Latest work on the Spitfire

"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228) 03/05/2014 at 17:23 • Filed to: spit6

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This is my rig for trying to bend the chassis back into shape. I think it must have been in a light front-end collision at some point in its life as one of the outriggers at the front is slightly higher than the other, causing the bonnet to sit at a funny angle. You can see it in this pic:

I've found the slight deformations in the metal where it's been bent upwards, so I heated it up with the oxy-acetylene, weighted down the chassis with two spitfire diffs, a Jag 5-speed and a random flywheel, and tried to bend it downwards with a socking great metal bar.

No movement.

Tried heating it up and hitting it with the biggest lump hammer I have, as well as leaning on the bar.

Still no movement.

Then I noticed just how much of the outrigger was disintegrating as I was bashing it, so I started poking around to find out how rusty they are. Turns out they're really quite rusty. And repaired in places with cardboard and filler.

Stunning :)

So, the current plan is to chop them open to replace the dead metal with fresh stuff, and also mount the higher one a bit lower while I'm at it.

Also, hopefully the right sized thrust washers will arrive tomorrow so I can press on with the engine rebuild :)

Nibbles > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/05/2014 at 17:33

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Keep up the good work :)

masshole1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/05/2014 at 17:36

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keep it up! my friend's parents had one and they sold it without telling me. drat.

desertdog5051 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/05/2014 at 18:09

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I can feel for ya man. I know how hard it is to straighten bent stuff. I love that British code you use for car parts. Makes the post more fun because I have to figure out what you are talking about. Have fun.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > desertdog5051 03/05/2014 at 18:12

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Hah :) in the Haynes manuals I've got there's a couple of pages at the back listing all of the different terminology used in British and American English. There's tons of them.

desertdog5051 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/05/2014 at 18:21

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When we reassembling our 78 MG, I was reading the part about adjusting the "bonnet". My partner was "WTF is a bonnet? I said, "It is at the other end of the car from the boot".

stuttgartobsessed > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/05/2014 at 18:29

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That don't look like no plane I ever saw...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > desertdog5051 03/05/2014 at 18:34

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When I first started posting on oppo I was very confused at 'fender flares'.

What the hell is a fender?

Turns out it's a wing...or a flared wheelarch :)

desertdog5051 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/05/2014 at 18:39

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As is said, "we are 2 countries separated by a common language."

Jobjoris > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/06/2014 at 05:41

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If you told me that first picture was taken from a scene of the A-team or MacGyver I would have believed it instantly! Keep posting these pictures and good luck with this issue, would never dare to try doing this myself!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jobjoris 03/06/2014 at 07:33

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Thanks :) it's not actually as daunting as it looks, provided you focus on just sorting out one problem at a time.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/06/2014 at 13:50

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Heat straightening is an art. I took a quick look at this and it seems to match other sources that I've used.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/steel/0…

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 03/06/2014 at 15:33

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That's a bit more sophisticated that what I was doing :S

I've done a bit on the crash damage on my BMW. That was simple enough, but that wasn't heavy box-section chassis so I could move it with a set of pliers when it was hot.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/06/2014 at 16:16

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You can get things to move a surprising amount just by heating and letting cool. Getting them to move just the way you want them to is where the art comes in. We've tried it on some stuff at work, but inevitably end up resorting to sticking them in the press in the end.

mrazekan > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 03/06/2014 at 16:37

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GONZO!

This looks awesome. I always look forward to your posts.

Is there a place you are keeping track of all of these? Also, do you have your plan for the car spilled out somewhere? Suspension, Engine, etc. I know you have a straight six going in this thing. Have you thought about fuel injecting? PI manifold etc?

I've really been jonesing for GT6. Your posts definitely show the reality of working on these cars. Hasn't scared me away yet!

Cheers!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > mrazekan 03/06/2014 at 18:05

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Thanks :) I've tagged all of my updates with spit6, although the search function isn't the greatest. They're all here though.

You know, I don't think I have done a post spelling it all out. Here goes :)

I've got a 2.5l Triumph I6 from a 2.5PI saloon. It'll have all of the rotating assembly balanced, a TR6 cam, stainless tubular manifolds, a ported big-valve head and a lightweight flywheel. So far the plan is to use the original Lucas PI system, although if it's untenably irksome I might go with EFi. Looking for 170bhp, although the literature points to being able to get more from that spec.

That'll be going through the saloon 4-speed overdrive gearbox I've got (same as the TR6 and Stag), a custom propshaft and a 3.89 Spitfire MkIII diff with a Quaife LSD (mainly so it won't lunch itself when I accelerate).

Suspension-wise I've got GAZ adjustable shocks and springs, and a rotoflex GT6 rear suspension in place of the swing axles. The actual rotoflex driveshafts will be replaced with proper CV joints in a kit from Canley Classics.

I've got GT6 discs and drums, although I'm considering some HiSpec 4-pots up front if I can find some that'll fit under my wheels (which are 175/70 13 Cosmic MkIVs).

To offset the weight of the 6-cylinder up front I've got an alloy GT6 radiator, alloy front and rear engine plates, an alloy water pump and housing, a lightweight alternator, a lightweight starter, a fibreglass bonnet and valences. Other weight saving measures are a fibreglass hardtop in place of the knackered old soft-top and alloy rear vertical links and wishbones for the suspension.

I'm aiming for 750kg by the end of it, although it's creeping up closer to 800 now. I might go for fibreglass doors or some rather nice magnesium wheels to keep the weight down further. Not sure :)

Oh, and it'll be painted Valencia Blue :)