New member restoring series 1 2+2

[JimH]

Hi recently inherited an etype been in the family since 1980, was on the road for 3 years before the bonnet collapsed on to the engine causing it to be taken off the road sometime in 83 according to the tax disc. I was 13 at the time , at 16 a friend and I stripped the car in dad's garage fortunately labelling everything. It then ended up at his works where it sat for two years until the recession hit when dad and I replaced the rotten panels including a new bonnet from jaguar. The shell was leaded and filled ,then given 13 coats of paint. I rebuilt and installed the rear axle. Then we got busy again at work and the car was put into storage . Apart from buying a ton of parts for it about 10 years ago it's sat in the same unit in the same place for the last 16 years. Unfortunately dad passed away last year leaving me his collection. Prior to him passing we had talked about restarting the restoration , but that's left to me now. So after the sermon hope I haven't bored you all to tears , I will be on here asking questions as I want to get the component colours etc right first time.

So here goes the car is a 67 series 1 2+2 should the headlamp bowls be the same colour as the car or black?
Should the cylinder head be gold or natural (aluminium)?
Polybush or std on the suspension? The roads around here aren't brilliant .

Thanking you in advance :D
Ps I would post a photo but haven't sussed it out yet[/img]

[christopher storey]

Headlamp bowls depend on whether it is an open headlight car or whether it has the glass covers. If glass, the bowls should be silver. If open lights, the bowl should be body colour

Cylinder head. Again, your car is at the crossover point. If it has ribbed cam covers, then the head should be plain alloy ( but many paint them aluminium colour to smarten them up ) . If polished covers, then the head is gold painted

Polybush last longer . I have them and like them, but be sure you get the standard compliance ones ; the uprated ones tend to be too harsh and also cause squeaking noises


Good luck with it all

[Malc]

Hi Jim - welcome to the Forum. I know from experience that you can get answers to just about any question (E-type related anyway!) on the Forum.

Re your queries:

Assuming that you have got covered headlights, the bowl should be silver - closest match is Hammerite Hammered Silver

Head should be aluminium - early cars had gold heads but there is no reason why, as a personal preference, you should not go for gold - I have and mine is a '68 and it looks great.

Re polybush, again personal preference - put in 'polybush' in the Search facility (top of page) and it will bring up a number of discussions. General feeling seems to be rubber more flexible and comfortable, polybush slightly 'tighter'. You pays yer money......

Good luck with the work!

[tinworm]

Hello Jim , when you say ' headlamp bowl' do you mean the headlamp scoop as that is what the two respondents above have commented on . If you do mean bowl - the part that sticks into the wheel arch - that is always black.

regards Barrie

[JimH]

Thanks for the quick response.

Going to visit the NEC classic car show at the weekend and pick up some parts catalogues .

:D

[mystery type]

Hi jim,

your car must have been on the production line at about the same time as my 67 2+2.
is it on the XKE data site? you will find alot of pictures on there, this might help with some questions you might have...

http://www.xkedata.com/

[dal2.0litrefrogeye]

Hi and welcome , Ive not long started a rebuild myself , and yes this forum is definatley a good place to ask questions , any photos of car so far ??