Triumph Repair: 1976 Spitfire, triumph spitfire, gulf shores alabama

Question
Threequestions:
1.  What is your recommendation for a service manual for 1976 Triumph Spitfire.  I want to restore this car and need a good reference manual.
2.  What is your recommendation on trouble shooting an electrical problem on 1976 Spitfire?  I can charge the battery and after a couple of hours of not running the engine the battery is dead.  New battery installed, same problem.
3.  What is you recommendation on troubleshooting a fuel problem on 1976 Spitfire?  The car will start with starter fluid but will not continue to run.  Pulling the gas line from the carb reveals no gas in the ling.
I live on the Gulf Cast of Alabama, Gulf Shores Alabama.  50 miles from Mobile Alabama and 50 miles from Pensacola Flordia.
Thanks very much.  Rex  

Answer
Rex,

In my opinion the Robert Bentley manual for the Spitfire is the best resource for the car.  It includes a reprint of the owners handbook plus essentially a reprint of the factory repair manual.

Most of the Spitfire parts sellers should stock it, or you can find it here:   http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=x122

One word of caution:  make sure you order the correct manual, for the 1975-1980 Spitfire.

Bentley Stock Number: X122
ISBN-10: 0-8376-0122-3


2) Electrical troubleshooting.  There are two things I recommend you get.  The first is one of the battery cutoffs, the simple one that mounts to the battery post is fine.  It should be available at most autoparts stores, I've even seen it at Walmart.  

The second item is a decent multimeter (voltmeter)  I recommend one of the meters that tones on continuity, it's a bit more expensive but I've usually been able to find them under $20 if you look around.

Obviously something is staying energized that shouldn't be energized.  Look for the obvious things, interior or trunk light not shutting off.  Look for things the previous owner(s) may have added.

3)  Fuel delivery.  Does the car still have the stock fuel pump?  

One idea: park the car outside and keep a fire extinguisher ready.  I don't expect a problem but it's easier to be prepared.

Work forwards from the gas tank.  There's a nice coupler from the rubber tank line to the plastic fuel line in the trunk on the drivers side.  Set a catch can under the car and remove that connection.  See if you get gas flow.

Same thing up at the firewall.  

Finally, disconnect the line at the carb, run an extension piece of hose into a can and crank the engine for a few seconds.

If you get fuel right at the tank and at the firewall but not at the carb the the fuel pump isn't doing it's job.  It could be a clogged fuel line, bad pump diaphram or check valve.


Cheers,

Jim