On the road again - safest way?
Discussion
My E-Type has been off the road for around 15 years. It had only done about 1500 miles after a ground-up restoration by myself. Then house building & kids etc took over.
Currently SORN’d, obviously MOT expired and not currently roadworthy. Insured as such.
I’m in the process of re-commissioning, having had carbs & distributor professionally rebuilt, and bought a new fuel pump.
New fuel pipe fibre washers, new carb gaskets.
Radiator removed and flushed, along with block and header tank.
Ignition system (plugs, caps, leads) all new and just need fitting.
New cooling hose set ready, new brake fluid feed lines sourced.
Brake fluid will be purged with dot 5.1, Engine oil and filter changed.
New fuel filter.
Old fuel from tank drained.
New fuse boxes fitted, new battery.
Suspension bushes inspected.
New tyres (existing ones pretty much zero wear, but nearly 20 years old).
So my plan is as follows:
1) After car is back in one piece, inform insurance of the above, and state it will be un-SORN’d.
2) un-SORN it.
3) take it for a run around my neighbours large yard (directly across the road from me).
4) Get it MOT’d
5) drive it more
Have I missed anything?
Thanks!
Currently SORN’d, obviously MOT expired and not currently roadworthy. Insured as such.
I’m in the process of re-commissioning, having had carbs & distributor professionally rebuilt, and bought a new fuel pump.
New fuel pipe fibre washers, new carb gaskets.
Radiator removed and flushed, along with block and header tank.
Ignition system (plugs, caps, leads) all new and just need fitting.
New cooling hose set ready, new brake fluid feed lines sourced.
Brake fluid will be purged with dot 5.1, Engine oil and filter changed.
New fuel filter.
Old fuel from tank drained.
New fuse boxes fitted, new battery.
Suspension bushes inspected.
New tyres (existing ones pretty much zero wear, but nearly 20 years old).
So my plan is as follows:
1) After car is back in one piece, inform insurance of the above, and state it will be un-SORN’d.
2) un-SORN it.
3) take it for a run around my neighbours large yard (directly across the road from me).
4) Get it MOT’d
5) drive it more
Have I missed anything?
Thanks!
Before driving it anywhere, put the back end on axle stands, put it in first, "set off" and put the brakes on.
Doesn't prove that the front brakes work but does prove that you have some brakes before you're moving down the drive!
Particularly worth doing if your drive goes downhill like ours!
Doesn't prove that the front brakes work but does prove that you have some brakes before you're moving down the drive!
Particularly worth doing if your drive goes downhill like ours!
Have you been starting or turning over the engine during the years in hibernation?
If not you might want to be careful about turning the engine the first time in case anything has seized. I've read some fairly elaborate sets of instructions for turning over engines which have been left in abandoned states for many years.
I think I'd be tempted to change the brake pads too. Given your plan of driving it around your fiends yard, across the road, I'd probably use the old brake pads for that, let them rub the junk of the disc's surfaces and then replace the pads once everything is looking bright and shiny. I guess swapping the rear pads isn't quite as easy on an E-Type, not that I've ever tried.
But, as others have said, pictures please. Every old Jag returned to the road is a good thing.
Oh, and I forgot. Make sure the clutch has become stuck. A friend who'd not used his C-Type (rep) for a year or so had a lot of problems getting the clutch to disengage.
If not you might want to be careful about turning the engine the first time in case anything has seized. I've read some fairly elaborate sets of instructions for turning over engines which have been left in abandoned states for many years.
I think I'd be tempted to change the brake pads too. Given your plan of driving it around your fiends yard, across the road, I'd probably use the old brake pads for that, let them rub the junk of the disc's surfaces and then replace the pads once everything is looking bright and shiny. I guess swapping the rear pads isn't quite as easy on an E-Type, not that I've ever tried.
But, as others have said, pictures please. Every old Jag returned to the road is a good thing.
Oh, and I forgot. Make sure the clutch has become stuck. A friend who'd not used his C-Type (rep) for a year or so had a lot of problems getting the clutch to disengage.
Edited by a8hex on Friday 4th October 14:29
a8hex said:
Have you been starting or turning over the engine during the years in hibernation?
If not you might want to be careful about turning the engine the first time in case anything has seized. I've read some fairly elaborate sets of instructions for turning over engines which have been left in abandoned states for many years.
I think I'd be tempted to change the brake pads too. Given your plan of driving it around your fiends yard, across the road, I'd probably use the old brake pads for that, let them rub the junk of the disc's surfaces and then replace the pads once everything is looking bright and shiny. I guess swapping the rear pads isn't quite as easy on an E-Type, not that I've ever tried.
But, as others have said, pictures please. Every old Jag returned to the road is a good thing.
Oh, and I forgot. Make sure the clutch has become stuck. A friend who'd not used his C-Type (rep) for a year or so had a lot of problems getting the clutch to disengage.
Surely you mean: "Makes sure the clutch hasn't become stuck"If not you might want to be careful about turning the engine the first time in case anything has seized. I've read some fairly elaborate sets of instructions for turning over engines which have been left in abandoned states for many years.
I think I'd be tempted to change the brake pads too. Given your plan of driving it around your fiends yard, across the road, I'd probably use the old brake pads for that, let them rub the junk of the disc's surfaces and then replace the pads once everything is looking bright and shiny. I guess swapping the rear pads isn't quite as easy on an E-Type, not that I've ever tried.
But, as others have said, pictures please. Every old Jag returned to the road is a good thing.
Oh, and I forgot. Make sure the clutch has become stuck. A friend who'd not used his C-Type (rep) for a year or so had a lot of problems getting the clutch to disengage.
Edited by a8hex on Friday 4th October 14:29
4rephill said:
a8hex said:
Oh, and I forgot. Make sure the clutch has become stuck. A friend who'd not used his C-Type (rep) for a year or so had a lot of problems getting the clutch to disengage.
Surely you mean: "Makes sure the clutch hasn't become stuck"
I did indeed mean hasn't Bugger Bugger Bugger(sadly an all too common typo of mine, my fingers all too often seem to forget the letters required to turn words into negatives, and my eyes all too often fail to notice)
Hmmm clutch is stuck closed. Plan is to jack the rear up, run it in neutral and apply the brakes. That will hopefully free the clutch and test the brakes a bit. I think I used that method with the MGB before.
I’ve not turned the engine for a few years. I’ll squirt some oil down the cylinders tonight.
I’ve not turned the engine for a few years. I’ll squirt some oil down the cylinders tonight.
Check for mice?
Testing the brakes is a good idea. And getting hot oil/water round is imoortant- usually some obscure rubber hoses which will be hard and not appreciate being disturbed
Tyres too. Not just air, but how old are they?
Lots of small runs. Cars are meant to be used, so this long without use will throw up al sorts of of things going wrong. Exepct a long snag list and a few breakdowns before they all get ironed out and you can really start enjoying it.
Testing the brakes is a good idea. And getting hot oil/water round is imoortant- usually some obscure rubber hoses which will be hard and not appreciate being disturbed
Tyres too. Not just air, but how old are they?
Lots of small runs. Cars are meant to be used, so this long without use will throw up al sorts of of things going wrong. Exepct a long snag list and a few breakdowns before they all get ironed out and you can really start enjoying it.
Cylon2007 said:
As well as squirting oil down the bores, i'd then leave the plugs out and swing it over on the starter until the oil pressure before actually trying to start it.
This^^In my yoof I decided to squirt some oil down the plug holes before putting the plugs in and starting a new engine.
Oily plugs.
Also if spinning it over without the plugs in plenty cloth over the plug holes. Or you'll be sprayed with oil everywhere. Another yoof lesson.
dr_gn said:
Hmmm clutch is stuck closed. Plan is to jack the rear up, run it in neutral and apply the brakes. That will hopefully free the clutch and test the brakes a bit. I think I used that method with the MGB before.
You need to put it in gear, keep the clutch pedal down and then apply the brakes.What you described won't do anything because the wheels aren't connected to the engine at all with it in neutral!
john2443 said:
dr_gn said:
Hmmm clutch is stuck closed. Plan is to jack the rear up, run it in neutral and apply the brakes. That will hopefully free the clutch and test the brakes a bit. I think I used that method with the MGB before.
You need to put it in gear, keep the clutch pedal down and then apply the brakes.What you described won't do anything because the wheels aren't connected to the engine at all with it in neutral!
Cylon2007 said:
As well as squirting oil down the bores, i'd then leave the plugs out and swing it over on the starter until the oil pressure before actually trying to start it.
Plugs out and turn it with a big spanner on the crank end bolt before I tried the starter motor, just to make sure it moves cleanly and then to feel whether there are sticky patches when you come back to the starting position. If oil down the bores doesn't do it, I seem to remember the next suggestion was diesel. Hopefully yours won't present anything like that sort of problem.
a8hex said:
Have you been starting or turning over the engine during the years in hibernation?
If not you might want to be careful about turning the engine the first time in case anything has seized. I've read some fairly elaborate sets of instructions for turning over engines which have been left in abandoned states for many years.
I'm sure you've also seen one of the thousands of youtube videos in which none of that is done and everything is fine.If not you might want to be careful about turning the engine the first time in case anything has seized. I've read some fairly elaborate sets of instructions for turning over engines which have been left in abandoned states for many years.
Edited by a8hex on Friday 4th October 14:29
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