Complete log of my Spitfire restoration.
01-08-07: Purchased car and drove home.
08-09-07: TSSC Insurance valuation arrives.
15-11-07: Full service and tune up, sump off and re-sealed.
28-02-08: New water pump, radiator with stat and electric fan fitted.
16-05-08: Carbs re-furbished and fitted with new filters. Old rusty sports exhaust removed and original manifold fitted for ss semi-sports.
02-06-08: Spare rear spring refurbished with new rubber spacers and polybushes.
08-06-08: Front offside suspension stripped and chassis cleaned and locally painted.
26-08-08: Offside front suspension re-built on bench.
27-08-08: Offside front suspension back on car.
31-08-08: Nearside front suspension removed from car. Many problems here! Anti-roll bar link failed as well as poor joints and trunnion.
02-09-08: Steering rack and anti-roll bar removed - small hole in rack gaiter - more new parts on order!. Parts and chassis area cleaned and prepared for re-fitting.
05-09-08: Anti-roll bar partially re-fitted with new links.
08-09-08: Steering rack refurbished and ready to re-fit.
09-09-08: Rack re-fitted, Nearside suspension parts cleaned and painted.
10-09-08: '98 Black MX5 seats collected - these look the part.
11-09-08: Nearside hub re-built and suspension back on car.
22-09-08: Brake calliper stripped
and cleaned.
24-09-08: Front suspension, steering and brakes complete.
25/26-09-08: Bulkhead cleaned, treated and painted - ok for now.
28-09-08: Passenger seat removed and mx5 seat trial fitted, brackets to make.
02-10-08: MX5 seat runner brackets made and passenger seat fitted.
06-10-08: Passenger floor treated and painted.
07-10-08: Passenger sill structure and rear wheel arch cavity fully waxoyled.
10-10-08: Working on drivers side floor.
15-10-08: Welding at top of drivers footwell above sill.
17-10-08: Drivers floor treated and painted. Sills and rear arch cavities fully waxoyled.
11-01-09: Finally able to get back to the car. Checked over and started OK, makes a lot of noise without the exhaust! Rear, raised, supported and wheels removed to start strip of rear end.
12-01-09: Rear drivers side suspension and drive shaft removed.
13-01-09: Rear spring removed and drivers side wheel arch cleaned and prepared for paint / sealing.
15-01-09: Rear passenger side suspension and drive shaft removed. Wheel arch cleaned and prepared for paint / sealing.
18-01-09: Diff removed, drained, cleaned and painted. Rear wheel arches and rear bulkhead sprayed with metal ready and painted with POR15 rust preventative paint.
19-01-09: Rear arches and bulkhead sprayed with stone chip resistant paint and undersealed (Waxoyl).
22-01-09: Rear underside of boot floor cleaned and sprayed with underseal (waxoyl). Propshaft rear UJ replaced.
25-01-09: Rear suspension assemblies stripped, cleaned and prepared for painting.
27-01-09: One side rear drive shaft and hub re-built and diff fitted.
03-02-09: Rear spring re-fitted with studs and nuts loose.
05-02-09: Drivers side rear drive shaft and hub re-fitted to car.
08-02-09: Passenger side rear drive shaft re-built ready to re-fit.
09-02-09: Passenger side rear drive shaft and hub re-fitted to car. Rear spring tightened to diff.
12-02-09: Drivers side rear brakes re-connected, drive shafts connected to diff, wheel on, suspension loaded and bolts tightened.
15-02-09: Passengers side rear brakes re-connected, wheel on, suspension loaded and bolts tightened. Exhaust fitted.
18-02-09: Seats finally in properly.
24-02-09: Drivers door trim , window seals and glass removed for frame rustproofing.
02-03-09: Drivers door internals cleaned, sprayed with POR15 metal ready, then Dinitrol ML and finally re-built.
17-03-09: Drivers door trim and seals re-fitted.
22-03-09: New fluid in braking system and bled through. Carbs adjusted so car now runs and stops!
31-03-09: New sports front springs fitted.
23-04-09: Failed MOT on emissions, lights (connection fell off!) and insufficient reserve movement on brakes.
28-04-09: Waxstats removed and sloppy linkages / springs sorted on carbs - was running rich at tickover (jets gradually slid down)
30-04-09: New uprated master cylinder fitted, brakes bled and wow what a difference.
04-05-09: Lights checked and double checked as OK, carbs balanced and tuned hopefully now ready for re-test.
06-05-09: MOT passed with low emissions, now taxed and bring on the summer!
12-05-09: Wire wheels given new tubes and boots, fitted and tracking done - looks good.
31-05-09: Wire wheel started clicking and one wire broke, now on alloys.
21-06-09: Great day out to Knebworth cars in the park - pictures in 'events'
05-07-09: TSSC Northants meet at Wicksteed park
16-08-09: TSSC International at Stafford
24-08-09: Yellow springs and AAT needles fitted to carbs
25-08-09: Carbs re-balanced and tuned. Car runs well.
01-09-09: SS Boot Rack fitted - excellent supplier.
03-10-09: Baffles fitted to exhaust - test & retune tomorrow.
25-11-09: AAL needles fitted and tuned, so far better performance.