This youtube channel is the best channel I have ever watched. I'm not a true mechanic but I do have some experience working on cars. I've had a Fiat Spider, MG Midget and now a Triumph Spitfire. Keep the videos coming. From the USA. Thanks
Cheers mate, that's such a nice thing to say. It's nice comments like this that just encourage me to make more videos. I'd love to own a Fiat Spider from the 1960's. Just love the look of them since seeing one on the 1973 film 'The Day of the Jackal' with Edward Fox. Hopefully one day when I get some space I'll get one 👍
Cheers mate, I always try to think glass half full. When things go wrong, there nothing you can do, you've just got to keep going until you reach the goal you was aiming for 👍
Watching this makes me itch all over, I've been waiting for term to end at university just to get back home to work on my mk3 spitfire with my dad! We did so much work on it over lockdown and are finally getting to the end stages like rubbing all the paintwork down for re-spraying. I'm envious you can work on yours right now xD Fantastic car, I look forward to more videos soon! Thanks Steve
Cheers mate, sounds like you've got an awesome project on the go there. due to the lockdown my overdrive may have to take a backseat but there is other things I've got for the Spitfire Project and I'll video them and get them on hear as I do them 👍
Hopefully soon, I just need to see how the UK lockdown goes, and the overdrive will be sent off for recon 👍
3 года назад
Thank you for this demonstration ! look forward to the next video with the new overdrive. I would like to do the same conversion on mine, but it's not easy to find an overdrive at a good price
No probs, your welcome 👍 Hopefully I'll get the overdrive sent off soon, it's just seeing how things are with the UK lockdown right now. That's the thing with overdrive, you either go historically correct with the early cars, and have a D type that cost a small fortune, or pay a little less and get a later J type, that's more reliable but it's not historically accurate to a Mk3 Spitfire even though it will still fit ok
Great video Steve, sorry to hear it isn't working, but there was no way you could know without trying. I'd have been tempted to chuck the drivers seat in and test it. Also I've bought another couple of flat caps so I've now got three, I'd fit in well you guys 👌
First time I road tested it, it didn't engage. Doesn't matter what I've tried its just won't engage overdrive. Been out in the car a few times now, even tried, wacking the side of the brake ring with a hide mallet at 30-40 mph to see if I could get it to work. You name it I've tried it, I think because it came out of a Mk 3 Spitfire that hasn't moved since 1983 its just gummed up. Still, positives, I'm half way to my goal of having overdrive on the Spitfire, so I'm bittersweet happy about it. You'd definitely fit in with us with your TR6 and the flat caps 👍
Is the Spitfire receiving more love and attention than you first planned ? :-) . I can't understand why overdrive's went out of fashion ? I can remember driving many cars in the 1980's and 1990's that would have benefitted from one in the long distance driving I did back then. Even 5 speed boxes never really gave long enough legs for the motorways. Nowadays we are spoilt with 6 speed boxes but the motorways are clogged !
In all honestly, the Spitfire is keeping me happy with all the jobs that need doing to make it right, there are ups and downs, but just got to keep pushing forward with progress. I know what you mean with gearing, I love using overdrive, its like a little tube when overtaking, and just lowers them revs at speed
Nice watch. Did the same with my 1500 this year - the engine was out anyway - I hit it a little luckier with the used parts - rebuilt the solenoid and replaced the cut-out switch on the box and it was fine. Luck of the draw I guess!
Yeah, its one of them really, sometimes you get it lucky with second hand parts, and sometimes it don't work out. I knew the electrics were all fine on mine as I rigged up a battery and check them before installing the gearbox. I was just hoping the hydraulics were all still good. It's most likely it's just the clutch is ceased, but I'm not too concerned as I've another D type overdrive in my shed that I can send off for recon. I just think of the positives, I've now got overdrive, even though it doesn't work right now, its part way to my goal, and it is overdrive 👍
Cheers Graham, hopefully it'll be easier as I've not put everything back together in the car. It's one of them frustrating as it is, just got to keep moving forward with the project. I'll get it done, just as soon as I can get the overdrive sent off for rebuild 👍
Can't stress the importance of the correct propshaft, the difference between O/D and non O/D it isn't something you can eyeball. I bought a Spit years ago, and the first time I drove it I had the worst accident I ever had. I'd been careful, working up places with increasing speed limits and nothing seemed untoward, so I decided to try the motorway. The car was fine for the first 5 mins, then there was a sudden bang and the steering went - turn slightly left and the car went fully left, turn the steering right and the car went fully right, I also lost the brakes. I must have crossed the three lanes at least four times. The garage I'd bought it from were fantastic- they arranged pickup and fixed the car, even though I absolutely believe they couldn't have know about the problem. They'd sold the car as non O/D, but when they look at the damage they saw the overdrive on the end of the box. The differential had seized - probably because a longer, non-O/D prop, was fitted. The seizure caused the UJs on o e of the half shafts to shear, so I lost all geometry on the offside rear wheel, which entirely tucked under the car, taking the brake line with it. Somehow I managed to park it perfectly in the hard shoulder - I still pretend this was deliberate. When I picked the car up from the dealer, he joked that he'd wished he'd known about the O/D as he could have put the price up.
Well Keith l'm glad you lived to tell the tale! I had a similar drama with my 1850 Dolomite . I was overtaking a car out of Shaldon and the box seized ! Didn't realise the old girl could stop so quickly ! Must say l thought ....what the ....! By depressing the clutch l coasted backwards down Shaldon Hill for about a mile and swung into the driveway of a house , told the owner my predicament and collected the car later! Sadly there was no real value in the old thing so it went straight to the scrapper's ! Think l replaced it a Sprint ! Now that was fun ! Cheerio !
That's just an awful thing to have happen, at least your still ok. The thing is when you mess with a car, it's so important to do the research to whatever your doing so that the risks are minimal. Propshafts are so overlook when it comes to cars, but they are important to have balanced, fitted correctly, and the right one for the right intended use
Hi Steve, great videos. Have the same dilemma with my 1500 Spitfire. Have a gearbox and overdrive ready to go in but want to get it checked over and learn from your experience. Where did you send your overdrive to get it refurbished?
Hi Darren, I’ve had my overdrive now reconditioned by Overdrive Spares in Rugby. The chaps there only do the overdrives, they know there onions and give great advise over the phone, and are very reasonable on price. As for my gearbox, I’d normally do that myself, however with doing all the RU-vid videos I just don’t have the spare time so my friend rebuilt it for me. Hope this helps, cheers Steve 👍🏻
Hi Steve . Well that's a bummer ! But as you say that's the way the cookie crumbles ! Every time l see that Spitfire l always think it's a good solid vehicle . And they are becoming quite sought after , particularly the earlier models . I can remember when you came down to Devon to collect it. I bet it 's worth a lot more now! Thanks Steve. And of course being a key worker you won't get any furlough ! If it's any comfort l'll think of you when l'm out I my garage on a Monday or a Wednesday .... or Friday !!!! ......What do you mean "You rotten so and so Davey !" 😁 Take care and stay safe. Just had a thought ( second one this year !) Can you replace the O/D without removing the gearbox again ? And l never thought of the fuel saving l just thought of maintaining the same speed but with less strain on the engine . Cheers Steve !
I've heard of people taking overdrives off TR's without taking the gearbox out but I don't thing there the room on a Spitfire. I could be wrong but for the sake a a few extra bolts on the bell housing to get the gearbox out, I'd rather do the job properly with the gearbox out. It's one of them, I'll get there and make it work, just one step at a time 👍
Gutted! How did you stay so calm? I would've been swearing my head off, lol. Adding an overdrive is a great upgrade. I did it on my MKIV. Will you be able to swap the overdrive with the gearbox in situ?
When things go wrong it's pointless getting angry with the problem. That won't fix the issue, so just taking a step back and not letting things get me down, and looking on the bright side of things is the way I deal with it. I mean yes my overdrive doesn't work, but no one can say I don't have overdrive on my Spitfire, it just doesn't work. I'm half way to my goal of having overdrive, so it's an achievement in my eyes. Sadly I think there is the room to unbolt the overdrive from the gearbox in situ, the the whole lot has got to come back out, but that's all part of the joys of owning a classic. At least I can still use the car on nice days without the overdrive, and that's another positive 👍
Are the gauges in the middle of the dash on all of them or is that custom/aftermarket? Im from the states and all of ours seem to have them above the steering column
Hi mate, Spitfires Mk1 2 and 3 built from 1962 to 1970 known as the round tailed Spitfires have the gauges in the middle. Then Mk4 and 1500 Spitfires known as the Stag tailed Spitfires built from 1970 to end of production in 1980 have the gauges above the steering column 👍
Here's a tip add a dipstick I came out of the drain hole with a 3/8" galvanized close in nippel Then a brass "T" plug in one side Copper 3/8"to 1/2" sweat On my 74" to clear the exhaust I went to 2 ,45' copper to point Straight up then I used 5/8" soft (Air conditioning copper 1/2" to plumber's) bent into a gentle arc forward staying just off the bellhousing. Note I flattened out a piece of 1/2" hard copper drilled a 5/8" hole at one end and a 7/16" At the outher, slipped it over New dipstick tube then attached it to the top of the trans and soldered It to the tube for an anchor point Then another at the bellhousing Then bought a dipstick on Amazon filled the trans, marked The dipstick at the "full" point. Now I can drain from the bottom And fill/check from the top. Without removing the dog house. Total cost around $35.00 Took about 1.5/ hrs. But now it's just a matter of pulling the stick P.S. change out the slave and switches and at least the clutch release bearing wail you have it apart Better safe than sorry P.S.S great video!
That's a really good idea, I like that. As for the clutch etc on my Spitfire, I agree with you, its the right time to replace while the gearbox is out. However the engine will be coming out my Spitfire soon 👍
