1969 JAGUAR XKE FIXED HEAD COUPE RESTORATION
THUMBNAIL PICS HAVE BEEN POSTED 03/12/01
NEVER MIND THE WEB PAGE, THE CAR IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
1969 Jaguar XKE FHC
This is a story in progress. I have always dreamed of owning a Jaguar
E-type and last February, Hayes Harris of Wire Wheel Classic Sports Cars
dug up a 1969 E-Type Fixed Head Coupe. This car is the 2 seater, not the
2+2, which I have never found to be as appealing as either the Open Top
or Coupe model.
The car was acquired by Hayes as an abandoned restoration project, the prior
owner having had the paint done and the mechanicals rebuilt. (They all say that, don't they?)
Mechanically, it is a 4.2 liter, straight 6, with the original motor and gearbox.
Someone has replaced the twin carb set up of the Series 2, with an earlier triple carb set up
from a Series 1. Not correct, but well worth a few extra horsepower.
I was told that the mechanicals were done, but, after looking closely at the DPO's work,
I decided that the prior work stunk (it did), and while I had the bonnet off, I pulled the
motor and took it apart. As it turned out, this was a good thing as the engine had a
"cut-all-corners" rebuild, with knurled pistons, loose valve guides and only the bare minimum
of new bearing shells and new rings on old pistons. Not my idea of a complete mechanical rebuild.
Currently, I have had the block bored, line bored and hot tanked. The crank has been turned and
the head is apart waiting to get a fresh 3 angle valve job and a new set of guides.
Having seen the quality of the mechanical work, I began to call into question the paint and
body work. The pictures all show a very nice looking paint job, but in reality, the paint was
not in the best of shape either, with several small areas that were blistering and peeling.
So, out came the paint stripper and putty knives and the paint was off in the matter of two
afternoons' work. I found quite a bit of plastic in the sills, but it seems to be there just
to get the body alignment correct, as there was no rust under the Bondo. The doors, however
will need a lot of work, or new door skins as there are several rust holes toward the bottom
of the doors.
I have ordered the new biscuit leather interior, but will not begin to install it until after
the body and paint work is completed.
This car is a work in progress and I hope it is done in time for my retirement in 20 years or so.
I will post another page of thumbnail pictures as the project progresses.
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