Vic,
Sounds like a problem one of our members had about a year ago. He bought
a Spit in great shape and drove it to one of our events. By the time he
got there, he was down to the steel cord on an almost new set of tires.
We tried swapping out with another pair of springs/shocks that I had in
my garage, with no change. I think he called Dave at TRF, and it turns
out there are indeed two different springs. I'm not sure where the
date break came. Apparently TRF sold him another set of springs and he
was good to go. Your DPO may have also installed a set of GT6 springs.
As an alternative plan, Vicky Brit sells a harder, but shorter spring for
about $55 per pair. Your ride will definately get a little harsher, but
your roll rate will drop and handling will improve.
As an in between, you can take your stock springs and cut out about two
turns. You'll need to gently heat (propane torch to dull orange) the cut
end and squeeze (big pair of Channel Locks) it down flat. A little
grinding to accomplish the final flat will also help. What that will give
you is a shorter, but slightly stronger spring--from about 150 lb. rate
to about 200 lb. rate. Shorter springs will bring the camber back into
line.
Good luck,
Charlie B.
Spitfire Pilot
>
> My 76 Spitfire has a severe case of positive camber. The top of the tire
> is leaning out further than the bottom of the tire. Using a level as a
> rough measure, the top leans out about 3/4" over the bottom. Thats the
> way the car has been since I bought it (classic auto auction) and I
> don't know the previous owner.
> The lower and upper A arms look original. The bushings are not worn or
> loose. There is no play in anything and everything seems tight and solid
> when you try to shake the tire when it is off the ground. The bottom
> brackets are position properly (front and back). There is 2 shims
> installed. Both wheels look to be out the same amount. Just a guess, but
> I think the camber is about 5 degrees positive.
> One mechanic has looked at it and has scratched his head on this one. It
> would seem as though it would take a quarter inch of shim to get it back
> to zero. I have loosened the top and bottom A arm bolts at the bushings
> and the ball joint and re-tightened them with normal weight on the wheel
> but this didn't help in the slightest.
> I think that the suspension didn't change on this car through the models
> lifespan and maybe common with the GT6 so I don't know how someone could
> have swapped parts and got it wrong.
> I really need some help on this one. The handling stinks.
>
> Vic Whitmore
> 76 Spitfire
> Thornhill, Ontario
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