I bought a Series 3 convertible last year through an E-type specialist. Because I am a mechanical numbskull I wanted something that was "fully sorted" although I'm beginning to realise that even completely restored examples still have lots wrong with them!
The car looks stunning but since purchase there have been several issues and quite a few are still unresolved. I have documented the ingress of exhaust fumes in another thread but additionally I am going to require a new clutch and whilst the engine is out I am considering whether to have overdrive fitted. I have some hearing problems with sound distortion so a quieter engine at cruising (I do a lot of high mileage driving) is attractive. One of the jobs recently done was a new diff and I took the opportunity to swap from 3.31 to 3.07 which has made a small improvement. I recently drove a V12 with a 5-speed box and enjoyed the comfort of the quieter cruising, although the cost to change to such a box is a bit painful. There is nothing wrong with my current manual box and I believe overdrive is a much cheaper option.
The previous owner had a Hayward & Scott sports exhaust fitted which was way too loud so I had them make new silencers as cross-over flow rather than straight through. It's much better but still not enough so I am looking at ways to mute the sound a step further. In retrospect I should have just fitted a standard system but that would have also entailed manifolds so decided to be more cost effective - which rarely works!
Anyway here's the car on its recent travels in the Scottish Borders.
Peter
