Triumph Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" V8s (Stag and TR8)

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J Man
jason adkins
NW OH
(202 posts)

Registered:
01/21/2009 08:49PM

Main British Car:
'61 Morris Minor panel, '70 MGB GT, '74 MGB GT MGB 1.8, unsure yet on the GTs

Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: J Man
Date: March 13, 2020 02:54PM

I have a Morris Minor panel with a rotted frame and replacements are impossible to fin in the US. A friend suggested putting it on a Spitfire chassis. How strong are these frames? Will it and the rear axle handle up to 225 hp? Are there brake and suspension upgrades available for these (5 lug conversion, better coilover setups? Thanks


40indianss
don foote

(83 posts)

Registered:
08/01/2013 04:35PM

Main British Car:


Re: Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: 40indianss
Date: March 15, 2020 11:37PM

I have a 1960 Morris convertible which had a lot of damage done by a bad conversion . I found a pickup frame and with a lot of work was able to mount the body to a real frame. This involved a lot of work to the floor pan to get the body to the correct height on the chassis. Anyway the frames are out there but it may take a bit of looking


J Man
jason adkins
NW OH
(202 posts)

Registered:
01/21/2009 08:49PM

Main British Car:
'61 Morris Minor panel, '70 MGB GT, '74 MGB GT MGB 1.8, unsure yet on the GTs

Re: Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: J Man
Date: March 16, 2020 08:57AM

What truck was the frame from? My original thought was a mini truck frame but it is a matter of finding one that the front suspension is narrow enough. I believe stock is 53" on the Morris, I would like to be at 51" or maybe 52".


40indianss
don foote

(83 posts)

Registered:
08/01/2013 04:35PM

Main British Car:


Re: Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: 40indianss
Date: March 16, 2020 10:52PM

The frame was a Morris pickup frame


J Man
jason adkins
NW OH
(202 posts)

Registered:
01/21/2009 08:49PM

Main British Car:
'61 Morris Minor panel, '70 MGB GT, '74 MGB GT MGB 1.8, unsure yet on the GTs

Re: Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: J Man
Date: March 18, 2020 06:50AM

Ok I was thinking you swapped one from another vehicle, my bad. The chance of me finding another stock frame in the states or in my part of US is very very low.


thaniel
Thaniel Smith

(2 posts)

Registered:
05/23/2020 07:28AM

Main British Car:


Re: Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: thaniel
Date: May 23, 2020 07:33AM

The spitfire has a transverse leaf spring rear suspension. It’s not a great setup in my opinion.


J Man
jason adkins
NW OH
(202 posts)

Registered:
01/21/2009 08:49PM

Main British Car:
'61 Morris Minor panel, '70 MGB GT, '74 MGB GT MGB 1.8, unsure yet on the GTs

Re: Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: J Man
Date: May 25, 2020 09:30PM

I did more research and found that the TR4 has a perimeter frame vs the X frame style of the Spitfire. I found a frame near me and picked it up. It is the solid axle frame which I wanted since it is a panel truck that I would be using it on and will be easier for me to adjust the wheelbase to fit the Morris.



Rick
Rick Vandenberg

(28 posts)

Registered:
04/01/2016 08:15AM

Main British Car:


Re: Spitfire Chassis questions
Posted by: Rick
Date: June 29, 2020 05:00PM

I would have a qualified fabricator make a frame. It's a simple frame jig, especially if you have the original for a pattern.


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