E-type déjà vu. The second rebuild

[lowdrag]

Several weeks ago I took the E-type across to Hampshire, and while this photo is from a few years back theis is generally what she looked like.


More specifically, these were taken before I said goodbye:-



A week ago she looked like this:-







We were agreeably surprised by the condition of the shell, although as you'll see there are areas for concern.

The A-post shows previous damage; I know, because I had prepared the car to lend to Jaguar for the 60th anniversary at the NEC. My ex-girlfriend decided to push the car outside while I was playing golf to carry on the cleaning. Off the car sailed down the drive ripping the door off on the wall. I was not amused. Hence a quick repair was instigated, but a new A-post will be let in.



The floor pans were found to be in need of replacement where the previous welds from 25 years back hadn't been properly sealed, so two pans ordered:-



The bulkhead, often a source of problems, was in good order though:-



The motor had seen better days, and the decision has been taken to rebuild it, even though it was running pretty well when it was taken out, if a bit noisy.



I'm a bit pressed for time today, so I'll post more at another time.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 16th October 07:54

[VetteG]

I'm impressed, your girlfriend was cleaning your car while you were playing golf!

G

[Poison Tom 96]

lowdrag said:

My ex-girlfriend decided to push the car outside while I was playing golf to carry on the cleaning. Off the car sailed down the drive ripping the door off on the wall. I was not amused.

Good reason for getting rid!

Edited by Poison Tom 96 on Wednesday 16th October 08:55

[V12 Migaloo]

How many breakfast balls did you have???

[ToneyCaroney]

Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.

[Hooli]

Looks better than I expected from how you'd described it as 'tired'. I doubt most cars look as clean at 100k.

[lowdrag]

And us too. However, if you looked closely there were little lines like spider's webs in the rear wings, the boot lid was a bit bent and chipped, the doors and the bonnet had paint reaction and little patches of dark blue in the light blue, so I took the decision to do a bare metal repaint. Here's another photo showing inside the door jamb which shows what is going on:-



Another showing a hole under the windscreen rubber:-



The rear underside was far better than expected:-



What I haven't as yet got are photos of the doors and bonnet in bare metal. Those should be interesting. It was the accumulation of a little bit here and a little bit there that made me take the decision. A stitch in time may save nineteen let alone nine. Anyway, it's a bit late to worry now!

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 16th October 15:44

[Astacus]

What I always find myself thinking when I see pictures form professional restoration projects is how wonderful it would be to have so much space to work in!

Also, I love the idea of having a car to which you are so attached, that it goes through two complete rebuilds whilst in your hands

That A post damage must have been gut-wrenching.

Watching with interest

[Le Mans Visitor]

Glad to see the E Type is getting the love and attention she deserves.
I recently popped in to see it and the work is progressing very well. Having the pleasure of seeing Lee's work first hand I know the final product will be outstanding.

Here is a couple of pictures of 'CYN' at my Stag weekend in June 2007 -





Looking forward to seeing the progress


Dave

Edited by Le Mans Visitor on Wednesday 16th October 20:53

[DBSV8]

lowdrag said:

And us too. However, if you looked closely there were little lines like spider's webs in the rear wings, the boot lid was a bit bent and chipped, the doors and the bonnet had paint reaction and little patches of dark blue in the light blue, so I took the decision to do a bare metal repaint. Here's another photo showing inside the door jamb which shows what is going on:-



Another showing a hole under the windscreen rubber:-



The rear underside was far better than expected:-



What I haven't as yet got are photos of the doors and bonnet in bare metal. Those should be interesting. It was the accumulation of a little bit here and a little bit there that made me take the decision. A stitch in time may save nineteen let alone nine. Anyway, it's a bit late to worry now!

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 16th October 15:44

Tony ,

Will be watching this with interest , I would apreciate if you Can PM me the details of who is performing the rebuild , As I am also based in Hampshire could be very usefull for the future.

thanks

David

[lowdrag]

The body has now been jigged and sprayed in epoxy primer to protect the shell. Work can now start removing panels and replacing.





Oil contamination was found in the clutch. Here's what the bell housing looked like.

Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 17th October 08:13

[Candellara]

Great thread. Keep the updates coming

[V8 FOU]

So a lip seal conversion for the rear crank seal? Lots of lead loading, especially around the screen. Is anyone learning that skill these days? Doesn't look like it. I often get asked by bodyshops to do that!
Any upgrades while you are "in there"?

[a8hex]

V8 FOU said:

So a lip seal conversion for the rear crank seal?

But surely the leaky seal there is intended to rust proof the bottom of Jaguars.

[RichB]

Interesting thread tony, who's doing the work? R...

[lowdrag]

As I'm getting old and doddery I am keeping the engine standard 9:1. Quite frankly there are so many BiB and cameras about nowadays that turning it into an animal is pointless, especially since I have a hot engine in the XKSS. No, she'll be a warm teddy bear, all fluffy and comfortable and be able to tour long distances in grand style and be able to mix it if necessary. The work is being done by a young fellow not far from Basingstoke and I have seen his workmanship before. His shut lines are to die for, and very little filler is used at all in a rebuild. The problem is that he is booked up well in advance (I discussed my car over a year ago) and it will be finished late April, then he has a friend's XK120 shell to rebuild and so on. About the only real upgrade (apart from modern neoprene bushes) will be sending the radio to Tadpole for updating with iPod and USB key facilities, FM and DAB and more than the 4W output it currently has, plus a modern aerial under the dash roll instead of that whiplash noise maker on the wing. She already has Zeus brakes which transformed the braking, but they have rusted and are being powder coated, as is the suspension etc. Again, it was the stone chip paint that saved the car from rusting over the last 25 years, so the same again will be used. The XKSS is currently at CKL for some work following her conversion, but I'll have her back at Xmas for the New Year meet in the New Forest, so if anyone is going see you there.

As a general comment, chassis #60 recently sold for £120,000 at auction and is at CMC for a full rebuild. Mine is 92 chassis numbers and four months younger, but my rebuild costs will I calculate be about 25% of the earlier car's. Money is finite these days, and one must look for value for money before committing. CKL have transformed from a farm building backwoods - but superb - operation to a slick, modern, spacious and air conditioned unit, but such moves do not come without cost, so their labour rate rose 50% as a consequence. I just couldn't afford to use them.

Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 19th October 09:05

[RichB]

lowdrag said:

...(I) will be sending the radio to Tadpole for updating with iPod and USB key facilities, FM and DAB and more than the 4W output it currently has, plus a modern aerial under the dash roll instead of that whiplash noise maker on the wing.

Interesting Tony, I did something similar in my Aston but it's never been quite right. getting a reception seems difficult with concealed aerials. I tried one of those hair-wire "T" aerials stuck along the top inside of the screen but it was useless, now I'm experimenting with a standard aerial but hidden behind the headlining, it's better but not perfect. My radio was adapted a few years ago so it's AM/FM and iPod jack but I wonder if you'll have to do something even better with the aerial to get DAB?

[Hooli]

RichB said:

lowdrag said:

...(I) will be sending the radio to Tadpole for updating with iPod and USB key facilities, FM and DAB and more than the 4W output it currently has, plus a modern aerial under the dash roll instead of that whiplash noise maker on the wing.

Interesting Tony, I did something similar in my Aston but it's never been quite right. getting a reception seems difficult with concealed aerials. I tried one of those hair-wire "T" aerials stuck along the top inside of the screen but it was useless, now I'm experimenting with a standard aerial but hidden behind the headlining, it's better but not perfect. My radio was adapted a few years ago so it's AM/FM and iPod jack but I wonder if you'll have to do something even better with the aerial to get DAB?

I'm kind of surprised no-one makes a way of converting rear window heaters into ariels, after all volvos & the like have things like that on modernish models. It wouldn't look out of place on an old tin top either.




I don't understand this -

lowdrag said:

As a general comment, chassis #60 recently sold for £120,000 at auction and is at CMC for a full rebuild. Mine is 92 chassis numbers and four months younger

How can your chassis number be 92 less than #60? I realise this is probably just my lack of Jag knowledge showing up again.

[RichB]

I don't want a heated rear screen on the Aston however I am sure there's a solution with the various amplified aerials available it's just that unless you get a reliable recommendation it's £30 and a load of effort wasted every time you try one I'm on my third attempt and I've got a 4th sitting in the garage gathering dust

I guess the thing is I'm unwilling to drill the body to fit an external aerial so kind of self inflicted.

Workin progress

Finished job

Sorry.... back to E-Types

Edited by RichB on Saturday 19th October 10:42

Edited by RichB on Saturday 19th October 10:43

[AJAX50]

Aerials need to be vertical, more or less. I've got a small metal one that sits close to the left hand side of the screen on the inside and is very inconspicuous. It also works, with FM, don't know about DAB.