spitfires
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Funny story and rear end sag questions

To: spitfires@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: Funny story and rear end sag questions
From: "Kirby T. Kenyon" <kenyonkt@maple.lemoyne.edu>
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 12:26:10 -0400
Eric:

I've got the same sag, slightly more on the drivers side, of my frequent
driver Spit.  I'm used to seeing it that way myself, until I got my
project Spit.  The PO put the rear end together while it was on
jackstands and the rear has several degrees of positive camber.  Looks
VERY strange to me.  I'll have to try to relieve some of it.

I was wondering how many of us drive with their tonneau covers in
place?  I like to keep mine on the car even with the hood up (hanging
from the snaps that are supposed to be used to roll up the rear window)
because it protects the dash and keeps eyes out and off of the stereo. 
I've had a problem with the tonneau cover flying and flopping around due
to the wind.  I've been thinking of putting some kind of a strap in the
middle that would tie to the emergency brake lever.  Anyone else done
this?

Eric A. Yates wrote:
> 
> Hi folks:
> 
> I have a funny story that relates to the "Settling into Autumn" thread.
> Also some questions on the issue.
> 
> I was driving along in my Spitfire the other day, and everything was great.
> It was a brisk day with lots of sun and I was Mr. Cool with my tonneau
> cover on. (By the way... with the tonneau on and the heat pumping, it's
> downright toasty in the cockpit! I highly recommend a tonneau cover to
> anyone who doesn't have one.)
> 
> All of a sudden this guys rolls up along side me while we're going about 45
> MPH, and hanging out his window he screams at me, "YOU BETTER PULL OVER,
> MAN! RIGHT NOW! YOUR BACK WHEELS ARE TOTALLY F***ED UP!!!!" (These were his
> exact words!) Of course, I pulled over right away and got out to look,
> scared to death at what horrors await my inspection. The Spit was fine,
> looking perfectly normal, with the rear wheels leaning in slightly like
> they always do. I laughed out loud and was on my way.
> 
> By the way, I am not afflicted with the uneven sag discussed in this
> thread, my car just has the "normal" sag. Is there any way to prevent this
> sag altogether? A recent Victoria British catalog has on the cover a
> Spitfire with no rear-end sag whatsoever. The rear wheels appear perfectly
> upright. To me, the car looks weird that way!
> 
> I have only owned my Spitfire for a couple of months, so I am not sure how
> the sag affects tire wear. I would think the tires would wear quite
> unevenly, going bare on the inside edge first. Is this the case? My tires
> look fine, but they don't have many miles on them yet.
> 
> Eric.
> 
> ---------------------------------------
> Eric A. Yates * eyates@earth.nwu.edu
> 1978 Spitfire 1500 * FM 71614 U
> Chicago, IL  USA

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>