Discussion
Tony, I always meant to ask, how do you get on with CR65s on the road? I know the Gendarms are probably a bit more laid back about it than the boys in blue over here may be, but what is it that classifies them for race use only? Is it that the sidewalls are not strong enough for potholes etc?
Chunky, I guess you mean Dunlop R5's. There are actually two types of this tyre, the R5 and the R5L. The former is marked on the sidewall "not legal for road use" so we always used to put the tyres on the wheels with that on the inside. 
Then Dunlop brought out the R5L which is road legal since it has thicker sidewalls. Remember that these tyres came out before radials were really in common usage (before anyone argues I know that Michelin invented the radial long before) and that crossplies, unlike radials, have stiff sidewalls and don't really flex. Dunlop's answer was to make thinner sidewalls, so that the tyre could flex, but the downside of this is that on the road contact with a kerb could and would blow the tyre. hope that answers your question. Oh, don't confuse these with the RS5 which was a road tyre standard equipment on the E-type until late 1964 when the SP Sport radial was adopted.
Edit: I forgot to mention that any crossply also has the propensity to tramline. Like you are in the nearside lane of the motorway where trucks have dug ruts and the tyres can literally tear the steering wheel out of your hands as it follows the contours. You have to be very awre about this, but the R5, with the thinner sidewall, copes better than the R5L. But what the hell, I use Blockley's anyway these days. Last longer and seem to drift better on the track.
Then Dunlop brought out the R5L which is road legal since it has thicker sidewalls. Remember that these tyres came out before radials were really in common usage (before anyone argues I know that Michelin invented the radial long before) and that crossplies, unlike radials, have stiff sidewalls and don't really flex. Dunlop's answer was to make thinner sidewalls, so that the tyre could flex, but the downside of this is that on the road contact with a kerb could and would blow the tyre. hope that answers your question. Oh, don't confuse these with the RS5 which was a road tyre standard equipment on the E-type until late 1964 when the SP Sport radial was adopted.Edit: I forgot to mention that any crossply also has the propensity to tramline. Like you are in the nearside lane of the motorway where trucks have dug ruts and the tyres can literally tear the steering wheel out of your hands as it follows the contours. You have to be very awre about this, but the R5, with the thinner sidewall, copes better than the R5L. But what the hell, I use Blockley's anyway these days. Last longer and seem to drift better on the track.
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 12th November 12:33
ItsaTVR said:
Where, mph, have you read this? Not the Internet, I hope
I fear the story has been corrupted...
The Consul MK2 front screen is used by all (nearly) classic TVRs in the 60-70's.
Not near curvey enough to be used on an XKSS.
XJ13's link to thePinkerton Pilkington site is still valid, and their efforts should be applauded .
I don't know much about Jaguars, or Puccini, but I know what I like
I was also sure that the XKSS screen came from a Consul, it wasn't made uniquely for XKSS. I fear the story has been corrupted...The Consul MK2 front screen is used by all (nearly) classic TVRs in the 60-70's.
Not near curvey enough to be used on an XKSS.
XJ13's link to the
I don't know much about Jaguars, or Puccini, but I know what I like
I'll try and find out where I found that little gem.
a8hex said:
I was also sure that the XKSS screen came from a Consul, it wasn't made uniquely for XKSS. I'll try and find out where I found that little gem.
Interesting, if that is the case then it must by the rear because you can see quite clearly that the front screen is a different shape. 
1954etype said:
a8hex said:
I was also sure that the XKSS screen came from a Consul, it wasn't made uniquely for XKSS.
I'll try and find out where I found that little gem.
I read that too, years ago. I'll see if I can find the source.I'll try and find out where I found that little gem.
lowdrag said:
Chunky, I guess you mean Dunlop R5's. There are actually two types of this tyre, the R5 and the R5L. The former is marked on the sidewall "not legal for road use" so we always used to put the tyres on the wheels with that on the inside. Then Dunlop brought out the R5L which is road legal since it has thicker sidewalls. Remember that these tyres came out before radials were really in common usage (before anyone argues I know that Michelin invented the radial long before) and that crossplies, unlike radials, have stiff sidewalls and don't really flex. Dunlop's answer was to make thinner sidewalls, so that the tyre could flex, but the downside of this is that on the road contact with a kerb could and would blow the tyre. hope that answers your question. Oh, don't confuse these with the RS5 which was a road tyre standard equipment on the E-type until late 1964 when the SP Sport radial was adopted.
Edit: I forgot to mention that any crossply also has the propensity to tramline. Like you are in the nearside lane of the motorway where trucks have dug ruts and the tyres can literally tear the steering wheel out of your hands as it follows the contours. You have to be very awre about this, but the R5, with the thinner sidewall, copes better than the R5L. But what the hell, I use Blockley's anyway these days. Last longer and seem to drift better on the track.
Cheers thanks Tony. Interesting re: your choice of Blockley's, have never really considered them as I thought they only did stuff for the VSCC guys! Will have to give them a look Then Dunlop brought out the R5L which is road legal since it has thicker sidewalls. Remember that these tyres came out before radials were really in common usage (before anyone argues I know that Michelin invented the radial long before) and that crossplies, unlike radials, have stiff sidewalls and don't really flex. Dunlop's answer was to make thinner sidewalls, so that the tyre could flex, but the downside of this is that on the road contact with a kerb could and would blow the tyre. hope that answers your question. Oh, don't confuse these with the RS5 which was a road tyre standard equipment on the E-type until late 1964 when the SP Sport radial was adopted.Edit: I forgot to mention that any crossply also has the propensity to tramline. Like you are in the nearside lane of the motorway where trucks have dug ruts and the tyres can literally tear the steering wheel out of your hands as it follows the contours. You have to be very awre about this, but the R5, with the thinner sidewall, copes better than the R5L. But what the hell, I use Blockley's anyway these days. Last longer and seem to drift better on the track.
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 12th November 12:33
Well its funny how these rumours come about, and then once in print we all tend to believe them.
How many times do we learn, to our cost, that just because something is written down in a book it doesn't mean its right. In the case of the book I'd read it in, re-reading the whole paragraph no longer fills me with confidence. I know now a lot more than I did when I first read it.
At least the people doing the work know what they're doing, even if us denizens of the network don't :-)
How many times do we learn, to our cost, that just because something is written down in a book it doesn't mean its right. In the case of the book I'd read it in, re-reading the whole paragraph no longer fills me with confidence. I know now a lot more than I did when I first read it.
At least the people doing the work know what they're doing, even if us denizens of the network don't :-)
lowdrag said:
From the horse's mouth comes the real truth - the screens are not from a Consul but were made independently. I am hoping to have a "spare" screen frame which was just "hanging around" by the end of the day.
That's a shame - I know where there's a genuine XKSS in a barn and I was hoping to pinch the screen for my Ford Consul.Tony, Is it worth looking into using a screen and surround from Realm Engineering
http://www.realmengineering.com/xkss.html
Just a thought.
http://www.realmengineering.com/xkss.html
Just a thought.
LordBretSinclair said:
a8hex said:
Well its funny how these rumours come about, and then once in print we all tend to believe them.
Very true, I wonder if future generations will say "...I read it on the internet so it must be right"?lowdrag said:
From the horse's mouth comes the real truth - the screens are not from a Consul but were made independently. I am hoping to have a "spare" screen frame which was just "hanging around" by the end of the day.
Who, may I ask, was the "horse"? I understand the person who is credited with designing a lot of the XKSS was Bob Blake who sadly is no longer with us. I was told by one of his contemporaries that one of his first responsibilities was to convert the stock of obsolete D-Type racers into road cars. He altered the D-Type body and added parts such as bumpers and hood frame. In his own words, Bob Blake said (according to Paul Skilleter)," ... I made all the frames and bits and pieces, including all the wooden tools to make everything from. I made the first set of bumpers by cutting down the big old bumper, using the top radius and the bottom radius, cutting the flute out and welding the two pieces together."
Edited by XJ13 on Wednesday 16th November 16:00
mph said:
lowdrag said:
From the horse's mouth comes the real truth - the screens are not from a Consul but were made independently. I am hoping to have a "spare" screen frame which was just "hanging around" by the end of the day.
That's a shame - I know where there's a genuine XKSS in a barn and I was hoping to pinch the screen for my Ford Consul.
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