Jensen Interceptor restoration
Discussion
tog said:
Breadvan72 said:
No, Spanish waiters were not allowed to drive these cars, not even in Barcelona.
There were about two dozen or so Mark I Interceptors with manual gearboxes, but the Torqueflite suits the car.
I once read that when Bristol switched to the Chrysler engine in the 407 they ordered some manual gearboxes as well as the Torqueflights, but never built any and sold all their stock to Jensen. I don't know how true it is and don't recall where I read it.There were about two dozen or so Mark I Interceptors with manual gearboxes, but the Torqueflite suits the car.
aeropilot said:
tog said:
Breadvan72 said:
No, Spanish waiters were not allowed to drive these cars, not even in Barcelona.
There were about two dozen or so Mark I Interceptors with manual gearboxes, but the Torqueflite suits the car.
I once read that when Bristol switched to the Chrysler engine in the 407 they ordered some manual gearboxes as well as the Torqueflights, but never built any and sold all their stock to Jensen. I don't know how true it is and don't recall where I read it.There were about two dozen or so Mark I Interceptors with manual gearboxes, but the Torqueflite suits the car.
SV8Predator said:
Ubendum said:
As regards engine colours. Simply put, "High output" B/RB's were one of two different shades of orange, depending on the year, and cooking engines were turquoise or blue, again, depending on the year.
Perhaps, but Jensen engines were painted black.aeropilot said:
Did you use an Ultra Bell conversion bellhousing to convert the A518 to the 440 big block?
Ultra Bell also make a conversion bell housing to bolt a GM auto up to a 440 big block as well, so you could fit an overdrive GM 200R4 or 700R4 overdrive auto onto the back of a Mopar big block.
Yep, the Ultrabell. Even wrote a programme to do it properly in a miller. Most people seem to be happy sawing off the original housing though. As you say, there are housings available for the GM boxes as well. Other companies even do them for T5's.Ultra Bell also make a conversion bell housing to bolt a GM auto up to a 440 big block as well, so you could fit an overdrive GM 200R4 or 700R4 overdrive auto onto the back of a Mopar big block.
Incidentally, the manual behind early 60's Max Wedges was usually the 3 speed T85, which was bulletproof then!
Apologies to all for going off topic a little.
After all the underbonnet repairs it was finally time to fit new front lower wing sections and a front lower panel this was quite time consuming work as we found out the front of the car is longer on 1 side than the other by about 15mm which I later found out is quite common on these cars.
The first side took quite a while but the second side was much quicker once we had worked out they weren't meant to fit and you are buying something that resembles what you need and the rest is up to you to make them fit.
There was additional work around the side vents to make the hole resemble the vent shape and as mine is an early MK111 it needed some fresh air scoops making and fitting to the lower front panel, I made and fitted these under the tuition of Geff and Brian
Next it was roughly levelled out and a guide coat of primer put on, this really lifted my spirits as by now I was just throwing money at the car and didn't have much to show for it
With the front end complete I could start to paint the front crossmember and put the front suspension back on.
The first side took quite a while but the second side was much quicker once we had worked out they weren't meant to fit and you are buying something that resembles what you need and the rest is up to you to make them fit.
There was additional work around the side vents to make the hole resemble the vent shape and as mine is an early MK111 it needed some fresh air scoops making and fitting to the lower front panel, I made and fitted these under the tuition of Geff and Brian
Next it was roughly levelled out and a guide coat of primer put on, this really lifted my spirits as by now I was just throwing money at the car and didn't have much to show for it
With the front end complete I could start to paint the front crossmember and put the front suspension back on.
P5Nij said:
Great work going on there! It's fascinating to see the inner structure of an Interceptor, it looks like it's built like the proverbial tank in some ways.
Are you going to paint it the same / original colour or have you not thought about it much..?
IIRC the chassis was carried over from the fibre glass CV8 so it's a belt and braces job, the metal panels adding extra rigidity to an already strong base.Are you going to paint it the same / original colour or have you not thought about it much..?
tog said:
I once read that when Bristol switched to the Chrysler engine in the 407 they ordered some manual gearboxes as well as the Torqueflights, but never built any and sold all their stock to Jensen. I don't know how true it is and don't recall where I read it. The only manual V8 Bristol I am aware of today is a 1950s development car that is a essentially a V8 405 roadster. Pics here.
Tony Crook bought (through Anthony Crook Motors) some Pont a Mousson manual boxes as used in the Facel Vega because he thought the traditional Bristol customer would want a manual, and he could not convince Bristol to offer a manual option themselves. He didn't sell any - presume the traditional Bristol Customer had grown out of gear changing by the early 60s, and with a Chrysler V8 you don't need to do much anyway! Another o/t - Bristol tried the 7.2 litre motor used in the Interceptor SP in the 411. I think that car survived.
Jonathan
SV8Predator said:
VinceFox said:
Would be very interesting to see how one drove.
In a word: fantastic! Really transforms the car and makes an Interceptor into the top class sporting GT that it really is. The car shrinks around you and becomes a really chuckable sports car. Of all the Interceptors I have driven, the manual-gearbox version is by far my favourite.OP, fine work!
dpp said:
After all the underbonnet repairs it was finally time to fit new front lower wing sections and a front lower panel this was quite time consuming work as we found out the front of the car is longer on 1 side than the other by about 15mm which I later found out is quite common on these cars.
The first side took quite a while but the second side was much quicker once we had worked out they weren't meant to fit and you are buying something that resembles what you need and the rest is up to you to make them fit.
There was additional work around the side vents to make the hole resemble the vent shape and as mine is an early MK111 it needed some fresh air scoops making and fitting to the lower front panel, I made and fitted these under the tuition of Geff and Brian
Next it was roughly levelled out and a guide coat of primer put on, this really lifted my spirits as by now I was just throwing money at the car and didn't have much to show for it
With the front end complete I could start to paint the front crossmember and put the front suspension back on.
Handmade cars, everyone is different in some way....my old Bristol 411 had some work done on it and the dimensions of another in the workshop at the same time were different....One of the doors on mine was 14mm longer than the other ??!The first side took quite a while but the second side was much quicker once we had worked out they weren't meant to fit and you are buying something that resembles what you need and the rest is up to you to make them fit.
There was additional work around the side vents to make the hole resemble the vent shape and as mine is an early MK111 it needed some fresh air scoops making and fitting to the lower front panel, I made and fitted these under the tuition of Geff and Brian
Next it was roughly levelled out and a guide coat of primer put on, this really lifted my spirits as by now I was just throwing money at the car and didn't have much to show for it
With the front end complete I could start to paint the front crossmember and put the front suspension back on.
Whilst we have a break from welding I can get on with the front steering and suspension, the rack was stripped painted and a new seal kit fitted.
This was then refitted along with new springs which had been away to be powder coated and the new discs which had arrived
Then I set about cleaning and painting various parts and test fitting them to the new inner wings.
This was then refitted along with new springs which had been away to be powder coated and the new discs which had arrived
Then I set about cleaning and painting various parts and test fitting them to the new inner wings.
Although the outer shell was now complete the car still required repairs to the rear hatch, doors and some issues under the rear of the car. I stripped my original hatch to find it was far worse under the paint than we had thought.
This and the roof are the only exterior panels not available for these cars which I hadn't realised when I bought the car and this may have stopped me from buying the car.
Luckily I grabbed a spare which rarely come up on ebay and had a 500 mile trip to collect it which turned out to be a very good decision, when I stripped the replacement hatch there were only a few small repairs needed so Geff cut the rot out and welded in some new metal.
Next came the awkward looking repairs around the front mounting for the rear spring and under the inertia reel box
The photos show opposite sides as I didnt get before and after photos of the same side but they were very similar
This and the roof are the only exterior panels not available for these cars which I hadn't realised when I bought the car and this may have stopped me from buying the car.
Luckily I grabbed a spare which rarely come up on ebay and had a 500 mile trip to collect it which turned out to be a very good decision, when I stripped the replacement hatch there were only a few small repairs needed so Geff cut the rot out and welded in some new metal.
Next came the awkward looking repairs around the front mounting for the rear spring and under the inertia reel box
The photos show opposite sides as I didnt get before and after photos of the same side but they were very similar
With the welding now completed I had to get the underside, inside and boot painted this was all done the hard way by sanding and scraping but it was great to see the results when the paint went on and to know that there is no more rust lurking.
The metalwork was treated to a coat of ferrozinc before spraying zinc 182 everywhere followed by seam sealer and another coat of zinc 182.
The boot had a coat of schultz
The metalwork was treated to a coat of ferrozinc before spraying zinc 182 everywhere followed by seam sealer and another coat of zinc 182.
The boot had a coat of schultz
These build threads are superb reading. Seeing a rusty bodyshell being transformed back into a car which is potentially better than the original is very inspiring. I've built kit cars but have nowhere near the skills required for this sort of project. I take my hat off to anyone who restores a classic car to this level of finish.
Being an Interceptor owner, I find this thread inspiring and terrifying in equal measure.
Well done on your efforts, but seeing as I have neither the time nor money to emulate your amazing works, I don't think I ever want to find out what is going on under the paint on mine! Best to bury my head in the sand, I reckon.
Well done on your efforts, but seeing as I have neither the time nor money to emulate your amazing works, I don't think I ever want to find out what is going on under the paint on mine! Best to bury my head in the sand, I reckon.
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