The 'E' Type Forum

I absolutely love my hard-top but that is over-the-top

Interesting - I see Uryk is offering a new 5-speed box in spring 2023. I hope this is not because of emerging faults with the old one - which I have in my car. However, after five years and 25,000 miles I'm delighted so far

Hi all, many thanks for the feedback. If there are indeed substandard Chinese bearings being supplied, there should be similar observations from other high-mileage E-typers. Regards, Peter.

Thanks - the fitting was by Barney Jones in Farnham (who is pretty experienced) who said he used SNG supplies with plenty of grease. Failures were evident by excess play in the wheels when jacked up together with a continual grinding noise. The current failure also features more of a crunch that sou...

Hi All, I have had a number of rear wheel bearing failures over the last couple of years with them lasting only ~5,000 miles. Is there a bad batch of SNB bearings out there or is it more likely that they are not being fitted properly? Regards, Peter.

Thanks Steve! Makes sense. Regards, Peter.

Hi All, I always see evidence of a creamy water/oil sludge in my engine breather elbow connecting the top of the engine to the air intake box. The main oil is clean, the cam area is clean, the compression is good and there is no other evidence of gasket failure. Should I be worrying? Regards, Peter.

I've had my ETF 5-speed box in for 3 years and 12,000 miles. No reliability problems and I really like the relaxed, tranquil cruising. Peter H

My advice is to buy it! I love my hardtop as it is almost like having two cars - one for winter and one for summer. The noise reduction and comfort factor is superior to the soft-top. To mitigate against David's point above, I apply protective PVC tape of body-colour to the contact point. Spraying t...

I have a series 2 OTS and have my hardtop deployed from November to March. The wind noise is somewhat reduced if compared to the soft top and there is a bit more headroom. So, for long winter journeys, it makes a big difference to me. I agree with the paint damage issue and apply a body-colour (red)...

Hi All - me again, Just to be clear: Uryk's new AP diaphragm clutch was indeed supplied with the wrong bearing - very disappointing. Uryk is an expert and appreciates this now - it is just that we all didn't think to consider this possibility that seriously until I ordered the correct bearing from S...

Hi All - Peter H again, Get this: the additional standalone bearing from SNG (marked C23572, but in an AP box) is 0.9mm taller than bearing in the AP three-piece kit (AP code KT9702). Would you believe it - mystery solved - but beware! Meanwhile, I have the "new" spring clutch installed as it did in...

Hi All - me again, I'll check the release bearing from the AP kit with another one arriving soon from SNG. Meanwhile, what is the correct thickness of a 4.2 flywheel? I'd like to exclude the possibility that my current flywheel has been overly skimmed, perhaps to accommodate the old spring clutch. A...

Hi Eric, Thanks - the new clutch release bearing is definitely the one that came with the Automotive Products 3-piece diaphragm kit so I am guessing that this must be correct. There must be a way to measure the diaphragm release bearing to be sure it is right if compared to the dimensions of the spr...

Hi All - Peter H again: Looks like I have two alternatives: Re the replacement diaphragm clutch & travel: Eric, thanks for your link to the jag-lovers thread. So, the 60% position of the travel in my photo is quite normal. The concern was that operating the lever with a bar (with the engine out) did...

Hi Christopher, Thanks - the old clutch was spring, the first replacement was diaphragm (which had the "travel" problem) and the second replacement was a spring (which fitted OK) - leading to my assumption that the bell housing has been modified to accept only spring. Re vibration/judder I take your...

Hi All, Peter Harrison again, Thanks for all your comments. The position appears to be: 1. I definitely have a 4.2 flywheel that can accept either clutch 2. My old clutch (which worked well) was an old spring clutch. Bearing was pretty worn 3. Uryk correctly supplied me with an AP diaphragm 3-piece ...

Hi Christopher and All,

Thanks - the flywheel is correct at 4.2 (marked C18517). How can I easily identify the bell housing (3.8 & 4.2; C14494 & C22623) as it is not stamped?

Regards, Peter.

Hi All, In the process of installing my new ETF gearbox for my 1969 series 2, the new clutch doesn’t work as the old one did. As per the picture, the release plate of the new clutch is around 1cm lower – towards the front – such that the release bearing doesn’t make contact with the release plate un...