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Got all four doors on with window frames, glass and upholstery. I spend a lot of time hunting down the right screws for different bits, but it is satisfying work.
this part of the job has been fun. Now I need to quit playing around and finish up the wiring, exhaust, and other things that have been frustrating me!
Finally got the fan belts in. Thanks to all on the advice for the fan shroud. I only had to modify it around the AC compressor.
Fan shroud in
Still fighting with the exhaust system down pipes. The ones for the early MK 2s are shaped differently and the rear one just doesn’t fit my car. I cut one and tried changing the angle a bit and extending it at a local welding shop but it is still off a bit. �� So I am getting some special gas and wire for my mig welder and I’ll do it myself so I can test fit as I go. Plus the added benefit of learning to weld stainless steel ��
What gas mix do you have at the moment ? You can you Argon5 which has 5% Co2 satisfactorily, the weld will be a little black, but will wire brush up happily.
I use Argon5 for normal work, so can just swap wire for stainless, it works fine, but needs cleaning up. 2.5% Co2 is better and a tri-mix the best.
Installing that shroud, especially if you are air conditioning the car, is a real pain. Multiple scratches to the hands and forearms! Satisfying once you get it home, but no fun getting there.
Lin
Yes, it is really tight in there. Hope I never have to change a fan belt!
As to the welding, I have ordered a canister of tri-gas on the recommendation of my welding supply shop. Unlike Jon, my welding skills are marginal and I need all the help I can get. What I am learning is the gas makes a big difference. We shall see��
Why that would be logical. But of course I learned by buying a rusty car and a good welder and going to town. I just have gaps in my knowledge-like welding stainless steel.
Besides if I had any sense, I would not be restoring a junked MK2, but would have bought a restored one
You can weld stainless with standard wire too, but the weld itself is obviously not stainless, grab a couple of bits of stainless and have a go Chuck, it really is not a dark art.
I want to learn to TIG weld, that seems to be the way forward, but that would mean I need to buy another welder !!! I have a mate that is a sheet metal fabricator, he said I can go to his factory and play with his TIG welders, I must do that when I have some time.
Got the welding done. It came out great. Installed the down pipes, but the front manifold broke a corner off when tightening. Just had to laugh. ��
I’ll try to get the manifold welded by a friend that could possibly weld the cast header, or just get a new one from SNG Barratt who has them in stock.
Got to visit Tedwone and look at the progress on his fabulous 1960 MK2. Ted is about as far along as I am, we are both building 1960 models so compare notes a lot. “Where does that wire go?”
Chuck is being much too kind with the status of my restoration compared with his. From the photos he has posted for his car, he is definitely closer to driving his car than I am. However, I have done a great deal of work on the car and hopefully will begin the reassembly process soon rather than working on the individual parts repair/restoration. So many people on this forum have provided good advice, answered lots of questions and supported those of us who are struggling with our projects. To all of you, I offer you many thanks. Without this forum I would never have achieved what I have to date. Hopefully I will be able to help others in the future based on what I have learned during this restoration process.
Started and drove the car today! First time ever behind the wheel! Still lots of work to do. Have a number of minor coolant leaks- should have tightened all the clamps a lot tighter. Couple of issues with how it runs- have a backfire on transition from idle to on throttle. Could use some insights on what may cause that. I know the possibilities are endless. I am also experiencing some missing once the car gets warmed up. I am assuming that is a faulty coil as it is original. I plan ordering a replacement. Once I get those items resolved I can do a slightly longer road test. Shifts, steers and brakes well so all that is progress.
Fantastic news! Every time one of us succeeds in getting another old Jaguar running and back on the road is a real accomplishment. Congratulations to you for getting this far, knowing what you started with. I hope the rest of us can catch up to you soon. Great Job.
