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[awptickes]

I know... The answer is always "yes". Eventually.

So... I always wanted an odd convertible car. I was trolling FB Marketplace and found one. And it looked decent. A 1980 Triumph Spitfire. I read a little more, and apparently it'd been Miata engine/transmission swapped. Cool.

The seller said it smoked a little on warmup, but the smoke went away after it got some heat into it. I didn't know that it had a spectacularly popped head gasket and no coolant, but I tried driving it the 54 miles home anyway. My tow coverage is 50 miles, so all I really had to do was get it 5 miles down the road. I got it 16 miles, the cabin filled with smoke, and I lost all power. Good times.

So, I got it home and saw some good carnage. Then I found a miata head on FB for $140 shipped, slapped it on, and made the thing run again. Now it runs, but it still smokes, this time oil smoke.

[awptickes]

So, I did the valve stem seals. Then I did some little things to make the car a little nicer. Replaced the seat covers, got new gauges from speedhut, and have been driving it a bit.

If I drive it hard it still burns oil, but a lot less. The leakdown is about 10% lost, but it's not horrible to drive. It's very tail-happy, and it runs a 7.58 0-60 MPH, and a 16.19@81 in the quarter, so it's not fast, but it's also not slow.

Also, I must've have really hurt a U-Joint somewhere... Because it makes the u-joint clicking whenever it gets warm. Oops.

[Ntrain2k]

Pics 

[awptickes]

Hmm. I'm not sure why the photos didn't show...

ah, BBCode woes.

[92CXyD]

I like this Spitfire, chassis wiring updated avoid the stereotypical Lucas electronics issues?

Like the Gauges, and the classic look, love the exterior colour.

What ECU/EMU are you using?
When are boosting this?
Future upgrade? 

[PhilStubbs]

That thing needs a turbo stat!!

[MTZ]

Love to see a Triumph getting some love.

[Ntrain2k]

That thing needs a turbo stat!!

^this^

[awptickes]

Wiring/Engine Management: It's a complete miata harness, spliced into the Triumph stuff at the spots where it makes sense. Thanks PO!
It's all "stock" miata drivetrain, with a stock spitfire rear diff. 1995.5 Miata engine, transmission, ECU, and harness and a 1980 Spitfire 1500 chassis.

The turbo is coming as soon as I can figure out how to fit it under the hood, which probably won't be until the cold months here in Maryland.