Lightweight E-type

[Echezeaux]

Hi all,

Do you know if there are any books about Lightweight E-type only . All the books I'm buying about racing Jaguars describe the E's for about 5 to 9 pages and that's all !
I already have the excellent Cat out of the Bag and Ph Porter Jaguar sports racing cars, but I haven't find one with technical details, like which parts they used and so on.
I'd really like to find something to help me, in my quest to build a semi Lightweight.

Thanks in advance to you Gents, who are making this forum a joy to be part of.

[Heuer]

I think you already have the best books available. You now need to start talking to the people who have made recreations to see what they can tell you.
For history: Lynx - http://www.lynxmotors.co.uk/
For bodywork: RS Panels - http://www.rspanels.co.uk/jaguar.htm
For engine and transmission: Crosthwaite & Gardiner - http://www.crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/J ... es_lwe.pdf

You might also want to do a search on Bryan Wingfield who made some of the very best replicas, including Low Drag Coupes. CMC are currently restoring the Lindner- Nocker Low Drag Coupe and may be able to give you some input. Finally you could try contacting Tony Brown who is the secretary of the JDC Historic Replicar register. He may be able to point you in the direction of further research: toadfrance@tele2.fr

[e-bygum]

Take a look at www.coolcatcorp.com Mike Frank, the proprietor, built a lightweight in 2007. You might find him helpful.
Pete

[MarkE]

The best read for lightweights that I?ve come across is in Phillip Porter?s ?E-Type ? The Definitive History?, the giant 700 page work.

Chapter Eight describes the Competition Cars 1962 ? 1964 in 110 pages, with the lightweight just being part of the evolution of that story. You really need the context of the development of competition E Types from the earliest production models to see how the lightweight ?evolved?. As with all competition cars, the specification was amended from one race to the next, and varied from one type of racing to another. The lightweight was ?just? another step in this evolution, and each car was different.

If you are building a semi-lightweight, this is a great place to start. It describes how the competition Es moved from all steel all glass to aluminium bonnets, plastic windows, aluminium tubs, together with the need to strengthen things up as their quest to make the E as light as Enzo?s car caused all sorts of structural challenges in racing conditions. Moving from Webers to mechanical fuel injection, from iron to aluminium blocks, and the introduction of the lightweight Dunlop callipers / D Type wheels all played a part in the evolution, and the latest spec wasn?t always the best for all types of racing.

Once you have all that lot sorted, then call up Lynx in the UK who produce a ?lightweight replica? and, as a potential customer, request a full specification of their creation, asking what options are available. They?ve made a few of these, and restored several of the original cars, so probably have some of the most knowledgeable guys available who can help. In talking through their options, you should be able to determine what sort of spec you want, depending on whether you want to build a fast road car, and endurance racer or an out and out circuit screamer. You should, after gathering all the information, have a good idea of the sort of specification that is available, and at what cost.

Budget may play a part here as well!! You can buy an aluminium tub, bonnet, doors and boot and an aluminium block. You can get all the rose-jointed suspension and the Dunlop wheels?not sure about the original callipers though?..doubtful. You can certainly get the close-ratio gearsets, but you may struggle to find an original ZF box! And I?d have a set of Weber 45 DCOE type 2s over the mechanical fuel injection every time?. They?re a darned sight cheaper and more reliable and just make the car sound right.

Get the book and get reading!

http://www.lynxmotors.co.uk/etype.htm

[Echezeaux]

Thanks to all of you, lot of info, and still learning. Thanks again.
Thierry

[Echezeaux]

I'd would like to "copy" 2GXO, as,I think the pure lines of the E are still intact.
But, I don't mind the wide bum of 4WPD latest version ! About the G/box, I must have the 4speed, the ZF is not accepted by the ruling authorities, I can save huge that way!!
But as everyone says, gathering infos come first ! And I really appreciate any ideas for my project.
Thanks in advance.
Thierry