QuestionI bought a disassembled '72 Spitfire Mk IV to restore. I am ready to place the body back on the frame and want to know which position needs which kind of pad. I bought a new bolt kit and extra rubber spacers and some slotted lead shims. I also have a lot of lead spacers that look like the rubber ones. I bought extras of everything. Any tips on setting the body?
AnswerMike,
Sorry for taking so long, what should have a been a straight forward question turns out to be not quite so simple.
Evidently the factory never counted on anyone restoring the cars, so documentation on what belongs where is fairly scarce.
About the bese I can offer is based on looking at the '72 frame sitting back in the barn. There are 12 bolts holding the body tub to the frame.
2 in front inside the engine compartment
2 at the outer edges of the front outrigger (inside the footwells)
4 bolts in the floor pan into the short outriggers
2 bolts in the parcel tray just behind the seats
2 bolts at the top of the rear axle "hump" in the gas tank area.
Based on the marks left on the frame when the body was removed, there should be rubber spacers (and an aluminum spacer underneath) at the front bolts (inside the engine compartment), and at the rear most bolt point under the gas tank.
The outrigger connections (footwell and floor pan) may have had a flat washer (steel) between the frame and body.
From the wear mark it seems that the body was tight to the frame at the rear parcel tray spot.
I suspect that the new slotted aluminum shims were designed to facilitate getting it all back together (ie: you can slide them in once the bolt is already keeping the body aligned to the frame.
It's easier to repair/replace the suspension, brakes lines, fuel lines with the body off the frame. Leave the trailing links of the suspension for now as they'll make it tougher to set the body. Also remember that the parking brake cable runs through the tub with the fulcrum bolted to the underside of the body.
The best bet for setting the body is to bribe some patient friends (3 or 4 should do, I can just about lift the tub on my own, if I don't care about scratches/dents!!) to help carry the tub and place it on the frame. I'd be inclined to have the framed stabily supported on jack stands with room to safely crawl underneath if necessary.
Set the body starting with the front most bolts and then lining up the rear bolts over the rear axle. If they line up ok then the rest should fall into place fairly easily. You'll probably find it easier to set the tub onto the frame and then have the patient friends lift it up so the shims can be slid into place.
Good luck and let me know how it turns out!
Cheers,
Jim
