DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Engine hoist is one of the best investments to have.
I had a hired one drop down on me with the 911 engine on it.
Went to Machine Mart in '89 (I think it was called that then) and still have it.
The E type lsd diff centre section is really heavy too, I once battled with an S Type diff on both of my hotrods. It is so good to have one at hand 'instantly'
They fold away so well and take 10 mns to erect.

Looking forward to the body job.

I organised a year ago a visit to CMC in Bridgnorth for the Club and we had a very in-depth tour.
They find the Jag shells a challenge to get to the perfection they achieve due to the base car, esp the fitting of the bonnets.

Refreshing thread!

I bought mine to replace the engine in the daughter's car last summer and then dismantled it and put it away. I recently treated myself to a lathe (and milling head) and rolled out the engine hoist to lift it into place - very useful thing to have available

So Barry you welded a hook directly onto it. Great idea - I like that one. I had enough room this time but I can see that would be useful. What do you mean a guarded hook? any pics?

I'll take a picture when I'm next in, Saturday most likely (playing at coachbuilding tomorrow).

911hillclimber wrote: They find the Jag shells a challenge to get to the perfection they achieve due to the base car, esp the fitting of the bonnets.

Oh smashing, that's wonderful news, thanks Graham

It was made clear that not to have the factory 'matched' bonnet to the shell made the restoration murder. The rear edge of the bonnets were almost simply the edge of the panel, no return. This allowed for that edge to be ground/filed to allow the bonnet fit to the scuttle panel.
The guide was not kidding.
The CMC facility was very very impressive, and only excited any petrol head's enthusiasm towards the E Type, inc me, to new heights.

A member of our Club's visit even went back and bought one!!

Hope you get started very soon!

I think I've told Jonathan this story before but ...

Many years ago when I was restoring an S1 4.2 FHC, I was at the stage of refitting all of the new/refurbished components to the lovingly-restored/newly-painted shell when I hit upon a 'snag' ... try as I might, I couldn't get an acceptable fit with the rear bumpers.

Rather than re-chroming the original bumpers, I'd elected to go for new ones (from Martin Robey, one of the top E-Type parts suppliers) but, unfortunately, the curvature didn't match that of the rear bodywork.

I suspected that the problem was down to poor quality control of the 'repro' parts so dug out the original bumpers & had them re-chromed (at significant cost).

On their return, I attempted to fit them to the rear of the car - only to be presented with the same problem ... there was a distinct 'gap' between the rear bodywork & the centre of the bumper, even though the inner & outer ends were 'flush'.

In frustration, I moved on to the next job - the interior. I had called upon the services of an ex-Jaguar trimmer who had worked at Browns Lane during the E-Type's early production years &, during the course of conversation, I happened to mention the problem with the rear bumpers ...

A smile came over his face immediately - "Were there any dents in the rear bodywork when you stripped the car down ?" he asked.

When I said that there were but that these had all been rectified during restoration of the shell, his response was somewhat unexpected:

"Aha - that was where you went wrong - none of the original rear bumpers fitted perfectly 'straight out of the box' !

There was a length of 4"x2" screwed horizontally to the back wall in the Factory & fitting the rear bumpers involved selecting a pair that were the best fit, then reversing the car slowly into the beam so that the bumpers were pushed into the bodywork ensuring that there were now no gaps ... !"

With the escalation in E-Type prices I think that such parts have subsequently been 're-jigged' to ensure a hassle-free fitment so such issues shouldn't now arise.

Nice update Jonathan. Enjoying the thread.

In case it helps, believe it or not, there is a bespoke jag stainless exhaust manufacturer in my home town. To look at the premises you would not believe what goes on inside. Apparently he made all the exhaust systems for those recent 6 (?) recreated factory lightweights that were a million a'piece.

Regards
Mike

Lightweight_911 wrote:I think I've told Jonathan this story before but ...

Many years ago when I was restoring an S1 4.2 FHC, I was at the stage of refitting all of the new/refurbished components to the lovingly-restored/newly-painted shell when I hit upon a 'snag' ... try as I might, I couldn't get an acceptable fit with the rear bumpers.

Rather than re-chroming the original bumpers, I'd elected to go for new ones (from Martin Robey, one of the top E-Type parts suppliers) but, unfortunately, the curvature didn't match that of the rear bodywork.

I suspected that the problem was down to poor quality control of the 'repro' parts so dug out the original bumpers & had them re-chromed (at significant cost).

On their return, I attempted to fit them to the rear of the car - only to be presented with the same problem ... there was a distinct 'gap' between the rear bodywork & the centre of the bumper, even though the inner & outer ends were 'flush'.

In frustration, I moved on to the next job - the interior. I had called upon the services of an ex-Jaguar trimmer who had worked at Browns Lane during the E-Type's early production years &, during the course of conversation, I happened to mention the problem with the rear bumpers ...

A smile came over his face immediately - "Were there any dents in the rear bodywork when you stripped the car down ?" he asked.

When I said that there were but that these had all been rectified during restoration of the shell, his response was somewhat unexpected:

"Aha - that was where you went wrong - none of the original rear bumpers fitted perfectly 'straight out of the box' !

There was a length of 4"x2" screwed horizontally to the back wall in the Factory & fitting the rear bumpers involved selecting a pair that were the best fit, then reversing the car slowly into the beam so that the bumpers were pushed into the bodywork ensuring that there were now no gaps ... !"

With the escalation in E-Type prices I think that such parts have subsequently been 're-jigged' to ensure a hassle-free fitment so such issues shouldn't now arise.

Great story Andy - fascinating stuff

Yup, remember the story Andy....there are a couple of recesses in the back of the car......but I know it also had a bit of a knock at the back, so how much is due to Jaguar and how much to wear and tear is difficult to say.......but as one of my personal OCD dislikes is the rubber trim that covers the bumper edge....(nothing more than a cheap and effective detail to allow for misalignment) ...I shall be grinding the bumpers to fit perfectly and leave a constant tight gap....and no rubber trim.....

See how easy a low drag lightweight would have been, no bumpers to worry about there. Good luck with the car, it's going to be great!

210bhp wrote:Nice update Jonathan. Enjoying the thread.

In case it helps, believe it or not, there is a bespoke jag stainless exhaust manufacturer in my home town. To look at the premises you would not believe what goes on inside. Apparently he made all the exhaust systems for those recent 6 (?) recreated factory lightweights that were a million a'piece.

Regards
Mike

Hi Mike
Have thought about a stainless system, the only reason why I wouldn't have one is they apparently sound more tinny than a traditional mild steel one....something I have noticed on my car compared to others (I have stainless SSI's and a stainless back box)....but don't know how true this is....the new lightweights certainly sounded ok..!

jtparr wrote:they apparently sound more tinny than a traditional mild steel one....something I have noticed on my car compared to others (I have stainless SSI's and a stainless back box)....but don't know how true this is....

Having discussed this with various metal pipe gurus recently, the consensus seems to be that it's not the material, per se, that leads to the tinny sound. But because a stainless exhaust can be made from thinner material (being more rot-proof) a lot of owners consciously (for weight saving) or less consciously do buy a thin one. They sound tinny.
If you make a stainless exhaust from the same gauge as a mild steel one they sound the same.
I have not yet tested this theory.
Cheers, Richard.

Bodywork and headers sorted, then...

Tp81 wrote:http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=750 ... 81c2968f06

Marvellous....just bought one...thanks Tom