Fri.26.09.08. One small problem with the sender unit to the oil pressure gauge has sullied Dick’s supreme satisfaction of being able to have every conceivable component receiving power and operating at its optimum. Mary from Europa kindly forwarded a wiring diagram but this also proved to be unsuccessful. It was then realised that the actual sender did not match the Smiths classic range gauge and so a completely new unit has been dispatched: unfortunately at a cost of £39.50 as opposed to £23.62 for the original component. At least Dick can claim his well earned prize of being ‘top electrician, spanner man and budding philosopher’.
The front spring fiasco rumbles on with alternate calls to Rimmer Brothers, Max, Sheffield springs and Paddocks. The latest investigation is the pursuit of the alternative ‘Dolomite’ rear spring option. But I have been offered quite different information regarding the specifications as well as the suitability of both springs. If, I am to believe Rimmers a Dolomite spring has a free length of 11 inches with an ID of 2.65 inches with a rating of 140lbs. However Max questions the free length claiming the it is much longer than a conventional Spitfire front spring which comes in at 13.2 inches with a ‘Doli’ rear spring being at least 15 inches long with a rating of 160lbs. Rimmers also claim that the only Spitfire spring that is available is for the Mk 4 whereas Max has several Mk3 for sale. The price differential is about £10.00, the Spit spring at £33.90 whilst the Doli at £44.50. I really don’t give a flying fuck about the 10 quid at this stage in the project, especially considering at the moment I could have a Porsche Boxster for the financial outlay on the car, I just want to trust someone to confidently deliver the correct information about this fuckin’ front spring.
On a lighter note, I have had a cheery conversation with Adrian at ‘Minilite’ wheels. Claiming to be the main manufacturer of the wheels for the past fifteen years, as Minilite themselves don’t actual produce ‘anything’ anymore, he feels he is in the strongest position to speculate as to which of their extensive range would be the most suitable for our needs. He has suggested that the ‘MA’ style from their extensive range would be appropriate.
This originates from the ‘sixties’ when the wheels were first introduced into ‘racing circles’ having a smaller hub centre with longer spokes. Not any more made from a mixture of magnesium and ‘alloys’ they now are a purely aluminium based product; the prohibitive cost of the ‘mag’ being a principal and obvious factor. He has narrowed the choice down to two sizes of rim. The first being the conventional size for the Spitfire range of 5.5x 13 but the more adventurous of 5.5 x 14 could be a more daring option perhaps, not just offering greater wheel area, enhancing the visual effect, but also filling the wheel arches and the sweeping lines of the wings comfortably, without appearing cumbersome and tacky. Again cost at this stage seems more and more insignificant, particularly with something as important and dynamic as the wheels. The 13 inch wheels come in at £82.00 whilst the 14’s are £99.00. Opting for the 14’s with a discount of 20% and the dreaded vat each wheel would cost £92.08, making 5 cost £460.40, with delivery, a total cost of £482.90. Having laboured with the contest between ‘Wires’ versus ‘Minilites’, even apart from price, this must be the best choice; with, most essentially, the dubious provenance of many of the wire wheels on the market being a key factor.
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