Europa Front Uprights

[BDA]

I had always heard and read that the front uprights were from the Spitfire. I believe our own JB said it was actually only the uprights from the Mk I Spitfire. I thought I'd check to see what Moss Motors was getting for them and the pictures and listing they show don't look like ours Here's the listing for the upright for 1964 - 1980 Spitfire (https://mossmotors.com/vertical-link-right?assoc=35350). From the listing for the uprights at Rimmer Bros, it appears our uprights come from the Triumph Vitesse or GT6 and that the Vitesse and GT6 share them as they both share the same part number on their exploded diagrams (https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID008048 and https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID007840).

It's been a long time but IIRC, when I bought Richard's (i.e. Banks') vented front disc kit, it came with GT6 front hubs. I seem to remember hearing of two different size stub axles. I'm pretty sure I didn't change my uprights or stub axles so I'm thinking that the GT6 hubs are a direct replacement on our stock stub axles and uprights for the stock hubs.

That being the case, I'm thinking that the stock upright and stub axle comes from the GT6.

Can somebody check me on this?

[jbcollier]

Spitfire Mk1 uprights:

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID005740

They are the same as early Herald uprights ad might be the same as early GT6 uprights. Check the part numbers.

All that said, all the Spitfire uprights are dimensionally the same.  You can use later uprights but you have to use the later steering arm, etc.

The later uprights are “stronger” but is that a good thing?  An argument could be made that the weaker, earlier upright will bend and absorb energy and help save the chassis.

[BDA]

Thanks, JB. I guess Moss reused the picture of the later uprights.

[SwiftDB4]

GT6 upright uses larger diameter stub axles and hubs than Spitfire or Europa. I made that mistake ordering GT6 front bearings years ago.

[BDA]

That’s what confuses me, Swift. I have the stock Europa uprights with stock stub axles (at least I think I do) and I have GT6 hubs and I’m pretty sure I am using the stock Europa wheel bearings. I’m not positive about all that because it’s been a long time since I put all that together but almost positive and it sounds that can’t be true from what you say.

[jbcollier]

Take apart what you have and make sure before ordering.  Spin the suspect upright’s stub axle in a lathe, or between centres, and make sure it’s still straight.

[BDA]

Thanks, JB. I planned to make sure of what I actually need before ordering anything.