Viewing an E Type tonight....

Author
Discussion

PHOENIXUK

Original Poster:

2,198 posts

200 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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Hi; Going to see a series I this evening, anyone offer any 'dont forget to check' pearls of wisdom?
Looked at a couple now which have been fairly eay to rule out, hopefully this one will be better...

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
quotequote all
Well, rust anywhere of course, especially the sills. But it is important to have a good look at the A-frames that support the engine too. They rust from the inside out. Mechanically listen carefully to the engine but if reasonably maintained they are strong as is the gearbox. If it is a Moss no synchro worth talking about but damned hard to damage though. Look at the fllor pan, especially behind the seats. Oh, and check the engine number against the chassis plate and V5. Could go on, but most things are endemic to all old cars anyway.

e600

1,315 posts

151 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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Big bills if radius arm mounts (where radius arms meet the floor) are crispy, try and look inside if 2+2 under rear seat or inside storage box if V12 OTS, also bulkhead lower mounts for rust, where frames join to bulkhead. Plus as above.

Where abouts is the car, perhaps someone knowledgeable locally could accompany you. If local to me I would gladly help, Surrey Hants Border.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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Rule number 1 Rust

Rule number 2 Never forget rule number 1



Most things mechanical can be fairly easily sorted....(At a price)


Good luck.

Candellara

1,876 posts

181 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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Rust, rust and rust - check everywhere

Smoking engine, oil leaks. (rear main is engine out), electrics, suspension mounts etc etc etc


tiggerjaguar

60 posts

190 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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Have a look on the E type club web forum. Lots of good advice

tiggerjaguar

60 posts

190 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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Have a look on the E type club web forum. Lots of good advice

Chainsaw Rebuild

1,997 posts

101 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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I have no advice, but I wish you well in buying a most fabulous of cars. Pictures please when you have one.

TR4man

5,207 posts

173 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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I hope you are viewing it with plenty of light and preferably under cover.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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TR4man said:
I hope you are viewing it with plenty of light and preferably under cover.
Anyone who views any car in the dark deserves everything they get if they buy a pup.

Keep it stiff

1,762 posts

172 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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PHOENIXUK said:
Hi; Going to see a series I this evening, anyone offer any 'dont forget to check' pearls of wisdom?
Looked at a couple now which have been fairly eay to rule out, hopefully this one will be better...
How did you get on?

I watched Car SOS last night, restoration of an E Type, I have to say that as a non-Jag person I had not appreciated their complexity in a restoration context. I also suspect that there was some very creative editing to suggest that the tasks that were outstanding were completed overnight!

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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A restoration can take as long as you want really. Mine has been done twice over the years and the last one took nine months. Again it will depend where you go with labour rates from £40 to £120 per hour. Looking at the OP's fleet I suspect we aren't looking at the bottom end of the market. But I hope he will tell us what he found when he saw it.

PHOENIXUK

Original Poster:

2,198 posts

200 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the comments.
Its a 1965 Series I Coupe (4.2 which i wanted)
Before i saw the car they told me I could use their ramp, which turned out to be indicative of the fact there was nothing to hide.
To my eyes the car was simply beautiful, fortunatly I took a Gent with me who wasnt 'quite' so misty eyed but almost..
Spent a good 2 hours in an extremely well lit, immaculatly clean storage barn, me looking at other interesting cars whilst the 'Gent'checked the EType..
Car was rebuilt very well 25 years ago and comes with 3 huge binders of the build and other info dating back to its birth..
Since rebuild the car has been looked after and stored very well, other than slight play in a steering linkage the car was as described, not concours but close..
I looked at several other cars all similar in price all 'older' rebuilds but this car was and is on another level to them, so I bought it.

Chainsaw Rebuild

1,997 posts

101 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Excellent stuff! May your summer be filled with glorious E Type moments and sunny days.


Edited by Chainsaw Rebuild on Friday 27th January 18:52

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
There you combine the most beautiful with the most usable sir. An S2 is more usable but more ugly, the S1 3.8 beautiful but has the Moss box, so you have comfortable seats, a slightly bigger interior than mine with dropped floor wells and recessed rear bulkhead, the beautiful Jaguar box but all contained in the most beautiful of shells, the S1. May she bring you lots smiles in lots of miles. As an idea, if she hasn't already been modified, I'd put Zeus (or Coopercraft - same thing) brakes on and a Coolcat fan which bolts straight on to the picture frame in place of the original. Do NOT put on a Kenlowe that straps on through the radiator matrix. I've seen a few with leaky radiators. Now go out and play and cane it to death. It can take it. By the way the JDC Goodwood track day in on Mayday Monday cool op

ETA:-

The steering. Could it be the rack mounting? Mine is hard mounted now to give no play and more feel.

Edited by lowdrag on Friday 27th January 19:20

Keep it stiff

1,762 posts

172 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Congratulations!!

Pictures please.

PHOENIXUK

Original Poster:

2,198 posts

200 months

Sunday 29th January 2017
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DBSV8, thanks for reply hoping for a decent summer....
Regarding price, I think like most of the other crazy car prices
They can ask ££££££££, whether they get it is another matter, and compared
To the crazy weird world of Porsche, ETypes are a beautiful bargain..

Edited by PHOENIXUK on Sunday 29th January 15:35

Escort3500

11,829 posts

144 months

Sunday 29th January 2017
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Well done smile looking forward to updates and pics!

Stephanie Plum

2,776 posts

210 months

Sunday 29th January 2017
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Congratulations. It's 18 months since I bought mine and I still smile every time I open the garage door smile

TR4man

5,207 posts

173 months

Sunday 29th January 2017
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Come on man, it's been nearly three days since you told us you'd bought it - we want pictures!