Scottie on the road
 

Well I suppose its about time I started this thread, as I've clocked up about 400 miles so far.

I went over to Cheltenham to see an old friend, and was bullied into giving his 10 year old son a ride in the car, and his dad took some pics, so its fitting that I post a pic of me actually "on the road"

So far the car has behaved well, the exhaust seems to work okay, and the car does not overheat. In fact, it does not seem to matter if I'm stuck in traffic for half an hour or driving along the road, the temp gauge remains fairly constant, and does not move much at all.

The ride is tight and feels good, it corners well, and so far no major problems.

It is noisy though! Not sure I'd like to drive to Scotland without ear plugs!

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...pstjdvuax9.jpg[/IMG]

Looks great Scottie! 2 things though... that front number plate has to go. Maybe just keep 1 under your seat to pop in the windscreen as i did with my mx250. Another is headroom when youve made the roof! Looks like you will get a stiff neck if it rains!

Again well done with the build 10/10

Thanks Danny, I have an answer for both your points:

when I get my other number plate on the car, its only 5 digits, so will look tons better,
and the head-room bit, its an optical illusion!
I have two hood hoops, (took them off until I get round to making a roof) and the one above my head gives me two inches of headroom,and like most soft tops. the roof will slope slightly upwards before it curves over to the rear window, so there won't be a problem!

Looks great!!!

Need some pics parked alongside other cars to sense the scale etc.

Cracking job, you must be proud

Wow! I feel weak at the knees getting praise from you WCA!

I'll see what I can do about the "parked next to other cars" bit.

That was Mr Towed's speciallity, and he did it well. must have a go!

Scottie
looking super
I'm jealous very I need to work faster on mine :violin:

I did well not to mention the slight crack in the bonnet paint....


:-)

I may gently mock you but I do admire the end results

Did you fix your bonnet yet?

Deggsy, I know what you mean and how you feel, but DON'T rush it!

Like me, you must have a vision of what you want it to look like at builds end, so just work slowly and surely towards that vision, one day you will get there.

When, doesn't really matter, what matters is that you finish what you started, and that it LOOKS right.

You will get there, the Towed told me the same thing, and I knew he was right, I got there and so will you.
Good luck with it.

Scottie - I look forward to seeing more photo of you enjoying driving your car. :cool:

Is there any reason why you don't use a "stick on" front number plate on the bonnet itself?

http://images.thecarconnection.com/l...00319348_l.jpg

Either way, it still looks great.

Take care, Paul. :)

Yeah Paul, there are two good reasons, one is that the bit where it would stick on the front is so curved, that I believe the flat stick-on plate would crease badly, and secondly, eventually I want 24 UFK on the car, and a stick-on would bugger up the paint.
It may well be that a 5 digit number would stick on without creases.

But being so short, it will fit in the front easily 'cos I've tried it!

How about this roof Scottie? Save you making one. I don't need it and could post it along with your headlight cover.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psmk6bqrls.jpg

Wouldn't refuse the headlight cover, but have some doubts about the hood fit!!!!!

You could probably park your whole car under it!!

What's on your tax disc?

The stick on numberplates are a bitch to put on as they tend to stretch.
I fitted a magnetic one to an e-type bonnet, thick enough not to stretch and distort but plyable enough to go with the curves. You would just have to attach it with double sided tape. I had mine made up by a sign shop and was only a few pounds. Same stuff that taxis use as removable door signs. Other option would be some dull silver lettering just stuck onto the dark green body work, maybe with a matching tape pinstripe around it to mimic a plate.
I have never had a problem with "dodgy" plates, so long as you make them clear with the proper font and spacing you shouldn't have an issue.

The tax disc is a 1955 replica, correct in all detail, and it says

Private Jaguar XKSS
£12 ten shillings

Issued at Browns lane post office Coventry

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrma0ajqz.jpg[/IMG]

Quote "The stick on number-plates are a bitch to put on as they tend to stretch."

That's another reason why I wont even go there.

24 UFK will fit in the front a treat, and be 100% legal, to quote the law: "The front number plate must be on the first flat vertical surface"

I once had a stick-on number on the bonnet of a GT6 I had, and an
unhappy plod made me remove it on pain of prosecution, so I am well aware of the law regarding number plates.

I also had a stick on number on the bonnet of my E Type, (Like most E Types) and no-one ever said a thing. So there we go.

Scottie, fabulous job, well worth the effort.

Is that the moss that was for sale in orpington??.for £100?

Plates etc.
 

I've been browsing the MOT Inspection Manual (sadster, moi?) and the registration plate section 6.3 (2) says check:

that the registration plates are fixed
vertically, or as close to vertical as is
reasonably practical

So, what's 'reasonably practical' on our cars?

My 'Lotus Seven Evocation' had an illegally coloured non vertical curved stick on front plate and managed to pass three MOTs. It was a backing plate + separate numbers type and followed the contours of the nose perfectly, despite having seven characters. Apparently, if you get it wrong a heat gun enables removal without damaging the substrate but mine fitted first try. Your five character one will be fine :).

I've chopped down my six character stick on front plate and it just fits below the off side headlight for that authentic look! See 'attached image'.

Yours is looking very good indeed on the road and has spurred me to make good progress this last week!


Attachment 2614

Can't wait to see yours on the road Mick!
Its going to look terrific and old/original too!

Got your Mot yet?

Yesterday, I rushed out and sprayed the front of my van, and being honest, it was the worst paint job I have ever done.

I had not done enough prep, and knew it, which was worse!

So this morning, I went out nice and early and did the prep I should have done to start with, and had the paint on it again before 0900hrs.

I am pleased with her result, it looks fairly period, its not perfect,
but neither is the XK, but they don't look too bad for it.

It is a joy to drive, as it seems to put a smile on everyones face!

Lorry drivers yell out praise, and kids shout out nice things, just about everyone grins, and wants to talk about it, and one lady said she thought it was the closes thing she had ever seen to a drivable dinky-toy!

It really gets more attention than the XK.

That in itself makes the work worth-while.

Here's what it looks like now:


[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...psekk5ziw0.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...psjjaqcy7k.jpg[/IMG]

I should have put a "before and after" pic so here it is:

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...psnpzi716h.jpg[/IMG]

Yes it is, purchased for a customers re-body project.

Was a bargain

Liking the van conversion, Scottie could the high roof be separated and hinged to make a pop top? I saw a pickup version of a similar van today with BMW headlights and grill I think from a one series il get a photo if I see it again. Ed

I suppose it could Ed, but I'm not going to go there, I have slept in it, and there is lots of room already, its a bit like a tardis inside.

Its so big in the back that you can go horse-riding and take long walks in it!
I wouldn't want it any larger!

Is the front panel off a subaru sambar or suzuki every? Ive seen loads of them imported from japanbut they seem to make a lot of money £5k upwards and the engines are only a 0.6! What engine is inthat Scottie?

Yes Danny, I think it is, I got it very cheap off Ebay as it was very flimsy and broken in half. They are quite rare to get hold of in the UK, so I snapped it up. They usually (if you can find one) go for £250 or so.

And you are correct about the price, Subaru Sambars seem to be 5k and upwards.
They do indeed have a rear mounted air-cooled 600cc engine, but mine started life as a Daihatsu Hijet, and they come fitted with a water cooled mid mounted rear-wheel drive 1300cc engine.
This makes them surprisingly nippy. I used mine to collect my shell from Chris, and the long journey was fine with no problems, and it pulled the trailer no sweat.

I'm not sure why but I just really like vans, my Doblo averages 52mpg around the Pennines even going 3 miles stop start to school twice a day it now has 162000 miles on it, I can only do donkey trekking in mine though not horse rides, looking at your front grill cut out now it's finished looks lije all your thinking about it paid off, I wonder if there would of been enough air flow if it where just cut out below the chrome vee? All it needs now is a day on thecsewing machine making a sun awning in a bag on the side and a hob grill sink combo accessed when the tailgate is up and it would probably sell for twice what you have in it on eBay.
Like the skull and cross bones too. Ed
I think they are the same engine as Suzuki jimnys and swifts they are a very good engine can also be swapped for a 1.6 out of an ignis or the twin cam from a gti. Is the roof metal or fibre glass? I'm forming a plan..............

Its metal Ed, and the van has done less than 40,000 miles, and is mostly rust free. Sounds like I'm trying to sell it but I'm NOT!

These vans come with different engine arrangements, there are 900cc petrol ones, 1300cc petrol ones and, a diesel engined one which I think may be 1400cc.
They also do a petrol and liquid gas duel fuel one!

Most of them are vans with no side windows, but I chose the one I have because it has all the windows.
It also has two sun roofs, a sliding door on both sides, and a VW type lift up rear tailgate thing at the back.

Scottie, I have an MX5 soft top sitting in my garage which is free to a good home. The frame is solid but the vinyl needs to replaced. It's yours if you want it.

Thank you for the offer FB, but right now I'm not sure what I am going to do about the roof.
I still have the original Spitfire one, which is like new, and I am sure I could adapt to fit,

but as we all know, once you actually start driving the car, the desire to do any further work kind of evaporates!

And I'm in that situation at the moment.

Its always the same. Just enjoy the car throughout the summer and sort he roof out in the winter.

I keep looking at that mini van and find myself looking on ebay. Ive been looking at somthing like subaru sambars for a while but living in spain where theres a lot of hilly roads the 0.6l engines put me off and they only seem to comein auto, again not so good on hills! I might have to copy yours! I just think you need some side steps!....

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...sehxvqiqr.jpeg

Scottie - Your van looks great too. :cool:

Funny you should say that Danny, its the next part of the ongoing plan!

Mot
 

You can put anything you like on one of these

A snip at £2.39 on eBay.

Won't have the Post Office of choice of course.

Even more of a snip if one uses the screen capture tool Ian!!

I gave the bloke ten quid for mine, and I got four copies, and a blank high res one.
They do tend to sun-fade pretty fast though, but with a blank, does it matter?

You may say that, Scottie but I couldn't possibly comment.

Except to say that the "Sample" watermark may put some people off.