1966 Triumph Spitfire - New Clutch and Test Drive

I finally got the clutch after being stuck for a week in the customs. Got it installed and took the car for a drive. She never drove that well. I am happy :)

[@inufresh1147]

There should be two of the rubber O-Rings in the overhaul kit (5:17 min). They fit into the Gearchange extension to seal both ends of the selector ball-end. By the way. I love your Spitfire Mk2 clips. They helped me in the begining to understand a lot of details. Thanks 😀

[@xMarkie]

My dad has a ‘72 TR6, we are getting the transmission and clutch rebuilt in October. So excited, we have a problem where when the clutch and transmission get warm it has trouble going into gear. But she works fine when she is cold.

[@cheftush]

Glad that you got her up and running again

[@49dodgeguy]

You passed me this morning on Clarke street,,, Go to see your rusty ( non rusty ) beauty is back on the road again,,,

[@RustyBeauties]

Really? LOL, the world is so small :)

[@DavidPlass]

Nice vid. The shifter on The Beast has the same play (actually, much muc worse) so I'm glad to see there's a rebuild kit that works!

[@RustyBeauties]

Yes, it is much better now, even though I didn't change anything on the front end of the shaft. I didn't know actually and someone told me here in the comments, but it was too late

[@bobadams179]

First! Just a bit of advice. When tightening a clutch cover, you should tighten the bolts evenly a couple of turns at a time in a cross pattern. Otherwise you can warp the cover. It looks like you lucked out and didn't experience any problems. It's good to see the old girl back on the road again.

[@Afrodizyak47]

Agree 100% Bob.

[@RustyBeauties]

I made sure the pins were in place and went very slow with the gun. I know how much it takes to bend the cover and believe me I was way lower than that.

[@cutworm59]

Awesome job brother Elin. It's amazing how much better the shifter works after a rebuild. I think I replaced the round snap ring with a modern one. Much easier to use.

[@markrobinson8539]

The "mickey mouse vice" on your bench is designed to hold electrical parts for soldering etc.

[@RustyBeauties]

That is what I normally use it for :) It has plastic jaws so...

[@stephendavies923]

Elin. In watching your content to catch up and having commented on one of your earlier videos I have to reiterate your great work and attention to detail, not to mention your wonderful patience! Now for my tuppence worth of comments, I have not trawled through all of the previous comments so I apologise if others have said the same... One of the reasons for a gear change linkage in a spitfire to become as loose as yours did is the driver holding on to the gear stick while driving and causing undue stress. You need to take your hand off the gear leaver when not using it. On one of your recent videos I noticed the juddering when reversing, it might have been the TR (I have yet to watch those), check the engine, gearbox and diff mounts, that is normally where the problem is. I am sure I will have other suggestions or advice that I remember from the past and will happily pass it on to you (and therefore others watching your videos and looking for tips). A very happy viewer. I have had 3 Spitfires, 2 of them restored (one of them by me), a Triumph Stag (again restored by me with the original engine rebuilt by one of the worlds best, who is also a good friend of mine (working at Hart Racing Services (HRS) at the time) and a Triumph 2000. I do, have, and will always love Triumph cars. All of the very best to you and to all of the other followers of your work from London UK.

[@RustyBeauties]

Thanks for the tips. I've been told about holding the gear shifter before.... It is a habit that I have, yes... :)

[@SendingStache]

Nicely done, Elin!

[@roundtailrestoration]

Awesome work, Elin.

[@quentinwyne297]

Elin what isbthw product you sre using to clean the carpet there? Was it takingout gear lube or road gunk?

[@robertthornhill4379]

elin hi nice one good video 10/10 bob in uk

[@jamcdona]

Elin, regarding the clutch replacement, how similar is this to a TR6 clutch job? Also, how long did it take you?

[@markrobinson8539]

Same sort of thing but the Triumph gearbox is a lot heavier and the clutch bigger. I used to have a friend help me with the TR6. He would be underneath with a trolley jack (floor jack) and support the gearbox as we rolled it backwards. I was above. Make sure to support the engine at the back before removing the gearbox and I think I used to disconnect the exhaust pipes from the exhaust manifold - Elin will know for sure. He did it a few weeks ago. I did it nearly 40 years ago lol.

[@RustyBeauties]

Yeah, like Mark said the only difference is the size. It wouldn't be possible to do it on your own. Unless your name is Elin LOL. Well, I did it myself on the TR4 after I fixed the overdrive, but I used the overhead crane :) The Spitfire took about 4 or 5 hours all together, but most of that was interior.

[@simonwalters6733]

U got more squeaks on the spit than a budgie in a cage Elin, 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RustyBeauties]

:) I have to take a video of me driving it with the top on. Then all the squeaks, knocks, whistles etc. multiply by 999 :) It is a 52 year old car. What do you expect LOL

[@manibaudilio674]

3 days fastes was a week an a half to vancouver and right now 2 months ! lol canada post get it togheter