Just bought an original MkII GT

Malcom,
I have a 711M block in my Elan, to give a longer stroke and larger capacity. Over here 711M's aren't worth so much. I have two "L" blocks and original weber T/C head in my shed that ARE worth a lot here.

Speaking of Fords with Lotus T/C engines. I had a Mk1 Twincam Esky. One helluva car! I really regret selling it.

 

[Steve Toner]

First snag. I removed the header to take it to HPC for coating, and this is how it came out.

 

[Steve Toner]

Header repaired and coated

 

[Steve Toner]

Baby steps. Pertronix module & Taylor wires installed.

 

[Paul Bearman]

Steve,
If you need something with a bit more VaVa Voooom but still uniquely original I know where to put my hands on an early 1970's Ford development engine.
2.0 ltr overhead cam with turbo. Originally supplied for testing to a private race team & proved to be a real brute.
Apparently Ford never asked for it to be returned!

 

[Steve Toner]

Hmmm... Interesting idea...

Right now, I'm trying to use the SVRA rules as a restoration guide in case it decides it wants to be a race car some day. Have to have an original engine (original to the make/model) for that. Things may change once I get it running though...

Still lots to do before this thing is driveable again, as the car had been sitting for 15+ years: brakes, shocks, rebuild clutch master & slave cylinders, sort some electrical issues, probably will need to replace the valve springs, ...

 

[Steve Toner]

Rebuilding & re-jetting carburetor for high altitude operation. I'm going one step leaner (e.g. 55->50) on each of the idle & main jets to start. It sure is a lot easier just having to change 2 pairs of jets instead of 8...

 

[Steve Toner]

Driver's side outer track rod end was shot. Old one on left, replacement on right. I did the passenger side too, even though it appears to be OK.

 

[Steve Toner]

Visible progress has been slow...

NOS Armstrong rear shocks. These don't seem as stiff as the Monroes that were in there, but they're too cool not to use for now. May go to adjustable (Spax) at some point down the line...

 

[Ron Earp]

Steve, you going to race it when she is done? It'd be a contender for many vintage events, SCCA/NASA and others all around the country I would think. Should be a lot of fun and a great car on the track.

 

[Steve Toner]

Probably. I bought it when I decided I needed something to drive at Larry Miller's new race track . But my first goal is just to get it running...

 

[Steve Toner]

Left front suspension leg with a fresh coat of paint and ready for new Koni insert (OK, so why did I say Spax for the rear? Haven't found any Konis for the MkII...)

There was some surface rust inside the tube, so I ran a brake hone down there to clean it up, then sprayed the inside with rust preventer which will hopefully be good for a few years. Also put anti-sieze on the strut insert threads, probably causing a chemical reaction with the rust preventer that will cause the insert to sieze up permanently inside the tube /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[ QUOTE ]
A bit rough...

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, those gauges look like they could have come out of my 66 Mustang Fastback.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Steve Toner]

Brake calipers overhauled by Goldline Brakes of Seattle. New Brembo rotors. Getting closer to being able to drive this thing...

 

[Steve Toner]

Things are going back together in the engine compartment.

 

[Steve Toner]

Had to stop there, as the brake master cylinder was leaking from the gasket you see here. Sent it off to Apple Hydraulics in New York for rebuild.

 

[Steve Toner]

Close up with gasket removed. Rust. Not good.

 

[Steve Toner]

Work in progress: got some magnesium from lowcostmetals.com & am making a battery hold down. Why magnesium? Just for the /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.giffactor. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Steve Toner]

Drained & removed gas tank. Tank not shown, but it's kind of rusty inside - will need to be cleaned & sealed if it is to be reused.

 

[Steve Toner]

However, that opening is just about the perfect size for a 12 gallon fuel cell, and the sender is pretty gunked up. So gunked up, in fact, that the solvents I've tried on it won't degunk it.

Sender/fuel pickup: