Jensen Interceptor restoration
Discussion
dpp said:
I thought I would get round to some external items as it gives me encouragement to keep going so I decided to fit a few items to the rear and recover the parcel shelf. The hole in the middle is for a removable piece to be fitted.
I had some new number plates made at a show but on close inspection the were poorly pressed and delaminated as soon as I drilled the mounting holes so I shotblasted and repainted the ones that were on the car when I bought it and they looked much better.
Having seen what is involved in removing the heater box to get to the heater matrix I decided to pressure test it whilst it was still accessible.
It's wonderful how the Interceptor is comong together, it's a great feeling when you get to a certain point and it actually starts to resemble a car again, talk about giving yourself a boost!I had some new number plates made at a show but on close inspection the were poorly pressed and delaminated as soon as I drilled the mounting holes so I shotblasted and repainted the ones that were on the car when I bought it and they looked much better.
Having seen what is involved in removing the heater box to get to the heater matrix I decided to pressure test it whilst it was still accessible.
The original plates you've put back on it suit the colour nicely - I like the 'chunky' typeface of those pressed alloy ones, they somehow make the car look even more 'meaty' if that's the right phrase.
Watching your progress has given me the incentive I need to get all my Cooper S bits cleaned up now that my shell has been painted over Christmas ;-)
Amstrange1
The car will be almost original and there are no plans for the engine apart from a stock rebuild even keeping the cast headers, I am not fitting upgraded fans, alternator or fast wind starter either as this car has managed over 40 years without them.
If when I come to start using the car these items look like must haves then I will think about fitting them then. The only mod so far is to fit a delay timer to the wipers and this gets hidden by using the speaker fader position and knob it will look standard but the knob will have a different function.
Breadvan
The tyres are from Blockley Tyres www.blockleytyre.com and cost £150 a corner plus VAT they are the original size 205/70VR15, I cant remember the guys name but he was very pleasant to deal with.
The tyres also have a classic tread pattern which I think looks better than the Pirelli 4000s most people use. Some people upgrade to 17" wheels and can then buy cheaper tyres but I think they look too modern for the car
The car will be almost original and there are no plans for the engine apart from a stock rebuild even keeping the cast headers, I am not fitting upgraded fans, alternator or fast wind starter either as this car has managed over 40 years without them.
If when I come to start using the car these items look like must haves then I will think about fitting them then. The only mod so far is to fit a delay timer to the wipers and this gets hidden by using the speaker fader position and knob it will look standard but the knob will have a different function.
Breadvan
The tyres are from Blockley Tyres www.blockleytyre.com and cost £150 a corner plus VAT they are the original size 205/70VR15, I cant remember the guys name but he was very pleasant to deal with.
The tyres also have a classic tread pattern which I think looks better than the Pirelli 4000s most people use. Some people upgrade to 17" wheels and can then buy cheaper tyres but I think they look too modern for the car
Cheers. Your car is looking great. Thanks for sharing the story and pictures.
If you end up driving the car a lot, and especially if you do so on hot days and/or on rainy days, then I recommend the upgrades to cooling and to alternator. In town traffic, with fans, wipers, demister, lights and radio the standard alternator can struggle a bit. My starter is a bit quirky. Sometimes the car fires first time, just as the book says: Depress throttle slowly, release, fire. At other times there is a fair amount of coughing and wheezing and the car starts on the third or fourth go. When hot, it usually starts easily, although a wide open throttle may be needed.
I have not fitted double dip headlamps, but would do so if I had the spare cash. An intermittent wiper setting would be a boon for my car also.
If you end up driving the car a lot, and especially if you do so on hot days and/or on rainy days, then I recommend the upgrades to cooling and to alternator. In town traffic, with fans, wipers, demister, lights and radio the standard alternator can struggle a bit. My starter is a bit quirky. Sometimes the car fires first time, just as the book says: Depress throttle slowly, release, fire. At other times there is a fair amount of coughing and wheezing and the car starts on the third or fourth go. When hot, it usually starts easily, although a wide open throttle may be needed.
I have not fitted double dip headlamps, but would do so if I had the spare cash. An intermittent wiper setting would be a boon for my car also.
The 17" GKN replicas don't look too bad - my father's just bought some for his FF as he wants to fit larger brakes.
His car had some overheating issues, even with a huge aluminium radiator and the largest fans Spal could supply to fit. Long story short, pay close attention to the thermostat and water pump you use. Many of the 'uprated' pumps flow brilliantly at very high rpm, but deliver pretty much nothing at idle. He used Miloden parts from Summitt Racing which keeps the high compression 489ci lump nice and cool.
His car had some overheating issues, even with a huge aluminium radiator and the largest fans Spal could supply to fit. Long story short, pay close attention to the thermostat and water pump you use. Many of the 'uprated' pumps flow brilliantly at very high rpm, but deliver pretty much nothing at idle. He used Miloden parts from Summitt Racing which keeps the high compression 489ci lump nice and cool.
Breadvan72 said:
My 383 heap has Bosch fans, and a Kenlowe knob (oooer) that I can set according to ambient temperature. Sometimes in traffic I leap from the car, pop the bonnet, and fiddle with my knob in public.
I don't recall Robert Vaughan doing that with his Fabboceptor in 'The Protectors'... far too busy chasing villains probably... ;o)Sorry Breadvan72, couldn't resist!
Been watching the above dvd box-set of late and the yearning for a lovely Interceptor is bubbling up to the surface once more, made worse by looking at this fine thread. I've already got two other classics which I ought to be satisfied with but every now and then the rarefied delights of wanting a jet set Jensen comes along to upset my equilibrium. Funny old life isn't it?
Breadvan72 said:
My 383 heap has Bosch fans, and a Kenlowe knob (oooer) that I can set according to ambient temperature. Sometimes in traffic I leap from the car, pop the bonnet, and fiddle with my knob in public.
Kenlowe stuff is ideal for these. As a much lower rent type of car, i put a 24v v6 cosworth in a capri years ago and nothing kept it cool until i did this. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff