79 Scimitar GTE MOD

OOOO another reliant! looks like a good-un, cant say i agree with the un-reliability bit? never heard that one before.

whats the MOD in the title stand for?

i will second that, one of ours lunched one, only time we have ever had a break down. luckily a few bent push rods and some missing teeth was the only damage.

Yep, a lazy way to say it!!!
I suppose, being an old git, I remember from long ago the problems regarding cooling and electrical problems. I would think that, pretty much like the Triumph Stag, a lot of the old issues have been overcome whether that be through modification or just a greater knowledge.
I know that shed loads of money has gone into this car from a full recon lump 20,000mls ago to a stainless exhaust system and fuel tank so I'm not anticipating problems, I just havent owned an "old" car for a very long time!!!
I shall certainly investigate the timing gear, thanks for the tip and thank you all for the very positive feedback,just what I needed to reaffirm that I made the right decision in taking the plunge and going "Retro".
Many thanks.

.........my confidence grows by the day!!!
Why oh why is this effing week dragging?

Hiya Zeb,

Good choice, it looks like a nice car. I look forward to seeing more pictures!

Scimitars are very underated cars! I am sure you will very much enjoy it. Keep on top of some basic maintenance and they can return many years of pleasure!

All the best

Dave from www.sporting-reliants.com ;D

Fantastic! Another possibility for reliability issues is poor earthing - a problem in pretty much any plastic bodied car.

But these cars rule - and are incredibly good value I think! Maybe I should get one...

Scimitar, unreliable? Nah, like any car that's 'different' from the crowd, there are some things about them that the general motor traders/back street bodge brigade don't understand, but think about it; that 3 litre V6 has been fitted in many other cars and seldom falls to bits, though the earlier suggestion about fitting a steel cam gear is a good one, even if it does make some extra mechanical noise.

If the engine sounds like it has a bearing rattle, but happening when it is under load, then it would definitely be time to change that gear, the steel crankshaft gear obviously won't cause any trouble, but it's a good idea to fit both as a new pair so then they will wear at the same rate.

Dodgy electrics on grp shelled cars? Not necessarily, as the earths all attach to a solid chunk of something a good bit more substantial than the average steel body anyway, and I for one would rather chase bad connections around a Reliant than, say, a 1980s Alfa (much as I loved my old 75) or anything Ford.

Just remember that you have to oil the trunnions every once in a while, my Rebel gets his done weekly, but that is a touch obsessive (do not use grease whatever you do, it lacks viscosity and will dry out and seize the trunnions by leaving its carrier fat behind in the flutes), check the suspension bushes as these are prone to going soft, fit a polybush kit for durability.

Then just get out and enjoy the car, the chassis are pretty durable and generally it's the interiors that show their age long before other areas.

Nice car, good choice!

i don't know which gear you fitted, but on one car i fitted a quaife steel gear, and on another a burton item, and neither sounded very loud at all, infact, after a few 1000 miles its not even noticeable until you start to push it and even then its not very pronounced.

the bottom gear was left alone on both cars, they had been running against fibre, and therefore had no signs of wear.

watch out for the strait cut setups, they realy do make a load of noise (and obviously need the bottom gear changeing to match!

we realy should combine the two SE6s in the barn into a sprint car, but too many projects at the moment.

Little did I realize just how positive the response would be when I posted the first pic and text, to say that I'm bowled over would be an understatement!
A massive thanks to you all for your words of wisdom, encouragement and sound advice that has made me feel so confident that I have done the right thing.
The car is all bought and paid for, just a delay in picking her up means that that little boy waiting for Christmas day feeling carries on just that much longer.
The car, as ive said, looks better in the photo than in the flesh, thats not to say its an old poggler, it is still a gorgeous, quick, comfortable cruiser that I will lovingly and very slowly bring up to scratch in good time.
Ive realised that what I saw in the engine bay ( having seen an original exhaust manifold on Flea Bay ) was a set of performance manifolds, I'm now very curious to find any further evidence that the rest of the lump has been "tweeked".....................
Photos etc to follow asap!!!
Thanks.