Original Late E Series II refresh as it unfolds (Aug 1970 Build)

[Lost Horizon]

Today, the soft top was put in place so that it will stretch/settle on the frame before we put the hardtop on. Speaking of the hardtop, here is a look at the finished paint:

Hardtop paint inspection before chrome/hardware install

And here is a look at the soft top:

[Lost Horizon]

Progress Report to yesterday:

Progress Report Video

[Lost Horizon]

With Burlen's production delay problems on supplying the SU conversion kit threatening the car's completion in time for the Vancouver show, Owen stepped up to the plate and has cobbled together a set over the last week or so so we can get the car running . Many thanks, Mike!

Starting with a Mark 10 setup with the solenoid choke, replacing the solenoid choke arrangement with Rover manual bottoms and polishing up a spare 4.2 E manifold, it looks like we'll make it. Here is the journey in pictures to 5 pm today. Hoping that Burlen will come thru by the end of this month so I don't have to wear out my welcome with the borrowed set.

The Mark 10 Donor:



Mike Owen, pulling a pile of disparate parts together to save the day..


Dressed up with new internal parts and some spit and polish:

[Lost Horizon]

The MWS wheels and tires by Longstone Classic Tyres were coordinated for me by Longstone (Excellent Service all the way from England to Victoria), great folks to deal with over long haul distances. All we had to do was to add air and put them on.

[Lost Horizon]

Now that the wheels are on, the recalibration of the speedo to the new 3.07 diff takes place, old school procedure ..

[Lost Horizon]

Finishing up in the Engine bay: Mike's built up from his parts bin SU Carb set installed; working on the air filter assembly.



Got the Tach and the recalibrated speedo back from Vancouver. Hard to believe they are the originals cleaned up. Great work.

[Lost Horizon]

Milestone day: Put some gas in the tank, topped up the fluids, turned the key, and it fired up right away, not even a stumble without the cobbled carbs even needing to be moved off Mike's initial build settings. It's perfectly smooth even at a low idle, no vibration at all, thx to the full dynamic and static balancing that was done at rebuild. Lovely throaty sound with the back to factory 9:1 compression versus the 8:1 it had when I bought it..

All finishing carpentry from here on in. We should make the show on the 19th in Vancouver. Glad I took it to the European Spec. California rust free car, European Spec as it was meant to be driven. Well worth the effort.

[Lost Horizon]

Finishing up.. Closing the Circle, etc.. couple of pics.

[Lost Horizon]

While we're waiting for the bonnet to get back on, some extra pics of the engine bay..

[Lost Horizon]

As of this afternoon.. Bonnet back on, Hardtop getting fitted, it's alive.. Next week for misc stuff to do.







This original Steering wheel will get replaced - its just installed for moving the car around for finishing.

[Series1 Stu]

Wow Dana. You're really on it! This has been a very quick project.

Just one thing. The steering wheel is on the wrong side.

Regards

[Lost Horizon]

Wow Dana. You're really on it! This has been a very quick project.
Just one thing. The steering wheel is on the wrong side.
Regards

The car had good bones to start with, so that helps a lot ....

Back in 1970 when I lived in Europe, I had a girlfriend in London that I used to visit via the hovercraft from Calais to Dover in my Alfa, so I get your point. She used to scream a lot whenever I felt the urge to pass some lorry holding up traffic.

[Series1 Stu]

Hovercraft? Good grief! I never had the dubious pleasure.

Regards

[Lost Horizon]

Surprisingly, as I recall the hovercraft had a choppy ride at speed if there was any size of a sea. They would strap down the car on the wheels, and I had to include (or budget for) the price of a steering alignment as part of the trip when I got back to Germany on more than one occasion. But it was worth it. I've said too much.

[Lost Horizon]

Today's progress.. getting it together. (The clock works fine, btw)

[Lost Horizon]

Another day done, this is what we have to show for it...

[Lost Horizon]

Having been in the middle of this build for 7 months, with the advice and opinions that helped get me there from this thread, it boils down to this, ths first test drive:



So, to summarize, it has been a frame off, nut and bolt refresh, including the drivetrain and basically blueprinting the engine. The diff is now 3.07 verses 3.54, and it's perfect. The engine is back to it's original high compression build with the extra torque and power to manage the longer legs, the car is basically factory new as it would have been born in Europe. I loved it from the moment it first fired up. Although I'm limited to 3,000 rpm and have to be nice to the brakes for the first few miles, it has excellent power and torque out of the box. Simply a lovely engine. And I say this having a 4 M performance BMW from this century as my daily driver

Fueling up for the first test ride.

[Series1 Stu]

Nice work, Dana.

Just in time for the summer. Enjoy your stunning car.

Regards

[Lost Horizon]

Nice work, Dana.
Just in time for the summer. Enjoy your stunning car.
Regards

Thx Stu. First outing today at the Van Dusen British car show in Vancouver at the gardens. The car got it's first ribbon, and a lot of attention from the very large crowd amongst the 650 cars entered. A lot of very nice machinery, all British all years.

[politeperson]

Congrats Dana,

Looks excellent, well done.