Triumph Repair: Replacing rear transverse leaf spring, spitfire cockpit, rear spring

Question
Jim, I so appreciate your answering these questions!

I have a 73 Spitfire with a cracked rear spring (and it's sagging very badly, almost to the point of sitting on the left rear tire.) It does have newish-looking (few years old perhaps) white gas-adjust shocks all the way around.

To follow up to your previous question (and I hope this isn't a silly question), is it possible to replace the rear leaf without removing the body? It looks like the bolts for the leaf are on top of the diff. I sure do hope removal of the body isn't required. (Mine is cracked.)

If it is indeed possible, how do you access those bolts? Any other tips for this?

Thanks so much!

Answer
Jamie,

You should be able to slide the leaf spring (as a complete unit) out from either wheel opening once it's unhooked.

You access the bolts (studs actually) that hold the spring to the differential by removing a small plate inside the body underneath the gas tank.  You'll need to remove the vinyl coated board that makes up the back end of the Spitfire cockpit.

Other than that you need patience... and rust free bolts.  


Cheers,

Jim