Well boys, ... and girl: we finally run the Spitty at Winton (short track)
today. With a warm up so to speak yesterday. Unfortunately, because I had
not registered for yesterday in accordance with ALL the rule, I was not
allowed to run yesterday. Something to do with private practice... whereas
yesterday was a driver training day... thems the breaks. Any way, today I
got a go along with my partner, who of course was registered yesterday and
set some interesting times, then we put slicks on and his lap times went
off. I set about engineering kind of stuff. You know, you buy someone else's
car, and the next weeks you spend your time 'finding out ' what the cars is
really like. And there are a few problems, bent rack and tube, nasty
vibration apparently from under tunnel on hard left corners with slicks
on... no wheel rub, think it might be gearbox mount, could that be so?
Finally I set best time for the day, and still off the pace against sprite
though. However, good news is the engine is 'strong' Pulls all the way to
8000 revs smooth as silk. Gearbox is R/S. Little or no synchro, and the gap
between second and third is as wide as a street. Standard ratio I presume. I
am told GT6 box will fix. True? Present box in alloy case, what does that
make it era wise?
Now to other little niggles. Car has a 'Z' bar. Seems to be set on the soft
side. Do you guys use them over there. Seems to keep the car reasonably in a
straight line, However, when you are on the tire limit and they let go, its
passenger time, and look the other way... I am told we can remount the rear
link, and attach through the body to the chassis, and fit a rose joint for
adjusting. This will adjust the toe in on rear and give better control and
less whip... anyone with experience with this matter.
Also we have been given the sad news we cannot be eligible for historic in
the true sense because our rules require no 'carbs', SU only, no extractors,
original manifolds. Etc. etc. Car is already too modified we have found, so!
Into to modifieds we go.
That said has anyone any knowledge as to a swap for the rack and pinion, as
the one in it even though rebuilt from old parts and reshimmed is still a
bit vague. My 4A's is tight as a drum, and this lack of precision in the
Spitty is really noticeable to me.. Can I fit a TR4 rack/pinion for example.
Or Subaru, Datsun ... anything?
Also, given we have only 1300 cc, is it worth upsizing the wheels to 14" .
or are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?
As it is our sworn objective to have a fast (beating the sprites) spitty in
the not too distant future ... can anyone give some advice. I have located,
yet have not seen 'the great mans books' on the subject, Today we found a
guy who owns a CAMS registered Le Mans replica, and he has them. Proposed to
get them to us at next meet. He has the head and all folks, car in bits with
AMI (Australian Motor Industries) allum body. No hard top! Apparently AMI
had a team back then. Recently met one of the guys running Spitty in the mid
sixties early seventies with the AMI team.
Finally, as we have blown a head gasket I will get that off tomorrow after
work, and give it the once over. As I have not got Kas' info yet can someone
point me in the direction as to flow rates, port and other mods , valve
sizes and a matching cam for outright racing. No point pulling it apart, and
not checking...is there... is there?
Cheers, and thanks in anticipation...
Ian
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