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Re: [Spridgets] Spitfire in 73

To: Linda Grunthaner <grunthaner@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Spitfire in 73
From: Hal Faulkner <frog.aye@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 18:12:06 -0800
I believe someone on the list already proposed SPITFIDGET.
Hal

On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 4:28 PM, Linda Grunthaner <grunthaner@gmail.com>wrote:

> Too bad we can't put all Spridget parts in a Spitfire ; )
> Would that make it a Spridgetfire?
> Lin
>
> On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 6:42 PM, Kirk Hargreaves <khargreaves2@gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > Pretty cool info. .  the Mark III's being the model to look for if one
> were
> > to buy one of these. . .  ?
> >
> > I have read that they never really got the independent rear end thing
> > worked
> > out correctly prior to building the cars for public consumption. . but
> > still
> > a nice feature to have especially with the strapped half shafts then.
> >
> > Thanks for the info. .
> >
> > Kirk
> >
> > On Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 5:09 PM, David Booker <tncarnut1@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Kirk said: "Thanks. .  I appreciate the warning."
> > >
> > > And now for a slightly different take...
> > >
> > > Frank - You are the last person in the world I would ever question any
> > LBC
> > > quote from, and I'm not suggesting that you didn't have a really bad
> > > Spitfire experience, but wasn't a '73 Spitfire powered by the 1500? and
> a
> > > relatively early one at that? That was not a drivetrain exactly known
> for
> > > it's excessive robustity or racelyness... (yeah I know, but they kinda
> > got
> > > the idea across, didn't they?) The MK IV Spitfire was quite a step down
> > from
> > > the MK III in other ways too - higher suspension to meet minimum bumper
> > > height, bigger & heavier bumpers, smog-pumps and other emission
> garbage,
> > > etc.
> > >
> > > I restored a 1970 MK III many years ago that was as reliable as a
> Midget
> > > and an absolute blast to drive. I believe this was about the end of MK
> > III
> > > production and probably the most desirable of all of the 18 or so years
> > of
> > > production. The '70 was powered by the hot little 1296cc.  They also
> have
> > > independant rear suspension and a gorgeous curvy body by Michelotti.
> Mine
> > > had twin SU's mounted in place of the original single Stromberg. I
> built
> > the
> > > engine with a hot cam & valve springs, added a header, had a little bit
> > > shaved from the head, then smoothed up the rough-looking parts with my
> > > Dremel and did few other other little trick bits. The place that made
> the
> > > cam told me the modifications should have put me somewhere close to 100
> > HP
> > > but I never dyno'd it so have no idea. It sure felt fast, though.
> > >
> > > The really earlier Spitfires tended to get tail-happy in a hard corner
> -
> > at
> > > least till you strapped the half-shafts to make the equivalent of a
> > > home-made rear sway bar. Anyway - my point is that I personally think
> > some
> > > Spitfires are better than others. I really got enjoyment from mine and
> > never
> > > broke too many things in the process. Of course if you don't break
> > something
> > > at least occassionally on a sports car, you probably aren't having
> enough
> > > fun, are you?
> > >
> > >  - David
> > > Long Island
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> _______________________________________________
>
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