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This weekend (18th Sept 2016) saw a milestone in the restoration of my old XK8. It's taken 18 months to get this far. Here's the video of it starting for the very first time after fixing the results of a secondary chain tensioner breaking up.
Following this, it was necessary for us to sit down with a cup of tea and demolish most of a packet of chocolate biscuits.
The engine has had the following done..
-Chain Tensioner kit - 4 x chains, tensioners and all guides.
-Thermostat tower replaced with the aluminium version
-New water pump.
-Valley and radiator hoses replaced.
-Head gaskets (and most others) replaced.
-New valve stem seals.
-Three new inlet valves (stems were marked at the seal area).
-Light valve seat lapping (for all 32 of the little b***ers).
-Sump removed and cleared out, new gasket.
-Oil pickup removed and cleaned out of all the plastic bits of tensioner.
-Timing chain cover crank oil seal replaced.
-Valve gaps all checked and set on the three new valves.
-New drive belt, steel idler and tensioner
-New fuel pump; that was an 'interesting' few hours.
-Fuel filter
Everything was cleaned, and sometimes even polished before being reassembled.
Many, many cups of tea or coffee, combined with malt loaf and chocolate biscuits powered this work. Thanks to the Mrs for the regular arrival of the people fuel. Couldn't have done it without Jack either, just hoping I'm that agile at 86.
Before starting it, we ran up oil pressure by turning it over on the starter, with no spark plugs in, and with the fuel pump relay removed. Even so, there's quite a bearing rattle before the pressure builds up fully. Just hoping it didn't do any damage to anything.
I think it looks good and sounds great too. We're really pleased with the results. Having now run it up to temperature twice, it's now sounding much better. Very smooth.
I still have the video of the re-assembly to edit. That's something else that takes ages. But I will get round to it...
By way of doing something simple, we spent a couple of hours cleaning the interior this afternoon. That was quite rewarding, as the PO clearly enjoyed the odd coffee mishap that seemed to cover the entire interior. Lots of it came off easily, a bit like one of those floor cleaner adverts that you never believe.
Let's see if we can get a insurance and an MOT sorted this week.
In need to do something with the exhaust, it's way too quiet!
Very nervously took it for an MOT today. It passed! Yay! My first drive of the car at over walking pace. And the ABS light turned itself off on the way there. And no other lights came on. Nearly ran out of fuel on the way back, had only put 4 gallons in for the 5 mile trip. Now to sort the interior roof and bodywork.... More to follow.
That was another mid-life crisis, and the best £1500 of fun I have ever spent. 1972 Triumph Spitfire MK IV, 1300cc and 110hp stripped out and fully modded for racing. Until last week when I snapped the crankshaft half way up Prescott Hillclimb at 8000rpm... Rebuild over the winter should see 120hp for next season... :-) Videos of it on my YouTube channel. If you like, I'll post a link when I'm not using my phone to post.
To all those that followed this trail as I rescued this old XK8, the good news is that I've now done over 7000 British miles in it. This summer saw me drive to work, roof down, for 5 consecutive weeks. The weather has really been that good. There have been a few niggles, like the roof hydraulics needing sending off to the west coast USA for repair (great job too) and a failing handbrake that needed disks, pads, shoes and a rebuild. There were also passenger seat issues, noises that kept mentioning cardboard for carpet and lack of windscreen surround headlining being not acceptable, then when I'd fixed that, there were noises that suggested that it needed hand-holds if you were going to drive it like you stole it.
There are still jobs that need doing, like new seat covers (it was used for dog transport for a while) and a new roof might be nice.
It has been just great, leaving the office on a sunny day, driving home through the sunlight dappled Surrey countryside. Made up for having to be in the office in the first place.
Thanks to all for the encouragement to get it done.
Here we are at Constitution Hill viewpoint in Parkstone, Poole, UK. Great view over the harbour from up here.
09-05-2016, 05:53 PM
