Nearly there

[peters3103]

Hi gents,
Getting to the end of my engine repair/front suspension refurb with just a few items to attend to. After unsuccessful attempts at bleeding the front brakes using my good wife on the pedal and then a pressure bleeder (I was unable to stop leakage from top of reservoirs) I managed to vacuum bleed them and the clutch today with a 200ml syringe. I took a short drive around the block and all seems to work ok. Incredibly noisy without gearbox cover and carpets and a little unnerving with the prop shaft spinning just below my gear-change hand! New Dynamator, speedo cable, refurbed clock (Mike Eck) and also SU fan switch (to replace old Kenlowe rheostat) for Coolcat electric fan all working well.
I modified the handbrake compensator as per Dave K’s design but handbrake still marginal. I run out of adjustment and really need a shorter cable. All that is required now is the fitment of the bonnet, gearbox cover (along with previously absent foam insulator), centre and radio consoles, seats and carpets. Obviously a full wheel alignment will be required after the front suspension rebuild.

[rswaffie]

Looking great. It looks like you’ve got the weather on your side as well - always a bonus. I guess it’s getting towards peak summer there?

[peters3103]

Indeed Richard, we’ve just a had a hot spell. 36c here in Canberra today and topping at 46c elsewhere in the country. Too hot!

[Mich7920]

Hi Peter,

You just have to restore the railing now...

[Gfhug]

Peter, sounds great, though do you wish you'd also fitted aircon whilst you were doing that work?

Is your handbrake cable a replacement or original? There has been a problem with cables being made too long and at the forum gathering at SNG Barratt in May 2019 Julian promised to look into it as they now had a good original to use as a template/reference. Don't know where they go to, might be worth dropping Julian a PM?

Geoff

[265bhp]

The angle of your upper wishbones gives me some hope that when I fit my bonnet the ride height may end up being correct....!

[peters3103]

Mich, have you been talking to my wife? That is a rustic (rusty) railing. A job for the next home owner perhaps.

No air cond for me Geoff but I think I’ll buy a set of Clayton Classics air vents and venturi to increase air flow into the cabin. I’ll look into the cable. Not sure if mine’s original.

Re ride height, in the interest of not having to split ball joints and pull out torsion bars again, I installed an adjustable reaction plate. It’s sitting at factory height now and I have 3” of upward adjustment so will re-check after fitting bonnet and pumping up the tyres and adjust as required.

Cheers,
Pete

[nzmike]

Looks great. I have the same colour E Type a few steps behind you! This started off as a tune up to solve a misfire...which revealed a valve problem...once the head was off everything else looked tired so it was an engine rebuild....followed by an engine bay repaint and front suspension refresh. The most expensive tune up I've done in a while.

[peters3103]

Hi Mike, you’ve gone a little further than I and if I’d been a bit more adventurous I would have completely stripped everything out and done the same. I just removed the bonnet support frame picture frame and all the suspension components leaving the side frames in place with the brakes and heater etc. Although not perfect I’m satisfied with the result. It is certainly a vast improvement. I look forward to some photos of yours completed. My bonnet goes back on Friday.

Pete

[peters3103]

Today I fitted home-tailored gearbox insulation foam and then the gearbox cover along with the rest of the interior. Bonnet goes on tomorrow and hopefully that’s job done!
Note my period correct fibreglass glove box picked up at Beaulieu last year. That was a fiddly job. Sometimes one needs little hands like Mr Trump!

[Robbiee]

Lovely, just lovely
1. How did you shape/create the gearbox insulation?
2. What is your interior colour?
Robbie

[peters3103]

Hey Robbie,
I simply used a piece of 1” thick, medium density, upholstery foam and cut it to shape tucking a few inches down the sides and up the front on the bell housing.
My interior colour, according to the heritage certificate, should be biscuit. It was re-trimmed when restored 30 years ago so not sure how accurate the colour is. It’s certainly held up well though.

Pete

[peters3103]

Today I re-fitted the bonnet along with refurbished balance links, newly cad plated catches & locks etc. and number plate. Went for a short drive to get petrol and air in the tyres. Surprisingly tyres only lost 8psi each after 12 months. Indicators not working. Yes I forgot to put the big plug into the bonnet socket!
Things to note:
The clutch is dragging a little unless pumped a couple of times to select gears while stationary. I suspect there’s still some air in it.
The front suspension has settled to the point of exhaust scraping going into my garage. Measurement now is approximately 7 3/4”, about an inch too low. Will need to adjust reaction plate up. It’s set at its lowest at present.
Steering wheel off centre but still needs full wheel alignment.
Having driven it twice now I can’t recall checking the speedo to see if it’s actually working and whether the needle is steady after fitting a new cable. Shows how much attention I paid to my speed!
Oh, and success with the handbrake after a bit more research. I had the cable adjusted too tight not allowing the ratchet mechanism to work properly. I screwed the adjuster bolt into the block approximately a third of the way and presto my handbrake holds the car on a slope at about 6-7 clicks at the lever. Good news!

[Mich7920]

I love the gloves Mr. Bond

[peters3103]

Sitting just below the ejector seat and missile launch buttons disguised as a radio.
Hilarious when I ask the wife to turn the radio on!