Major mechanical overhaul and upgrade
| 1974 V12
Jaguar E Type (TC) Major mechanical overhaul and upgrade |
Restoration Log by Dan Mooney |
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I am pleased to report that we have now completed the re-trimming of your E Type and installed the new canvas convertible top.
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Lots of progress in the CJ trim room.
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| Forward and main dash pads have been
re-trimmed |
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| Tucking and stapling the bottom edge of the seat backs |
Both seat backs and headrest have now been
trimmed, seat bottoms in process |
Over the next few weeks we will be installing a complete Suffolk & Turley interior kit into our 74 roadster project.
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| Original interior trim is in poor condition
and will be replaced |
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| Dash top and sun visors will also be
replaced |
Convertible top frame removed, stripping
the covering from the rear bulkhead |
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| Dynamat being installed throughout the
cabin |
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| New biscuit sill covers installed |
Final assembly of the engine in progress...
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Lots of progress in the CJ engine shop!
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| Setting up block on the mill to machine out seized/broken head studs |
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| Debris scraped from coolant passages |
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| Block has been boiled and cleaned prior to weld repairs |
Marking areas that will need attention in
the CJ Coachworks |
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| Building up damaged areas using the TIG
welder |
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| Setting up block in surfacer to machine
welded areas flat |
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| After surfacing, deck surface looks new
once again |
Timing chain cover machined in conjunction with block |
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| Align honing in progress |
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| First of the cylinder heads on the assembly
bench |
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| Both heads now fully assembled and ready to
install |
We now have your engine rebuild well underway and have already found several serious issues. One of the cylinder heads had some minor corrosion and two separate cracks, and the second cylinder head had some very significant corrosion on the deck surface. There are areas of the engine block deck that have been damaged when someone has attempted to force the head off by wedging something (chisel, screw driver, etc) between the seized head and the block.
As a result of all this damage, both heads, and the engine block itself, will be spending some time in the Coachworks for weld repairs, although we are confident that we can save all the damaged components.
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| Engine arrives in the CJ machine shop for some major surgery! |
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| Using CJ puller tool to remove seized heads |
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| Head gaskets badly deteriorated |
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| Block has been damaged by someone
attempting to separate seized cylinder heads |
Block deck will be welded up and milled
back |
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| Installing steel threaded drain plug bung |
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| Disassembling cylinder heads |
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| Pressure testing cylinder heads |
Bubbling highlights one of two cracks
revealed by pressure testing process |
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| Vertical crack can be seen in center of
this image |
One head had very badly corroded deck
surface |
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| Welding up damaged deck surface in CJ
Coachworks |
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| Starting to surface the welded areas of the
head |
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| Machining out old valve seats |
Head is warped and will be straightened |
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| Front and rear suspension and brake
components off to be Nickel plates |
Removing the engine and transmission for rebuilding.
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I am very pleased to have this exciting project underway! Last week we performed a compression and leak down test on your engine and recorded virtually zero compression in cylinder B4. Further investigation soon revealed significant shrapnel within that cylinder, and impact damage to the top of the piston. In the short video clip below, you can actually see debris wedged between the piston rings and the cylinder wall. The shiny areas on top of the piston are where something has broken loose and impacted the piston.
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| Safely in the CJ Workshops |
Video shows damage and debris in cylinder B4 - major surgery required |
