The Battle of the Spitfire Engine

Progress on the Spitfire engine began with optimism. Bolts turned easily, valve covers came off, and components that hadn’t seen daylight in decades finally yielded. The team was making headway — until they reached the cylinder head.

That’s when the real battle began.

The head refused to budge. Heat was applied, hot oil soaked in, and pressure built steadily, but the stubborn mass of metal held fast — locked in place by years of corrosion and time itself. It became a test of patience and ingenuity.

A custom puller was brought in — a heavy tool bolted to the head, pressing upward against the block like a mechanical giant straining to lift the Spitfire’s heart free. Every creak and groan echoed through the shop as the team kept tension on the assembly, hoping for the slightest movement.

But still, it wouldn’t move.

What began as a routine teardown had turned into a contest of will — one that tested both the tools and the determination of the restorers.

Stay tuned, and we’ll share the moment of triumph when perseverance pays off and the head finally lifts clear — revealing what decades have hidden inside.