Best Solution for Tidying Car up

[215m3]

Hi all

I have been very fortunate to have the pleasure of looking after a V12 after my father can no longer drive and become it's new custodian. The car has sat for 3 years since it came back from a restorers call Flying Cat Engineers, not to be recommended. But that's another story.

As I go through the car, I will clean, repaint or replace what I can, but when it comes to wiring etc do I replace with period relevant parts or modern? I own a parts company that may have parts suitable. I have removed the battery and the earth wire has seen better days. Do replace with an exposed strap or a later covered? The car will never be a nut and bolt rebuild at the moment as I just want her to be driven.

I plan to upgrade the radiator and expansion tank to help with the overheating issues these cars can suffer.

That's it for now.

[malcolm]

If you're just trying to get the car driveable, as you say, then I don't think it matters what wiring/earth straps you use providing they are of good quality and do the job. Regarding overheating, I don't have a series 3, but I didn't think overheating was a problem on the series 3. It certainly isn't on my series 2 - I think it was mainly a series 1 issue.

[MontanaDiver]

The engines seem to run at least in the upper end of the temp gage. Not hot but nearly always over half way.
My 74 E type had a nasty hot restart issue, mostly solved by updating the distributor to the SNG version. If you decide to do this you might want to ask this group if a nonUSA distributor would be a better way to go since the US version is a vacuum retard.
She starts much easier when sitting for 20 minutes after the engine is fully warmed up.

Good luck
Dennis