gazzam
Part of things
Posts: 741 
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May 13, 2022 16:50:03 GMT
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Thanks fellas, much appreciated. Had a problem with the tach cable. The outer cable was looking like a contender for plating but too difficult. Longish and about three different metals. A sort of spring, with brass ferrules on each end. But it needed something to make it look less secondhand. So I put a piece of heat shrink on it. Looked fine then, but now it’s 10mm too short. I don’t think the car had stretched, though that would not surprise me. I think the heat shrink must’ve pulled it in as it contracted. Also the inner cable had also decided it’s time was up. The end twisted off. The speedo cable was actually missing the inner cable and it cost almost $100 AUD to get one made, so I was up for trying some diy with this one. The outer cable got a bit of a stretch and it was sorted. I had a nos inner cable that I could use but it needed shortening. Just a matter of cutting it and making the end square. YouTube university to the rescue. The only bit of heavy flat bar I had was this, that readers may remember. Four inch piece already cut off it here…  Milled one side flat and just took the high spots off the opposite side.  Then welded a bit of flat to it so it could be bolted to the mill table at 45 degrees.  Like this:  Then cut a right angle groove into it just deep enough that half the square end of the cable would just about sit in it.  Then cut the mount off and the grooved flat bar in two.  No photos but the round cable placed between these two and squeezed in the press, results in a nice square end. A bit of silver solder stops the end from unwinding. Proof that it worked.  And that means the car is pretty much done. Just under two years. A hell of a lot of work. A fair bit of pain, lost some of the feeling in both thumbs. A hell of a lot of satisfaction. A few photos while it still in the shed. Raining at the moment, so definitely not taking it out!     That’s all for now. Take care. |
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May 13, 2022 17:04:06 GMT
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Congratulations - you have done an amazing job and you deserve a chance to enjoy it, hopefully the rain will pass soon enough.
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May 13, 2022 17:31:08 GMT
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Congratulations - you have done an amazing job and you deserve a chance to enjoy it, hopefully the rain will pass soon enough. I'll second that. A truly wonderful job with so much attention to the fine detail. This must rate as one of the best builds ever. I think most of us are in total awe of your skills and your work rate. I hope and believe that the XK will reward you with some truly memorable motoring. Best regards. |
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May 13, 2022 17:48:41 GMT
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Your car looks fantastic ....and it most definitely is YOUR car! Well Done and thanks for sharing all the work being done.
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glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,355
Club RR Member Number: 64
Member is Online
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1952 Jaguar XK120 restoration glenanderson
@glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member 64
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May 13, 2022 17:49:52 GMT
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Fantastic. Simply fantastic. Thanks so much for taking the time to carry us along for the ride. 😃😃👍👍
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My worst worry about dying is my wife selling my stuff for what I told her it cost...
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May 13, 2022 18:35:29 GMT
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Congratulations, that is truly sex on 4 wheels !!
Seriously, it is one of the most comprehensive restorations I've been fortunate enough to see / follow on this forum,
If I could ever attain half of your skills I'd be very happy,
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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May 13, 2022 18:36:24 GMT
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Wow, that looks stunning.
I've loved following this thread and have huge respect for your skills - something I can only aspire to.
Thank you for taking the time to share everything with us all!
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May 13, 2022 19:52:53 GMT
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Looks lovely…. And we know it’s been done right because we’ve watched you do it……
Classy work throughout and a very classy result. Time to enjoy it 🙂
Nick
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1967 Triumph Vitesse convertible (old friend)
1996 Audi A6 2.5 TDI Avant (still durability testing)
1972 GT6 Mk3 (Restored after loong rest & getting the hang of being a car again)
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May 13, 2022 20:33:58 GMT
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lovely job have fun driving it.
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jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,921
Club RR Member Number: 40
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1952 Jaguar XK120 restoration jamesd1972
@jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member 40
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Hat duly doffed.
Enjoy driving it, fantastic job, thanks for sharing and please share some photos of it out and about.
James
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v8
Part of things
Posts: 312
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Fantastic job on the whole restoration and only in two years  I need your work ethic! |
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May 15, 2022 11:59:13 GMT
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Well done for completing it - Can you restore something else now so we can read about that too?  Gonna miss your updates. |
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,887
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May 15, 2022 14:46:02 GMT
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Congratulations on getting it done. It looks fantastic, and is not helping my desire to sell everything I own / remortgage the house to buy a rusty project XK, haha. Let us know your first drive impressions when the rain stops. |
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More hat doffings!
Well done, a most excellent restoration.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-(
2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap
V8 Humber Hawk
1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD
1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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eurogranada
Europe
To tinker or not to tinker, that is the question...
Posts: 2,556
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A testament to your craftsmanship!
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Looks like we won't get any drive videos for another week, at least, the way this rain is sticking around..
Looks great! You've put your own touch to pretty much every aspect of this build.
Also, the tacho is backwards!
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gazzam
Part of things
Posts: 741
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May 19, 2022 12:01:47 GMT
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Thanks very much, glad you’ve enjoyed following my efforts. The registration had expired, so my first drive was to an inspection station, a 3 km return trip. Not far, but it made it there and back and nothing fell off! I did notice that it needed a stronger throttle return spring. The guy passed it with minimal formality. He said it looked obvious that it would be up to standard. Then it sat in the shed until today. I’m a bit of a hermit and didn’t get into town (we’re about 20 km out ) till yesterday to pay the rego. So today we went for a drive/shakedown. We did a 25 km loop and it ran like a charm. Steers well, brakes well, no rattles, feels nice and solid. We were stopped at a roadworks for about 5 minutes and I didn’t switch it off ( paranoid about it not restarting ) I turned the electric fan on and the temp stayed in the good zone, but the ambient temp wasn’t over 20C, so that’s not any real test. Just as we approached our driveway it lost revs/power and the accelerator was on the floor. Idled through the gate and lifted the bonnet to find that the carb linkage needed tightening. And the fuel filler flap kept popping open. My copilot was able to reach around and close it without difficulty. So I took a few photos and put it back in the workshop. Did a bit of altering of the fuel flap latch - a real curse word of a thing to get at the mounting screws, but I think it’ll be ok now. Tried to tighten the carb linkage and snapped two of the small bolts but was able to find replacements, so I think that’s sorted. So all in all very happy. Couldn’t have hoped for a much better first run. I’m very pleased how tight it all feels. I suppose it should be better, as the body is now properly bolted to the chassis. Previously three of the four bolts through the boot floor didn’t have nuts on them! And the doors are no longer held together with paint and hope! I’ve got another couple of car projects planned, but first I want to do a bit of an extension on my workshop. Not sure how long that will take, but I think I’ll have it done in a few weeks. Thanks again for all the kind words. A couple of outside shots for a change.     Thanks and take care. |
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