Hi All, I'm new to the list, I've been lurking here for about a week. Actually I was a member about 5 years ago when I lived in Hawaii. Alas, I had to sell all 3 of my Spits when I came back to the mainland. Now I live in Washington State and recently purchased a 1967 GT6 restoration project that has been sitting for about 10 years and a 1969 Spitfire that just barely runs for fun around town. The first thing I did after getting the cars was to join this list again, you guys/gals really are an incredible resource. I just put up a simple webpage with a few pics if your interested (http://home.comcast.net/~popeye444/index.htm). I got great deals (I think anyway) on both, details if your interested.
Anyway, my question. I broke down the engine in the GT6 due to only about 20 - 60 PSI in all cylinders, even with oil in the spark plug hole. When I got it apart the valves were in good shape but some gunk on them keeping them from sealing. No problem there, the head is in the machine shop now getting the once over. The problem is in the rings. All the rings except 2 were broken. This seems a little strange to me to have almost all of them bad. Cylinder number 1 had a burn through with a very light cooresponding scar on the cylinder wall. Looks like I'll have to have the cylinders bored one size bigger because of that. All the other cylinders are nice and smooth. So I guess I have 2 questions. 1. Is there some underlying reason for having so many rings go bad. I would think there would be a noticable loss of power as they started going one at a time. I would expect them to stop driving it long before so many failed. Instead is seems like they might have all gone at once. I just don't want to rebuild this engine just to discover it has some serious issue after I've put a bunch of money into it. Am I worried for nothing? 2. Does anyone know of a source to buy just a single piston? I only have one that's bad. Is it a problem to replace only 1? Maybe that's why they only seem to sell entire sets everywhere. Anyone have a good used piston for a GT6 they would be willing to sell? Are Spitfire pistons the same as the GT6? There are a couple parts cars around here I might be able to pick up and rob a piston from. (sorry that's more than 2 questions, my brain got to working overtime). Bottom line is that I'd rather not add several hundered extra dollars to the engine rebuild by buying a hole new piston set if I don't have to. Is this a false economy to put in a used one? Any thoughts? Thanks! And I'm happy as a clam to be back in the Spitfire world. David Gates Shelton Washington 1967 GT6 Comm# KC5188L, Engine# KC5598E 1969 Spitfire Comm# FDU47651L P.S. I think I might still have my Spitlist window sticker someplace. I'll have to drag it out and put it on the driver. Your messages not reaching the list? Check out http://www.team.net/posting.html === This list supported in part by The Vintage Triumph Register === http://www.vtr.org === Help keep Team.Net on the air === http://www.team.net/donate.html === unsubscribe/change address requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or try === http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool === Other lists available at === http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo === Archives at http://www.team.net/archive === http://www.team.net/the-local === Edit your replies!
