1966
E
Type FHC (ER) Total restoration, ultra-high performance upgrades |
Restoration log by Dan Mooney |
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I am delighted to report that we are now well into the road testing phase of this project. So far the car is performing beautifully!
The starting point for this special restoration was a car that had already been very heavily modified and was something of a road legal racer. A previous restorer had installed V12 E Type flared rear arches but we decided to remove those and increase the width of the rear arches in a more subtle way.
The goal was to be able to put a wider wheel and tire beneath the rear, but to make it look like it could have been part of Malcolm Sayer's original design. You really have to look very closely before you notice that the rear wings are about an inch wider than stock, increasing the overall width of the car at the rear by a total of 2 inches. The extra space in the rear wheel wells allowed us to design a custom 7 inch wide CJ Borrani, to which we installed a 225/60 Avon radial. At the front of the car we are retaining the 6 inch CJ Borranis shod with a 205/70 Avon radials.
At the conclusion of this project we are planning a full professional photo shoot of this beautiful E Type.
The engine and transmission have now been installed, maiden voyage just around the corner.
Installing the under dash AC unit and assembling the bonnet.
Installing the under dash AC unit |
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Assembling the bonnet |
Reassembly well underway in the main CJ Workshop.
The main body and doors have now been painted.
Gerardo has now painted the cabin area.
Painting the underside of the car.
Prior to sealing and painting, the Rocker
Guard is applied |
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Underside of the floors now Dark Blue |
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Next to be painted will be the cabin area |
I am delighted to report that earlier today Gerardo applied the first of the Dark Blue paint. First to be painted was the underside of the alloy bonnet, although the rest of the car will be painted over the next several days. Exciting times!
Oscar now has your chrome trial fit underway. Typically this process takes about a week to complete.
Fabricating new rear bumper studs |
Oscar trial fitting your rear bumpers |
I am pleased to report that we have now finished the bulk of the bodywork and the car has been primed with Raderal sprayable Polyester primer. We have also completed the IRS rebuild.
Bodywork has now been completed |
Car has been primed with Raderal Polyester
primer |
IRS has been completely rebuilt |
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RBR vented brakes and remote bleeder system |
Bonnet installation progressing well.
With the door and tailgate fit now perfected, it is now time to start fitting the new alloy bonnet.
Panel fit is beautiful throughout |
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Tailgate fits perfectly |
Main body now sealed in epoxy primer |
Time to start fitting the new alloy bonnet |
Oscar has been busy skinning and fitting the doors.
Hector has now finished restoring and trimming your seats. He added some extra contour and side bolster support to the seat backs by carving and shaping additional foam padding during the trimming process.
The guys in the trim room are busy restoring and trimming your seats.
With the bulk of the sheet metal repairs and panel replacement completed at the rear of the car, Oscar has begun the lead loading process.
Oscar has been busy fabricating replacement panels for either side of the rear license plate panel and the (rear) inner wheel arch structures. Next up will be the discretely flared rear wheel arches.
The following photos show Oscar rust proofing and installing the outer sills.
The following sequence of photographs show Oscar welding the bell housing side panels, transmission side panels and lower side frame anchor brackets in position.
Oscar has now spot welded the main floors into place, having first rust proofed all the inner box sections that would eventually be enclosed when the floor panels were installed.
Oscar has been hard at it since my last update, making excellent progress!
The following sequence of photographs follow Oscar's repairs and patching of the various damaged (and missing) panels in the firewall and beneath the dash. Not a particularly glamorous update, but essential repairs, nonetheless!
Oscar has been making fantastic progress in the Coachworks since my last update.
Oscar has begun the process of cutting away all the corroded sheet metal.
Oscar placed your car on one of the roller-hoop jigs earlier today and has the body restoration underway.
The body will spend the next few weeks
spinning on one of the roller-hoop jigs |
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Oscar has the sheet metal replacement underway |
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The following sequence of photos show your powder coated IRS components, Nickel plated front suspension, and the finishing assembly of your Stage Two 4.7L engine. Unfortunately the oil pan that came in with your car was not serviceable so we will be restoring an alternative item from our used parts inventory.
We have now received your car back from the blaster. There are certainly some rough edges, but all in all not too bad...
Your car has now been sent off to be media blasted back to bare metal and we expect to have it back in the next few days.
After waiting patiently in the wings for 18 months, it is now time to get this very exciting project underway. The first task is to prepare the bodyshell for media blasting, which should place within the next few days. We also have the Stage Two engine well underway in the CJ engine machine shop.
We are delighted to have this exciting project in the CJ Workshop and look forward to getting the restoration underway in the next few months.