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Spitfire Swing Spring vs Camber Compensator

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Born_Loser

Born_Loser

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I am falling in love with a Spitfire4 Mk2 (1967). This will be the car for my son. Fortunately, its going to take a couple weeks to sell the stock, get it out of a bank, and go buy it - enough time that maybe I will be saved, and someone will buy it before I can. But, in the mean time, I am thinking about what the immediate "to do" list is for it. The number one thing will be address the "wheel tuck" issue of the early Spits. The obvious 2 fixes are: Triumphs later fix - the Swing Spring / heaver roll bar found on the MK4 and 1500; or TRiumphs competition Dept's fix - the Camber Compensator. Does anyone have experience with the pros and cons of the two? And any other good advice I will ignore, like don't buy it?

Or, how the heck to you put the soft top on this thing?
 
Swing spring v. camber compensator on original spring is a debate almost comparable to glycol v. silicone brake fluid, Ford v. Chevy, etc. ;) There is no one correct answer. Worth noting, however, is that the fact that the pre-1971 Spitfires could, under certain circumstances, see the "wheel tuck" issue does not mean that the cars are a death trap or an accident waiting to happen. Also worth noting is that, if you fit a swing spring from a later car, you must also fit the larger-diameter front sway bar.

I'm a traditionalist; I happen to prefer adding a camber compensator to an early car for frequent and more "intense" driving. But I've been driving Spitfires and Heralds for over 45 years without them and have never had a problem. Period. YMMV, of course.

As for the top, I have the instructions somewhere -- probably at home. The big "trick" is to get all the cloth fastened on the back (tonneau) and all about the windshield with the top frame "compressed"; then release the top frame so that it springs up and makes everything taut.
 
NutmegCT said:
Matthew - You're falling in love with a Spitfire. First question: Is your son also?

Tom
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And how! We have looked at about 2 dozen cars - he really liked the 1500 - until he saw the Mk 2 - no more debate, he is 100% in. I was a bit slower to come around to it, mostly because of the massively over-inflated, much exaggerated death trap rear end (which really isn't THAT different from the MK 4 that I drove to the limits over and over in my teens). None the less, I do want to address it. The other main "slow down" on the MK II, the top looks like its a lot slower/less likely to go up and come down for a teenager.

Andrew - great info. Can you say that the compensator changes the ride at all? The "springs up and makes everything taut" part is the part that I missed- in all my LBC experience, never have come across that! Love these little cars, each one has its own little bits that make them unique.
 
Regarding the soft top... are you asking about how to install a new one, how to fold one up, or how to attach one where the hard top has been installed?

My older son loves and drives our Spitfire (which is currently getting an engine rebuild). I mentioned the following in another recent thread concerning buying an old British car for a son. Remind your son that some of his friends' and girlfriends' parents will not be as understanding and supportive as you. They may forbid their kids to ride in your son's "death trap". Your son may say "who cares, it's their loss". However, it is a response that he should be prepared for.
 
Born_Loser said:
Andrew - great info. Can you say that the compensator changes the ride at all?
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I would say no, it really doesn't affect the ride in any way.

Born_Loser said:
The "springs up and makes everything taut" part is the part that I missed- in all my LBC experience, never have come across that! Love these little cars, each one has its own little bits that make them unique.
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I'll readily admit that the whole top and frame thing on the early Spitfire is unique. It's arguably easier to demonstrate than to describe in words; hopefully I can find those directions I have at home tonight and post them!
 
dklawson said:
Regarding the soft top... are you asking about how to install a new one, how to fold one up, or how to attach one where the hard top has been installed?
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The question was more "basic" than that - how to you go from a sunny day to a rainy day! The Mk2 is like nothing I have seen - the FRAME comes off as well as the fabric. there are no handles to tighten, or snaps in the front.

Andrew, I found an electronic version of the owners hand book - it gives me the idea. Somebody should make a You Tube vid of this one!
 
Matthew, assuming the top has all the fittings, snaps and reinforcing bars, and assuming the top frame is intact and functioning, it's not as bad as you might think...at least not once you've done it once or twice. Is it as fast and easy as raising or lowering the top on a Miata? No, but.... ;)
 
My wife and I install the front of the top on the windscreen first, then stretch the top over the top bows, the bow in the down position. The snap the back of the top and release the springs. Most of the time I have to drive a few miles and reinstall the front. Once together the top fits well enough and keeps us mostly dry. It is easiest to put up the top on the the hottest day of the year. In the cold not so much.
 
We autocross our Spitfires during the year so I've added the camber compensator to both cars- a MKI and MKII. I understand SCCA requires the swing spring or compensator in order to compete. Seems like a safe thing to do. I don't think it is very expensive and certainly it is not difficult to install.
 
Born_Loser said:
The question was more "basic" than that - how to you go from a sunny day to a rainy day! The Mk2 is like nothing I have seen - the FRAME comes off as well as the fabric. there are no handles to tighten, or snaps in the front.

Andrew, I found an electronic version of the owners hand book - it gives me the idea. Somebody should make a You Tube vid of this one!
Click to expand...

Matthew,

You could always try to find a Mk 3. :smile: It has the later integrated frame and top.

My wife had a 1968 Mk 3 and we never had any issues with the rear suspension.

Scott
 
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