Video

Well, I imagine a turbocharged 2.5 liter TR6 engine would indeed destroy the diminutive spitfire differential at the slightest provocation! Quite the hot rod. This is a GT6 cylinder head (not TR6). The dual Tilton brake master cylinders allow for brake bias adjustment and have a few other advantages, but the stock master would work about as well. May I ask what kind of device started the fire in your garage? I am always paranoid about charging any lithium batteries in my shop.

@@Porsche9elfer YT would not post my answer. Here's the short version... A 3600 amp hour battery console in operation for 3 years at low loads had 3 levels of batteries 4 across. Twelve NAME BRAND 300 amp hour batteries in all, 46,000 watt hours. One of the bottom batteries caught fire and set the whole thing on fire. The Fire Investigators are looking closely. Clearly, a BMS fried then dead shorted.

Inside the smoke and water damaged shop is this goody I built. It was a very sad Spitfire body only, no frame, being dumped at the landfill. It never made it off their trailer and they got some $$$$ for taking it to my place. Purists, I SAVED a Spitfire from being crushed by a bulldozer. I blew the 700R4 auto trans in it years ago. I will have it rebuilt after they fix my shop and the adjoining garage. There is a Ferrari 308GTS covered up in moving blankets in the garage next to 2 Honda CBX six cylinder motorcycles. Time to play with cars again. czcams.com/video/RSPL5qxcq90/video.html

@@kimmer6 That is really terrible. At least you did not lose the whole garage. My friends call me paranoid because I do not leave anything plugged in in my shop at night ( I was in a fire when I was a teenager). I've heard too many stories about various electrical devices catching fire while unattended - usually old refrigerators or old electric motors. So I made a rule: nothing plugged in while I am away. I tell people not to charge their electric bikes in their house but not a single person listens to me.

@@Porsche9elfer All of my charging stations will be outside from now on between stucco siding and concrete block wall. Stay safe!

I believe the front sway bar is the larger one used by later Spitfires and the rear one is aftermarket made for a GT6 and is 5/8 " diameter (not 100% sure on the diameter). Right or wrong the car handles fairly well although it is nose heavy.

The diff in this car is welded, other than that it is stock. No problems so far. The GT6 sun gears are definitely a weak point, but that problem goes away when welded. Even though they are identical it is important to never reverse the stub axle sides when disassembling an old rear end. It may sound like an "old wives tale", but doing this is considered a cardinal sin among race mechanics that I've talked to. The grain structure of the metal takes a set over many years and may even twist a little, if you reverse the main torque load they will snap!

I just found that out recently, but thank you for the observation. I think I still would opt for the SM seats because the DS seats have a sort of reverse curve to the upright that my back does not like. Also the DS seats are much softer and the early cars have a very soft suspension, the combinations almost makes one car sick . I do plan to install the second SM seat. In any case, after driving the car for a few weeks now I really like the SM seat.

It serves as a heat shield from the headers underneath, also if there is a fuel leak it keeps the fuel from leaking directly onto the headers. Mostly it is a heat shield. I don't think they have a youtube channel

@@Porsche9elfer Thanks, makes sense.

Yea, it all got to be too much for me with all the other automotive interests I have - I was spread too thin, racing takes a lot. However I am planning to resurrect my street GT6+ with a performance engine, just not to this extreme. I learned a lot building this car and I will apply it to that project. Thanks for watching.

The XM seats are the BEST ! And they are powered !

It is from a VW Sirocco. See the part 1 video from 15 years ago for more details. We have never had overheating even racing at 95F like in this video weekend. Also there is an oil cooler. Sometimes just having a new or completely cleaned out GT6 radiator will solve overheating. My street GT6 used to always overheat until I had a new core put in the original radiator. Your performance cam will not add much to overheating unless you are pushing the car hard.

You are defiantly asking for trouble, but sometimes it is worth it. The important thing to consider is the thickness of the base of the new seat and the overall width. If the new base is too thick you end up looking through the top of the windscreen where the optics can make you dizzy. There is usually some fabrication of brackets and welding involved too. Personally I would only make the change if you are extremely uncomfortable driving your XM and you know for sure that you like the CX seats. I tried three different styles of DS seats before this SM seat. The SM seat is perfect whereas none of the DS seats suited me at all.

@@Porsche9elfer Thanks for taking me seriously but I was kind of daydreaming there. Fabricating parts wouldn’t be a problem but sooner the question how far one should go. In reality I contained myself to mixing up things a tiny bit. My 1996 series 2 XM has a series 1 nose and single spoke steering wheel and the flat streamlined hubcaps of the Evasion version, which make it look extra futuristic in my eyes. As far as the rest goes I have been able to contain myself. Thanks for the nice insights into your adventures.

Greeting Texas! I've seen some very fast Spitfires in my time, on some tracks quicker than much more powerful cars. The oiling system is very simple: it taps pressure directly after the oil pump and feeds it into the main oil gallery right beside each of the main bearings farther away. The main oil gallery is left intact as well. People say this prevents pressure drop in the bearings far away from the oil pump, essentially equalizing pressure in the main oil gallery. If the oil gallery were large enough in diameter it would not be necessary, nor desirable, to have all these extra lines.

Yes, the swing axle GT6s can be handful. Triumph fixed that with the MK2 rotoflex suspension, but then for some strange reason ($) reverted to swing axle with the late MK3. This race car has two U-joints and a slider in the half shafts to replace the rotoflex.

SL are fab, but a GT6 is definitely more fun, particularly on a Sunday morning

Also notice that the external oil line to the rear of the head has been removed. Deemed unnecessary due to the increased oil pressure, we will see how that works out.

The XK engine is the best part of this car actually and runs beautifully with the SU carbs. My desire was to keep the car as original as possible and I was not even fond of performing these modifications and if not for my bad back I would not have. Thank you for the suggestion though, FI certainly is technically superior, but I do like the the nostalgia of carbs! That said, the car is unbelievably better to drive now with the 5 speed, the electric assist steering and the boosted hydraulic clutch (videos coming soon :)

Purposeful is the perfect word to describe it as used to be a race car seat.

That's a good idea. Thank you. It's too late now so I'll hope for the best, no problems thus far with 100 miles on the conversion.

Thank you for the suggestion, but the Kirkey vintage seat looks too upright for me and the sides too high for getting into an XK120 daily. I do like the seat from England I mention in the video with a good lay back angle.

Thank you! The modifications make it a pleasure to drive without making the car feel too modern.

There are two spark plugs per cylinder in order to prevent premature detonation in the combustion chamber which allows more timing advance/higher compression resulting in more power.

Oh, i see, so it used the dual spark plug idea. interesting! I thanks for taking the time to answer :) @@Porsche9elfer

@@Porsche9elfer many thanks. I am thinking about moving the engine mount behind the bracket that it’s currently in front off. Particularly as installing new custom exhaust to at this point. Any movement rearwards sure will help! Best wishes

@@bernardwarr4187 I always wondered why Triumph purposefully mounted the engine further forward. Possibly to maintain the position of the shift lever the same as the Spitfire. I can not think of any other good reason.

The driver!

@@Porsche9elfer I think your chassis bars are great. Sure it’s a lot more positive?

It would work, but you may want to mask off the mating surfaces. I would also keep the powder coat fairly thin. It is possible to put a lot of powder coat dust on and make a thick coating, but this tends to flake off over time especially on smooth surfaces. I sprayed my entire carbs with T9 Boeshield which is a clear rust preventative coating that works really well. I spray it on almost everything mechanical nowadays and it keep creeping corrosion at bay on all the fasteners and aluminum parts. I drive my cars in the rain and occasional salt.

Very nice!

Yes indeed, especially after looking at it for 5 years bolted to an engine stand.

@Porsche9elfer I know the feeling seems I get my 930 just wear I want her and than something happens that's sets me back.

Yes. It is at the machine shop. The block is being sleeved with 4 new sleeves. The bores were quite rusted. I'll make another video when I get it back.

Fuel injection does have its advantages over carbs. If it were me I would have to think long and hard before abandoning a working FI system. The guy at PMO can set you up with the exact right carbs depending on your driving requirements. Thanks for all your nice comments !

Thank you for the great comment! Been super busy, hence my tardy reply. Your two cars are about as different as can be and they must provide an interesting contrast.

Thank you for the comment. I only changed to green fluid because all the hydraulics needed to be rebuilt anyway. So, yes it is a major undertaking as every hydraulic seal needs to be changed! I've been told that the green fluid is better as it is noncorrosive and provides better lubricating qualities, other than that I do not think there is a substantial advantage. I wish you the best with your project, it is quite an adventure. The only thing I do not like about my 64 DS is the steering. I am considering installing a rack from an SM, but it is a complicated conversion. I also own an SM and the steering is wonderful.