Minor Mods | spit16

Minor Modifications done to this 1978

Select the headers below for more information on that particlular subject.

Painting the Wheels

A PO had painted these gold. Tires needed replacing anyway, so going back to silver was an easy choice. I think the Mark IV that had the nicest colours, Silver with Black Wheel Centres, or Nave Plates as some would call them. A friend had them sandblasted and I took them to a paint shop and chose a reasonable silver. Back in 1997 it cost $150. Beauty Rings were re-installed as there was some metal damage on the rims from corrosion.

New Tires

Before my introduction to the vastness of the internet and with limited funds I found this a difficult decision back in 1997. With only 4.5" wide wheels I was leery to go too wide on the tires; getting a trapazoidal shaped cross-section didn't seem like it would help handling.

Factory tires were 155 82 R13, which works out pretty close to 175 70 R13 and that was as wide as I'd feel comfortable. Diameter is 1.7% less on the newer tires resulting in a 1.6% increase in RPM for a given speed, but I soon remedied that with an overdrive and differential. The tires worked out well, but I did notice a better feel when I did my wheel upgrade (later).

Bumper Swap

The '78 had the Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers (massive Under and Over Riders) from the factory. Apparently Europeans were never forced to look at these horrific things.

Before this swap became popular, I was lucky enough to find a set of Mark IV bumpers while living on Vancouver Island. Easy swap for me, but more involved if you've got the complete black plastic versions.

Understanding the Ballast Wire System

Along with the Pertronix upgrade I was forced to learn more about the Ballast Wire System. In the end it turns out to be very simple.

Pertronix Electronic Ignition

At some point I discovered that a PO had installed an MG distributor in my beautiful Triumph.... no wonder the other cars wouldn't play with me!

Of course, originally the '78 Spit came with that fabulous Lucas Electronic Ignition, so it was no surprise that it had been changed out.

I did have an original Lucas in my parts bin and had entertained just using the guts from Pertronix, but in the end a whole dizzy was only 100 bucks more.....brand new, aluminum, certainly a no-brainer.

I did find out later on the forum that the original housings were actually quite good, and likely had better bearings than the Pertronics unit. In the end it was good to me, worked fabulously.

New Exhaust

Pretty sure my exhaust was still original, with the one addition of a Pacesetter Header.

It was getting on in years and although it only had one small hole in the muffler, after the ignition upgrade and possible engine rebuild in the near future, may as well put something fatter in there.

Was going to do it myself but got a great quote from Zoro Muffler to do the entire thing in 2" mild steel with a flange at the header... 300 bucks and great workmanship, the guy really took his time; I was pretty happy.

Many Spits have the muffler hanging down in plain sight; not what I wanted. Also muliple pipes out the back seems popular, but I could never bring myself to do that with a massive 53 HP under the hood. I went simple and inconspicuous.

Don't even get me started on Monza exhaust systems. 13 year old little girls... "hey look at me, look at me!" worse than the fart-cans on these tuner cars.

New Dashboard Face

Always liked the general look of the Spit dash, but man those Brits can mess stuff up!

I found it incredibly frustrating that....

The Turn Signal Indicator was cleverly hidden behind the steering wheel
The Light switch was upside down; on what planet does UP=OFF?
Choke cable on the same side as ignition key. My car revved like crazy when enough choke was used to start the car cold, requiring a very quick adjustment after it fired up. Was a challenge to get it in time when it was on the same side as the ignition. Sweet and easy modification; the factory cable was just long enough.
I think it was N. American regulations that made them put a lighted "Hazard" label right next to the ever-so-difficult-to-find hideous switch.

I picked up some 1/2" birch plywood, planed it down to 3/8" and planned out my dash.

A number of guys redo or add gauges to their dashes without recessing them. Triumph got that part totally correct; they look much better recessed.

Interior Refresh

With that nice new dashboard and cover something had to be done with the seats, door cards etc.

Park Lane Classics was fabulous, everything I needed for something like $700 to my door.

Terrific product, fit really nicely and looks great.

Still have the carpet to do, but that will come after the other interior issues are resolved (some minor changes required after the engine / tranny swap).

Oil Pressure Gauge Addition

When I did the dash remodel I pulled an old gauge out of the MK III and fitted it where the light switch normally goes.

It promptly leaked through the glass all over my stereo and new vinyl.

Eventually I got another one; Rimmer Bros were selling the TR6 version that sweeps at the top like my other gauges so I got one of those. It arrived with flaking chrome on the bezel and they were terrific at replacing it. Very happy with RB.

When I mounted the new one it also had a minor leak at the input. I will give these gauges the benefit of the doubt as many say they never leak; perhaps I was just too paranoid of overtightening.

Alternator Upgrade

So the Lucas was working fine, but I suspect had some miles on it.

After tonnes of research especially on the Forum, I elected to go with a Bosch 13107, found on the Ford Fiesta of 1978 - 1980.

Of course today they are near impossible to find, especially up here in the Great White North, and even if you found one it would certainly be in need of a rebuild anyway, so I found a local manufacturer who builds clones of that alternator.

Dixie Electric has a great reputation and the guys were fantastic. They are wholesale though so I had to deal with my FLAPS, 77 Auto Parts (great guys too).

Suspension Upgrade

Although it may have some shortcomings, the Spitfire / GT6s really do handle pretty well.

With the age of the car and the fact that I had spent almost nothing on it since 1997 I didn't feel bad replacing and slightly upgrading the suspension.

Lots to read about wrt suspension. I think the best stuff comes from Paul Geithner.

In the end I kept it pretty simple, a Heavy Duty Rear Leaf from Obsolete Automotive, Lower and Stiffer Coils up front, and 4 KYB Gas-A-Just shocks (which of course are not adjustable) and the car's stance and handling was improved.

Naturally nothing is ever as easy as that, more details will follow shortly in the links.

Spare Tire Delete

Another benefit to changing the bolt pattern to 4x100 was the availability of space saver spares.

If I'm going on a longer trip I'll throw one in the trunk, but if I need room in there I can pull it out and travel with a SLIME KIT and/or phone and Autoclub Card. I cut out the spare tire securing bracket in favour of more space available for beer.

In time I'll fabricate a fold-down braket for the space saver that can now sit further to the right as it is a bit smaller.

Stock Repairs

Minor Mods

Major Mods

Engine Rebuild or Swap?

Engine / Tranny Swap

Minor Modifications done to this 1978

Select the headers below for more information on that particlular subject.

Painting the Wheels

New Tires

Before my introduction to the vastness of the internet and with limited funds I found this a difficult decision back in 1997. With only 4.5" wide wheels I was leery to go too wide on the tires; getting a trapazoidal shaped cross-section didn't seem like it would help handling.

Bumper Swap

The '78 had the Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers (massive Under and Over Riders) from the factory. Apparently Europeans were never forced to look at these horrific things.

Before this swap became popular, I was lucky enough to find a set of Mark IV bumpers while living on Vancouver Island. Easy swap for me, but more involved if you've got the complete black plastic versions.

Understanding the Ballast Wire System

Along with the Pertronix upgrade I was forced to learn more about the Ballast Wire System. In the end it turns out to be very simple.

Pertronix Electronic Ignition

At some point I discovered that a PO had installed an MG distributor in my beautiful Triumph.... no wonder the other cars wouldn't play with me!

Of course, originally the '78 Spit came with that fabulous Lucas Electronic Ignition, so it was no surprise that it had been changed out.

I did have an original Lucas in my parts bin and had entertained just using the guts from Pertronix, but in the end a whole dizzy was only 100 bucks more.....brand new, aluminum, certainly a no-brainer.

I did find out later on the forum that the original housings were actually quite good, and likely had better bearings than the Pertronics unit. In the end it was good to me, worked fabulously.

New Exhaust

Pretty sure my exhaust was still original, with the one addition of a Pacesetter Header.

It was getting on in years and although it only had one small hole in the muffler, after the ignition upgrade and possible engine rebuild in the near future, may as well put something fatter in there.

Was going to do it myself but got a great quote from Zoro Muffler to do the entire thing in 2" mild steel with a flange at the header... 300 bucks and great workmanship, the guy really took his time; I was pretty happy.

Many Spits have the muffler hanging down in plain sight; not what I wanted. Also muliple pipes out the back seems popular, but I could never bring myself to do that with a massive 53 HP under the hood. I went simple and inconspicuous.

Don't even get me started on Monza exhaust systems. 13 year old little girls... "hey look at me, look at me!" worse than the fart-cans on these tuner cars.

New Dashboard Face

Always liked the general look of the Spit dash, but man those Brits can mess stuff up!

I found it incredibly frustrating that....

The Turn Signal Indicator was cleverly hidden behind the steering wheel

The Light switch was upside down; on what planet does UP=OFF?

I think it was N. American regulations that made them put a lighted "Hazard" label right next to the ever-so-difficult-to-find hideous switch.

I picked up some 1/2" birch plywood, planed it down to 3/8" and planned out my dash.

A number of guys redo or add gauges to their dashes without recessing them. Triumph got that part totally correct; they look much better recessed.

Interior Refresh

With that nice new dashboard and cover something had to be done with the seats, door cards etc.

Park Lane Classics was fabulous, everything I needed for something like $700 to my door.

Terrific product, fit really nicely and looks great.

Still have the carpet to do, but that will come after the other interior issues are resolved (some minor changes required after the engine / tranny swap).

Oil Pressure Gauge Addition

When I did the dash remodel I pulled an old gauge out of the MK III and fitted it where the light switch normally goes.

It promptly leaked through the glass all over my stereo and new vinyl.

Eventually I got another one; Rimmer Bros were selling the TR6 version that sweeps at the top like my other gauges so I got one of those. It arrived with flaking chrome on the bezel and they were terrific at replacing it. Very happy with RB.

When I mounted the new one it also had a minor leak at the input. I will give these gauges the benefit of the doubt as many say they never leak; perhaps I was just too paranoid of overtightening.

Alternator Upgrade

So the Lucas was working fine, but I suspect had some miles on it.

After tonnes of research especially on the Forum, I elected to go with a Bosch 13107, found on the Ford Fiesta of 1978 - 1980.

Of course today they are near impossible to find, especially up here in the Great White North, and even if you found one it would certainly be in need of a rebuild anyway, so I found a local manufacturer who builds clones of that alternator.

Dixie Electric has a great reputation and the guys were fantastic. They are wholesale though so I had to deal with my FLAPS, 77 Auto Parts (great guys too).

Suspension Upgrade

Although it may have some shortcomings, the Spitfire / GT6s really do handle pretty well.

With the age of the car and the fact that I had spent almost nothing on it since 1997 I didn't feel bad replacing and slightly upgrading the suspension.

Lots to read about wrt suspension. I think the best stuff comes from Paul Geithner.

In the end I kept it pretty simple, a Heavy Duty Rear Leaf from Obsolete Automotive, Lower and Stiffer Coils up front, and 4 KYB Gas-A-Just shocks (which of course are not adjustable) and the car's stance and handling was improved.

Naturally nothing is ever as easy as that, more details will follow shortly in the links.

Spare Tire Delete

Another benefit to changing the bolt pattern to 4x100 was the availability of space saver spares.

If I'm going on a longer trip I'll throw one in the trunk, but if I need room in there I can pull it out and travel with a SLIME KIT and/or phone and Autoclub Card. I cut out the spare tire securing bracket in favour of more space available for beer.

In time I'll fabricate a fold-down braket for the space saver that can now sit further to the right as it is a bit smaller.