Skinny little feeler gauge, I believe. Specs are in the workshop manual. Also make sure the base plate is properly flat! I had a warped one,  took it out from under the car. Not the worst job if you like lying on your back getting oil in your face

Chris Witor does “blue printed” pumps for the sixes. Not sure about the fours…..

Ah, it was strapped to the tree in three places. Very solid. Least sketchy part of the enterprise!

Tbh id rather remove the sump and pump especially when it's all running sweet as a nut otherwise. How does one measure the pump tolerances? And more importantly who actually does a decent oil pump these days, I do remember when building the engine originally, really struggling to find a decent pump.

Thats a hell of a job Nick well done- not sure you’d get me up that ladder !

Not too sure on handicap  steve race tr7V8 34.89 ( the white with red stripe at castle c.) I think Len slick shod race tr4 35.39 Matt full race tr5 37.27 me 39.01 Roger road tr6 (yellow at castle c) 45.00 conrad road tr6  47.56  

Son’s Spitfire uses a Golf (Rabbit) mk 2 radiator, fan and shroud with his own fabricated ductwork in front of the rad.  I know it’s got a wacky engine fitted in these pics but it had exactly the same rad arrangement in original 1300 Triumph form. Very similar arrangement in my GT6 except I made the fan shroud as the VW arrangement is too big to fit with the 6 cyl.

I've been weighing things this weekend, following the acquisition, and installation, of a grp bonent.  For those playing along at home I present the following weights for a mk 4/1500 spitfire: Steel Bonnet (including lights, frame, etc): 36kg GRP bonnet (same gubbins attached): 20kg Factory steel hardtop: 25kg Soft top: 8kg I'm pestering a farmer friend for use of his weighbridge.  I'm not optimistic on being that light given that there are at least two panels where repair panels seem to have been welded over the top of the old ones. It's running really well at the moment, and I seem to be managing to interpret the O2 sensor logs and dial in the fuelling too.

That’s very consistent and improving through the day. How did you do vs. The opposition?

Yeah, agree, and that is my basic plan at this point - though only #1 seems affected. Certainly it’s massively worse than the other 3.    Oh yes. Bit of a rescue dog this one. Taking some time and effort to bring around.