SPITFIRED

30-08-04: Car purchased.

 

01-09-04: Pushed home 1/2 mile.

 

12-09-04: V5 arrived.

 

25-10-04: Spitfired launched.

 

13-11-04: Car in garage at last.

 

14-11-04: Bonnet off and work begins!

 

25-11-04: Seats, trim and carpet out - looks bad in places! See bodywork section.

 

05-02-05: Boot stripped and floor evaluated. 

 

21-02-05: Windscreen removed and dash partly stripped. 

 

27-02-05: Doors off and Drivers stripped, frames fitted to gaps for support.

 

13-04-05: Passenger door stripped and both door skins removed. Templates made for frame repairs.

 

24-04-05: Seats stripped down to frames.

 

25-06-05: Gauges stripped down and being refurbished - off white dials going back - I hope.

 

24-07-05: Seat  frames cleaned and starting to re-paint.

 

08-01-06: Cutting steel to make door frame repair panels.

 

04-02-06: Broken joints welded on seat frames.

 

07-02-06: Wiring labelled and removed from boot and passenger floor. Body to Chassis bolts loosened OK!

 

08-04-06: Joined TSSC

 

09-04-06: Steering Column removed, radiator drained and removed - poor condition but no leaks. Manifolds and carbs removed.

 

28-06-06: Engine & Gearbox removed.

 

29-06-06: Tub removed from chassis - at last!

 

16-07-06: Engine, Gearbox and Clutch assy split.

 

29-07-06: Tub Placed on wheeled support for cutting and welding. Starting with passenger sill.

 

30-07-06: Engine mounted on rotating support  for strip.

 

01-08-06: Head removed, cylinder bores look and measure OK. Rotated and sump removed. Broke wrench and finger (ouch) trying to remove crank - pulley nut.

 

05-08-06: Crank nut heated and removed at last.

 

06-08-06: Engine completely stripped, one rod bearing scored - crank looks OK. Metrology to be done on all parts.

 

28-08-06: Engine parts all cleaned and measured. Valves removed from head - all look OK.

 

02-09-06: Valves being cleaned and lapped. Ordered all new bearings, rings and seals from Moss.

 

03-09-06: Valves lapped and bores lightly honed.

 

15-10-06: Head re-built and passenger outer sill nearly off - what a mess inside - need more steel!

 

Work is keeping me away from the project for now!

 

21-06-07: Work and house projects about complete for now so back on the car at last!

 

Passenger outer sill off, middle strengthener cut out and floor edge dressed. Base of A panel templates made for new steel.

 

22-06-07: New parts made for base of A panel and sill end. Cut away section of A panel to match panel and treated rust areas.

 

25-07-07: Floor and sill end patch panels made.

 

03-09-07: Unfortunately Tub scrapped and all parts sold on ebay.