New car, Where to start?

Talk about the E-Type Series 2

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Classic
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#1 New car, Where to start?

Post by Classic » Mon Feb 25, 2019 4:29 pm

I’ve just closed the purchase of an 1969 E type series II on strombergs.
The car is not concours but very honest, good running and properly maintained with back up invoices over the last 30 years.

My plans are to keep it for good weather weekends’ and may be a couple of longer trips a year.
It has the original 3.54 diff which I most definitely want to change to a 3.07. My doubt here is wether to change just crown and pinion or go for a recon diff. Anyone have just change CW&P? Any problems? Are there any recomended suppliers in Europe?

Next will be to convert Strombergs into triple SUs. Everybody seems to recomend this but, specially to those that have done so, is there a big gain on power or any other relevant issues such as maintenance, mpg or general running?

Finally, I shall look into underside where panels bond with the chasis, there are some small patches of external rust wich I‘d like to fix and paint over (like one inch line all around) before it gets worst

Will you add anything else that I haven’t mentioned? either at a While I’m there or just preacutionary?
Of course I’ll be looking into anything else that might go wrong (keep fingers crossed!) as well.

Thaks for your attention
Live is too short, Carpe Diem my friend

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Bfastr
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#2 Re: New car, Where to start?

Post by Bfastr » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:02 pm

well, honestly , why not just make sure its roadworthy and drive it as it was made? nothing wrong with the mods you suggest, but I sure wouldnt let an upgrade get in the way of just putting a big smile on your face.

I have a 69 S2 with the 3.54 and the two Stroms. sure an extra gear or lower diff ratio wud be nice every now and then, and I agree the three SU's are a thing of beauty, but to be honest my car runs so well and does all I need. I just drive it and have a blast.

so to answer your question of where to start.. pick a nice country road and start by driving it!!!
a lot. then you can decide if big money mods are really what YOU need and not the what "experts" at the cruise in's tell you.
Bob F

69 S2 E-type OTS LHD

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mgcjag
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#3 Re: New car, Where to start?

Post by mgcjag » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:20 pm

:yeahthat: ...Dont rush in to changing anything until you know what you have.....get it running in the spring..drive it in the summer/autumn... then work on it over the winter......become a regular here on the forum and find out all you need to know about E types..enjoy....Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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Tom W
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#4 Re: New car, Where to start?

Post by Tom W » Mon Feb 25, 2019 8:19 pm

To change the crown wheel and pinion you’ll have most of the diff apart anyway, so you might as well replace anything that’s worn. Particularly important if your paying someone to do the work, as most of the cost will be labour. You’re also more likely to get a better warranty from a specialist if they have the choice on which parts need replacing or not. The alternative is to buy a whole 2nd hand diff in your chosen ratio, fit it as is, and take the risk that it’s in good condition. Worth the risk if you’re swapping it yourself, but potentially expensive if you’re paying someone to swap it.

You could also consider Webers or fuel injection instead of SUs. Possibly a slightly cheaper alternative. My car has Webers and goes very well, and isn’t too excessive on fuel either. It’s taken a lot of fettling and experimentation to get to this point though, as there’s no standard book settings to work to. If you change the carbs, you should also look to change the distributor as the advance curve for the new carbs will be different.
Tom
1970 S2 FHC

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politeperson
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#5 Re: New car, Where to start?

Post by politeperson » Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:17 pm

Where to start?

Post some pictures on the forum!
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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Topic author
Classic
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#6 Re: New car, Where to start?

Post by Classic » Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:19 pm

You are absolutely right firts thing is to poste pictures and also enjoy the car for a while before “improving it” if needed
Image

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Live is too short, Carpe Diem my friend

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johnetype
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#7 Re: New car, Where to start?

Post by johnetype » Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:11 pm

Make sure you get some rust prevention wax into all the closed sections and sills.

Fit a distributor with the European advance curve and a vacuum advance capsule.

Wire the secondary manifold throttles open on the Stromberg inlet manifold.

Get out there and enjoy the car.

Having done the above you won't be able to tell the difference between SU's and Strombergs. It's so close to call, other factors such as the health of your engine and the 3.54 diff will dominate.
John

1969 Series 2 FHC

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politeperson
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#8 Re: New car, Where to start?

Post by politeperson » Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:27 am

Well it looks great, so if it aint broke dont fix it. You will need to check it thoroughly though.

Check safely items though, you will probably have some issues.

As John says, if you are happy with the appearance and it needs no welding then your first job must be to wax it. Get into all those box sections in the bulkhead, sills and wheel arches. They are unpainted in there and rust from the inside out.

If you are going to keep carbs then as John says, why not keep the Strombergs with the secondary butterflys removed. I know a few owners who have done this mod and saved thousands over the SU conversion. Get them overhauled if they need it, they are a good carb.

You must check some safety items. Fuel lines, brakes tyres and wiring. I cannot remember if your carbs will need new diaphragms and floats because of modern fuels (ethanol problems).

You absolutely will find perished lines on a car that has been off the road for more than a few years. You do not want to go up in flames. Sticking brake calipers and perished flexible hoses would be top of my list (there are only 3).

You may well have chaffed wires and corroded connections as well. I like self regulating alternators on the S2 for reliability.

I like the 123 distributor, it is reliable now and a good upgrade.

It will be interesting to see if your cooling system works. With modern traffic, consider a nice large Allicool radiator and fan with shroud. Expensive but worth it.

With the basic safety items sorted, put on some miles and see what happens! Oh, I find they use much less oil and drip less if the level is below halfway on the dipstick.

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

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