Spitfire restoration project Update

 Hello all and Happy New Year,

I thought I would show a few pictures of the latest progress on my Spitfire project.  Earlier, I had submitted pictures of my Spitfire frame when it had been just completed.  The pictures I am posting now show the engine and transmission have been installed into the frame. 

I began in late November overhauling the engine when I got the block, head and crank back from Central Auto in Fredericton.  Central bored the block out .020”, polished the crank journals, and took a skim off the cylinder head.  They also ground the valve seats and faces as well as having dressed the tips of the valve stems.

I bought most of the necessary parts from Central, including the pistons, rings, rocker arm shaft, both sets of bearings, thrust bearings and gaskets.  I had previously purchased timing gears and chain, clutch pressure plate, clutch disk and throw out bearing from Moss Motors.  I later discovered that the push rod, pivot pin and bushings of the clutch release arm were in need of replacing and rebuilding.  The clutch slave cylinder and master cylinder also needed to be replaced.  Another order off to Moss Motors.

I am finding that the aftermarket parts made for the Triumph Spitfire (and the GT6 I am sure) are not as plentiful as for what is available for the MGB for example.  In some cases, substitute parts are provided as is the case with the clutch release pushrod.  The pushrod for the Spitfire is no longer available and aftermarket pieces are not being made.  Instead, MGB pushrods are supplied which require modification.  You are left to find this out for yourself with no advance warning!  Am I upset about this?  Yes.  Other parts that were supplied were intended for the Spitfire but just did not fit.  More reworking was required.

I did a lot of cleaning, measuring, fitting, research, and sometimes, head scratching and so now, it is together. I am not sure if the weather will cooperate temperature wise, but if it does, I will start the engine before I put it in storage.

The transmission rebuild was typical in most respects.  The usual parts had to be replaced – the bushings and bearings, the synchronizer rings, detent balls and springs, thrust washers, reverse gears and lay shaft.  

This transmission is the less favoured “single rail” type which uses only the one rail to accomplish shifting into all four gears plus reverse.  It is a piece of engineering genius in my opinion but, not enough attention was given to the strength/durability of its individual components.  I had to be very creative in making the shift mechanism work as required.  All is good now and I hope it stays that way.

I tried a “new to me” vendor for the transmission parts – Rimmer Bros. in England.  After the parts totals, shipping, taxes and money exchange, Rimmer Bros. were just slightly higher than Moss Motors but compensated by providing much quicker delivery.   

And now, as they say, “all that is left is every thing else”.  I hope to be sharing pictures of the completed project in late next fall.  Fingers crossed.

- Chris

Click on photo for larger view.