Hello from new member in Worcestershire UK

[Simon Templar]

Hello all

Great to see a forum for the E type at long last.

I am the proud owner of a 1967 4.2 series 1 fixed head in old english white - I purchased the car last year after looking at many cars - I had always had an ambition to own one of these beautiful cars but never thought i would.

Last year, I read an article by the editor of classic cars magazine that just hit the spot - He wrote that "every year something happened to remind him how short life was - go ahead and live the dream now" - well I did and now feel extremely proud to own one of the best loved cars of all time -

It hasn't been without some pain though - I guess all E owners experience that - but after only covering 900 miles following a full nut and bolt restoration in 1994, there were bound to be some teething problems.

As an aside I am now contemplating changing my 5 inch wires for the wider version - saw a great looking white 3.8 FHC on ebay with 6.5 wheels that really filled the arches. Any thoughts?

I have been told to go no wider than 6 inch on 205/70 tyres - any wider and it ruins the ride - steering wheel snatch can be very bad so I'm told.

I would welcome your feedback on this subject - Looking at MWS Chrome DB6 wheels which I am assured are the ones to go for.

Look forward to exchanging views with members soon.

Regards

Simon Templar (not my real name by the way,just feel that the E type in white should have been his car instead of the volvo P1800 nice as it is).

[vipergts]

Welcome Simon (?)

Great forum but I'm not sure why it took so long for an E Type only forum to come along.

I'm not really able to help on your wheel issue except to say that I quite like the look of the center laced wires too but with fewer spokes.

[andyp]

Hi Simon

The subject of wider wheels has had some debate on the forum recently:

http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=152

Andy

[Heuer]

Simon

Don't do it! Stay with the 5" wheels and invest in a set of Michelin XVS tyres (?600). As you can read I just changed my 6" wires with 205/65's to 5" and XVS 185's. Car is superb with this combination and it is only now I realise what I have been missing for the last 9 years!

David

[Car-Nut]

Welcome

Dave who introduced himself in this thread is running 6.5" wheels

http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=251

maybe sent him some mail for some feedback, I beleive he does a bit of racing... :?

[Heuer]

Simon

I doubt you would notice the difference between 6" and 6.5" wheels in terms of road holding but you will find the wider wheels a bugger to change (rear) and will most likely rub on the bodywork (front and rear) unless you flare the arches. Also, should you have a puncture, the spare will be 5" and when you try and put the wide wheel in the well you will find the boards will not fit. Not too bad in a FHC I suppose but a real pain in an OTS especially if you are touring with a boot full of luggage. CMC told me they overcame the problem for one client by re-modeling the boot floor (dropping it by 2") so the wide wheel would fit - they claimed it was difficult to tell it had been done at all, apart, obviously, from the hole in his bank account. If you want the "Supersize me" look go for 6" with Michelin XWX 205/70 as fitted to the S3 but expect heavier steering. If you want lower profile go for 205/65 but expect heavier steering, a firmer ride and speedo calibration problems. Give Dougal at Longstone Tyres a call http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/E-Type-Jaguar.php and he will put you right; a really fun guy to talk to. Great company to deal with and visit (when I visited there were two well raced Bugatti Type 35C's having their tyres changed - just driven in!)

David