E-type déjà vu. The second rebuild

[lowdrag]

Now with her new "capote anglaise" having heen collected from BAS. Looks a very good and tight-fitting (forgive the intended pun!) job.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 28th May 13:19

[lowdrag]

Not sure, but knowing the people who have cars there unlikely. I'll ask. Granddad's services have been called upon so Friday afternoon we take the M3, M25 and A12 to Chelmsford to do a spot of babysitting. My daughter is off to Liverpool to interview Dolly Parton it seems so we have the children for the day. Up bright and early on the Sunday for the trek west up the A40 and then across to Prescott, going back to Winchester in the evening, then back home on Monday overnight to Caen and. Should about be run in by the time we get home.

[lowdrag]

I can tell you that she is no longer anything like concours! Have already done 120 miles and the current thunder storm is rather exciting! I'll post next week from France, but tomorrow is the hill climb at Prescott and I'll be past the first running in phase so up to 4,000 rpm permitted. I can say the new hood is a lot more waterproof than the old though!

[lowdrag]

Sunday was, as aforesaid, Prescott hill climb with the JDC E-type register. We turned up rather later than we had bargained for due to heavy traffic but lo and behold we had already clocked up 504 miles, and the first phase restricting me to 3,000 rpm was therefore behind us with 4,000 now allowable. Which we used to the full on the hill of course! However, I was press-ganged (the only word which really fits the bill) into entering the car for the club concours event, something I have never ever done before, nor wished to, but there was a particular reason behind it, which those who know me will understand. It wasn't for the glory, but a completely different tack altogether. Well, blow me down but here was the result:-



Whatever, a justification of my choice of restorer, and I am very proud for him, not for me. Now the certificate can be the first page in the fourth ring binder of the history of this car in my ownership. I'm hoping someone took a picture or two on the hill which I'll post if I get any. By the way, the car has now done over 850 miles, over 600 in the last four days. And if you are wondering why the modified class on the certificate, it's because I have Zeus brakes, a Cool Cat fan and other minor details. It could never be a true concours car, nor would I want it to be.

Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 10th June 14:36

[lowdrag]

Dave, I still miss my manual overdrive Mk VIII, quite a rare car today. I think I am going to take a sabbatical at the moment and think things through. I shan't probably keep the XKSS many years now since age is taking its toll and it isn't an easy car to get in and out of - especially with the hood up as you know! I still have this bee in my bonnet about doing an Austin Healey Fright though, but I am trying to suppress the yearning. Frankly, I really have no idea whether I'll take on another project. From my youth I'd like a few cars and it would be a breath of fresh air to have a different marque, like an MG Magnette ZA for example. Put an 1840 or 2 litre lump in, add front disc brakes, change the rear axle ratio and you have a fun car and not too dear really.

[lowdrag]

1. She's dirty and I don't like washing cars.

2. It's Le Mans weekend and I have about 1,500 photos to sort already

3. I'm driving the - dirty - XKSS at the moment.

Wait a bit until all has calmed down please.

[lowdrag]

No, she's still dirty Dave, but here's one taken at Prescott by Sue Burton when she was clean. I promise to do more shortly. Deadlines are calling and I just can't get the article right. I keep hitting the delete key.



PS Lee had some professional photos taken and will let me have them soon, so I'll post then. Better than my crappy ones!

PPS Apologies Sue - you were clean - the car wasn't

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 23 June 21:16

[lowdrag]

Yeah yeah yeah. Finally, I finally got the car out and gave it a bath. The flies are gone, the interior is vacuumed, and I'm sending you the bill Dave. Lee never got the "professional" photos in digital form, just a print or two, but I think these are actually better than the printed ones I saw. I am still in awe of the shut lines.











ETA Must think about taxing her too

Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 6th September 14:28

[lowdrag]

Strangely, despite the dire weather here yesterday, I unzipped the Carcoon and put it away, turned the ignition on, watched the fuel gauge needle rise, applied choke, and pressed the starter button. The whole electrical system died 100%. I went indoors to find the multimeter, then hit myself over the head with a hammer and did an about turn. I'd completely forgotten that this time we had put a battery cut out on the car! I guess that there was just enough current leakage across the cut out to energise the ignition light and the petrol gauge, but connected she started first time. I haven't driven her because it isn't really the weather (nor anything decent forecast it seems), but an oil change will be done this weekend and a bit of grease applied. Not a lot to do really, since she only has 1,500 on the clock since "new".

[lowdrag]

Not mine, it isn't. Put the meter across the two terminals when disconnected and it showed zero. The clock was well out, as could be imagined, but I have a feeling that perhaps a slight current passed over the cut-out. It was of course, with the Carcoon, kept on charge all winter. It is a cut-out, not something that feeds imaginary things such as anti-theft, radio memory (?) and modern stuff. All it does is to avoid the necessity of unscrewing the battery terminal before wintering, which is perhaps why my battery is fine after 10 years. But for the rest, there isn't anything!