you used the proper Stromberg adjusting tool when you made your changes? Unlike the ... | |
| bumpers | 6/11/2006 |
| Q: I am contemplating a 79 spitfire and wanted a different bumper look. Ive' heard that 75 to 80 ... A: Ed, Actually you should be able to exchange the rubber bumpers with the chrome bumper pieces from ... | |
| 1974 Triumph TR6 | 6/11/2006 |
| Q: 1974 tr6 rusted out floor pans frame looks good how hard of a job is it to replace the floor pans ... A: Ralph, The floor pans originally were welded in as part of the bodyshell. As to repair? Are the ... | |
| Seat Covers | 6/10/2006 |
| Q: I am looking for the vinyl material used to make the Triumph seat covers in the '60s. Any source of ... A: Dennis, There are replacement seat cover kits available for the TR6 from the Triumph specialty ... | |
| Kenlowe Thermostat | 6/8/2006 |
| Q: I wonder if you can help: I've a '79 1500 Triumph Spitfire and for quite a while now have been ... A: Jon, Other than finding a thermostat that works correctly the only thing I can really think of is ... | |
| TR6 rear brake adjustment | 6/4/2006 |
| Q: I cannot seem to get the rear brakes on my TVR 2500M (all TR6 hardware)adjusted properly. ... A: Rick, When the system was rebuilt did you inspect all the mechanical linkage (m/c push rod, pedal ... | |
| Head gasket | 5/30/2006 |
| Q: Symptoms are water out the exhaust and bubbles in the radiator. The gaskets I have received have ... A: Ken, I'd be curious to find out what suppliers you've been dealing with, and what brand/part ... | |
| Roll BAr | 5/30/2006 |
| Q: Do you have any good resorces of finding a safe roll bar that is made for safty, not looks? A: Alex, Autopower used to make a "good" rollbar. I haven't looked for one in years so I don't know ... | |
| Carb problem 76, 1500 | 5/27/2006 |
| Q: I hope you can help me, I have a 1976 spitfire 1500 and I have had it about four years. I live in ... A: Dan, If you're not driving the car on a regular basis then it could be the float needle valve ... | |
| squeeking noise rear axle Spitfire1975 | 5/25/2006 |
| Q: I have a spitfire 1500 from 1975. I have noticed recently a strange squeeking noise comming from the ... A: Andrew, Is it a continous squeak or an intermittent sound? It could be the universal joint on the ... | |
| Head gasket | 5/25/2006 |
| Q: Stamped on the head is TKC 3239 cast into the head is RKC 0589 2807 The block has a stamped ... A: Ken, Well, those are 1500 engine and head numbers.. so that's one possible issue resolved. The ... | |
| Head gasket | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: Yes, the gasket I used has the tab, in fact I'm on my third gasket all from diferent sources. All ... A: Ken, It sounds like you've got something odd going on there... What's the head part # or casting ... | |
| STARTING FOR THE FIRST TIME A REBUILT ENGINE | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS BEFORE I START MY TOTALLY REBUILT ENGINE? (I USED ENGINE LUBE ON ALL PARTS) ... A: Jack, It's not a bad idea to sqirt just a little oil down the spark plug holes to "pre-lube" the ... | |
| Head gasket | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1977 spitfire 1500. it had a blown head gasket so I removed the head had a valve grind ... A: Ken, Does your head gasket have a tab on the firewall end of the gasket? Usually one side was ... | |
| Vibration at Speed | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: Jim, my '73 TR6 produces a vibration particularly worse from 50+ Mph. Not sure if this is ... A: Ed, If you're getting a low speed sway it sounds like either a bad tire or one of the rims is bent. ... | |
| Triumph Transverse Leaf Spring and Sag | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: Jim, Thanks for your previous help, it saved hours. I ve installed 2 different used leafsprings, ... A: Jonathan, Leaf spring sag is one of the constants in Spitfire ownership. It's very possible that ... | |
| Replacing rear transverse leaf spring | 5/19/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I so appreciate your answering these questions! I have a 73 Spitfire with a cracked rear ... A: Jamie, You should be able to slide the leaf spring (as a complete unit) out from either wheel ... | |
| 76 TR6 sputters from idle to 2000pm? | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: Jim, thanks so much for the quick response, the timing i think is accurate, the trouble was that in ... A: Ben, Ok, it sounds like you're running rich, as pulling the choke has no effect. Have you tried ... | |
| Carbs. | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: I noticed in your profile that you are in the RRTC. I joined three months ago but missed the last ... A: Tim, Congrats on joining the club! Let's see if I can get you moving in the right direction. For ... | |
| Where to find an engine block | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: Jim, I'm looking for an engine block for a 1967 Triumph Spitfire Mark II with the 1147 cc ... A: Joe, I usually find my engine blocks in the cars, underneath that large flip front bonnet.... ;) ... | |
| Interior Lighting, and Fuel Gauge | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: ok, i recently took off my dash board to re finish it, before i had taken it off everthing worked ... A: Alex, What year car? Which wiring diagram are you looking at? When you had the dashboard apart ... | |
| SU CARB | 5/15/2006 |
| Q: HAVE A TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500/1977 MY TROUBLE IS A FUEL PROBLEM.CAR STARTS FINE,WITH THE AIR FILLTER ... A: Pete, SU or Stromberg? Not that it makes a huge difference... but it changes some of the ... | |
| 76 TR6 sputters from idle to 2000pm? | 5/15/2006 |
| Q: I have a 76 tr6 that i have been restoring. I have rebuilt the carbs, dual strombergs, i replaced ... A: Ben, It's either mixture or timing. A relatively easy mixture test is to have a friend follow you ... | |
| Hard to put in reverse and first gear | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: 1976 spitfire (original owner) for the last 15-20 years the car has problems shifting into 1st or ... A: Cathy, It definitely sounds like the clutch disc is not disengaging completely. And yes, the ... | |
| Carburetor | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1978 Spitfire 1500 convertible with a zenith carb CD. My problem is we have gas to the carb ... A: Bob, It's possible that either the float needle valve is sticking shut, or that the float level is ... | |
| 1970 gt6+ transmission | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1970 gt6. I had a transmission problem down shifting from 3rd to 2nd. I had a new syncro ... A: Joe, How long have you owned this particular GT6? Have you driven another GT6 as a means of ... | |
| 1980 Spitfire ignition problem | 5/11/2006 |
| Q: I was getting +12 volts at both the positive terminal on coil and at the high tension lead. I tried ... A: David, It is possible that the resistor has failed. A simple check with a voltmeter will verify ... | |
| Replacment Ignition Switch Spitfire | 5/11/2006 |
| Q: Great things you are doing here. I recently had a short and an electrical fire in my 74 Spitfire. ... A: Murray, I'm not sure what to call the ignition switch other than a "replacement ignition switch"... ... | |
| 1980 Spitfire ignition problem | 5/10/2006 |
| Q: I do have a working knowledge of the ignition system. +my car just died, and it appears that there ... A: David, You don't mention if you're running the original ignition system. Where are you measuring ... | |
| '80 Triumph 1500 stick shift vibration | 5/7/2006 |
| Q: I've had my 1500 for almost 20 years now and just this last year my stick shift started to rattle ... A: Mark, The shift lever has several metal and plastic pieces, along with a spring to give the detent ... | |
| carb replacement | 5/6/2006 |
| Q: JIM THE CARBS CAME WITH THE MANIFOLD WITH TWO PORTS WHICH YOU ADVISED ME NEEDS TO BE USED WITH THE ... A: Matt, The manifold you have should bolt to the head as-is. The problem is that you need to have a ... | |
| No Cover over Trannie inside vehicle? | 5/5/2006 |
| Q: Jim, Jim! You are right on track. There was a black sheet metal cover which was completely ... A: Peggy, It'd be easiest to undo some of the clips that hold the cardboard trans cover in place... ... | |
| carb replacement | 5/5/2006 |
| Q: THE CAR IS A 64 TRIUMPH HERALD 1200. I AM REPLACING THE CARB WITH TWIN 1.25" SU CARBS OFF A 1147cc ... A: Matt, I was under the impression that you had the manifold with the carbs. The proper intake ... | |
| Rear axle bearings | 5/5/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to replace the rear wheel bearings on a 1978 Spitfire. The rear hubs will not separate ... A: Terry, There is a special tool that's purpose built just for removing the hubs on the Spitfire rear ... | |
| No Cover over Trannie inside vehicle? | 5/4/2006 |
| Q: Jim, While doing the necessary light restoration of my 79 Spitfire, I removed the seats for the new ... A: Peggy, I'm not quite clear on what part you're missing... but I'll go through what SHOULD be there ... | |
| 1980 1500 rear diff | 5/3/2006 |
| Q: Jim, How tough is it to tackle a rear pinion seal leak? I'm fairly handy. I think I have all the ... A: Pat, You'll need to drop the differential to get access to the pinion seal. You'll probably have ... | |
| carb replacement | 5/3/2006 |
| Q: THE CAR IS A 64 TRIUMPH HERALD 1200. I AM REPLACING THE CARB WITH TWIN 1.25" SU CARBS OFF A 1147cc ... A: Matt, The dual carb setup from the Spitfire is intended to be used with a separate exhaust ... | |
| Turn Signals (addition to original quesiton) | 5/2/2006 |
| Q: Sorry to add on to my question, but I found more out about my problem. Alright, I now know what the ... A: Mitch, From what I'm reading in the Bentley manual for the late Spitfires, there MAY be separate ... | |
| 1500 Fuel Lines | 5/1/2006 |
| Q: Hey Jim How you get time to work on your own car, with so many questions being asked, is a wonder! ... A: Marc, Is there gas in the tank? Ok, just kidding. But still, if you disconnect the fuel line ... | |
| 1980 Triumph TR 7 Windshield wiper moter | 4/29/2006 |
| Q: I am buying a 1980 TR7 but I cant get the wipers to work. Am I missing the fuse for it somewhere? I ... A: Elmer, It's very possible that the fuse it bad. It can also be the switch contacts need ... | |
| Hey, I don't want to waste... | 4/27/2006 |
| Q: Hey, I don't want to waste yr time i realize there people with serous questions, but i....Some month ... A: Brock, There's a lot of good information out there about the cars.. and as always a bit of ... | |
| 1500 clutch?? | 4/26/2006 |
| Q: the russet brown with the fuel problem is running and sounding very sweet...fuel! fire! ... A: Marc, The clutch on the Spitfire is hydraulically controlled. When you step on the clutch pedal ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire Overdrive | 4/23/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500. The wife gave it to me as a surprise (to keep me busy) when I ... A: Tim, Congrats on the Triumph friendly spouse! As to overdrive.... on the Spitfire it's an ... | |
| 1976 triumph spitfire | 4/23/2006 |
| Q: im hoping you can tell me where to get a wiring harness for under the dash.my caught fire tonight ... A: Kim, There's a couple of places you can look for a wiring harness. It's possible that one of the ... | |
| 76 Triumph Spitfire | 4/22/2006 |
| Q: Greetings fellow lunatics...I bought my 76 Spit in 86 and have enjoyed working to keep it on the ... A: Tim, If it'd been a 1970 or older car all you'd have to do is pop the old frame off and replace it. ... | |
| fuel problem | 4/17/2006 |
| Q: i recently found a dumped russet brown 1500 with a triumph tune block..it had been stored in a ... A: Marc, You need 3 things to get an engine to run: 1) Fuel 2) Fire 3) Timing If you have the ... | |
| poor running of gt6 | 4/16/2006 |
| Q: Jim, first, please excuse my spelling I have a 1970 GT6 MK2 I bought used, I have replace plugs, ... A: Mike, Yes, it sounds like the car is starving for gas. When you did all the other work did you ... | |
| Spitfire Transverse Leaf Spring Installation | 4/16/2006 |
| Q: Jim, My 80 Spit was leaning on the driver's side to an extreme. I figured the leaf spring was to ... A: Jon, Typically the leaf spring replacement is done as a unit... ie... disconnect the leaf spring ... | |
| Seat and softtop repair | 4/3/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Spitfire 1500 with 30k on the odometer. My seat foam is disintegrating more and more ... A: The original seat foams were a neat foam casting.. unfortunately I don't think any of the vendors ... | |
| Transmission Problems | 4/3/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 with 30000 on the odometer. Over the winter I took my 4 speed ... A: Andy, There are several reasons you'll have trouble shifting the trans... I'll try to list them in ... | |
| Spitfire softop removal | 3/30/2006 |
| Q: i have to get some work done on my '73 1500's soft top i was wondering if you have any information ... A: David, The soft top is easy to remove from the car. On the back edge of the cockpit there are two ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire 76 1500 | 3/26/2006 |
| Q: Great to find you. Drove out the other day about 10 blocks from home the car lost a lot of power, ... A: Thom, Does the car idle "normally" or is it a slow rough idle? Remember that the Spitfire firing ... | |
| Valve tapping | 3/25/2006 |
| Q: Frank A: Frank, Typically a valve tap is caused by looseness between the valve stem/rocker arm/push rod. ... | |
| I need some help | 3/25/2006 |
| Q: I was curious if there was any way to tell what kind of key a spitfire orrigionaly had. Moss makes ... A: William, Sorry for the delay... what should have been an easy question turns out to be a bit more ... | |
| Triumph Tr7 will not idle | 3/12/2006 |
| Q: I am having problems with a 1977 tr7 i just bought.It has set for a few years but seems to run ok, ... A: Mike, The late TR7s had twin Stromberg carbs with an automatic choke.. that only works on one carb. ... | |
| Carby setup | 3/10/2006 |
| Q: I have a tr6 TC. I have problems with running on and starting when warm. The Triumph manual suggests ... A: Stef, That's interesting, as all the manuals I can find on the Triumph (or the Stromberg) suggest ... | |
| Removing Door Glass | 3/8/2006 |
| Q: I am attempting a full restoration of a 1974 Spitfire 1500. I have stripped the car of everything ... A: Ed, On the Spitfire you do not need to remove the regulator in order to remove the glass. ... | |
| speeddometer and cable | 3/6/2006 |
| Q: i have a 1976 spitfire 1500 that idid a complete frame off restoration on by myself.had a broken ... A: Russ, It's possible that the speedometer froze up... or that the cable was defective.. or that you ... | |
| cylinder head | 3/5/2006 |
| Q: Good day. I Think have a 1979 Spitfire 1500. I know it's a Spitfire 1500 but not exactly sure of ... A: Jim, The Spitfire 1500 did have some variations in the head castings over the years. You can ... | |
| triumph spitfire | 3/5/2006 |
| Q: how do you replace the seat foams? A: I'd replace them with new seat foams. ;) Seriously, you'll need to pull the seat covers off the ... | |
| Ignition Switch | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: I am asking this question for my husband:) He is doing a complete rebuild of a 1980 Triumph ... A: Stacey, I took a quick look at one of my regular suppliers, and Moss Motors (www.mossmotors.com) ... | |
| Spitfire overdrive question. | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: I have a question if you can please help me out, I have a 80pritire with 27,000 miles my ... A: Tom, The overdrive actuation in the Spitfire is electrically controlled, so yes, the problem might ... | |
| Rusty frame | 2/24/2006 |
| Q: Purchased a 77 Spitfire ( cheap), the rear portion of the frame is severely rusted. Is this ... A: Scott, If the rust is behind the rear axle line then it's not critical. The bumper support ... | |
| I need some help | 2/17/2006 |
| Q: I know my basics but nothing to fancy. I recently found a (what I believe to be) 1972 MKIV (the ... A: William, Let's see if I can sort this out. It's a square tail Spitfire, similar body to the 1974 ... | |
| direct wheel replacement | 2/17/2006 |
| Q: i heard Datsun 280ZX wheels are a direct fit to the TR6 and TR250 hub. Is this correct? Do you ... A: Fil, Remember that the TR250/6 used a 15 inch rim, and that you need to be careful with matching ... | |
| exhaust | 2/16/2006 |
| Q: YOU ANSWERED MY ? ON THE SPITFIRE HEADER NOT FITTING MY 64 HEARALD 1200. IM THINKING TO GET THE ... A: Matt, Unless you own your own muffler shop, it'd be much cheaper/easier to buy a manifold designed ... | |
| EXHAUST | 2/15/2006 |
| Q: MY CAR:64 TRIUMPH HERALD CONVERTIBLE 1200. STOCK EXHAUST,SINGLE CARB.I WANT TO PUT A TUBULAR EXHAUST ... A: Matt, No, the exhaust port pattern on the 1147 (Herald 1200) is different from the later 1296 ... | |
| TR6 Clutch adjustment | 2/14/2006 |
| Q: Hey Jim, Great answer to the 2004 guy who had a 71 TR6 with a hard to chift clutch. I have the same ... A: Ken, The clutch reservoir cap should have a small vent hole... you might make sure it's not closed ... | |
| Front trunnion lubrication | 2/13/2006 |
| Q: My car is a 1979 1500. What is the best lubricant for the front trunnions? I am replacing them and ... A: BC, There's been a lot of debate over the years about what's really best for the trunnions. The ... | |
| upper and lower control arm bushings | 2/13/2006 |
| Q: I have purchased bushings from 2 different sources. They seem to be identical. Both sets seem to ... A: BC, The "stock" Spitfire A-arm bushings are just shy of 15/16" in diameter and about 1 1/2" long. ... | |
| Front Wheel Bearing seals | 2/12/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1979 1500 Spitfire. I would like to replace the front wheel bearing seals. I have tried ... A: BC, The type of disc shouldn't affect what seal is fitted to the hub. We are talking about the ... | |
| 75 Spitfire gearshift lever linkage | 2/11/2006 |
| Q: I posted this question yesterday but I am not sure if my internet was working so I'm posting again. ... A: Bob, Here's a resend of what I'd sent before. Cheers, Jim ... | |
| Gearshift assembly dowel | 2/10/2006 |
| Q: I've gotten your excellent advice before and I'm back again! I have a 75 Spitfire. This situation is ... A: Bob, I'm not sure what happened.. it sounds like a previous owner was a bit ham fisted with the ... | |
| Ignition switch | 2/10/2006 |
| Q: Can you please tell me how to wire a basic 3-pole (ST-IG-B)ignition switch. What does ST-IG-B stand ... A: Yahaya, Is this going into a Triumph? If so, which model? I'm guessing you're looking at a ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1974) | 1/31/2006 |
| Q: I'm trying to find a rear bumper for a 1974 Spitfire 1500 that was bent in an accident, but I just ... A: Wilt, There are three distinct bumpers for the squaretail Spitfires (Mk IV/1500 1971 thru 1980). ... | |
| engine wont crank | 12/17/2005 |
| Q: Followup To Question -Followup To Question -HI i have a 1976 spitfire the alternator was bad ... A: Mike, You had to let oil out of the engine? How high was it? One possible explanation is that ... | |
| Seat removal, 75 Spitfire | 12/9/2005 |
| Q: I have a 75 Spitfire and need to put on some sheepskin seat covers. Can you tell me how to remove ... A: Robert, Unless someone has messed with them (always a possibility, it IS a 30 year old car after ... | |
| tr6 lights | 12/8/2005 |
| Q: This problem is on a 74 TR6. I replaced the turn signal flasher with a thermal flasher from ... A: Dean, What it sounds like is either a bad turn signal switch or a loose/dirty connection on the ... | |
| Windshield Wipers | 11/30/2005 |
| Q: What would be causing my wipers to move too far on the windshield of my 77 Spitfire? The driver's ... A: Warren, Did the wipers work "correctly" before you tinkered with them? I guess a good starting ... | |
| engine wont crank | 11/28/2005 |
| Q: Followup To Question -Followup To Question - HI i have a 1976 spitfire the alternator was bad ... A: Mike, Coincidences do happen... but I don't like them. To have the bottom end freeze up like that? ... | |
| Spitfire engine | 11/28/2005 |
| Q: I have a 1974 Spitfire. Is it possible for it to have an original 1300 motor in it? Engine block is ... A: Jimbo, The US spec Spitfires had the 1500 in 1973 and 1974 whereas the non-US Spitfires of those ... | |
| engine wont crank | 11/19/2005 |
| Q: Followup To Question -HI i have a 1976 spitfire the alternator was bad battery kept going dead ... A: Mike, With the plugs out, when you spin the engine by hand is it "smooth" or are there definite ... | |
| engine wont crank | 11/17/2005 |
| Q: Followup To Question - HI i have a 1976 spitfire the alternator was bad battery kept going dead ... A: Mike, Typical causes for an engine seize are either the pistons get stock in the cylinder bores or ... | |
| engine wont crank | 11/16/2005 |
| Q: i have a 1976 spitfire the alternator was bad battery kept going dead and when i took off the ... A: Mike, Couple of further ideas. First off, if the battery has been drained, even with a jump start ... | |
| engine wont crank | 11/16/2005 |
| Q: i have a 1976 spitfire the alternator was bad battery kept going dead and when i took off the ... A: Mike, Did you replace the battery when you put in the new alternator? Can you spin the engine at ... | |
| Engine jus dies while driving | 11/16/2005 |
| Q: 1977 Triumph Spitfire no modifications all original. Have you ever run into this problem. While ... A: Alex, I had a similar problem with my 1973 Spitfire. In my case, it was a loose wire in the ... | |
| Engine | 11/4/2005 |
| Q: I am a "mechanics son". So, through logical and common sense research I have restored and maintained ... A: Sam, Sorry for the delay, this one slipped through the cracks. When doing a compression test... ... | |
| Seek Local Triumph Mechanic in Fort Worth, TX | 11/4/2005 |
| Q: Is there a Triumph Mechanic's Association, a website, or any other resource that could help me find ... A: Rich, Check with the fine folks in the Red River Triumph Club. They can be reached via their ... | |
| Engine | 11/4/2005 |
| Q: TR Spitfire 1979 1500. 1976 engine. I can't get a smooth idle. Investigation has shown #3 cylinder ... A: Sam, When you say "produces oil in the exhaust in a minor amount" are you referring to actual oil ... | |
| triumph spitfire 1500 74' | 11/2/2005 |
| Q: why are the rear wheels leaning inward? A: Because the Spitfire has swing axles? I suppose you mean "why do the tops of the rear wheels lean ... | |
| Engine dies after 5-10 minutes - 1973 1500 | 10/24/2005 |
| Q: I bought a 1973 SPITFIRE in non-running condition with a blown engine (no oil!). I have replaced ... A: ------------------------- 2) You're running a full 12V through a 6V coil and it's overheating. ... | |
| Engine dies after 5-10 minutes - 1973 1500 | 10/24/2005 |
| Q: I bought a 1973 SPITFIRE in non-running condition with a blown engine (no oil!). I have replaced ... A: Howard, What was the jacket color on the wire that melted? What year engine did you use for the ... | |
| 1972 Spitfire Transmission | 10/21/2005 |
| Q: I have a 1972 Triumph Spitfire. I have owned it for 5 years with no transmission problems. Starting ... A: Dane, Low fluid could cause problems with actually sliding the parts into mesh... but to me it ... | |
| Spitfire Speedometer | 10/12/2005 |
| Q: Jim, I read your answer to the 80mph speedometer question. (I have a 1977 spit with a 120mph ... A: Warren, I'm not sure if there is a late style speedometer with the correct gearing, but I have ... | |
| Steering wheel/column vibrations | 10/2/2005 |
| Q: !979 Spitfire w/overdrive. At about 42 to 50 mph the steering wheel and column begin to vibrate ... A: BC, Vibration through the steering wheel is either something out of balance or something loose. ... | |
| To overdrive or not? | 9/30/2005 |
| Q: Ok, I'm about to get my 1st Spit, a 73, 1500. The tranny is a straight 4 no OD. I plan on doing a ... A: Chris, The eternal question. To overdrive or not? Pros: Better gas mileage. Less stress on the ... | |
| oil pressure switch | 9/27/2005 |
| Q: I apologise, I should have included the detail that it does indeed have an oil pressure gauge in the ... A: Mark, I'm glad to hear it worked out afterall... As to filling that Spitfire shaped void in your ... | |
| Shifting to reverse in '75 Spit 1500 | 9/26/2005 |
| Q: I saw a related question on this regarding a GT6: I have a recently-purchased 75 Spitfire (U.S. ... A: Robert, Your transmission is what's known as a "Single Rail" transmission. The earlier ... | |
| oil pressure switch | 9/24/2005 |
| Q: I think I asked you a question a few months ago and got some good advice. This pertains to the ... A: Mark, I've got to admit, you've had me scratching my head (and consulting all my repair manuals, ... | |
| Emissions and exhaust questions | 9/23/2005 |
| Q: ------------------------- Jim, Thanks for the previous advice- I wish I could have worked on it ... A: John, If you've lost a large amount of clutch fluid, the only places it could really leak are from ... | |
| GT6 shifter | 9/20/2005 |
| Q: I have a 1973 GT6 MK3 (non-overdrive trans.) I previously asked you about a shifter kit. I obtained ... A: Bill, Which of the bushings broke? The ones at the end of the shift lever? The 3 rail trans ... | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 9/8/2005 |
| Q: I just got my first Spitfire, a 1978. It runs well and my dad and I are doing little things to make ... A: Congrats on the new toy. The brake master cylinder isn't too bad to rebuild if you (or your ... | |
| Emissions and exhaust questions | 8/31/2005 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 1978 Spitfire which I purchased this spring and until now have had a great summer ... A: John, 1) You still have the original Catalytic converter installed? Couple of thoughts. What's ... | |
| 1980 Spitfire speedometer | 8/24/2005 |
| Q: I live in Ohio. My 1980 Spitfire is fitted with an 80 MPH speedometer. Comm. # is TFVDW2AT004830, ... A: Rob, I haven't been able to find anything in my archives that definitively answers this question. ... | |
| Spitfire Clutch | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: My daughter has a 1973 Spitfire with a 1978 engine. It still has the 1973 transmission. I need to ... A: Jim, Well, if it's truly a '78 engine then it should be a 1500cc engine. One simple way to check ... | |
| 1980 Spitfire speedometer | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: I live in Ohio. My 1980 Spitfire is fitted with an 80 MPH speedometer. Comm. # is TFVDW2AT004830, ... A: Rob, On the speedometer face there should be a marking just above the centerline that says ... | |
| TR6 Clutch | 8/8/2005 |
| Q: I have a 71 TR6 that has been in storage for several years. I can start it but the clutch is ... A: Rick, The clutch on the TR6 is hydraulically operated. What it sounds like is either the clutch ... | |
| GT6 MK3 shifter | 7/24/2005 |
| Q: This is a 4 spd non-overdrive trans. I shifted out of 3rd to nuetral and the lever went very loose. ... A: Bill, If you car still has it's original transmission it should be a "three rail" gearbox versus ... | |
| master cylender for clutch | 7/16/2005 |
| Q: .-Dear jim I'll try ti answer your questions First; when I bought he said it waS running fine ... A: Bill, Ok, to get full access to the slave cylinder, what you need to do is pull the transmission ... | |
| master cylender for clutch | 7/13/2005 |
| Q: I have a problem with my cluch on my 1980 spitfire I got a book and tried to follow instructions ... A: Bill, It sounds like you're describing several problems here. First off, did the car ever drive ... | |
| Transmission | 6/17/2005 |
| Q: I came accross a 1972 TR6 that has set for 25 years. Before they quit driving it they had a new ... A: Greg, That's an interesting problem. If you'd said it would NOT go into reverse then I'd suspect ... | |
| Leaking diff | 6/14/2005 |
| Q: This regards a '73 (USA) Spit. Last fall my left rear axle flange shattered (see note back in ... A: Steve, From the factory there was no gasket between the differential casing and the oil seal ... | |
| freze plog replace | 6/11/2005 |
| Q: I have a 1983 Triumph Spitfire that the freze plug at the back of the engine has rusted through. My ... A: Bill, Congratulations, you've managed to find the elusive '83 Spitfire (production ceased in ... | |
| tr6 project | 6/5/2005 |
| Q: I guess I could have guessed your difficulty in assessment. We are in the same boat! I haven't yet ... A: Tim. Ok, basics. Assuming NO accident damage. Frames have two weak points. The diff mounts tend ... | |
| tr6 project | 6/2/2005 |
| Q: Just looking seriously at finally getting a tr6. Had a gt (69) in the early seventies. I live in San ... A: Tim, Trying to estimate a restoration cost long distance is like trying to build a ship in a bottle ... | |
| 1976 TR 6 Trail arm support | 5/25/2005 |
| Q: I live in Evansville Ind. I have a 1976 TR 6 that has frame rot in the driver side trail arm ... A: Ken, I have heard of cases of the frame repair being carried out with the body still in place. Not ... | |
| trans problem | 5/23/2005 |
| Q: well i just e-mailed you earlier today well since then i was able to discover that the reverse gear ... A: Steve, I don't honestly know. I presume you mean that the small "idler" gear that slides into mesh ... | |
| fuel troubles | 5/19/2005 |
| Q: I have 1980 Triump spitfire It has been in storage for 10 years, When I went to start it It would ... A: Bill, If you remove the rubber fuel line at the firewall from the steel line that runs along the ... | |
| Price | 5/17/2005 |
| Q: Unfortunately - I do not have enough information to provide you at this time, I am looking at a 1973 ... A: R, Since you don't mention where you (or the car) are located, I'll have to make some educated ... | |
| Transmission Problems | 5/15/2005 |
| Q: I have a 1980 Spitfire 1500 with 28000 on the odometer. I purchased the car last year and have had ... A: Andy, It sounds like you might have several problems going on at the same time. The jumping out of ... | |
| 1973 Triumph 1500 | 5/15/2005 |
| Q: I've been trying to solve a problem on my Triumph Spitfire, but can't seem to locate it. I can't ... A: Jay, Did you clean the fuel lines? Install a filter up near the carb? Did you check the vacuum ... | |
| Triumph TR6 | 5/9/2005 |
| Q: I have a '73 TR6 that has not been started for quit a while. I have gone through the fuel system and ... A: Bob, You can spin the oil pump by removing the distributor and the distritor drive gear (that the ... | |
| turn signal switch | 4/26/2005 |
| Q: i have purchase a new turn signal switch for a 79 truimp spitfire. i can't retrn it because l've ... A: Wes, I don't understand. If the original problem was the turn signal switch (which also controls ... | |
| turn signal switch | 4/22/2005 |
| Q: i have purchase a new turn signal switch for a 79 truimp spitfire. i can't retrn it because l've ... A: Wes, I'm not quite sure what you've got going here. Did you splice into your new switch? How? ... | |
| 1979 Spitfire frame | 4/17/2005 |
| Q: I am interested in your opinion as to frame work. My frame has some rust holes and I want to make ... A: Joe, The biggest problem with repairing a frame is if it's been "broken", ie the solid connection ... | |
| igniton system | 4/12/2005 |
| Q: Jim, I have read some other letters u helped people with.I need a little help rewiring the igniton ... A: Before I answer your question... what region of the country are you in? Hmmm.. I could be helping ... | |
| TR6 | 4/11/2005 |
| Q: Jim: I am wanting replace my dash pad in my TR6. Is it necessary to remove the windscreen frame in ... A: Ron, The Robert Bentley manual for the TR6 is essentially a reprint of the factory manual and is ... | |
| Ignition switch wiring order | 3/29/2005 |
| Q: Someone tried to steal my 1973 mk4 1300 spitfire at the weekend. Among other things, they pulled ... A: Marcus, Sorry to hear about the theft attempt. Let me see if I can help with sorting the wiring ... | |
| 1976 TR6 clutch problem | 3/17/2005 |
| Q: Followup To Question - I get a loud squeeling noise and some metalic scraping sound when I depress ... A: Paul, Let me see if I can cover this all... my apologies if I miss a point. Pilot bearing: It's a ... | |
| fuse box replacement | 3/16/2005 |
| Q: i have a 79 spitfire, i would like to update the fuse box,to a more modern and better fuse panel. ... A: Wes, As an engineer I'll subscribe to the saying that nothing is impossible, allowed enough time ... | |
| 1976 TR6 clutch problem | 3/16/2005 |
| Q: I get a loud squeeling noise and some metalic scraping sound when I depress the clutch pedal on my ... A: Paul, Sorry, I should have given you the following links before: www.vtr.org ... | |
| 1976 TR6 clutch problem | 3/16/2005 |
| Q: I get a loud squeeling noise and some metalic scraping sound when I depress the clutch pedal on my ... A: Paul, Yes, it definitely sounds like time for a new clutch setup. You need to replace all three ... | |
| tr6 rims | 2/22/2005 |
| Q: Jim I was told that the mini cooper rims that are stock on the car will fit on a tr6 with no ... A: Bern, Wishful thinking. New MINI rims are based on a 100mm bolt circle, whereas the TR6 is either ... | |
| Spitfire slips out of reverse | 12/28/2004 |
| Q: I just acquired a 1979 Triumph Spitfire with 19K mi on the odometer. By the looks of the vehicle ... A: Bill, It may be possible that the linkage isn't moving the reverse gear to fully engage. A ... | |
| 1975 Spitfire 1500 | 12/11/2004 |
| Q: Jim, I'm having a difficult time finding a front bumper for my 1975 Spitfire 1500 restoration ... A: Rick, All of the chrome bumpers from the Mk IV/1500 series (1971 'til 1979ish) should swap. The ... | |
| Spitfire knocking | 11/30/2004 |
| Q: I have owned a 1973 Spitfire 1500 for ~11 years now and love it. Recently, my left rear axle flange ... A: Steve, The first thing to do is to make sure all the bolts in the driveline are properly tight. ... | |
| Spitfire Overdrive | 11/1/2004 |
| Q: Jim, I have a good J type overdive on the back of a bad GT6 3 rail Gbox. Can I take it off and fit ... A: Russ, The main difference between the overdrive/non-overdrive boxes is that the o/d gearbox has a ... | |
| bolting body to frame | 10/20/2004 |
| Q: I bought a disassembled '72 Spitfire Mk IV to restore. I am ready to place the body back on the ... A: Mike, Sorry for taking so long, what should have a been a straight forward question turns out to be ... | |
| car leans to one side | 10/20/2004 |
| Q: My 1980 spit is leaning to the drivers side. Ive replaced the leaf spring, the rear shocks and the ... A: Amy, Carry a large St Bernard as a passenger? :D Another possibility is to replace the stock ... | |
| TR6 Vacuum servo repair | 10/16/2004 |
| Q: My TR6 braking action has begun to deteriorate. The pressure I have to apply to stop is getting ... A: John, I'll be honest and admit that I haven't had to deal with the brake servo on my '73 TR6 yet. ... | |
| Rear lights and wiring | 10/14/2004 |
| Q: Yeee-ha. No more leaks from my carb with the addition of a little o-ring. Thanks. Suppose you had a ... A: Kevin, The wiring harness for the rear of the car runs along the drivers side footwell (for US ... | |
| Zenith Stomberg float plug removal | 10/4/2004 |
| Q: I recently bought a '74 spitfire 1500. I'm constantly scooping/pushing some of my small children ... A: Kevin, The plug in the bottom of the float bowl is plastic with a brass cap. It's just a snap in ... | |
| TR6 project | 9/21/2004 |
| Q: ..I'm looking at buying a TR6 and have several in mind. One is a 1974 model that is described as ... A: Cam, How bad is the rust on the engine mounts? Surface? Or rust through? Normally the TR6s has ... | |
| brake lights on a TR6 | 9/12/2004 |
| Q: I have encountered a problem with my brake lights not working. I have changed bulbs, fuses and have ... A: Doug, Several ideas. At the fuse block, make sure all the prongs on the fuse holder are clean ... | |
| gas leak from carb | 8/24/2004 |
| Q: I bought a carb repair kit and after putting it in, the car runs fine with the exeption of gas ... A: Chuck, I'll answer in reverse order.... Blowing blue smoke? Have you tried a compression test to ... | |
| '73 Spit carbs/emissions | 8/18/2004 |
| Q: I have a 1973 Spitfire USA 1500 that a friend and I bought about 11 years ago, restored, and ... A: Steve, Even with the single Stromberg and all the emissions plumbing in place you still will wind ... | |
| engine over heating | 8/13/2004 |
| Q: It's a 1974 Spitfire 1500 in Seattle Wa. I recently had the tranny rebilt and she started over ... A: Larry, Is the car overheating while driving? Sitting and idling? Both? On your Spitfire the ... | |
| Engine Swap | 8/3/2004 |
| Q: I have an oportunity to pick up a Triumph 2.5 TC manual with overdrive. Apart from minor parts, is ... A: Russ, I haven't seen the swap done with a Spitfire but I have seen it done with a GT6 MkI. As you ... | |
| RPMs | 7/29/2004 |
| Q: Jim, I own a 1973 Spitfire 1500, I just finished a restoration and am wondering how many RPMs you ... A: Richard, That sounds about right for the 1500s. From what I recall of the factory handbook in 4th ... | |
| Soft Tops | 7/19/2004 |
| Q: I have a 1972 MkIV and looking for a soft top. Locally, there is a Mk3 wrecking. Will the Mk3 ... A: Russ, Sorry, no the Mk3 top is not a direct swap onto the Mk IV/1500 series. The only difference ... | |
| 73 spitfire | 7/1/2004 |
| Q: You are a great help to me as a novice attempting something I always wanted to do but was afraid to ... A: Chuck, Sorry for the delay, this one snuck in when I was out of town for the holiday. There's a ... | |
| 73 spitfire | 7/1/2004 |
| Q: You are a great help to me as a novice attempting something I always wanted to do but was afraid to ... A: Chuck, About used axles... not all used ones have been "used hard"... although it would be better ... | |
| spitfire restoring | 6/30/2004 |
| Q: I think you helped me before. I have been doign a frame off restoration on 73 spitfire. I recently ... A: Chuck, Yup, a few questions. I'll try to cover them all, feel free to follow up if I miss ... | |
| TR6 hood........not water tight | 6/8/2004 |
| Q: Jim, i've just bought a TR6 (1973)...The hood doesn't fit very well, and there are gaps everywhere! ... A: Sam, I presume you're talking about the soft top (convertible top) on the car. There are several ... | |
| TR6 Cooling | 5/14/2004 |
| Q: Gee, I just found this site/service - it seems wonderful! Even before anyone takes any interest in ... A: Jeff, Most of the autoparts stores used to carry mechanical guages... Another idea would be to ... | |
| TR6 Cooling | 5/14/2004 |
| Q: Gee, I just found this site/service - it seems wonderful! Even before anyone takes any interest in ... A: Jeff, There are three causes that will make a car overheat. 1) problem with the cooling system 2) ... | |
| TR6 will not start | 5/4/2004 |
| Q: I have a 76 TR6 that I was driving around recently. The car was running fine when the engine ... A: Chris, If any of the electrical connections came loose then the car will die suddenly. I seem to ... | |
| gear shift TR6 | 4/25/2004 |
| Q: I own a 1971 TR6. It is in good working order. I have recently begun driving it again now that ... A: Rob, It's not a bad idea to check the gearbox fluid level on a regular basis... but from what ... | |
| Transmission Tunnel Cover | 4/16/2004 |
| Q: I am replacing my original transmission tunnel cover with a new plastic one, should I take the ... A: Dick, If you're lucky enough to have seals worth reusing, go for it! Otherwise, using something ... | |
| 80 Spit bumper | 4/11/2004 |
| Q: I'd like to replace the black rubber bumpers on my 80 Spitfire with the chrome versions from say 77 ... A: Ken, I have to admit that this question may be a bit beyond me. I'm used to the Mk IV through late ... | |
| What is my 1980 Red 1980 Spitfire with 33000 miles worth? | 3/31/2004 |
| Q: A: Richard, That's a tough question. On a new or recent model car, mileage is usually enough of an ... | |
| Rust | 3/23/2004 |
| Q: im thinking of getting a triumph spit 1300, iv not got a garage and may have to hire one, the ... A: Jack, It depends on several things. First off, where you're located. In west Texas (or New ... | |
| restoring a spit 1500 1973 | 3/8/2004 |
| Q: I am restoring a 73 spit 1500. The car sat for a number of years without being run. The engine has ... A: Chuck, What you might consider is starting off with a good rebuild on the Stromberg carb. What's ... | |
| Differential on spitfire 1500 | 3/3/2004 |
| Q: I am trying to restore a 1973 spitfire 1500 4 speed no OD. I am replacing the pinion oil seal, ... A: Chuck, Changing the pinion bearing requires a differential case spreader, basically a tool to ... | |
| 1968 Triumph GT6. My headlights... | 3/3/2004 |
| Q: 1968 Triumph GT6. My headlights will not work. I have two switches on the steering column. One on ... A: Deryle, The switch on the right should be the high/low beam switch. I'd have check my '69 project ... | |
| 73 Triumph Spitfire rear brake hoses | 2/26/2004 |
| Q: I have a tough question, I ordered pre-bent brake lines from classic tube for my 73 Spit. The rear ... A: Richard, Let's agree to some conventions before we start. The wheel cylinder is on the brake back ... | |
| release bearing | 2/21/2004 |
| Q: Whats the best way to remove and replace without damageing anything? A: Mike, The best way is to pay a professional, and hold them responsible for any damage. If that's ... | |
| Triumph Spitfire Ignition Systems | 2/17/2004 |
| Q: Jim, I have a Spitfire 1300 overdrive 1974. My problem started a few months ago with what initially ... A: Richard, I may need some more info before I can really get to the root of what you're dealing with, ... | |
| Front Engine Mount Changeout | 7/13/2003 |
| Q: Jim, 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 Can the frt. engine mounts be changed out with the engine in the ... A: Richard, Yes, the mounts can be changed with the engine in the car. The simplest method is to: a) ... | |
| Fuel and oil viscosity | 7/10/2003 |
| Q: Jim, I own a 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500. I have 2 questions. What viscosity oil would you ... A: Richard, Both questions tie into what kind of shape your engine is in. First off, I tend to run ... | |
| Metering Needle | 7/2/2003 |
| Q: Jim, 1973 Triumph Spitfire Mk. 4 1500 Zenith Stromberg carb. Im getting gas in my oil, I suspect the ... A: Richard, There are two possible ways to get gasoline in the oil on a Triumph. The first would be ... | |
| Wiring | 6/29/2003 |
| Q: Jim, 1973 Triumph Spitfire Mk. 4 1500 THX. For the help with my ignition, Shes running good now! Now ... A: Richard, Glad I've helped. As to wiring diagrams.. I'll offer two suggestions.. with a caveat. ... | |
| Changing Points | 6/9/2003 |
| Q: Jim, THX. for the previous advice! Now my new question I have a 1973 Triumph Spitfire MK.4 1500 ... A: Richard, take a look at the diagram for the Mk I-Mk IV on this web page: ... | |
| Ignition Coil | 5/28/2003 |
| Q: 1973 Triumph Spitfire Mk.4 1500 FM5333 Tuned up car and changed coil,car will not fire now. put on ... A: Richard, I'm currently 1500 miles from my trusty reference materials, let me see how I do from ... | |
| Brakes | 3/16/2003 |
| Q: I've got a problem with a brake rebuild on a 1975 spitefire. I had to rebuild the right rear brake ... A: Marty, What are the symptoms? It's tough to diagnose without more info. It's possible that you ... | |
| tr6 ignition | 1/27/2003 |
| Q: I have a 1975 Trimph TR6 that is in very good condition. The previous owner said at one time he had ... A: Doug, Do you know what type of "kill switch" was setup? Sometimes they're setup to kill the main ... | |
| Spitfire MK IV brake line upgrade question | 11/18/2002 |
| Q: I have a '65 spitfire that I am beginning a large amount of restoration on. The old single line ... A: Nick, You've got one thing in your favor... Triumph evolved the cars mainly in the exterior ... | |
| gt6 main bearing sizes | 10/29/2002 |
| Q: Hey man, Ive been trying to find the right main bearings for the car that I am working on. ... A: Josh, From the engine number it looks like you have a "late Mk I" engine, which should take the ... | |
| Shifter | 8/26/2002 |
| Q: I have a '72 Spitfire Mark IV. I live in Denver, Colorado, USA and I am looking for a supplier ... A: Joe, You're experiencing a problem common with Spitfires that old... the plastic/rubber pieces in ... | |
| hi jim does a mk4 hood(softtop)... | 8/11/2002 |
| Q: does a mk4 hood(softtop) fit a mk3 thomas A: Thomas, Sorry, the answer is no. When Triumph redesigned the Spitfire, the Mk4 windows were ... | |
| '78 Spitfire reverse | 8/5/2002 |
| Q: Am looking at a 78 spitfire. Engine & trans "rebuilt" two years ago w/~15K on them (89K total mi). ... A: Eric, When you say that reverse "won't engage"... does that mean that you can't find the correct ... | |
| engine overheating | 6/13/2002 |
| Q: I live in Indianapolis, In. I have a 1979 Spitfire 1500. My problem is my engine is running at ... A: Drew, About engine temp: The engine is a heat "source"... and the radiator system is the heat ... | |
| Stromberg gas leak 1973 GT6 | 3/22/2002 |
| Q: 1973 GT6 MK3. Gas is leaking from the bottom of the left hand carb. I believe it is coming from ... A: Jennifer, If you look at the plug you can see that it's just a "push in" with plastic tangs that ... | |
| Engine Sputters | 9/14/2001 |
| Q: I have a MG Midget 1500 (same as spitfire) and my engine sputters when I step on the gas. So far, I ... A: Jeff, A few quick questions to try to pin this down: 1) is it a momentary sputter, then the ... | |
| TR7 water pump | 7/31/2001 |
| Q: Do you know where I can get a TR 7 water pump (new or used) The ones I have found have been ... A: Robert, If you've already tried the normal suspects (TRF and Moss) you might try some of the ... | |
| 1979 Spitfire 1500 Zenith Stromberg gas leak | 6/4/2001 |
| Q: Your questions: Is it gas? Yes. Does it leak only after the engine is cut off? Yes. But while ... A: Steven, You'll have to remove the lower A-arm to replace the bushing. The front spring travel ... | |
Triumph Repair
Answers by Expert:
Jim
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
My area of specialty is the Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1973-1980) although I have some technical experience with the GT6 and TR6 models also. I can cover questions on all areas of the Spitfire, from basic mechanical questions to where to find original style seat covers and soft tops. I am not an expert on the TR2/3/4 models. If you need specific detailed help with these models I first recommend obtaining a good repair manual such as the Robert Bentley manual for your particular model.
Experience
I have been a Spitfire owner for 20 years and have done all my own repair work. On the Spitfire I've done just about everything except mount and balance tires.
In addition to street use I have been autocrossing a Spitfire with the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) in Modified class since 1997.
Organizations
Red River Triumph Club
SCCA (Sports Car Club of America)
NASS (North American Spitfire Squadron)
FOT (Friends of Triumph)
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