Jaguar E-type
As the stage beckons, Andy’s E-type is still a long way off
An E-type is a deceptive car when it comes to paint. Even though they’re our bread and butter, even we occasionally fall into the trap of thinking we’re nearly there once the body is in top coat then turning around and seeing the vast bonnet, still awaiting final filler work, primer and paint. So, the shell of my E-type Series III might be painted, but that’s only really half the car.
The other half is sat on trestles in the back of the prep room with plenty of work still to be done; and time is ticking before the car has to be ready to assemble over three days on the Live Stage at the Classic Motor Show on November 8-10. I’ll be preparing the inside of the bonnet to the same, exacting standards as the exterior and, once in paint, all of the internal fixings will be removed one by one and replaced with a bright zinc plated set – not concours, but a satisfying piece of attention to detail.
It pays to prepare…
In better news, having been unhappy with the painted finish of the shell (PC, Nov 2019), I’ve rubbed it back down, sorted a couple of issues and painted it once again in its stunning shade of opalescent gunmetal grey. With that done, I fitted a new walnut dash panel from Vicarage and sourced a full set of clocks from a breaker before clipping the main wiring harness in position ready for the trimmer to fix the leather sill trim on top. We’ve also begun to identify and label wires behind the dash so when we get to the
Live Stage, everything can go together without any scratching of heads. I’ve also fitted the windscreen so the roof frame can be latched firmly, and transported the shell back to GB Classic Trim. This should ensure that when we assemble the car on stage, the trim should drop straight in without requiring any alterations.
I’ve bought replacement bumpers from SNG Barratt, with the original Us-spec items being unsuitable for this now Uk-look car, and had the original door tops re-plated at Castle Chroming
before being sent directly to the trimmer.
This means that the roof can be made with these in place to ensure a perfect fit.
Long-term friend Peter Stant from SNG Barratt has been busy with the engine, too. From the factory, Jaguar had issues with liner seals and I’m told that each new E-type V12 was supplied with a couple of Barr’s stop-leak pellets and instructions to sprinkle them into the radiator of the new car during the running in process. That doesn’t wash with me, I’m afraid, so we’ve fitted the new liners to the block with both Wellseal and a gasket sealing compound before clamping them into position then fitting the crank and timing gear. Hopefully it won’t be long until we’ve got pistons in the liners and the heads on. The engine really needs to be assembled and ready to fit as a unit before we leave for the show!
I mentioned previously that my intention was to convert the E-type to a Getrag 265 five-speed gearbox from an Opel Monza… however, we had a few issues while finding a suitable conversion backplate. While writing this Saga, however, I had a phone call from Malcolm at Vicarage to let me know that he’s sourced all the parts we require for the conversion, so that’s a great relief.
Now, careful measuring will be required so that we can shorten the propshaft correctly without actually ever having had the engine, gearbox and rear IRS in the car – no pressure, as any error here will prevent the car from driving off stage on the show Sunday.
It’s all in the details
Elsewhere in the workshop, a new set of five 6J chrome wire wheels have arrived. They’ll be shod with a set of original-spec Dunlop SP tyres from Vintage Tyres before the show, and should set the car off beautifully, showcasing the six-pot performance calipers that will sit behind. I’ve had word that the Xj-s-sourced injection ECU has now been re-programmed and the throttle bodies are part way through their remanufacturing process with new butterflies ready to go in.
The inlet manifolds have just come back from vapor blasting, while a box of once scabby looking components has returned from being bright zinc plated and they now look better than new. I’ve stripped the brand-new heater box and given it a lick of two-pack gloss black over the satin black powder coat and am gradually ticking items off the long list as they arrive and are readied for fitting. Let’s just hope those items on back order – fuel tank included – make it in time for the show weekend. Come to the Discovery Live Stage in Hall 5 to find out.
practicalclassics@bauermedia.co.uk
‘I wasn’t happy, so I rubbed down and repainted the shell’