Bob & Tom -
I went through the same miserable exercise both of you are talking about
when I restored by Mk I Spit. I had even gone as far as ordering the new
valve from TRF so I could perform the recommended surgery. But before I
could start to do the swap, a new valve specifically for the early Spit
arrived from John Kipping Spares in the UK. I had ordered it months
earlier and it was on backorder. So I popped in the new one and returned
the other to TRF.
Guess what? As soon as I pulled on the heater cable after hooking it all
up, the little arm, on the valve which turns the thingy inside of it to
divert the flow of water, promptly bent! Although it is still
"servicable", I can turn ON the heater from inside, but I have to open the
bonnet to turn the danged thing OFF! Aarrgghh.
In hindsight, converting the valve from TRF would've been pretty easy
really, but who knows if it would have bent, too. (sigh). Hope your's
turns out better.
Ross D. Vincenti
Asst. General Counsel/Asst. Sec'ty.
Transamerica Home Loan - Legal Dept.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 742-4756 phone
(213) 741-7231 or 741-6945 fax
ross.vincenti@transamerica.com
64 Spitfire 4
64 Porsche 356C Coupe
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Sykes [SMTP:s1500@worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 1997 3:19 PM
To: tom.omalley@channel1.com
Cc: Vincenti, Ross; triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Spit heater valve
Toe-nail measurer Tom O'Malley writes:
(regarding VB Spitfire heater valves)
> Sounds like a pretty miserable aftermarket part Bobby. Two questions:
> Does it look and mount like the old unit?
Yes, it mounts exactly the same (esp. if you have the sealing ring).
It looks pretty much the same, yellow shiny metal vs. old silver metal
on the "business end" the aluminum body construction is identical.
Hey wait a minute - that's two questions already ;-)
> Does it work any smoother? Mine is so stiff I can only change the
> setting when the engine is fully warm.
It sounds like it might be better than yours, but it's still pretty
tight especially around the "off" position.
> >Having gone through this exercise, I think I would try the TRF
> >repair next time.
> What this? <opps! that three questions!> Is this where you try to
> pry the old one open and change out the guts?
Yep, having examined these a little closer, I think the TRF glovebox
companion may make this sound more difficult than it is. But I haven't
gone that route, so can't say for certain. Any one else tried this?
> Tom O'Malley <not wanting to think about winter in Massachusetts yet>
> '74, '77 Spits.
Let's see, - winter starts up there this weekend doesn't it? ;-)
Bob Sykes
'78 Spitfires
(contemplating a very tired GT6)
|