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Triumph spitfire brakes how good?
davev8app - 10/9/13 at 08:43 AM

Hi i am rebuilding / modifying a dutton s2 which has spitfire front brakes and was wondering how much horse power they will stop for a track day car?
Also what upgraded options are available to me ?
id like to keep the uprights as they look nice and light
i am on a very low budget but have lathe and milling machines etc available to me
thanks dave


mark chandler - 10/9/13 at 09:16 AM

Spitfire, herald uprights were very popular in their day, better geometry than cortina in fact just not as strong in a crash and availability dried up. Lots of pre IVA cobra,s used these.

If building a light car expect them to be fine, just use EBC green stuff pads or similar, if you are running a ford back axle then consider the different PCD's for the wheels.

Regards Mark


britishtrident - 10/9/13 at 11:05 AM

Truimph "Alford & Alder" uprights with bolt on caliper brackets and steering arms are good and every easy to upgrade but early in production to reduce production costs a major change was made to Spitfire and Herald uprights and the calliper bracket and steering are part of the main casting. However the Vitesse and GT6 retained the separate mounting brackets and steering arm and also use a fatter stub axle.


To upgrade from the basic it is really just a case of fitting Vitesse/G6 uprights which on most versions come complete with bigger discs and either P16 or M16 callipers. As this type of upright was used in numerous single seater Formula there are also a large number of upgrade parts available.

Apparently this upright and associated parts are still manufactured by a small engineering out fit in Coventry who supply a version to Caterham and the classic single seater racing fraternity


davev8app - 11/9/13 at 07:19 AM

Thats useful info that the GT6 has bolt on brackets ..just checked mine they are the are the later fixed type ..i am hopping the spit brakes will be ok with 145hp rover k vvc in a dutton s2 as the disks are new and as is 1 caliper ..if someone has had experience that thay are not then i will look for some GT6 uprights ..as i want to change the hubs pcd to ford i dont want to do it twice


jambojeef - 12/9/13 at 10:06 AM

I think the version BT is referrring to is available through Canley Classics as a trunnionless upgrade for Spitfire front suspension.

It has integrated brake caliper mounts and a separate steering arm and appears to be the same as that used by Caterham. They sell all the associated parts and their service is excellent.

A little bit pricey but the parts are of very good quality.

Geoff


britishtrident - 12/9/13 at 10:52 AM

Canley are a good source of info a specialist Triumph breaker is Quiller Triumph
Rimmer Brothers still carry a lot of Triumph parts and have a useful illustrated online catalogue

ISTR the Canley front end conversion ran into problems and was discontinued.

Lotus used the the upright on the baby Elan and Europa and the GT6 front upright on other Lotus models from +2 through to the Espirit series 2.


jacko - 12/9/13 at 04:06 PM

Super Mini Front
Super Mini Front


I had herald front end on my old grass car the brakes where great.
what you have to watch is the trunions that snap
ask how i know no don't
Jacko


theprisioner - 12/9/13 at 05:02 PM

Are Spitfire uprights not used as standard on Catering Vans? and J15's etc


britishtrident - 12/9/13 at 05:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by theprisioner
Are Spitfire uprights not used as standard on Catering Vans? and J15's etc


Caterham currently use a version of the Alford & Adler upright with separate calliper bracket and steering arm but the Herald/Sptifire size stub axle.
The bottom end is machined to accepte a spherical bearing in place of the trunnion.

At some point in the Lotus/Cateringham history the one piece cast Herald/Spitfire part was probably used.

Incidentally the original upright on the very early Lotus Seven S1 was a Hillman Minx part.


40inches - 12/9/13 at 09:26 PM

Spitfire Graveyard in Sheffield is a good source, and a nice bloke.


spiderman - 12/9/13 at 10:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident


ISTR the Canley front end conversion ran into problems and was discontinued.




Still available.

http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xhtml/product/catkit1.html&xsl=product.xsl

Oil the front upright trunions and don't use grease they will last much longer.

A good forum for Triumph related stuff can be located at "Club Triumph" very helpful and knowledable about all things Triumph.