Sammio Spyder Builds.....

[Mister Towed]

Are you sure you have a 2 litre lump?

I've been trying to find a site that lists when changes were made to engine spec by engine number, but the best I could find was this one that looks solely at the prefix letters:

http://club.triumph.org.uk/prefix1.htm#Vitesse

Clearly, so long as this isn't duff info, if your engine number starts 'HB' it's a 1600 but if it starts 'HC' then it's either a mk1 or mk2 two litre.

As for the manifolds in your pic, will the angle of the carbs cause clearance issues under the bonnet?

[garyh]

So all those bits i have are not wasted... Couldn't of told the wife...
But i do have some rear shocks that aren't required!

[Mister Towed]

Originally Posted by garyh

So all those bits i have are not wasted... Couldn't of told the wife...
But i do have some rear shocks that aren't required!

Hmm, I'd fit those rear shocks if I were you Gary.

I like your thinking: there's an obvious weight saving to be made by deleting non-essential fripperies from your chassis like the shock absorbers and brake calipers, for example, but the trade-off is that you might find the ride gets a tad unsettled without them.

[TriBond]

Originally Posted by garyh

Question. I have a 71' mk.2 Vitesse and i have been looking at the Canley schematics trying to identify my inlet manifold, but i don't recognise it. Please see attached.

Hi
There are two main ways that a 1600 or mk1 cylinder head differs from a mk2, firstly the mk1 had separate push rod tubes pressed into the casting, the mk2 has tunnels in the casting. Also the inlet ports were raised to improve breathing so a 1600, mk1 head has the inlet and exhaust ports in a straight line whereas the mk2 has the inlet ports above the level of the exhaust ports giving a zig zag effect. The head in the photograph appears to be a 1600 or 2 litre mk1. Hope this helps

[garyh]

it says HC on block, i would like to know how a 71' ended up with a mk.1 block...

[TriBond]

Hi Gary

The meccano type construction of the herald based cars lead to a lot of people mismatching parts. I once had a spitfire 1500 which handled rather worse than I would have expected, I found out after a bit of detective work that someone had fitted Herald half shafts which are quite a bit narrower resulting in a back axle with toe out. Your engine would appear to be a mk1 2 litre and there is nothing wrong with them, on paper they are slightly less powerful than a mk2 engine but in a lightweight package like a Sammio I would imagine it will do the job. I hate to ask but have you checked the rear suspension on your Vitesse? It has got the rotoflex couplings not the swing axles hasn't it?

[garyh]

i have rotting metalastic doughnuts but i have a full rebuild kit for them. I even have rear shocks, not having noticed the telelever units? can i rebuild them or should i just exchange! heres a pic

[TriBond]

Originally Posted by garyh

i have rotting metalastic doughnuts but i have a full rebuild kit for them. I even have rear shocks, not having noticed the telelever units? can i rebuild them or should i just exchange! heres a pic

I'd exchange them if poss, Rimmer Bos can do that I think. You can get conversion kits to fit telescopic shocks if you want adjustables I had this set up on a Burlington Arrow and that worked well. Rimmer Bros supply them as well.

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID008052

Happy Building

[garyh]

I will get them, save wasting the shocks i bought. just need to look at gasket set to see what won't fit as i bought for a Mk.2. i also want to do alternator upgrade, any info.
?

[redratbike]

Originally Posted by garyh

I will get them, save wasting the shocks i bought. just need to look at gasket set to see what won't fit as i bought for a Mk.2. i also want to do alternator upgrade, any info.
?

found this if its any use

http://www.quillertriumph.co.uk/Quil...conversion.htm


DYNAMO TO ALTERNATOR CONVERSION

Car not starting as easily as you would like?

Battery letting you down?

Add uumph to your charging circuit by converting to a modern alternator system charging at 45Amp - the dynamo we supply with this kit puts out a hefty 45Amp which is an upgrade on the standard 36Amp units available

This kit supplies those parts required to convert (including wiring diagram and fan belt) as well as the alternator itself. Fitment is a simple job of bolting on the alternator instead of the dynamo and re-routing wires.

The kit contains a new fanbelt & alternator, everything else is secondhand but repainted.

We can supply kits suitable for Spitfire, Herald, Vitesse, GT6, TR5

Kit is priced at £129.00

probably cheaper ways to do it

[davecymru]

Similar kit also at Rimmers for £119 http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID007242

Although both of those seem expensive for what you actually get in the kit when you consider that an alternator on it's own is only about £50ish

Mine was already (badly) converted to an alternator, but i had to re-do all of the wiring to tidy it up and I also fitted a new alternator and fan belt and that only came to about £60/£70 in total.

If you want to weigh up if these kits are good value for you, or if you can diy for cheaper, have a look at the instructions i followed to help you make your mind up:

http://www.northcotts.clara.net/tssc...lternator.html

[Patton]

Is it worth it,no hrw, wipers etc unless you going for some heafty spot lamps, my little ol' dynamo works fine only a few lights to power I did stick my meter on the thing when I fitted the lights switched every thing on "no trouble" but if the dyno needs replacingthen a upgrade is a good idea, (canleys exchange dyno £40ish)....PAT

[garyh]

but i am changing everything... can't help myself, spending all ebay earnings!

[Mister Towed]

Worth giving Canley's a ring: Can's say for certain but it looks like you can put a kit together from their parts for under £100 with a 55amp alternator.

https://www.canleyclassics.com/searc...ternator&ptno=

[garyh]

would this size fit the sammio, 66cm h x 53cm w approx overall with a seat depth of 46cm? have seen something i would like to re upholster myself...

[davecymru]

I'd say it depends on how you fit them,but those do sound a bit too tall and a bit too wide!

FYI Here's the dimensions for mine, i got the ones without the headrests and mine are incredibly "snug" width wise and it took lowering the floor and tilting them to get them to fit height wise

http://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/images...Dimensions.jpg

[Patton]

Hi I've a couple of school chairs for nufink, as Gary and Mike are doing seat shells reasonable Pic on Skippy post wil be cutting the backs down then trimming..PAT

[lancelot link]

Originally Posted by davecymru

Similar kit also at Rimmers for £119 http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID007242

Although both of those seem expensive for what you actually get in the kit when you consider that an alternator on it's own is only about £50ish

Mine was already (badly) converted to an alternator, but i had to re-do all of the wiring to tidy it up and I also fitted a new alternator and fan belt and that only came to about £60/£70 in total.

If you want to weigh up if these kits are good value for you, or if you can diy for cheaper, have a look at the instructions i followed to help you make your mind up:

http://www.northcotts.clara.net/tssc...lternator.html

In the past I have fitted 2cv alternators on cars where space is crucial....they wouldn't suit a heavy load , electric everything cars , but will fit a Sammio just fine....they are diddy little items and can be tucked away quite nicely....about £60 ish from German Swedish ( GSF )

[garyh]

Only a couple of pics at the moment, need to get upto date.

http://garyssammiospyderbuild.blogspot.com/

[Mister Towed]

Originally Posted by garyh

Only a couple of pics at the moment, need to get upto date.

http://garyssammiospyderbuild.blogspot.com/

Link doesn't seem to work, is it just me?