Hi Dave
Its a 1300 just the four cylinders....
Pops

ok, no worries i thought it was. Its just that i think i have a manifold and a pair of SU's for a '6' rattling about somewhere.

Thanks for the thought Dave, not to worry.
Pops

Disaster averted, Dave at Spitfire graveyard has sorted me out with a manifold and twin 1 1/4 SU's so all should be up and running I hope, its been a couple of years since this engine has been run up and I've never heard this sports exhaust note so looking forward to that.

Update on the vinyl cover, The sample sheet arrived and went on smooth over the hump, gave a realistic impression of brushed aluminium and the colour looked fantastic at showing off the curves, however it was so easily marked it would not be practical over the whole car, the sheets max width mean that a car such as this with no doors would need joins in the vinyl that would always be visible and obvious, not a total waste of time though as the silver looked fantastic so a change of mind once again on final colour.

Just fitting a wood burner into the garage so next time home should mean no interruptions due to being too cold, strange the wife suggests I should move in their if its as warm as Im expecting:icon_sad:

Paint the body and vinyl the humps and highlights?

I was always a sucker for two tone paint jobs....

Mines a dromedary, I like the idea of adding darker tones to the shallows of the bodywork to highlight the curves, may be beyond my skills to do so, have other thoughts too but am a long way of that stage so will have changed my mind a few times more,

Silver is a great colour on almost any car imho.

White's made a come-back recently after a couple of decades in the doldrums. Something to do with Apple using it for all their trendy electronic toys for young folks I believe.

There'll be a hint of I-Pod white on mine as I'm going for a white grille and racing roundels. I'm hoping it'll subtly complement the silver paint rather than clash like black would.

Shame the vinyl wrap didn't work out for you, would've liked to have seen how it turned out.

There's always 'liquid chrome' if you want a stunning, polished aluminium warplane look :plane: and your budget will allow -

http://www.chromepaint.com/shop/liquid-chrome/

I looked at this a year or so ago and it would've cost about a grand for four litres so it looks like it's come down in price by about 40% since then. That could mean they're selling a lot of it and have been able to pass the volume production savings on to the customer.

Although it's still expensive compared to conventional paint it doesn't appear to need flatting and polishing for days and days after it's applied. So long as the prep is done right it looks like you spray it on and you're done. Worth thinking about...

Well Dave at Spitfire Graveyard delivered as promised (Cant recommend this company enough and wont hesitate too contact for future spares) and the manifold and carbs arrived today (not bad with Christmas rush), just fitted them and after a lot of persuading the engine finally fired up, only ran it for 20-30 seconds as I haven't plumbed in the water yet , however well chuffed to finally hear the exhaust and know theres life in the beast after all this time. He ticked over ok with a decent rumble considering its a 1300 Spitfire engine.
I am going to have to fit a blister as the new carbs fowl the bonnet but thats not an issue.
Pops

Great news on the engine start. :cool:

Cheers Paul,
There was no need for me to do this just yet, but after reading your thread it spurred me on to get it running.
Pops

And now the workshop is a far more inviting place...
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...6280842210.jpg
Happy days

Mmm, that looks very nice.

Bit of red oxide overspray on the wall behind it though...

Pops - I think the sooner you can get the engine running the better. :cool:

That wood burner looks lovely and warm.
Just make sure you work on the car & not sleep in the arm chair! :icon_wink:

Good luck, Paul. :)

Merry Christmas
 

Wishing all a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Productive New Year,

Will be back in 2013 with updates and progress
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psa60ba730.gif

nice fire but watch the loose fibre glass on these cars they make very nice tinder. As I:mad2: found when doing revised welding.

Chose a simple job to be starting up again, Have been thinking about a wooden steering wheel but in the end opted to refurbish the original,
Chrome sprayed the centre spokes and stitched on leather cover, overall happy with the new look still looks classic, i hope
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...9475388483.jpg
.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...9544478302.jpg

Pops

Long the wheel sir, did you stitch the leather yourself or did you have it done for you?

Wheel looks terrific 'pops, very fifties rocket ship. I also really like your instrument cluster, nice work.

The wheel cover was Ebay - £18, just had to stitch the seam to join it simple job - 1/2 hr or so..

The steering wheel looks both simple & effective. :cool:

It also works well with the steering column switches sticking out behind it.

What's next?

Good luck, Paul. :)

Very retro, and is in fitting with the look too, good work

A little more progress today,
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3c8d3b72.jpg
Rear outrider cut outs completely glassed over and filled,
.
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps49c6b987.jpg

Dashboard underway, have formed a lip around top edge made from 8mm tubing sealed in place with filler then shaped and fibre glassed over,, instrument pod secured and taking shape, will be laying on wood veneer to give an original dashboard look if all goes as planned, trying to avoid the kit car image.
.
Tried my best to avoid any sort of bulge but the twin carbs left me no option
In true Blue Peter style heres how it went.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psbbb70dab.jpg

One Lemonade bottle halved

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psb6746ec0.jpg

Then lined out with glass and resin.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psdf360ab9.jpg

After roughly marking the angle I wanted filled the shell with water

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps63f86414.jpg

Sprayed in some paint (Silver was all i had to hand) dark would be better.
Once dried it leaves a line to cut out

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psa3797e42.jpg

The ridges and flat spot can be dealt with later..

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9969562d.jpg

Smallest cut out made.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psa8c90101.jpg

And bulge started to be fixed and filled..both top side and under bonnet to be fixed for strength.
Will update on completed bulge once done..

Pops

Now contemplating the electrics on my build, have replaced the original starter switch with a combined Lucas ignition on / off switch and headlamp switch.
this does not have the start function built in and so will have a separate starter button, my question - do I need to fit a relay as I see they come with car starter button kits, (mine is not a car starter button so comes with nothing).
Hope my long winded explanation is understood and someone can point me in the right direction..

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psda28a2dd.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...psdd27f4da.jpg

Pops

For the first time in my life I have to admit to being impressed by a man's bulge. Really nice work.

Very neat solution. I like it. :)

battle of the bulge
 

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9d3de84b.jpghttp://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps802735d4.jpghttp://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps434cdf84.jpg

Oxford glad your impressed with the bulge so far ,
Cheers Towed
Tidied things up a bit today filled and initial sanding to bring the bulge into shape

Perfect mate, great work

Is that a psychotic pop bottle you have used for a mould?:eusa_silenced:

I like the shaft of light (2nd photo) approval from above... He obviously follows your thread!

What him upstairs a petrol head

Hot stuff
 

Got the engine running and although pleased to hear it a little concerned as to just how hot the sports exhaust manifold is getting ..
Short vid taken in the dark .
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6b436162.jpg
And no thats not an infa red camera it really is glowing red.
Dont know if thats normal for a sports exhaust, maybe as its just stainless pipe and not cast, any ideas anyone?

According to this link you were at about 400C - nice one.

http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index...tainless_Steel

Erm was that at tickover? If so I would suggest its running just a tad lean!

Yes it is tickover, havent adjusted carbs at all, waiting for timing strobe to set that spot on then will have a go at the carbs, I hope thats all it is...

Who needs Colortune?

Great diagnostic tool you have there!

Managed to tune the engine before I left for work and pleased to say its a lot cooler, theres a faint glow but nothing like before,
Its easy to forget while I am away that temps are a bit on the cool side back home, maybe an explanation why reading matter has been a bit thin of late. Still I am seeing some progress from you guys just two weeks to go before I return and get some time in on the build myselfe.
Pops

Glad to hear you got the fuelling sorted, will hopefully start catching you up soon!

How long are you back for? Long enough to finish your car?

I work 28 home 28 away but doubt I will reach the finishing post next time ... But hope to be a lot closer.
Pops

Is it 28 days off or are you just working back in the UK?

We both need to do a bit of a General Hague style 'big push' so we'll have a Norfolk contingent of four Spyders, five when Phil finishes his race car :)