Tom,
My very first car was a valencia blue 1970 Spitfire Mk3. The car was
completely stock (when I bought it). It came with two SU carbs. I think
that they phased them out during the middle of the 1970 Mk3 production (but
all '69 Mk3s had them).
Sorry, but I only have a couple of pictures of her (I sold her 18 years ago
- I was getting married and we had the spit and a '73 GT-6) and all of
those are external shots - nothing of the engine bay. I remember that it
had two SUs, the infamous Smith's "PCV" valve, and wire mesh "pancake" air
filters. On the Smog Check issue - I've had so-called mechanics tell me
that my fuel filler is non-conforming because its bigger than the
"unleaded" test pipe (My TR is a '73 and originally used leaded premium).
My advise in those instances is to go to the referee station, then file a
complaint with the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair regarding the mechanic's
(in)competance.
Hugh Barber
Santa Clara, CA
'73 TR-6
At 01:00 PM 8/11/97 PST8, you wrote:
> Hi all -
>
> My '70 Spit Mk 3 is nearing completion, and I'm beginning to think
> (worry, actually) about getting it through Smog Check. This posting is
> prompted by one that Tom Monson sent a day or two ago.
>
> I have had this car since 1979, and it had twin SUs when I got it and
> has passed smog several times in the past, though it has been
> non-operational since 1991. I believe the engine to be original as it
> was a very low mileage car when I bought it.
>
> Somewhere I got the impression that there were 1970 Mark 3s that were
> delivered with SUs as opposed to the Stromberg 150. I'm not sure where
> I got this impression, other than from my own car, but I note that the
> VB catalog lists the SU application as 1967 - 1970.
>
> First, is this correct and can I prove it?
>
> Second, Tom Monson mentioned that during his smog check he was given
> grief because he was supposed to have a carb marked 150CD, not just
> CD. This seems like pretty detailed information for a smog station to
> be looking at on a 27 year old British import- are they required to do
> a reference check of such things? Tom - were you at a state referee?
>
> Third, do any other California owners of 1970 Mark 3s have twin SUs
> that they believe are original? If so, what were your smog check
> experiences like?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Yours very truly and living in fear of Smog II,
>
> Tom Schmitz
> 1970 Spitfire Mark 3
> FDU88028L
>
>
>
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