just bought my dream car 69 xke fhc. it's in nearly perfect condition with one exception. why I push in the clutch the seat back releases backward (does not hold in it's ratchet position. I'm a very handy guy and can do most things mechanical. suggestions? thanks

 

Seats are an issue with the e-type. Some call it the "auto recline" feature. Mine does it on the passenger side so I have a pillow wedged in behind the seat. From what I have read it is not an easy fix. To my understanding the early models had the seat locks on both sides (more sturdy) and the series 1 1/2 and 2 had the lock on only one side causing the failure.
Alfred

 

thanks, good to know I am not alone

 

Bill congratulations achieving your lifetime dream at 67. I beat you by one year!! I recently purchased your sister car 2 months ago in the same color combo and similar condition to yours. I had a problem moving my seats (check out my thread on seat removal). I finally got them out after much time and then you can see the recline mechanism. Mine wasn't broken so I didn't touch it but with the seats out you should be able to at least play with it.


Good luck and congratulations again,
Andy

 

andy, looks like you have triple su's on your girl. upgrade for stock double zs's? thanks so much. when I figure out how to find the seat removal thread (I'm totally new to forums of any kind) am sure I will find it useful and it is the first thing I plan to do when I get it into my garage. actually, it will be off loaded at exotic classic carwerks in canon city co. for adjustments needed for the latitude change, sea level to 8000' where I live and fortunately it is a 2 man shop that will allow me to participate. thus I get a refresher course after 40 some years on how to tune old English engines.


where are you located?


bill

 

Hi Bill, I just checked your profile and photos of Pretty Girl, and if my car wasn't in my garage would think you'd stole it!! These cars are both 69s and in the exact same color scheme. The PO replaced the Strombergs with the SUs and it makes such a difference to performance. The car really goes well.


I live in Rohnert Park, CA which is 60 miles north of SF in the Sonoma Wine country.


I doing lots of small projects on my car at the moment to make her even more perfect.


Andy

 

hey andy, in educating myself during hunting this last year it seemed like the switched to the double zs's min 68 in s1.5. I have considered this myself. my only experience driving it was in Hawaii as sea level so I have no idea how it will perform up here at 8000+ ft (-25% oxygen). it's on the boat now and I will meet it at drop off at a small 2 man classic shop about 100 mi from here. good news is that they will allow me to assist in adjustments for altitude change. better news is the drive home is up the Arkansas river canyon over poncho pass and down into the san luis valley where I live. one of the prettiest drives in Colorado.


I retired way early, moved here in 99 and built a 100% strawbale solar home and everything else I could think of that might be useful. guess I didn't have enough to do is why I got to looking at old classics last spring. it came down to an xke or a morgan and the xke won out. I spent 7yrs as a zen priest and used to joke that even if I got enlightened this lifetime I would have to come back for one more to have an xke. now I have a new project and like you will be doing lots of little things to make perfection more "perfect".


prettygirl's vin # is 1r26437 close to your's??