The TR7 was well overdue for an oil change so we decided to take it and use our friends pit down there. I also needed to change the upper steering UJ and fit a new hot air pipe and bracket. I reckoned the whole thing would take than 2 hours Saturday morning leaving Saturday afternoon and Sunday to work on the Spitfire.
Things did not go quite as intended.
The old engine oil was drained, gearbox topped up – only needed a drop, and the diff checked – it has never needed topping up. Had a check around under the car, all seemed good, slight play in the rear propshaft UJ – could be the remaining source of high speed vibration.
Next job was replacing the steering UJ, the handbook says remove the pinch bolts, slide the old joint down the lower shaft to free from the upper, remove and replace – Nah didn’t work out that easy.
I removed the pinch bolts, slide the UJ down with some light tapping, then it stuck, not quite far enough to get free from the upper shaft. I loosened the joint onto the steering rack with no luck. I finally loosened the column clamp inside the car it was free, I went to remove the UJ from the lower column and the whole column came out even thought its bolts was still in place although loose.
My concern now was how was I going to get it all back in place and lined up.
Refitted the lower shaft in what I thought was the same position, fitted the new UJ to the lower shaft, went to slide it onto the upper column but spotted the new UJ had the pinch bolt 180deg different to the old. So I removed the lower column again and refitted it at 180 deg. This worked and the UJ slid on to the upper column but the not far enough to insert the pinch bolt.
To cut the story short, I had to adjust the upper column a few times, mess with the lower, and get a the friend to pull on the steering wheel so that everything went back correctly.
During all this I took a rest to fit the new hot air pipe, removed a bolt on the thermostat housing, fitted the bracket and replaced the bolt only to find a PO had stripped the thread in the housing. I managed to get the bolt back in without the bracket, but it hangs in by about one thread.
So after over 4 hours of frustration I had the car back together, gave up any plan to work on the Spitfire and struggled home today concerned that I maybe losing coolant.
At least we are back home now, looks like the inlet manifold will have to come out so it can be fitted with helicoils.
The new UJ has made a big improvement to the steering and there was only a slight weep from the thermostat housing, will probably SORN the car for the winter now.
Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - some restoration in progress.
