• Hello there guest and Welcome to The #1 Classic Mustang forum!
    To gain full access you must Register. Registration is free and it takes only a few moments to complete.
    Already a member? Login here then!

triumph spitfire basket case

guruatbol

guruatbol

Always on vacation!
On my last day of work driving the shuttle van, I was on my last trip to Vegas and the topic of conversation became one about older cars. I was asked if I wanted to do a Spitfire project.

I said yes and was told that if I was willing to pick it up out of her yard I could have the spitfire. It is totally disassembled, body off frame etc. Probably not even complete, but it is free.

I texted her today and she said she would be home on the 7th and we could get together anytime after that.

So sometime after the 7th I will be dragging home a triumph spitfire to put a small block in.

SWMBO gave me one of those, WTF looks! I have five acres and she said, "Where are we going to put it?" As if I don't have room somewhere. I will have to cover it so it will be sheltered from the snow. I know I won't be able to do anything to it until I finish my Mustang, but I can be patient.

I will likely change the extent of what I was going to do to the Mustang and do less, focus on the paint and interior and just do the needed repairs to the suspension instead of getting wild with it. I will however still have to fix her 67 up again and update some things like brakes and add power steering before I can start on my triumph.

I am somewhat stoked. I will post pics from when I pick it up and from when I take it off the trailer.

Mel
 
Free sounds like a good price to me, although it is not completely free. Your time and fuel to get the car. I am sure that somewhere on the internets there is a Spitfire website that can help you out with parts or worst case a place to sell parts to pay for your fuel. :roul Good luck...

fd
 
Great project.
I'd suggest putting a stock engine back in it. They were fun cars with what they had. Adding a V8 (not sure it will fit under that sloping hood) and what other items it would require (suspension/brakes) may creat many more problems than they are worth.
 
"KBMWRS" said:
Great project.
I'd suggest putting a stock engine back in it. They were fun cars with what they had. Adding a V8 (not sure it will fit under that sloping hood) and what other items it would require (suspension/brakes) may creat many more problems than they are worth.
Click to expand...

The V8 is lighter than the iron 6 in the GT6 which is the same body with a different hood. The GT6 hood will clear the V8. The older Vette IRS rear will bolt right up. A MII front suspension will fit very well.

The only real issue is electrical and since this one is all fobar anyway, I was thinking of using a painless solution and possible an Ididit steering column.

I have to get it here first and see what is there and what is not. I think the drive train is missing. I do have to do some research as to which trans will fit.

Mel
 
here's the "go to" place for your project:

http://www.britishv8.org/Photos-Triumph-Conversions.htm

the spit's & gt-6's are listed towards the bottom. the forum link is a good place to do some research. the biggest obstacle with swapping motor/trans in a spit is the frame. it has a center "spine' with outriggers to hold the body. swapping motor/trans in those is kinda like splitting the wishbones on the late 30's- prewar 40's fords, only its the frame that needs work. if you run into any snags, gimme a shout.
p.s. i like this gt-6. looks like it was setup to look like a cobra

http://www.britishv8.org/Triumph/DeryleWilliams.htm
 
Yep, I am hoping that when I get the thing home and it is time to finally work on it that I can locate a trans that will work. I may have to go with a good old 4 spd.

I know the V8 is not an issue with length, width seems to be ok as well, height I will just have to see. The trans is another story. I don't know the measurements of the area, so I will need to plan it better than I did the Mustangs....

Mel
 
Sounds like a fun project. Do it right. There are a LOT of fubar'd V-8 spitfires in socal. So doing it right will set yours apart!
 
I am excited to see what I am getting into. I promised Amber I would not start doing anything to it until I finish my 65 and fix her 67.

I will text the lady tomorrow and see if I can pick it up after work one day.

It she is OK with it, I will drag my car trailer down to St. George to work and get the car after work and then go home. I have one of our tire busters car pooling with me and he told me he would love to help me go get it.

So when I get to it I will take some pics and start an album and post a link. I think I will post a build thread on both the 65 and the 67 too.

Mel
 
the Spits are really cool cuz of the flip front end, making it easier to stuff a V8 in there compared to a TR4, which has the inner wheelwells built into the engine compartment.
Good luck with your project!
 
I pick it up Friday after work. I will drag my car trailer to work and get it on the way home. I will get pics before I start on my journey home if it is not dark. Then more pics as I unload it so I can see what is there. I suspect it is a chassis and a bunch of boxes and body panels.

Mel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top