Mk2 Facelift PI 1975 HFG 610 N

[TedTaylor]

Completely agree Mike and precisely my reasoning for buying the Mk2 estate.

Apart from the rather good value in buying the car - £2300 when the previous owner had spent £9000 in the previous 3 years and that does not include the original purchase of a sound car - running costs are low. After sorting a few niggles like new but rubbish tyres that made handling lethal being replaced with decent items I am having great fun driving and using the car as my daily 'hack' ........ and the smiles/chats when people see it is great.

The point about the Mk1 saloon is that it will be purely the pleasure of having it and the memories of the fun we have had. Practicality with be zilch

Ted

[JimB]

........ and the smiles/chats when people see it is great.

Dragging this thread slightly off topic, sorry, I've noticed a big difference between now and when I last drove a Big Six, from 1993 to 1997.

Back in the Nineties, my 2500TC was perceived to simply be an old car, completely ignored by others.

Now, the common perception of my PI is evidently of it being a classic car: people smile or come over to strike up conversation. This happens all the time, three times yesterday!

[Alan Chatterton]

Nothing to do with the fact that this one is really smart and wca was a shed?

[JimB]

Nothing to do with the fact that this one is really smart and wca was a shed?

Shut up WCA looked decent on the surface, but was rotten underneath and the engine had seen better days... Plus it was a very late Seventies, BL in design crisis colour combo...

[Mike Stevens]

The comment I often get is that it's nice to see a car with chrome bumpers. Yes, chrome plus rust I usually respond!

Been driving the Stag and Jaguar this last week. Back to the PI next week as the Stag is SORN'd from October (but will be tax exempt from next April) and the Jaguar can have the week off.

Looking forward to it - except that it means I'm going to work....

Cheers,
Mike.

[JimB]

Hello Friends

Well Its on the road now. Not completely finished but its in a driveable state. Just a 60Amp alternator Required. Quaife Hubs and shafts and thats it. At least i can get it run in.

Lee

Hi Lee,

Which alternator is this and are any wiring changes required?

Thanks

[leesellars]

Hello Jim.

Just checking out what alternators are out there at this rateing. At the moment it looks like a standard lucas 60amp

Lee

[JimB]

I'm curious Lee as to what exactly you did to the engine - I've read through the thread and seen that the cam was worn and the head needed 'converting' to 'unleaded' spec, but what state was the bottom end in? I ask since my engine is of the same standard spec (I think) and similar mileage.

Thanks

[leesellars]

Hello Jim

Although my engine had only done 45000 miles. there was more damage than you think. The bottom end there was damage was aswell. All the bearings main and connecting where down to copper and shaft was very lightly scored. The thrust bearings was out of tollerance aswell. The Shaft has been taken to under 10 and has been Tuffrided aswell. The thrust bearings have had a mod that pins them so they dont rotate and drop in the sump. The Block has been bored out from standard to plus 60 Balanced and lightened and it has been flat decked ( pistons are flush with the top of the block). Sump has been baffeled to stop oil swiching around on hard cornering stopping and accelerating.
Sounds lovely and responds better than my TR6 which has had the standard rebuild.

Lee

[JimB]

Oh, I see! Thanks for the info Lee

What sort of cam is it running now and did you get a specially calibrated metering unit?

Also, was the head modified, e.g. enlarged valves or gas flowing?

Yes, I'm starting to hatch a plan...