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I forgot to mention yesterday, that I took the car down to my local scrapyard, where much of the ally, stainless and bits and bobs came from, and put it on the weigh-bridge, as I was gagging to see how much weight I had saved.
Well, I was disappointed on that one! The Triumph given weight of a Spitfire MK IV is 720 kilos, and mine weighed in at 700.
So after all the heavy stuff had gone, I only saved 20 kilos!
Still, as the original had around 97 BHP per ton, and with the K and N and better exhaust, I would think I'd gained 5 or 6 BHP, so mine will be about 107 BHP per ton.
It is reasonably lively to drive, but the looks and noise does it every time!
P.S. A real one weighs in at 900 kilos so I'm lighter there!
I'm going to keep this short as all I will do is re-list the superlatives already deservedly given on what is a truly fantastic build and importantly I think everyone agrees with the amount of dedication you have put in the output is whole heartedly deserved!
Leaves me to say... [SIZE="7"]Well Done![/SIZE] I hope to see it in the flesh although by your accounts I might just hear it first.
Deggsy, this post is for you, and anyone else building an A352:
When it comes to putting the body on the frame, the body has to be low enough to start with. After its on, only the chassis can be lowered, which may not be enough for that mean look.
This may not apply to you so much, as I know you are not using a Spitfire as a base.
I know some people do not like spacers and negative camber too much, but wheel bearings and tyres are easy to replace, and in my opinion, a price worth paying for the right look.
Also, the handling and ride are often improved by these mods.
The following pics show what I mean more than words:
Well, I had intended to take my car to E Type day at Prescott hill, but somehow, it never worked out that way!
I was on my way to get some lead-addative stuff, just in case my re-con engine, (which came in the donar) had not been rebuilt with the right valves, and I drove past the fuel station, intending to fill up on the way back, as the fuel gauge was reading one quarter, when the engine spluttered, and I came to a halt, having run out of fuel!
Immediately an MX5 pulled up and offered help, it was a young lady, and I told her I needed fuel, so (love her) she said "petrol or diesel"?
I could imagine Sir William Lyons having a smile at that one, anyway she came back two minutes later with the petrol, and in it went, I paid and thanked her and I was off.
I always carry a gallon can of fuel in all my cars, but had not got round to doing it in this one yet.
On the way back I did fill up, and bunged in the lead stuff.
A friend came round to inspect the car, and told me he could smell petrol,
to cut a long story short, a small 4 inch bit of rubber fuel line (which had looked sort of new) had gone a bit spongy, and by the time I had jacked up the car and replaced it all, it was too late to go to bloody E Type day!
Anyhow I did go for a really good drive around, and that did put a smile on my face.
I did not take any pics, but promise I will shortly.
Scottie I understand what you are saying my car has already been lowers by 1 inch front and rear the wire wheel adapters bring the track out a bit but the wheels are a rather skinny. I'll have to see how the body sits when I fit it. Thanks for the heads up
Scottie - the monthly breakfast club at Shelsey-Walsh is quite near us. Take it there next month (there was a meet yesterday). You're bound to raise loads of eyebrows!
Well, today I drove the car all over Hereford looking for every speed bump that I knew of, and believe me there are a lot.
I successfully got over every single one, of course I had to slow down, and the grand-daddy of them all, was the one at Aldi's!
I thought I could never ever go shopping there in the car, but HAD to try, I cheated a bit, as coming out of the car park, I went over the bump a bit on the diagonal, which of course flattens it out quite a lot.
So there we go, I have so far covered over 200 miles, and all the Heath-Robinson things I have put on the car seem to all work well, including the "header tank" abortion, its been very warm, and the car has not boiled over yet!
The exhaust system is also working well at the moment, which please me.
There were a lot of doubters about that too!
There have been lots of admiring looks and comments, and so far NO ONE has asked me if its a kit-car, which really pleased me.
One chap asked me how old the car was, so my distressed-look efforts were not wasted!
The most frequent question is "Is it an E Type?" and "is it a Jaguar?"
Of course its smothered in Jag badges and Jag bits, but they still ask.
And just about everyone says "really love the colour" So that was worth it too.
I took it out in the country and took some pics:
I suppose I have to take the advice I have been given and start a "Scottie on the road thread"
Certainly does Ed!
I've never even sat in an XKSS, never mind driven one, but roaring round the country lanes in mine has to be the next best thing!
It really feels like the real deal!
I was adjusting the carbs today, and my driveway slopes quite steeply downwards to the main road, and I had not put the handbrake on hard enough, and, while under the bonnet, the car starts to move down the drive, heading towards a rocky bank, I had instant visions of a crumpled nose and smashed light etc!
I had to do something bloody quick, so I dived over the side-screen, and wrenched the handbrake on fully, which stopped the car just short of major damage!
I was not so lucky, in the rugby dive, I badly cut my hand on god-knows-what, and worse still broke a rib because the side window did not give at all, and nothing broke except the rib!
The cockpit was covered in blood, and I was well pissed-off.
So I know the door/hinge/window etc are very strong to have taken my complete weight and been undamaged.
Anyhow, life goes on, and I spent the rest of the day in an absolute orgy of roaring about all over the place just having fun fun fun!
The most asked question today was, "is it real or a replica?"
Things like that make all the work worth while I suppose.
Before I went out, I did a "Steve McQueen ", and removed the side screens. I found the car was more pleasant to drive without them, it seemed to give the driver more freedom, and there was no buffeting at all, the windscreen seems to deflect the airflow very well in that respect.
I may well put them back on in the Autumn.
(Without the screens, it is easier to get in and out of too.)
I've been checking this thread daily keeping up with your progress, and having now seen the end result I'm really pleased that after all your hard work it has paid off.
Sorry to read about your antics with the car today and hope you are soon on the mend. I am glad you at least managed some fun drive time. Take it easy.
Will you be going to the Classic Nostalgia Weekend at Shelsley Walsh ,
July 18 - 19th . There is going to be a large Jaguar contingent there including Jag XK Enthusiasts !
Shelsley Walsh always is worth a visit ( near Worcester )
Lovely pictures of the car in the country side Scottie, it does look well and good news on the speed hump clearance, out of interest how much clearance is there at the front valance as my car looks to be about the same and has given me concerns.
Scottie at least you know you built it strong so it should give you many years of fun it sound as if your new battle scars haven't put you off at all.
Super photos by the way
Lucky@LM, thanks for that, I'll try and make the effort!
Rene, I thought taking the side screens off would please you!
Swifty, I've just been out and measured it, the clearance under the "chin" in 6 inches, (150mm) and just a little further back under there is the anti roll bar thing, and the mounting bracket is the lowest point on the car, at just over 3 inches from the ground.
Hope that helps!
Suggested high posing value route : Gloucester (your choice); Painswick via B4703; Stroud/Nailsworth/Dunkirk/Cross Hands A46, left at lights B4040 Castle Combe. This last road is where Tiff Needell hosted action shots when Top Gear was a motoring programme.
I spotted a mint looking Jaguar XK120 ahead of me , and waved him down so I could look at his car, he stopped and we oohed and ahhhed at each others cars, and it turns out he restores these cars and will give me a guided tour of his workshop if I follow him home.
The car was a customers car, and he had just been to lunch in it with his wife.
He wanted to know what engine I had under the bonnet, and I would not tell him, so he said "we'll see" and set off as fast as he could go, well, I gave chase and kept up with him, and he couldn't shake me off.
It was nice to know that my car was as fast as a genuine Jaguar XK120 with a 3.4 liter engine in it!
A point not lost on him I might add!
He had a vast barn-type building with dozens of old Jaguars, XK 120's 140's and 150's, Bentleys. E Types, and all sorts of lovely cars.
His mechanic remarked about the nice engine note my car had, and the owner said "that's nothing, you want to hear it when he opens it up"!
At that point I told him it was only a Triumph 1500, and drove off
with as much wheel-spin and gusto as I could manage.
I made a point of trying to remember to take a camera out with me in future.
