Spitfire owner says hello

[mozul]

Hello,
I have been lurking here for a while and have finally made some modifications to my car. I commute with two cars, a 1968 Triumph Spitfire when it is not raining (most of the time) and a 2002 Jeep Liberty when it is.

So far I have added an Engine Off/Start switch to the Spitfire and have fixed a fuel leak I had. I have a vacuum gauge in it but the readings seem quite low. I think I need to move the point at which the gauge senses the vacuum.

It is a carb engine so I can't use a ScanGauge or Ultragauge, but I am acquiring the components to build an MGDuino for it. I have the Arduino board, and a fuel flow sensor from a boat (actually 2) next I need a speed sensor and an LCD panel.

I have started doing some of the hypermiling techniques too. I am still on my first tank since starting all this stuff, so I don't know how well I am doing. I have had the car since I was 14, and I am 48 now. The best MPG I regularly got from it was about 24 MPG, so anything better than that and I know I am doing well.

Best Regards,

Kirk

[pepperedchicken]

Very cool you held on to it for all these years!hope to see pics soon

[Daox]

Hello Kirk. Sounds like an interesting project. 24 mpg sounds way low for such a small car haha, but I bet the aero is pretty bad on it too. Anyway, I'm sure you can bump that up a fair amount. Keep us updated!

[mozul]

Here are some current pictures of the car:
Side View:


3/4 View:


Front View:


My first tank was a sad 20 MPG but that was mostly due to a bad fuel leak I had and fixed. The second tank I got over 26 MPG which is the best I have ever gotten in the car. This is with the use of the EOC switch I installed. I shut it off at lights and while coasting.

For the future mods, I don't want to do too much to the exterior visuals of the car since I like the looks of it. However I do plan to put in a partial or full grill block, but with acrylic or plexiglass, so it doesn't look much different visually. I want to add a bellypan with coroplast eventually. I am also thinking of removing the bumpers. Just the horizontal part, and leaving the bumper overriders. I have seen other Spitfires done this way and it looks good. When I remove the front one, Ill have to find a spot for the license plate. Here in California we have to have front plates.

My next project is to get an MPGUINO working on it. Since it is carburetted and mechanical everything, Ill have to add my own fuel flow sensor and vehicle speed sensor. I picked up two fuel flow sensors from ebay that are for a boat. They have 5 pins. I can't find the documentation for them online, so Ill have to experiment with them to find out what the pins are. There is an impeller inside that I can hear when I blow through the tube.

I haven't found an inexpensive VSS to put on the driveshaft yet.

-Mozul.

[nemo]

I had an MKIV that had an electronically activated overdrive unit go for a 500 RPM drop. Don't know if it would fit, but might be worth looking into if you do a lot of highway miles.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by mozul

Here are some current pictures of the car:
Side View:


3/4 View:


Front View:


My first tank was a sad 20 MPG but that was mostly due to a bad fuel leak I had and fixed. The second tank I got over 26 MPG which is the best I have ever gotten in the car. This is with the use of the EOC switch I installed. I shut it off at lights and while coasting.

For the future mods, I don't want to do too much to the exterior visuals of the car since I like the looks of it. However I do plan to put in a partial or full grill block, but with acrylic or plexiglass, so it doesn't look much different visually. I want to add a bellypan with coroplast eventually. I am also thinking of removing the bumpers. Just the horizontal part, and leaving the bumper overriders. I have seen other Spitfires done this way and it looks good. When I remove the front one, Ill have to find a spot for the license plate. Here in California we have to have front plates.

My next project is to get an MPGUINO working on it. Since it is carburetted and mechanical everything, Ill have to add my own fuel flow sensor and vehicle speed sensor. I picked up two fuel flow sensors from ebay that are for a boat. They have 5 pins. I can't find the documentation for them online, so Ill have to experiment with them to find out what the pins are. There is an impeller inside that I can hear when I blow through the tube.

I haven't found an inexpensive VSS to put on the driveshaft yet.

-Mozul.

such a beautiful body on that car!

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by mozul

Hello,
I have been lurking here for a while and have finally made some modifications to my car. I commute with two cars, a 1968 Triumph Spitfire when it is not raining (most of the time) and a 2002 Jeep Liberty when it is.

So far I have added an Engine Off/Start switch to the Spitfire and have fixed a fuel leak I had. I have a vacuum gauge in it but the readings seem quite low. I think I need to move the point at which the gauge senses the vacuum.

It is a carb engine so I can't use a ScanGauge or Ultragauge, but I am acquiring the components to build an MGDuino for it. I have the Arduino board, and a fuel flow sensor from a boat (actually 2) next I need a speed sensor and an LCD panel.

I have started doing some of the hypermiling techniques too. I am still on my first tank since starting all this stuff, so I don't know how well I am doing. I have had the car since I was 14, and I am 48 now. The best MPG I regularly got from it was about 24 MPG, so anything better than that and I know I am doing well.

Best Regards,

Kirk

cool. I bet with some work you could probably get close to 27-30mpg i think that the mpg reader would help you allot

[mozul]

Nemo,
I have the electric overdrive transmission in it. I installed it many years ago with my Dad. We got it from a 1974 car. It works well to keep the RPM down. At 65 MPH it is around or maybe slightly under 3000 RPM.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

These classic British roadsters are cool