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Basil

Basil

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Ok, I finally have gotten around to teh Spitfire that has been sitting for too long! I parked after it started leaking oil (bad) again for the second time after I had replaced the rear seal. This time I'm looking close at the main bearings and make sure they are good or replace if necessary. I got the bonnet off today and most everything disconnected so I should be pulling to motor tomorrow.
 
I think I can speak for all TR owners when I say we are envious of the front end access of the Spit. That has to be a dream to work on.
 
DougF said:
I think I can speak for all TR owners when I say we are envious of the front end access of the Spit. That has to be a dream to work on.
Click to expand...

It does make some things a bit easier. I've taken the bonnet completely off for now to get the motor out.
 
Good luck Basil, let us know what you find.
Nick
 
Cool to hear you're scraping the knuckles, Basil.
I'm looking forward to the pictures. You gotta
know how we all like the pictures.
 
Kind of makes me uneasy with the boss looming so close. Makes me feel like I need to stand at attention when I'm on the forum. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
Can't reach the keys
 
Wish I could have gotten to the barn to put the manual choke on my blue car, but worked on the roof all day. I'm about 3/4 of the way around my 31 square roof. Wow! is a roofing nailer a nice gun to have....
Going up to 55 tomorrow, so I hope to kick some ars up there AND get to the barn tomorrow nite to play!
Glad to here you're workin' on you Spit too. Enjoy!
 
Ok, got the motor out tonight! Pictures attached of engine ready for removal and one with engine actually out. Tomorrow night I pull the tranny so I can get the motor on the engine stand and start tear into it.
 

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Hi There Basil,

Well Sir, This is the first I`ve heard that you have a Spit.

Wow, With the E-Type lurking in the background just waiting to be completed; The spit in its current state of resto. When are you going to have the time to keep all of us on the "Straight and Narrow"???

Best Wishes with Both of your toys,

Russ
 
I think as long as I have it down this far, I will probably rebuild the front end also...new joints, tie rod ends, shocks, etc.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] I think as long as I have it down this far,[/QUOTE]

Now does that sound familiar or what????

It all starts so innocently, then it never ends.....
 
Brosky said:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] I think as long as I have it down this far,
Click to expand...

Now does that sound familiar or what????

It all starts so innocently, then it never ends..... [/QUOTE]

Tell me about it - My Jag total restoration started with a leaky head gasket...that was XX years ago..
 
Basil,
I am a little worried as there seems to be a bit of a recurring theme going on here. Take the bonnet off and start working on the engine, move onto the suspension, etc. Shouldn't you finish one before you start the next?!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
GREAT!> to get down & dirty with a TR..THAT shows your FUSED.Ain't DIY wonderful.If you felt incompetent BEFORE you started THATS ALL MELTED AWAY NOW...Welcome to the born again owners of restored TR's...And THANK YOU for being upfront with the progress & photos.
Ken&Whitelightning
(PS;PLEASE keep the photos coming,its like an online tech session)
 
Well, I am hoping the weather warms a bit this weekend. Since I pulled the motor, the temps have been single digit or low 2-digit all week and its just been too cold for me to get out and start the teardown. My #1 goal is to figure out whay the thing is leaking and get it back together such that it doesn't leak out the back end as badly as it has been.
 
Blown Head Gasket!

Well, I changed the title on this thread. Yesterday I managed to pull teh head off the spit (with engine out of car) and discovered that it had a blown head gasket! I am wondering if this is due to highter compression caused by putting in flat-top pistons (euro-spec)? I also dropped in a slightly hotter kent road cam. Does anyone have experience with replacing stock pistons with flat tops? Do I need to torque the head bolts more than the book calls for...any advice from those with experience would be appreciated.


Thanks,

Basil
 
Re: Blown Head Gasket!

Basil, my suggestion would be to switch to ARP head studs, and follow their torque recommendations. You can get the stud kits from APT. P/N HST425-10.

https://www.aptfast.com

I ran ARP studs and a stock head gasket on the race 1500, at 13.8:1 compression, and never poofed a gasket.

If you had re-used the old studs, there is a good chance they had been stretched beyond their elastic limit at some point, and weren't giving sufficient clamping force.
Also, make sure the block and head surfaces are flat.
Jeff
 
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