Avanti R2, 1963, refresh

[unimogjohn]

David, great to see you and Greg.  Loved the blue skies and the beautiful cars.  I have never seen so many great cars, it boggled my mind.

 

We just got home, 8 PM.  Left home this morning at 4 AM so we are a little jet legged right now.

 

I saw one car that I fell in love with.  Here are the pics.  Will post all the others tomorrow.

[unimogjohn]

I was surprised to find a Triumph Italia on Ebay.  Here is the link.  It is also a very nice car.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Triumph-Other-Coupe-/171960367535?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2809a2f9af&item=171960367535

 

And here is some more detailed information.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_Italia

 

Now if I could just find one in my price range ................

Edited October 11, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

It is Sunday, October 11th, AM.  Another Jaguar/All British car show today.  Thankfully, the car is all ready to go as I removed the hold down straps this morning.  Only a 30 minute ride through the local countryside.  Weather looks to be fantastic.

 

It was a fun time a Hershey yesterday.  Met lots of people and even a few that follow the bog every day.  There were so many really nice and rare cars you could not even count the number.  The number of pics I took do not do them justice.  

 

One quick story, a guy came back to the car a couple of times and asked lots of questions, and then he asked how much for the car.  I threw out $85K if I ever decided to sell.  He said that he would take it at that price, and he was serious.  Like I said, an interesting show for sure.  I have his card.  We always had a crowd around the Jag talking and laughing.  Alice never stopped greeting folks and giving them tours and sit in's of the car.  She would make a great car salesperson  for sure.

 

Oh, we were the only XK120 in the class, there was a very nice XK140 FHC there also, that was it for the Jag representatives.  I was really surprised that there were not more XKs.

 

Anyway, here are the pics I took.  I just snapped away to give you some idea as to the volume of cars in attendance, some I have no clue even what they are.

 

 

 

 

[unimogjohn]

And here are a few more.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

One final note.  Another guy was looking at the Jag and spent considerable time observing the people around the car.  At a break in the action he came over and introduced himself as the co-chair of the Kiawah Island Motoring Retreat Concours in April.  He said that he would like to see the Jaguar there and to call him if I wanted an invitation to attend.   It is in South Carolina, a two day jaunt for us.   Just might make that call.  

 

Here is their web site.  http://kiawahislandmotoringretreat.com/

Edited October 11, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[avantey]

John- It was a pleasure to meet you and Alice at the show Saturday, always nice to put faces to the names you have read for a long time!  The XK looked great and I hope you got an award, it should!  I tried to meet Trimacar but he was never at his spot.  Finally got to see Marty there late on Thursday and met a couple of others who share the spot but Trimacar was always AWOL. 

 

It was a great Hershey this year, everyone seemed to have a good time and the weather was perfect most of the meet except a little blow through on Friday PM.  We had out share of fun, sold a lot of stuff and got to see some great cars on the show field.  Too bad it is over already!!

[trimacar]

Bill, sorry we missed each other...was there mornings Wednesday and Thursday selling, took afternoons to walk....

Great story and pictures, John.....you guys showing cars at Hershey seem to have fun, may bring my Pierce to show next year!

[dalef62]

John,

I got a picture of your car as you were entering the show field.  I didn't get a chance to say hello as we were heading out.  Glad to see you had a good day.

Dale

[unimogjohn]

Dale, thanks.  Great picture.  It was quite a treat to run the spectator gauntlet coming into the show.  Going out was even more intense as lots more folks watching all the cars leave the show field.  An awesome experience for us.  

[unimogjohn]

It is PM on Sunday, October 11th.  Just arrived home from attending the annual MG sponsored Hunt Country Classic in Marshall, VA (our home town).  A well attended local event.  The weather was great.  Sunny and about 70 degrees.  Perfect car show weather.  Here are some pics of some of the cars.  I estimate that there were about 200 British cars on display.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

One car really caught my eye.  It was brought by a local restoration shop, Blue Ridge Motor Werks.    www.blueridgemotorwerks.com 

 

Looks to be done to a very good standard.  A true British design at it finest.  

 

 

[unimogjohn]

It seemed like everyone was taking pictures at Hershey.  Lots of pics of the meet on the web.  I even came across a few of us.  

 

I cleaned up the Jaguar from the two days of show and she is now back in the garage.  If I get time over the next few days I will put on the new shocks.

 

I also wrote a note to the Kiawah Island Concours folks and asked for an application/invitation to attend.  

[unimogjohn]

The AACA judges just posted the awards.  Here is how we did.

 

Class 25A

 

First Junior 1957 Austin-Healey ..........................................James Lesher, Doylestown, PA

 

Second Junior 1956 Mercedes-Benz ........................................................Bryan W. Shook, Enola, PA

1957 Jaguar.................................................................................... Henry C. Ver Valen III, Sparks, MD

 

Third Junior 1953 Jaguar...................................................................John Feser, Marshall, VA

 

 

We are happy and honored with the award.  

[trimacar]

Congrats on the award, John....y'alls car just looks so great....would be interesting to see the judging, as I would have thought your car might have gone higher, but there's also a point spread in the AACA judging that must be met, so it can get confusing....

 

I know you guys had fun, again, congrats!

[unimogjohn]

Well I did it.  Submitted the concours application and pictures of the cat to the selection committee.  However, I don't think we will make hotel reservations until we know.  

[Alfre]

Congratulations on your junior next will be senior.

Al

[unimogjohn]

It is Wednesday, AM, on October 14th.  Today I am going to tackle putting on the new front shocks for the Jaguar.  Yesterday, I made Alice a happy girl.  I moved both enclosed trailers from the front of the house to the back pasture behind the garage.  Now the front yard does not look like a tractor/trailer rest stop on the interstate.

 

Oh, some good news.  The clock in the Jaguar started working again.  Yahoo!

 

Here is a video I found on YouTube about the early racing years of the Jaguar XK120.  Even some color film back then and I spied a pastel green OTC model.  No roll bars either, scary to seem then in the corners on those skinny tires.  It is a good watch.  

Edited October 14, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[packick]

John, great video.  Two things that struck me as funny: sedans in the race and drivers wearing coat and ties.

[unimogjohn]

Joe, it must have been something to see all those Jaguars racing around the track.  I have seen maybe thirty or so racing in the USA in the club classification.  It is something like watching bumble bees racing, same car, but all different colors.

 

Speaking of the Jaguar, I changed out the shocks today.  I was surprised that the old shocks still had life in them, but they were pretty worn.  The rubbers were perished for sure, like gum.  

 

I believe the shocks where original to the car.  I am going to see if they can be rebuilt.  They are both made by Newton, SK1743U, and marked 11/52 and 12/52.  Made in England.

 

The new ones are on.  Took about three hours to do.  I took my time and did it right.  Only real difficult part was removing the big wide nut on the top of the shocks, especially where it close to the steering box.  Sure glad I have a boat load of old tools.  I had to use several including a big open end wrench from the 1923 McLaughlin Buick.

 

In one of the pics you can see a little knob on the GAZ shock.  This is the adjuster.  I have them set in the middle, so it should be a little on the soft side.

 

A quick update.  Yes the shocks can be rebuilt for $385 each.  I think I will just put these on the shelf and pass them on to the next owner.

Edited October 14, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Joe and all, This is also a good video of vintage racing in the early 50s.  And it is in color, but no sound.  Great cars!

 

 

Note the officials actually on the track!  And there must be thirty or more cars in one race alone, and I counted 24 XK120s in one race.  And looks to be GM concept cars at minute 10.  

Edited October 14, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

OK, just one more video, and I will go back to my room.  This was last week at Goodwood in the UK.  Lots of XKs racing hard.  The driver of the Porsche really had his hands full.  

 

https://grrc.goodwood.com/goodwood-revival/video-chris-harriss-2015-revival-race-can-he-convert-second-on-the-grid-into-a-win#rFwQCFylgPTHEztq.97

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

 Neat, John. A guy could lose a day watching these.

 

  Ben

[packick]

Boy, in that last video it looks to me like the Porsche 356 should get its steering wheel play fixed.

[unimogjohn]

It is Thursday, October 15th.  Plans are to take the Jaguar out for a test drive with her new shocks.  But today is also Avanti day.  Going to switch places with the Jaguar and put the Avanti on the 2 post lift.  I have an oil leak coming out near or on the new fuel pump.  Since this is the first time on the lift will also do a complete inspection.  Previous work has always been on my back in the grass, rocks, whatever.  Not missing those surfaces now.  I just love my lift.

 

Update:  Just got back from a 20 mile run in the Jag.  What a difference in ride quality.  The car seems more solid especially in the corners.  There is much less bounce/roughness in running down the country lanes.  The steering has really firmed up.  I like it.  I guess the 62 year old shocks need to be replaced.  The car feels really good now.

 

Oh, and the clock stopped working.  

Edited October 15, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[Roger Zimmermann]

  Previous work has always been on my back in the grass, rocks, whatever.  Not missing those surfaces now.  I just love my lift.

I would too! Recently, I R & R the oil pan from my '56 de Ville, laying on the floor...with oily hair.

[unimogjohn]

Still Thursday, but PM.  Got the Avanti  up on the lift and did my inspection.  Really, everything looks very good.  Nothing broken or missing.  I found the source of the oil leak, it is not the fuel pump, but hydraulic oil from the front bearing of the power steering pump.  Another job for the winter, and just so happens, I have a newly rebuilt one.  

 

While under the car I took a look at the rear springs.  Remember last year one was broken so I replaced it.  Well, the other one is not broken, but it is sagging much more than the newer one I put on.  I still have the other spring that I bought and will add it to my to do list for the winter.

 

Greg had told me a few months ago that I should add a crossover pipe to the exhaust to equalize pressure and add more torque to the rear wheels.  He mentioned that the aftermarket folks were not adding them anymore to their kits.  To my surprise I have a crossover pipe.  It could be original as the car has only 44K miles.  I have Quiet Tone mufflers on the car also.

 

The frame and undercarriage looks fine.  No rust.  And the hog troughs are fine, no soft spots.

 

So in the next couple of weeks I am going to replace the power steering pump, drop the pan and change out the transmission fluid, and do an adjustment to the bands as described in the manual.  Should be fun.  

 

 

[dalef62]

John,

In Picture #5 of the rear axle, is the wheel cylinder leaking on the left rear wheel?  Looks like the brake drum is wet...  Looks good otherwise!

[Spinneyhill]

I have read and been confused many times by this term "hog troughs". What on earth are they?  It's not a term we hear down-under.

[unimogjohn]

Spinneyhill, on fiberglass cars, these are the sheet metal panels that give support to the body and door structures.  Fiberglass will not support the weight of the door and without the support of these sheet metal structures.  Remember, the doors are heavy and were the largest made in their day.  The frame supports the body, but the door needs more than just fiberglass.  So on the Avanti it is critical to have good panels or the doors will sag and not open or close properly.  And they are expensive to replace also, about $2K for the replacement panels, two of them, and installation can be another $3K.  They are shaped in the form of a U so they look like pig feeders, hence the name "hog troughs".  Here is what they look like.  http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Hogt/hogt.html

 

OMG, panic in the  hood.  Our US Mail delivery  truck ran off a driveway and is about to go over into the abyss, a drop of about ten feet.  So we ran to the rescue.  Got a big tractor and pulled it to safety.  Dodged a bullet.  Just too much fun in the country.  

Edited October 15, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[SeventhSon]

Wow, John, your hog troughs looks near perfect! I wish mine would magically look like that, at least the driver's side one. Oh well, then I wouldn't get to have the fun of replacing it myself! I think you're a little high on your cost quotes, though. A new pair of troughs from Bob Ziff will set you back about a grand, or if you want a set of re-engineered and heavier gauge ones you can get them from Classic Enterprises for about $1400. Do the work yourself and you're good to go for less than 2k! 

[SeventhSon]

Update: Bob Ziff used to sell the "hog troughs" for about a grand. Now they are going for almost $1400! Sigh, everything is going up except my salary!

[unimogjohn]

And Classic Enterprises has gone up also.  I guess I just like to round up.

 

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[dei]

 

 

OMG, panic in the  hood.  Our US Mail delivery  truck ran off a driveway and is about to go over into the abyss, a drop of about ten feet.  So we ran to the rescue.  Got a big tractor and pulled it to safety.  Dodged a bullet.  Just too much fun in the country.  

 

OOPPS!

 

Hmmm, distracted driving? (texting?)

 

Glad no one was hurt!

[unimogjohn]

Doug, the cause was backing down a long, narrow, gravel driveway at a bit too high of speed.  Happened over the culvert, he was about three feet from going over.  Lucky guy for sure.  

 

And what am I doing this morning?  Went to start the self propelled little mower.  No start.  Will run on starter fluid.  I hate that crappy gas.  Taking apart the carb now.  Hope to have it running this PM.  

[Guest Corvanti]

John (and fellow blog followers), for ethanol free gas stations - check out: http://pure-gas.org/

 

looks like there is one station in Marshall and many more in Virginia.

[Spinneyhill]

Thanks for the description of the "hog troughs". I suppose it is what I would have called the sill.

[JWLawrence]

I heard Lowe's sells ethanol free gas in quart cans for small engines. More expensive than pump prices, but safer in the long run.

 

(o{}o)

[unimogjohn]

JW, good to know.  But our local farm gas station just added a 100% real gas pump.  I have all my gas can full of the stuff now.

 

And I did get the mower working today.  Took off the fuel bowl and blew out the main jet and cleaned everything I could.  Put it all back together and she fired right up.  No harm done, but did lose a couple of hours playing with the darn thing.

[unimogjohn]

It is Sunday, October 18th.  We had a "hood" car show and lunch today.  Lots of great food.  We brought our Jaguar and Avanti.  Several new cars in attendance including a 1950 MGTD.  Always fun to get together with the neighbors.  Lots of stories.  Here are the pics I took.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

It is Monday morning, Ocotber 19th, and as luck would have it, we have a report from Greg.

 

"I've been getting grief for not keeping up with my mail.   I'll try to bring us up to date.

 

Hershey has come and gone.  It was a good one, the weather unusually agreeable for the entire event.  There was a storm on Friday,  brief but dramatic. The show on Saturday was one of the best ever.  And I had been joined by Barbara, son Nathan and his friend Aimee.

 

I had gotten my business taken care of early in the week,  so I spent the rest of the time traipsing and visiting old friends.  One of the items of business was to pick up the tail lamp for the Stoddard Dayton race car that I had sent out for restoration.  Another check mark on that car's list.

       

The closing of the annual Hershey meet signals the beginning of winter. I find that my mood begins a steep decline as the temperatures drop.   Work is redirected to those things done when the shop is warm enough. That includes the marvelous Matheson engine project.    

 

There's been some movement of the rest of the car,  so my efforts will be to get the engine completed.   That also includes buffing and coating  the many brass components.  I've acquired some old style hardware and need to manufacture what I couldn't obtain. While that happens I'll send out a first batch of items for nickel plating.

   

I'm also sorting through the Avanti R3 engine from the black 5054.   A failure of the cam bearings still has me baffled.  Complete dis-assembly and cleaning,  the cam itself looks ok and I've procured more new bearings.  Going to replace all of them, cam, rod and main with Made in USA stock.  Although I'm really baffled and bummed by this, the rebuild has afforded a special bonus.  Nathan wants to have a hand in its rebuild  and last week we cleaned the block, oil passages, set the main bearings and crankshaft.   I explained how the inserts fit, how to check clearances with Plasticgage, lube and torque the caps, etc.  And as of now the crank is in. He did all the wrench work.  

           

This afternoon Barb and I were invited to crash a neighborhood yard party.  The Jon Battle/John Feser neighborhood.   Enticed with the promise of home grown chili,  who were we to say no?  A good turnout  of nice people and lots to eat.    

   

Tonight was another  adventure.   Something I'd never done before and we tried to figure it out  together.  The type camshaft I'm using in the Black Avanti R3 was tried in some of the engines they used in the 1963 Bonneville Salt Flats speed record attempts. Recently, I obtained information that the 288* cam was to be setup differently than the usual "line up the dots"  method (the only way I've ever).  Using a homemade degree wheel and some other quick and dirty tooling, we got started on it tonight.  Most of the evening was spent learning what not to do.

   

I had Google imaged a degree wheel,  printed it on paper and glued it to a sheet of aluminum.  Nate finished it by shearing the edge to make a round wheel instead of square.

     

And since we were dialing in the camshaft without the heads and rocker arms installed,  we needed some method of reading tappet travel. Nate fashioned an extension on the lathe.  Then armed with piston stops, degree wheels, dial indicators,  paper and pencil,   we proceeded to get so lost in numbers that didn't add up  that we finally had to step back and evaluate just what the heck we were doing..... and realized I'd copied the wrong degree wheel.

 

So with more math and a better understanding of what  we needed,  it seemed to come together.   Turned out to be a good night of chasing a problem and resolving it together.  Tomorrow I'll copy the right protractor and be prepared to do it right the next time."

  

    

          

     

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