Hi Mate,
Where have you been sourcing your replacement panels? Do they seem to be close in general fitment?

 

Ken, thanks for the joy ride! I was around 22 yrs old when I last drove the e-type. The sound of your car, the gearbox whine and the motor brought tears to my eyes. Nothing better to me...
Bill

 

Coincidentally, I was about 23-24, when I bought the old girl for $3K. A number of years ago, I grew tired of replacing the factory muffs, so I fabricated my own. Was hesitant, as I wasn't sure of the sound when coupled to a 6 banger. Have been very pleased with the results.

 

SNG Barrat is my primary supplier for BIG panels and they use Martin Robey. Chuck at Monocoque metalworks is the feller for smaller panels and patch panels or one offs. A great ghuy to talk to and ask questions...he really enjoys the e-type and sharing his knowledge and skill through his panel beating. Check out his web site. A few small one/patches I do my self. Fitting is a careful dance of measuring and comparing sides. In the last e-type magazine a company is dissassembling a FHC and OTS and laser scanning panels to make super accurate panels...sounds promising!

 

Ok, good! I know both of these vendors. As it happens, Chuck (monocoque M/W) is located a short drive north of me. I have him on my radar. Thanks for the SNG lead. Having done a 6 year early mustang full restoration, I've performed that "dance".
Thanks for the reply...

Happy Trails....

 

Thanks, words of encouragement always appreciated. In the winter doldrums right now--too cold in shop. But spoke with my engine rebuilder and head is finally off. At first look is truly ugly but am having him proceed to attempt to rebuild all (head is worse) as it is a numbers matching car. I will post some phots

 

 

Hopefully will be able to rebuild

 

Did it run on kerosene for a long time????
Edward

 

That is pretty nasty! Looks pretty much like the body......
Good Luck (3 times)

 

This is a one owner low mileage car that sat in a barn for 35 years-Antifreeze turned to powder, took weeks of soaking to free head. Water passages don't look horribly corroded, but some rebuilding needed. Top of heads in cam valleys is nice and clean. Will resleeve if needed but will see. All numbers matching so worth the effort! Will post more pics as they come. Suppose to warm up this weekend so hopefully out on shop for some major body work--cutting out rear bulkhead as panel finally arrived and I fitted one sill.

 

Finally warm enough to hold on to metal panel without getting frost bite. Spent about 5 hours in shop removing rear bulkhead, fitting new one (with clecos) and rebuilding left support for rear torsion bar. Some areas are remarkably free of rust while other areas are just gone!!. Thank goodness for the jig and being able to roll the body every which way on the rotisserie to each fabrication. Will post some pics of the fun

 

Rot is deeper in leg than it looks





before cutting out back bulkhead





surgery begins

 

UGH! Make me want to run away from what lurks inside my old girl....

 

"You are a better man than I am Ghunga Din !"
Edward

 

rot cut out and patch panel fitting





Made new inner support structure for swat bar bracket




New bulkhead trial fit




Inner view of bulkhead




Fitting support bracket






Opposite side not as much needed




Patch panels roughed in, ready for final weld and finishing

 

Is that weld-through primer, I see there?

 

Yep, weld through primer for sure. I use to use bloxide but can not find brushable, only in spray and is very expensive in spray form. I will coat inside with red oxide primer before closing up the cavity. If Jaguar had used weld through primer these poor cars would be in a little bit better shape!!

 

Yeah, if they had the primers we have today, we wouldn't have the extensive damage we we have today.
Between '96 and 2003, I did a frame-off resto of a early mustang cvt. I found much the same damage as you found here. Between the MIG, Plasma cutter and weld through primers, and the bare metal primers these days, I'm enjoying the fruits of my labor today. here, I have her in for new shoes and other brake work.
But looming on the side lines is my E-Type 2+2.

keep the work flowing........

 

Nice looking pony car!!!! I am a Ford man myself in most of my other vehicles