Spitfire sagging spitfire

[wrenchinhand]

I know this will be easy for someone but I don't remember this one. I entered my Spit in a parade last year and looking at the pics. I noticed the thing spead eagled from the rear. Is this weak springs or what? I don't notice it much sitting in the drive or at a show. I know in the parade I had extra weight with grandkids riding in the back. But if it looks like that when I'm driving it should I worry?

 

[britishcarfreak]

Can someone post a picture of this conversion - it sounds interesting?

 

[wrenchinhand]

Thanks for the info. I will be looking for parts. Any suggestion to easy availability. Will I have to do any mod to the shock supports or will the vette shocks mount up? This little car is pretty tired. I think it was headed for disaster until I grabbed it. I've never been a Spitfire fan but once I got behind the wheel of this one, I kind of got hooked. It was my daily driver most of last summer. When I bought it I thought I would just do some body work paint and sell it but my plans have changed and my 4 year old grandson loves it. So I guess it will stay for quite a while.

 

[MDCanaday]

Yes it needs some love but is cheap to fix. Get the shocks off a 63 vett, put overload springs onto the shocks(kit OTC)Preload the springs to 100lbs or so (looks like the front shocks now) install and check camber(small carpenters level OK) You want to get close to 0 deg with the car and driver so play with the pre loading till your happy.
md(mad dog)

 

[Trevor Triumph]

At least two guys in our Triumph Club have installed air shocks on their Spitfires to overcome the weak rear spring. I believe they used Corvette air shocks making it easier to tune the shocks by adding air. The down side is that the shock absorbers transfer too much weight to the shcok bolts. Remember they are less robust than the bolts that go through the top of the verticle link and spring. I can fond out more if you like. T.T.

 

[Dave Thielke]

You might have solved the problem by now, but there were some articles and discussion about the rear shock conversion in Spitfire Magazine a while ago. These included suppliers and part numbers.
I replaced the rear spring on mine, as it was really bad and had been blocked with rubber pads which I didn't see when I bought it (altho it it wouldn't have made a difference, as I have really had a lot of fun with the car, skinned knuckles and all). Swapping the front shock-springs from side to side helped level things out.
Have fun.
Dave T and Bluspit