Winter Shut Down Time

So did my winter oil change, but before that I had some fun.

My Madza is a jealous car ;)

I think over the winter I'm going to find a oil filter remote kit.

Its getting out of hand to do oil changes due to the steer shaft.

http://www.gt6.ca/08/1206/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e9O3Vp0q7E

A.

Andre,

That is indeed a beautiful car! I hope mine turns out 90% of what you have.

I see your problem with the steer shaft, makes me glad I have a right hand drive!

Tad

Yeah, but on a RHD GT6, your limited by the exhaust system

Yeah, Winter is here (northwest NJ) in force too.

But I was up in Ontario last week (picking up my lastest classic) and it's really cold up there.

The Good News: My race Spridget and MGB are safely parked in my tiny, heated workshop.

The Bad News: I have to climb over them to get to my drill press.

I just ordered a kit from Jegs.

Franking not cheap, but will reduce the mess.

More to follow when it arrives.

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That looks really familiar. My Spit 6 is still runnign the OE canister set-up. I've thought about a remote set-up, but in some ways, the canister isn't that bad.

I took advantage of a reasonably dry day and had the car out on Sunday, despite a bit of salt on the roads from snow the night before. One advantage of have a car that's a bit "rough" is you don't worry as much.

I can't wait to get started on the Winter mods.

http://www.gt6.ca/perma-cool/index.html

This is what I'll be doing soon.

More hoses, but much better air flow to the filter and should improve doing oil changes ;)

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Kit arrived today.

http://www.gt6.ca/08/1210/

Andre,

Aren't you worried about road debris hitting the filter in that position?

I will fashion some kind of shied.

The major reason is its a PITA to access the filter system.

So at least I can move it too where I can remove the filter and drain much easier and cleaner.

Ah... I forgot you have an oil cooler set up.

Hmm... I wonder how hard it would be to fabricate steel lines run along the frame in lieu of hoses running all over...

A few unrelated questions: 1. what springs are you running? like 'em? 2. where did you get the 15" wheels? 3 ...and the fan shroud?

I'll be converting my Spit 6 front brakes over to the larger GT6 set-up over the Winter and it would be nice to get lower/stiffer springs in there while I have everything apart. I need tires as well so I'm debating between 13" and 15" wheels as well as debating on either an electric fan or adding a shroud, although the engine doesn't run hot...

Hoses, yes. Long term will go to steel braided.

Springs. 1. TriumphTune Springs Sprint Comp. Rate Low Ride Height TT4407. I love them. Car is very nice and balanced, well for me it is at least. http://www.gt6.ca/06/0831/index.html

1. Wheels were from Spitbits. http://www.gt6.ca/06/0127/index.html

2. The fan shroud was custom by the guy who did my roll bar. Love the damn too. http://www.gt6.ca/07/0916/index.html

15's are ok, but I have had contact issues with my bonnet. If you can find 14's you might be better off.

If I get out to do some fun stuff with the GT6 in 09, I'll be using my 13" with 175/70-13 tires.

Please forgive this rookie question, but when you lower the springs in the front what do you do to the spring in the rear?

I did work on the rear end.

I installed a diff block and altered how the swing spring links into the rear uprights.

A.

Depending on the year of car, lowering in the rear often isn't needed. Most 70's Spits had "US-spec" springs that lifted the front bumper up to meet bumper height laws. This is how my Spit 6 is (although slightly lower due to the heavier engine). Our 79 1500 was that way as well and my g/f hated how it looked.

On the '79 1500, we first installed early model springs, which did lower the front end, but had problems with the coils bottoming on each other, thus making for an incredibly harsh ride (obviously). We've since replaced them with stiffer lowering springs from Spitbits. Much better.

Thanks for the lead on the springs and comments about the 15's... I like how the 13" look and will enjoy buying less expensive tires, although I wish stickier 175/70-13's were available. 14's may be a possible compromise since thanks to early Miatas, tire choice is better.

I will note we've had minor bonnet rubbing with the 175/70-13's on Spitbit ML wheels as well.

So Ian, you are saying that the springs that I have in my UK spec GT6 might actually be lower than the US spec springs? Interesting, thanks for the insight.

Tad

Niels,

At least you can fit 2 cars and a drill in the garage. My 1909 single car Model T garage barely houses the big Healey. I have to do a transmission swap this winter, like surgery every motion must be planned in advance. Good fun.

Camber in the rear was the aim with the drop link mod and the diff block.

In the shot below I had just installed the TT springs, but had no spacer and the rear was stock.

1. Looks good, but the springs more or less had no load. So under hard breaking the front would dive. Spits and more so GT6's like a little nose up. So under heavy breaking she levels out.

2. The rear really did need the camber. Even after doing the drop mod, I have pictures of the back wheels going positive under good load. With the diff block that problem was cured.

Tad - I think so, but a call to one of the usual suspects would confirm.

I'll have to keep that drop-mod in mind if I start doing auto-x with the car. Of course, with an engine swap, I'd get dumped into a nuts class...

Cough, don't lift the bonnet...

If I get her all sorted out next yr, I'll have to do a run at auto-x and see if I can break anything else.

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Unfortunately, that buldge in the bonnet kinda gives it away... and the fact that it sounds NOTHING like a 1.5L 4-banger...

Another thing I meant to ask: is that the Bell header and exhaust from Spit bits?

Rimmer.

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