Any Gordon Keeble Owners Out There?

[Mellow Yellow]

Heaveho said:

Is there any information regarding the cars that don't feature in the GK owners club hall of fame? How many are known to be lost through accident etc, and are there any that are known to still be alive, but not featured in the photograph archive?

I'm developing an unhealthy obsession with these things, it's the first time I've become interested in anything that could be regarded as a classic, if you'll excuse the terminology! I may even pursue a purchase if I don't get a grip!

As Huntsman says, join the club and you get a directory listing them all. I went through the club directory the other day and I could only find about four that were known to be lost, GCOK site says over 90 accounted for but I think it's probably closer to mid 90's. The club relies on the owners to supply photos so there are certainly some around that aren't pictured on the club site, e.g 72 & 75 which both feature in this thread.

As you can see from these pages, there are a number undergoing resoration. The rise in prices over the last couple of years seems to have led to several of those in storage being sold off, no doubt these factors will make cars at the bottom end of the market scarcer. So, if you have a limited budget and you're thinking of buying, you might want to move sooner rather than later. There's one provisionally entered for Anglia's classic auction on 6th April, go on....

http://www.angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic-auction...

[Heaveho]

Thanks for the replies, my interest in them was stirred a few years ago when the reunion took place near to where I live, and I went hoping to see my Father-in-laws old car, the one Huntsman recently purchased.

It may never happen for me, but it's something I'll pursue in the right circumstances, unfortunately that will probably be at a time when the prices are harder to swallow. Such is life, and I can't complain, I've been fortunate enough to have had access to some fantastic cars in the past 10 years or so, albeit all of them much more modern than the Keeble. I'm almost loath to contact the club, as I think it'll just lead to me becoming completely ott about the idea of a purchase.

I may be doing something wrong, but I can't find the one you refer to in the link?

[Huntsman]

Heaveho said:

I may be doing something wrong, but I can't find the one you refer to in the link?

Its a line of text at the bottom, waiting further info.

[oneof99]

Huntsman & Mellow Yellow " Amen "

The club does produce a list, and VERY few cars have been lost.
Rarity, and rising values will, hopefully , ensure the 90+ cars survive.

[B7trr]

GK Hi lift 4x4 anybody?

[GK52]

Chassis 75 back from sand blasting. Colour of paint they applied looks very much like the correct Gordon-Keeble chassis blue- just a trick of the light. Next up repairs and then painting in the aforementioned blue.

B7trr very impressed with the first ever Gordon-Keeble monster truck!

[Mellow Yellow]

Doesn't look like you're wasting any time with this one B7trr. How is the chassis? doesn't look too bad from the photos but difficult to tell from the angle they're taken at.

I see anglia Auctions have updated the listing for the GK: "1964 Gordon-Keeble GK1. Belgium based for many years - Due to the vendors poor health, the sale of this entry will be postponed until June 2013"

[B7trr]

Hi Mellow, you were right to be weary of the chassis! its not too bad but it does need surgery around the rear seat belt/suspention area and couple of other bits. Its going to be shot blasted on Tuesday and from there to the welder.

Plans afoot for the engine once over.

One thing I do need help with is someone to look at the diff as the seals are weeping a little, any recomendations chaps?

[phj]

Morning B7trr - I have just had my diff rebuilt for Chassis 48 - I can recommend Alan Slawson (well known in Jaguar circles) at AJS Engineering. He has forgotten more than most know about Salisbury diffs. He is in Essex just off the M25. Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

[GK52]

Phj did you replace the 3 bushes on the triangular support for the diff? If so where did you source them? Thanks

[Mellow Yellow]

Mellow Yellow said:

Doesn't look like you're wasting any time with this one B7trr. How is the chassis? doesn't look too bad from the photos but difficult to tell from the angle they're taken at.

I meant that for GK52, copied the wrong handle, I know what yours is like B7trr Sounds like you're up to the task of tidying it up though. Not tempted to change it back to a manual whilst it's in bits? I have to say it's far from being the best box in the world but IMHO it is an improvement on the auto. Not only that, B7trr has two boxes and only one car, B7trr are you sticking with the 5 speed Toyota box or reverting back to standard?

[B7trr]

Mellow you all right??

I don't have a Toyota box 5 speed and I'm sticking with the auto as I like it. not sure what you had in yours but I seem the have a TH350/TH400 GM Powerglide and I like it.

[B7trr]

phj said:

Morning B7trr - I have just had my diff rebuilt for Chassis 48 - I can recommend Alan Slawson (well known in Jaguar circles) at AJS Engineering. He has forgotten more than most know about Salisbury diffs. He is in Essex just off the M25. Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Thanks PHJ, I've sent Alan an email so he can come back to me in his own time, I must admit I did take another snippet of info from one of your posts and have been in contact with Mike Huddart, he will be giving my engine the once over as its out of the car, it runs really well so it shouldn't need much other than a birthday.

[GK52]

Hi Mellow.

I think your last two questions were for me. The chassis on 75 is in very good order. We have 3m of new chassis tube to play with and it doesn't look like we'll need it all! There is one section on the forward extension which has a lot of localised rust but elsewhere it is remarkably rot free.

75 also had the Toyota p51 gearbox fitted. Not 100% sure on whether to keep it or revert to the Warner T10. The P51 has sensible ratios and seems to be often mated to V8s (especially in Australia according to various web sites) as it can handle a lot of torque. I have already had it serviced and put back together. The big difference cosmetically is that the gear lever is central and therefore the ash tray and window buttons would need reconfiguring in the lower cental dah section.

[phj]

GK52 - not tackled the diff carrier yet. Box and Diff are on garage floor at the moment. Chassis repair not started yet - hopefully in the next week or two.

[B7trr]

GK52, you mentioned the chassis colour being light blue, mine looks light green, do you know what the colour should be? paint code?

[GK52]

Over to oneof99 for the answer to that. I believe it to be duck egg blue. If I could get the original paint I would also like to use it. A decision chassis colour on ch75 probably needs to be made pretty quickly as progress thus far has been rapid.

[oneof99]

Gordon-Keeble used "Valspar Enamel" on the steel chassis & associated parts. Unfortunately, neither the 'shade' (name) nor the code number are recorded (!!) However, when I restored my car I did remove various bits of trim and a was able to see the 'original colour' in several places eg tubes below the seat-belt reels. I used the Homebase 'paint mixing service' to achieve a 'good match'. On the current system Dulux 'Winter Teal No3' (Ref No. 708G 43/103) is 'nearest'.

[Mellow Yellow]

B7trr said:

Mellow you all right??.

Yeah, still getting my B7trr mixed up with my GK52.

[Mellow Yellow]

Ch76 is still running on the original fuel pumps and one of them has slowed to the point where it's just not supplying enough to keep the engine running. A friend has suggested ditching them and replacing with solid state pumps, which seems sensible. Has anyone here fitted them? if so, what did you use, what psi is required? In all likelihood it'll go to the garage but it'd be nice to know what's involved beforehand.