Three wheels or four – workshop update
What a busy winter it has been so far. Normally we are able to book in a little less servicing and maintenance work over the winter months to give us a bit of time to catch up on bigger projects. This year however we have seen consistently high demand to the extent that the workshop is flat out and the storage level is full of cars awaiting their turn in the workshop or waiting to be collected. We are pleased to announce we have been looking for a new member of the workshop team for a couple of months and now have another mechanic starting shortly. It is hard to recruit the right people who can work to the standards required but we are confident we have found the right person.
This week's update is largely dominated by XKs. From servicing to audio systems we have you covered. We also have a little Morgan Three Wheeler which snuck into the workshop whilst no one was looking, a great C-Type replica in need of some suspension work and a look at the engine test rig we have been building.
Jaguar XK120 restoration
In last month's workshop update, we shared a photo of a lovely metallic pastel blue XK120 OTS which is undergoing a full nut and bolt restoration on the ramp having its fluids put in. A month on we have another XK120 OTS at the same point in the restoration process. This car is finished in British Racing Green and is a real contrast to the blue car but no less lovely. We are carrying out a full nut and bolt restoration on this car for a customer who lives in mainland Europe. We do a lot of work for international customers, particularly those living close by in Europe. Being based on the south coast of the UK near Portsmouth we are very easy to get to from the various ferries from Europe and the Channel Islands. Be it for servicing, upgrades or full restoration we are always delighted to have a few left-hand drive cars such as this in the workshop.
This XK120 has been built with practicality and reliability in mind. The driver is quite tall so has opted for our extended pedal box conversion. It also features front disc brakes, a five-speed gearbox, electric power steering, electric cooling fan and much more.
Jaguar C-Type replica suspension
This Jaguar C-Type replica is Realm Engineering ‘heritage’ C-Type. We really like these Realm cars. The kit is well designed and engineered and if put together well they are very lovely cars. The fibreglass bodies also make them very good value for money. Though these cars may not appeal to purists or have the same appeal as a Lynx or Proteus they are wonderful cars to drive. Their value for money certainly opens them up to a broader audience allowing more people to enjoy a taste of the classic Jaguar world. As it happens we have a rather marvellous Realm D-Type replica built to a very high specification available for sale at the moment. It is one of the fastest cars I have ever driven, has been successfully campaigned over the last decade and is priced very keenly.
This C-Type visited us last year for a service and for us to check over and advise the customer on some improvements. One of the main areas the customer wanted to improve the car was the suspension set up which he felt was far too soft. After we inspected the car last year we made some recommendations and the customer took the car back to enjoy for the rest of the summer. We are now setting about improving the suspension setup to suit the owner's needs.
Three body styles
The other day we had this rather charming lineup in maroon which offered an ideal opportunity to highlight some of the differences between three XK models; the XK120, XK140 and XK150 as well as the three different body styles; the open two-seater (OTS), drophead coupe (DHC) and fixedhead coupe (FHC). In total, there are nine different body styles but if you care to drill down deeper there are also the aluminium XK120 OTSs, the early steel XK120 OTSs and then the early and late XK150s bringing the total to a mind-boggling fourteen.
Centre stage of the photo is an XK120 OTS. This is essentially the genesis of the XK range and in many ways the purist. It is notable for its sweeping lines, aluminium split windscreen, narrow fluted grill and slim overriders. It also has an unpadded hood and bolt-on side-screens. To the left is an XK140 DHC. This retains the same sweeping lines and split windscreen as the XK120 but has a chunkier cast grill, more substantial bumpers and a chrome strip down the bonnet and boot lid. Being a drophead coupe it also features a padded hood, wind-up windows and walnut veneered dashboard. To the right is an XK150 FHC. The line along the wings doesn’t sweep down nearly as far on the XK150 giving a flatter side and slimmer doors. The bonnet and grille are much wider and the car has a generally much more muscular look than the early car.
Engine test rig
Lurking in the background of a few of our photos in recent months has been the contraption pictured here. We have had a couple of people ask what it is so we thought we would shine a spotlight on it here. Many of you will have already identified it as an engine test rig. One of the major bonuses of moving to our new workshop is we have a bit more space and we are trying to use this space to improve our offering and make us more efficient. This engine test rig is one such improvement.
We undertake a lot of engine rebuilds and this test rig will allow us to start them up and test them out of the car. This is great for cars we are working on in-house as it avoids any chance of having to fit and then remove an engine. It is even better for the engine rebuilds we do for customers without the car on site. This way we can be sure that the engine is in perfect order before returning it to the owner.
The photo here is a work in progress. We will be sure to share a photo or video of this once all finished, painted and running.
Jaguar XK120 power steering
Pictured here on our lift is an XK120 OTS to which we have just finished fitting electric power steering. With the job in the workshop finished it is heading upstairs to our storage area where it can be kept secure, clean and dry until the customer collects it.
The power steering system we use utilises an electric motor as per modern cars. This system fits discreetly in the bulkhead area leaving no visible sign that the steering has been upgraded unless you climb into the footwell and look up. Under the bonnet, everything is left looking standard and this is the real joy of this system. It leaves the original steering rack or steering box of the car in place retaining the car's original character whilst adding power assistance. We even fit the system with an on/off switch. This allows you to use the power steering when parking in a pub car park and then switch it off when enjoying some spirited driving on a windy B-road.
In the case of an XK120 with its original steering box we have to cut the steering column and replace the top section. The system can be fitted to both positive and negative earth cars. In this case, the car is positive earth and is still running its original dynamo though we do recommend changing to an alternator or dynator to cope with the extra demand an electric motor puts on the electrical system.
E-Type differential rebuild
Out in our clean room work continues rebuilding everything from full engines to carburettors. This is the partially reassembled differential from the E-Type restoration we shared a photo of some weeks ago. This is now waiting for parts to come back from being powder-coated before being fitted. Once the differential is fully assembled it will be fitted into the rear subframe, have the brakes and suspension built up around it and then the full assembly will be ready to be fitted to the car once painted.
We undertake all kinds of mechanical rebuilds from differentials and gearboxes to engines and carburettors. Our facilities allow us to carry out this work to a very high standard with chemical cleaning tanks and advanced blasting machines. We are pleased to now be able to offer our services beyond the cars in our workshop to enthusiasts working on their cars at home. If you are working on your car and need your differential rebuilt or your carburettors refurbished to cope with E10 fuel please do get in touch. We are always happy to help fellow enthusiasts along the way and keep other classic cars on the road.
Classic car audio systems
We offer a range of upgrades and improvements for classic Jaguars most of which are aimed at practicality and reliability. Some of our improvements though are purely aimed at comfort and making your classic as enjoyable to be in as possible. Our audio systems are just such an upgrade. We offer a variety of stereo and audio setups to suit your individual needs and fit bespoke solutions depending on what the driver wants. Our goal is to provide good-quality sound whilst not impacting on the look of the car. As such we are well-practiced at fitting stereo head units and speakers in hidden locations.
Pictured here is a set of good-quality component speakers mounted onto the boot flap of an XK140 we are currently restoring. The car is having the head unit hidden behind the dashboard drawer and another set of hidden speakers in the footwell. With the speakers fitted flush to the panel it means that the trim can be run over them leaving the panel looking completely original. Having the speakers directly behind the driver and passenger provides good-quality sound even with the roof down.
Jaguar XK140 servicing
This Jaguar XK140 drophead coupe was fully restored here with us some years ago. It is so nice for us to see these cars come back year after year. Knowing that the cars we build are being used and lasting well is enormously rewarding for us. This XK140 has was built to be used and as such features many upgrades aimed at making it more usable and reliable. On the mechanical side, this car features a fast-road specification engine, a five-speed gearbox, front disc brakes, polyurethane suspension bushes and adjustable shock absorbers. This combination of upgrades makes an XK an absolute delight to drive providing both smooth and relaxed cruising along with taught handling and spritely performance. The car also has electric power steering allowing you to have light steering when parking and then turn it off when you are out enjoying a twisty B-road.
This XK also benefits from colour-matched inertia seat belts, a hidden radio system, electric cooling fan, electric windscreen washers, upgraded windscreen wiper system and much more. If you are looking to improve your classic Jaguar in any way please get in touch to discuss how we can help you.
Morgan Three Wheeler
This is now the second time we have had this Morgan Three Wheeler in for a service. It is a little outside of our usual work but we do enjoy a little bit of variety from time to time. Although we are best known for Jaguar XKs and E-Types we look after all sorts of other classics. These range from an Aston Martin DB2/4 to a Fiat 124. Last year we had a little Austin Healy Sprite in for some electrical work and an MGB to be recommissioned after many years offer the road. If we can help you with your classic please do not hesitate to contact us even if it isn’t a Jaguar.
In addition to coming in for a service this little Morgan was suffering with fuel leaks. On investigating we quickly found it was caused by perished hoses. This we suspect was caused by a combination of heat, UV from the sun and probably higher ethanol content in modern fuels. It is vital that you check that your classics fuel hoses are compatible with modern fuels and are in good condition. If they look perished and cracked it is always best to change them.
Jaguar XK150 rust-proofing
Despite XKs not being particularly susceptible to corrosion taking care of the underside of your classic is vital. This is even more important if you are using the car regularly and getting out in poor weather. Generally, we are all very good at keeping the top sides of our cars looking pristine with polished paintwork, clean leather and nicely hoovered carpets but it is harder to keep on top of the underside. This is where we come in. When a car comes into the workshop for inspection we also report on the condition of the underside, not just looking at deep rust but also surface rust, paint chips and buildups of road dirt which could trap moisture.
On the ramp here is an XK150 FHC which is in the process of having its underside cleaned. As you can see we had removed a significant amount of material from the underside and this was only part of the way through the process. Once everything is cleaned up we will clean off any loose and flaky surface rust or paint, then repaint areas exposed. Finally, we waxoyled the car to give long-lasting protection ensuring we get into all the hard-to-reach cavities.
Drum brake rebuild
We spend a lot of time highlighting the upgrades we offer and often discuss the benefits of disc brakes. We do appreciate these kinds of upgrades are not for everyone and a well-serviced, maintained and set-up set of drum brakes can be very effective if you drive accordingly. Indeed we recommended retaining the drum brakes on the rear of XK120s and XK140s when we do disk brake upgrades. There are few things I enjoy more than getting out for a drive in a very standard XK120 OTS with its original steering box, moss gearbox and drum brakes. Objectively they are not as good to drive as an upgraded car and I wouldn’t want to do a really long drive in one but on a nice sunny day on some country roads, there is real pleasure to be had in that traditional driving experience.
Our team are well versed in how to rebuild and set up drum brakes. This picture shows one of the front brakes on an XK120 OTS being rebuilt. The brakes have been fully stripped down, the backplates have been blasted and repainted. The new wheel cylinders have been fitted and next the freshly relined brake shoes will go on. If you are more into originality than upgrades we are very happy to help you keep your classic Jaguar in top condition.
