David,
Hope you're having fun with your Spitfire (what am I talking about, of course
you are!) You'll learn things as you go along - I've had mine for about 6
months, and I've learnt loads already - a far bit of which has been from this
list!
Ok, here's some answers:
1) You can use any brake fluid, DOT3 or any other DOT is fine. A lot of people
prefer silicone brake fluid, but I haven't tried it so I can't comment
2) This can be adjusted, but greasing it usually does the trick, and is a lot
easier
3) This could be lots of things. Does it happen on only some gearchanges, or on
all? Does it stop if you wait a second or two before engaging the new gear?
I've never heard of any way to adjust this, so at best it's something you'll get
used to, at worst it'll need a new gearbox (reconditioned ones can be picked up
fairly cheap...) It's probably repairable if you know what you're doing - you
know how confident you are, but I know I'm not confident enough (or competent
enough) to be messing around with the inside of gearboxes.
4) You'll have to find someone who knows a bit more than me to help out on this
one!
My one piece of advice would be not to do the restoration just yet - when you've
just bought a car, you want to drive it for a bit before you take it off the
road for such a big project! (It sounds from what you've said like the car is
currently road-worthy...)
Happy Triumphing
Dean Dashwood ('77 Spit 1500 - the most fun car I've ever owned!)
----------------------
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 09:23:35 -0400
From: "David A Templeton" <davidt@opentext.com>
Subject: Questions...
First off I would like to thank all of the responses I got about how to go about
installing my hard top. At this rate it should be installed by the weekend.
This is my first Spitfire and I am a little unsure about go about
fixing/adjusting minor problems.
1/ In North America what can be used for the Girling oil in the hydraulic
clutch? I have been told DOT 3 brake fluid but I want to make sure.
2/ The hood/bonnet latch pops open on the driver side after about 30 minutes of
driving, Is there a way to adjust?
3/ When changing gears I sometimes get gear mashing/grind, it is almost like the
syncro is not there :-(. Everything else seems okay, should I be REALLY worried
and stop driving? Is this normal? Is there a small adjustment to be
checked/made?
4/ I plan on a strip down restore and I would like opinions about sandblasting
vs. acid dipping? I have two friends and one dipped and the other blasted.
They both swear they did it right. Are there other opinions?
Thanks in advance
David A. Templeton mailto:davidt@opentext.com
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