Yet another VP shot for Mad Dog to dream about.
By the way John, I spoke with my Navigator and he confirmed that our entries and hotel reservations are made for both the “2009 Annie & Steve Norman Classic Motorcar Rally” and the “2009 Monte Shelton Northwest Classic.”
Now (like you) I just have to make sure the car is sorted out… but at least my car is a few steps away, not three states away! 😉
I can barely see the motion on the sides of the wings..that camera must have a pretty fast shutter!
Nu. 5–that means…..>drum roll< Yer up to MAY!
🙂
Chuck, three things:
1) I’ve committed to do the Monte Shelton with my daughter (she’ll kill me if I renege) so stop torturing me with all those photos
2) After conversations with various E type gurus this week I’ve sorted out my torsion bars and rear springs. The consensus is leave them as stock and stiffen the car with shocks (done already) and adjustable sway bar (purchased but not yet fitted). I’ll get Mel Muzio to bolt it all back together and I’ll play with it. I seem so expensive but unavoidable experimentation ahead but at least I’ll have the car. Oh and if any of your readers can offer me advice I’ll gladly listen…
3) The E may be three states away but the Mini is a continent and one very large ocean away so things could be worse (I suppose I could buy a Morgan and keep it in Australia)
Not entirely sure how much experience you’ve got with a stock e-Type, so excuse me if I speak as if you’ve just a little: MAKE IT RIGHT and LEAVE IT ALONE.
People fossick around with springs and shocks and anti-roll bars and what have you, and in the greater number of cases, end back up at…
Stock. In the suspension department, and for *street use,* it’s nearrly impossible to improve upon the E-types set-up. Almost all mods end up making the car ride harshly, or handle worse than stock. Even with the original 185s, on modern 6-inch wide wheels, are entirely adequate for everything except 10/10ths driving, and I *know* you understand how high a limit that is in almost all street/road uses.
There are a host of things that *can* be improved upon, not limited to the following:
-Instrumentation. Stock was dreadful.
-Charging system. The generator t’was minimal for today’s standards but in good shape, the alternator worked well enough.
-Ignition. By all means dump the points and condensor and at *least* use a Crane or Pertronix; best is an EDIS set-up, which *will* make huge improvements in start- and driveability.
-Insulation/noise abatement.
Beyond that, try to resist out-engineering the Jag engineers. I speak from the POV of having been in the business of modifying cars for performance sake, and the XKE chassis, as delivered, simply *is the best* for its intended purpose.
Stop viewing them as “torture” John! It should be “inspiration!” 😉
BTW, in the June rally in Victoria you can drive the Chutney Chariot. They have two classes, one for new cars, which draws folks in BMWs, Audi’s, and newer Jaguars like yours. Besides, your driver needs the low-key warmup prior to the pressure cooker that is the Monte Shelton! 😉
–chuck