Spitfire 1980 Spitfire engine block color

[bnw]

What color should the block, head, valve cover, and timing cover be on a 1980 Spit 1500?

 

[BRSLimited]

I believe they should be black

 

[rikiwho123]

just rebuilt my spit motor and black it is but it's up to you do what makes you happy.

 

[71MKIV]

I believe the rocker cover might be orange. Ref the Hemmings mag from earlier this year with the original Spit. His rocker cover is orange with black block and head. But you paint it whatever makes you happy.

 

[Don_R]

the 80 motor i have is black with a blue cover...the 73 motor is black with orange cover

 

[Andrew Mace]

Don, if that's original paint on your valve cover, I suspect it's a later 1500 in your '73. I vaguely remember that later valve covers were an orangey red, except for California-spec. engines (serial # ending in UC), which were blue. Or maybe it's the other way 'round? Anyway, in '73, the valve covers were still usually silver.

 

[Mark Jones]

An 80's block should be black and I believe the valve cover should be silver.

 

[Don_R]

andy...
the 73 motor is FK 29596 UE

it looks original to the car....

i bought the 80 motor and o/d trans from a car being parted out

FM 132461 UCE on the 80

 

[Andrew Mace]

FWIW, Don, that "'73" motor is actually a 1972 vintage, low-compression 1296. I'm somewhat sure the original valve covers on those were silver, but then valve covers are very easily to a: swap or b: paint! On the other hand, the '80 engine is a California engine, which confirms my (failing!) memory that the California-spec. engines had blue valve covers (but then, see a: and b: above)!

 

[Don_R]

Andy,

Yup, big bearing 1296...Vin is FM 812U made Oct 72

silver or chrome cover on the 72...

 

[Andrew Mace]

Probably an early replacement engine, then. (Not that the 1500 engines were EVER known to be <span style="font-style: italic">any</span> trouble whatsoever.... )

 

[Don_R]

Andy,

my thought was that the car came with that motor.

Car being made in late 72 they might have used what motors were available until the 1500s were ready.


not being the original owner all bets are off.....

 

[Andrew Mace]

I suppose anything's possible, Don. But seeing as the 1972 MkIV Spitfire commission numbers went well up into the mid-40,000 range, it doesn't seem too likely to me that an engine number as low as FK 29596 UE would've still been lurking about the factory floor waiting to be put into a US-spec. 1973 Spitfire 1500 (that likely had to have been emissions certified, etc. with the FM series 1500 engine in order to have been sold as a 1973 model here, etc., etc.).

I've seen a fair number of low-commission-number 1973 Spitfire 1500s with replacement engines over the years, including one very low-number car (maybe a two-digit commission number) with an 1147 replacement engine!

 

[Don_R]

thanks andy....

always lookin for more info on my Spitfire...

didn't know the MK IV numbers were that high


BTW...SILVER OR CHROME on the cover.....

 

[Andrew Mace]

BTW...SILVER OR CHROME on the cover.....

Sorry; I saw that before and didn't realize it was a question. The valve covers were generally silver during that era (late 1960s through roughly mid-1970s). There was an optional chrome valve cover for the original Spitfires, but I don't know if Triumph offered the same for any of the Mk3 or later Spitfires.