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E Type Series 1 FHC
This 1966 Series 1 FHC E Type came to us in July 2008 from the UK for a full restoration. The brief for this rebuild is to build a car that is able to be driven comfortably and reliably on the road, daily if required, but to be powerful, handle and stop as if it were an all out race car. We are retaining the SU carburettors, but the 4.2 will feature forged pistons, substantial head porting, stainless valves and big cams. A "six branch" header system will be used. We will be fitting a five speed gearbox with an alloy flywheel. Brakes will be vented all round, adjustable shocks, up rated swaybars, torsion bars and rear springs will improve the handling. Six inch chrome wire wheels will finish it off nicely. Weight will be saved with an alloy fuel tank and alloy radiator.
Final stages of dismantling. At this stage, we carefully assessed the bonnet and decided that it was better and more cost effective to replace the bonnet with a new assembly.
The body and panels were alkaline dipped to remove all paint, under sealer, filler and rust to leave a nice clean bare starting point. Here, the shell is mounted on our specially built alignment jig as it is to receive new floors and outer sills. The frames will be replaced as they are rusty and the petrol tank has been poorly repaired in the past and will be replaced with a new alloy tank, in keeping with the sporting nature of this car.
The body repairs begin, the old floors and outer sills are firstly removed and the inner sills and tunnel area were repaired.
Some of the "go fast" bits, upgraded and adjustable swaybars, upgraded torsion bars, poly bushings, vented rear brakes, adjustable GAZ shocks, alloy flywheel, gear reduction starter, race harmonic balancer, alloy header tank, recovery tank, alloy radiator, thermo fan and vented front discs with four piston callipers.
Extensive repairs were required in the rear chassis members. This area is critical as it mounts the rear suspension assembly. This area was totally remade and welded back in so the body could be bolted to the alignment jig before the sills and floors were welded in.
The inner sill strengtheners required replacement then, the new outer sills could be located on and welded in.
With the sills now welded in the floors were also welded in. Attention now turns to the passenger side rear quarter panel and inner wheelarch area.
We then moved to the drivers side rear of the car which needed basically the same repairs as the passenger side.
With the rear quarter and all the structural work done, the new lower rear quarters and boot floor could be trial fitted and welded in.
With the quarter panel removed the inner wheelarch areas could be accessed. The inner wheelarch was remade along with rust repair sections to the inner structure. A new outer quarter panel section was made and welded and then the quarter was welded back on.
With all the welding completed at the rear, the seams could be lead loaded and file finished. Our new bonnet arrived from the UK ready for trial fitting.
The doors were very rusty and required extensive rust repairs to the frames before the new door skins could be fitted. The tub is now finished, ready for the new front frames to arrive so the bonnet can be fitted.
The front suspension was dismantled and zinc plated and partially assembled ready to fit to the car when the time comes. A new alloy fuel tank is going to be a nice addition.
The dismantling, boxing and labeling of all components.