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Spitfire 78 Spit need advice

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H

hottvr

Jedi Warrior
Offline
I picked up a 78 Spitfire last night. The good news. It has: factory hardtop, beautiful beige and black seats and door panels,nice arm rest, perfect wood dash, gas gauge and radio work, sotf top looks to be good,nice soft black carpet,complete tool bag,spare tire,pretty good bonett(small rust thru in front),nice boot lid, clear glass,wipers turn signal and lights all work,heater fan blows,radiator and brake and clutch don't leak. Haven't started it yet but it learched forward when I turned the key too far. Bad news: the frame is rotted in half behind the right side rear wheel. There is rust thru in the boot above this problem spot. Question: Try to repair the frame or EBAY the majority of the car?
Cheers
Rick
85 TVR 280i
78 MGB
78 Spitfire
 
If the frame is completely rusted through there, I would look real closely at the rest of the frame. If you find more rust, which somehting tells me you probably will, I would start looking for a new frame. I think you have a major project on your hands, with alot of rust repair, so it would be good to try and start wth a good solid frame, if you have that you can fix everything else.
 
Thanks for the response. The rest of the frame looks good just the frame under the boot on the right side is where the problem is. Smells like some chemicals spilled in the boot, rusted a hole in the boot floor, and leaked onto the frame to cause the damage. I'm restoring my MGB right now(finished sandblasting left floorboard 15 minutes ago) and don't feel like taking on another project.Later on today I'm going to check to see if the engine starts.
Oh, I found about 25 children's marbles in the boot. The vacuum didn't like them.
Cheers
Rick
 
If that is really all the rust, I'd probably just repair it. I didn't know that it was probably the result of some chemical, I assumed it was probably due to the high humidity and salt, like alot of other Florida cars.
 
I have a MK IV parts car with a frame that looks OK. The front cross member has surface rust, but the rest seemed OK. I'll look at it closer if you like. Or would be interested in selling the whole car?
 
Hey billspit,
I haven't decided the fate of the car yet because I'm too busy restoring the MGB. The great news is that I started it up on Sunday. It fired up immediately with no hesitation and idled beautifuly. The tach worked and the thermostat opened up with good water flow. The new bad news is that ther is a lot of rust thru in the trunck above the frame problem. The clutch is frozen but the brakes work. So do the wipers, horn, radio and interior lights. Oh, there is a small reading light in the passenger side glove box that can be aimed where you want it. Is this standard or did someone add it on? Also, how do you turn it on?
Thanks
Cheers
Rick
78 MGB
85 TVR 280i
78 Spit
 
The reading light is standard equipment. I have no idea how to turn it on, I've never even bothered to try to turn mine on.
 
I had a similar light in my old TR-3. I think it automatically turned on when you moved in out from the dash. But it has been about 30 years since I had that car.
 
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