The 'E' Type Forum

Hi all
I have bought a1962 series 1 ,the previous owner fitted a 4.2 and I want to put it back to the original 3.8. .Which way would you go to make the swap . Buy a rebuilt 3.8 or strip the 4.2 for bits
From what I have read the heads are the same ? the 4.2 was a bigger bore, the stroke was the same as a 3.8
would this mean the crank shaft is the same ?. All I would need is a 3.8 block and pistons ?
Any help appreciated

Bill,

if it were my car (and it was driving ok) I'd wait until a complete 3.8 engine became available. You will then have a complete 4.2 engine to sell.

Angus

The car is being stripped for a full re build

Has anybody advice on shot blasting or dipping ? what is the best way to get back to bare metal

Certainly not dipping - the chemicals used are virtually impossible to get out of seams and have a habit of coming out after a year or two and ruining your new paintwork ! Be very careful with blasting also : the choice of medium is vital, as is the pressure used, as it is very easy to distort irreparably the largely unstressed larger panels. Walnut shell is probably the best bet

Soda blastng, but only removes paint, not rust

I had my FHC body shot blasted by a company familiar with stripping back car paint and overall had a positive experience. One thing I would mention is that the blast media gets everywhere and even years later I find little deposits that have finally worked their way out of crevices.

The reason for mentioning this is you have to be very careful when painting the car as the paint gun *could* blow unseen blast media onto the paint.

I am not sure I would do it again but it was cheap, quick and efficient.

Hi Bill,
I had reservations about oven baking/chemical dipping and blasting so went down the DIY route and used a heat gun and scraper which took it back to the red oxide. I then used strip discs on a grinder that took it back to metal and the strip discs (plastic mesh impregnated with grit) left a nice surface.
The awkward nooks and crannies I just used paint stripper.

Satisfying and saved a large chunk of money in the process.

I have been to Heratige-Classics in Middlesborough today and he said much the same as you guys .
His advise was paint stripper , might need an extra pair of hands .
Cheers