£100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

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politeperson
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#81 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Sun Jan 15, 2017 9:14 am

Morning Eric, thanks

It as all S2 v belts. S2 Crank pulley etc Non AC Non Power Steering.

It is the standard Series 2 arrangement. So I have reused my Series 2 timing cover, water pump and water pump belt v-pulley, with the standard Series 2 upper v-belt pulley and alternator. If I come to sell the short stud (gold) engine in the car, I will convert it back to the correct 1967 specification front end.

Alternatively I might buy another project e type cheap with no engine and re use it. It is a really strong engine, and they seem to be getting hard to come by.

We shall see.
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#82 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by 64etype » Sun Jan 15, 2017 4:36 pm

Thanks for the vector.
Eric

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#83 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:44 pm

When I have some more miles, I shall continue the thread with final tuning. This will be messing around with the 123-tune to see how much advance I can get and playing with the carbs.

Hopefully I can get some serious torque without any pinking.

So far all the signs are promising.
etype open bonnet.jpg
etype open bonnet.jpg (141.51 KiB) Viewed 11855 times
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#84 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Sat Jan 21, 2017 1:00 pm

Ok,

Thought I would try the Gopro.

Bit of a difference in quality. It was set to 720p as opposed the the better 1080p setting to save upload speed.

The camera was a basic Hero. It seems to produce a very stable picture.

It is stuck onto the passenger window on a 6 inch arm.

I shouldnt have taken the Jag out really. The roads are filthy.

2 minutes of filming caused me 1/2 an hour with the pressure washer cleaning.

All clean now though.

You can see we have a Church, St. James, a pub, The Bull and Dog and loads of potato fields.

Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#85 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Mon Jan 23, 2017 7:37 pm

Just to comment on my own film.

The amazing thing about this, is that you are looking at a 50 year old car that is as smooth, comfortable and quick as a car you can buy today. Oh, and it looks much sexier too.

The roads around me are awful, very bumpy, yet I am bombing along at 80mph, with no problem.

The combination of torsion bars and double coil springs is still incredible.

Just another reason why the design is so good.

Just to say.
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#86 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Sun Feb 05, 2017 5:37 pm

This is my latest pointless film.

I tried to get a bit more engine noise and less wind noise and more volume generally.

I have fitted new window frame seals which has helped with cabin noise and wind noise.!

I also removed the rubber gasket from the Gopro waterproof case to try and get more sound in.

Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#87 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:06 pm

Far be it for me to say, but she seems to get up to speed in a flash.

Really impressive.

I am still limiting the car to 1/2 throttle and the motor still has another 2,500 rpm left.

No more than 3,250 rpm or John the engine builder would go mad. She sounds great.

Another 100 miles and we will drop the oil, re-torque the head, reset the carbs and set the ignition curve.

I must say I like the imagery of all the euro-boxes filing in a queue back from work, whilst the e-type charges forward unrestrained, in the other direction! Not intended I assure you, as I am usually in the queue.

She goes like stink. What a motor.

Last edited by politeperson on Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#88 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by timhum » Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:33 pm

Doesn't 100 mph equate to near enough 4K rpm? Better not tell your engine builder.
Tim
Tim
1965 S1 fhc

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#89 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by chrisfell » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:06 am

Far be it for me to say, but she seems to get up to a ton in a flash.

Speaking personally, I'd have pretended I had a 3.54 axle ratio. You never know who might be watching, eh, Vladimir?
Chris '67 S1 2+2

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#90 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:12 am

Thanks chaps, yes edited.

I little bit over wont hurt it. Hopefully.
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#91 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by chrisfell » Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:47 am

I wouldn't worry about the engine revs. I'd be much more concerned about salt on the roads. I recall one journey which I had to take which was over 200 miles through slush and salt. Despite half an hour with a pressure washer, within a few days rust spots appeared all over the (brand new) wheels, in small stone chips in the wheel arches and along the sills. My car, which I've often described as a bag of nails, would unzip if I drove it on salted roads. Around here the salty grit lies two or three inches deep at the verges.

I'm now waiting for a serious rain storm to wash the salt away so that I can get the car out of its hibernation.
Chris '67 S1 2+2

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#92 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Thu Feb 16, 2017 7:30 pm

Well Chris,

We had a deluge yesterday and I clocked up another 100 miles. Private roads, speeded up film, inaccurate speedo. etc.

At least I have managed to get the engine louder then the wind noise.

Still on half throttle.

Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#93 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:21 am

Loosening up nicely

Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#94 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Mon Jul 16, 2018 8:36 pm

I was surprised this thread was still getting interest, so I thought I would update it.

This is what she is like now.


Image

Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#95 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by lee-type » Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:14 pm

AMAZING :wow:
Lee
S1 4.2 OTS

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#96 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by lee-type » Wed Jul 18, 2018 7:26 pm

politeperson wrote:
Tue Oct 18, 2016 9:58 am
I went for Mahle 8:1 pistons which were £260 complete with rings, pins and clips.

Where did you get the pistons from?
Lee
S1 4.2 OTS

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#97 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:11 pm

Thanks Lee,

They came from SNG. I couldn't decide on 9:1 or 8:1. Pinking is an issue with these engines apparently. The 8:1 pistons still produce 175psi per cylinder.

The E type is quick, that is for sure and as you are aware I am am a big enthusiast of the species.

I suppose the point I am tying to make is that it is more engaging in many ways than modern cars. Although it is a 60 year old design, it is fast, comfortable, good at acceleration, good at corners and good at bumps and looks good too. So you can actually go somewhere in it.

Now I have changed the brake pads, the front brakes dont squeal either!

Last week I had an Audi R8 V10+, which must be one of the quickest things out there. Sure it was great but stick you foot down for more that 3 seconds and you are flying so quickly you risk your license. It also insulates you from the road, so soon you feel like you could be driving just about anything once the novelty has worn off. Great car though. I have also noticed Audi drivers dont smile much.

I think travelling quickly on today's roads in supercars is impossible. You will just lose your license. In older cars you have more fun at slower speeds. I think people often purchase these moderns as an investment or as a status symbol. You just cannot get close to 60% of thier capability on UK roads. Most also depreciate like nothing else too.

Having said that I have now completed over 100,000 miles in a Tesla Model S. It really is great, and I am keeping it until it is worn out (thats another 900,000 miles apparently according to the warranty!). This is so I can spend more on old cars.

I think the low/mid-range acceleration of the Model S is comparable to the R8. It is maybe the best "tool" out there. But when the forest fires come over the hill, it is the keys to the Jaguar I will take for my escape.

So, out of work, I would pick the E type every time. It is the car that I enjoy the most out of all of them.

It is also the car that everyone else likes as well. Everyone lets you of of junctions. I have had cars in front pull over just so they can hear it overtake them. This happens frequently. It has never happened to me before owning this car. In the Audi of the Tesla I am more likely to get the finger.

I get people ask me all the time what it it like to drive such an old car in modern traffic. So you can see below how easy an E type is to pilot around the place.

Here are 3 more films. I got the images a bit clearer and tried to get more sound. Tomorrow my new mic might arrive, so I hope to issue in a new wave of E type films.

Acceleration, fast sweeping corners then bumps. Very bad bumps that my 5 liter MGB could not traverse at over 45 mph because I would smack my head on the tin roof as the ride was so poor. The E type really is smooth over bumps. Sorry about my chin!

I wanted to get that White Kuga in the second film-for the honor of the Forum, but a man in a diesel Astra van appeared from no where, I swear he was doing a ton!





Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#98 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Sat Aug 25, 2018 4:51 pm

st a quick update on the £100 engine.

It is running very well. One thing that has improved it, is completing 3,000 miles.

In that time it has had 500 miles on SA30, then 2 oil changes on Castrol 20/50W.

The car has a catch tank, this filled to about an inch deep of grey sludge in the first 1,000 miles. Checking the tank after the recent Germany adventure, it is empty.

The engine does not seem to breath significantly through the crankcase, blow by is negligible. Plugs are a nice healthy colour.

Oil consumption after 1,200 miles of high speed motorway driving is negligible, The oil on the dipstick is clear and I am pleased to say she does not use any coolant which is a nice clear blue.

Power is excellent and she sounds very smooth indeed.

One thing I have noticed is that she likes to run on half a sump full of oil. More than that and she makes a few drips from the rear seal.

Fuel consumption seems to be 25mpg at high speeds. I think she would do much better than that if driven more lightly.

So in all the new engine has bedded in very nicely and should provide years of trouble free service.
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Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#99 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by mgcjag » Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:16 pm

Hi James..what do you mean by 1/2 a sump full of oil.....Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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#100 Re: £100 Mystery xk Engine Adventure

Post by politeperson » Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:22 pm

Halfway down on the stick is what I meant Steve.
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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