Replacement engine for E-Type kit car
Discussion
Hi,
Just wondering if anyone knows the best choice for a replacement engine for a Ford based E-Type kit car (and possibly cheapest)?.
I have an E-Type roadster kit car (Wildcat) that's been stood for a few years; was my late father's. Unfortunately the engine and brakes are seized so I'm on the look out for a replacement engine, one preferably local to me that someone could put in. Local garages don't seem to want to be bothered due to the age of the engine. The engine in the car is an Essex V6. Would ideally want something like an Essex or other Ford (Pinto) or even a Rover V8.
I've no use for the car, but the chances are, in its current non running state, I'd get very little for it if I put it up for sale as they would want a running car, and that would be a real pity considering it was my dads pride and joy and had quite abit of money spent on it.
Just wondering if anyone knows the best choice for a replacement engine for a Ford based E-Type kit car (and possibly cheapest)?.
I have an E-Type roadster kit car (Wildcat) that's been stood for a few years; was my late father's. Unfortunately the engine and brakes are seized so I'm on the look out for a replacement engine, one preferably local to me that someone could put in. Local garages don't seem to want to be bothered due to the age of the engine. The engine in the car is an Essex V6. Would ideally want something like an Essex or other Ford (Pinto) or even a Rover V8.
I've no use for the car, but the chances are, in its current non running state, I'd get very little for it if I put it up for sale as they would want a running car, and that would be a real pity considering it was my dads pride and joy and had quite abit of money spent on it.
If it was me,and I wanted an easy life I would swap the engine like for like
Everything from the exhaust to the loom all match up.
Tried a little diesel down the bores ? Is the engine "siezed" from a oil/water loss or just from sitting
Essex is a good old lump I have just teased one back into life that's been sitting for nearly 20yrs
Everything from the exhaust to the loom all match up.
Tried a little diesel down the bores ? Is the engine "siezed" from a oil/water loss or just from sitting
Essex is a good old lump I have just teased one back into life that's been sitting for nearly 20yrs
If you were doing the work yourself then there are plenty of options.
If you want a garage to do the work it will cost you dearly and you will still end up with a car that is not worth much.
Any business doing this type of work (like mine) has quite significant running costs so hourly rates are not cheap.
If it were 'your' pride and joy you could perhaps justify the expense.
I know it has family ties but I think your best bet is to just sell it even if that is a little painful.
Steve
If you want a garage to do the work it will cost you dearly and you will still end up with a car that is not worth much.
Any business doing this type of work (like mine) has quite significant running costs so hourly rates are not cheap.
If it were 'your' pride and joy you could perhaps justify the expense.
I know it has family ties but I think your best bet is to just sell it even if that is a little painful.
Steve
I've heard trying diesel or oil down to the bores may help, but I've just never got around to it and I've been told it probably won't work. I could get mechanic to sort it, well I did last year with some the mechanic have known for years but he just said it's seized and didn't do anything with it only suggest I try this or that. I could take it to a local garage but it will need to be pulled out as the brakes are stuck and the tyres flat. I've spoken to someone recently and he seems sure I could get another engine fitted for only a few hundred quid by someone he knows (not a garage as such just someone who knows about old cars). I've heard a Pinto would be the cheapest option.
Everyone I've spoke to have stressed that I will get very little for it if it has no working engine and isn't on the road. Aside from the engine issue the car is still in a pretty reasonable state (though some say it needs a respray; I don't know's telling porkies or who's being honest). Body looks good though there is some bubbling on the rear, and I suppose to some the odd microblistering present means a complete respray, but that's something out of the question for me. It's likely it's seized through sitting, but I could be wrong.
Everyone I've spoke to have stressed that I will get very little for it if it has no working engine and isn't on the road. Aside from the engine issue the car is still in a pretty reasonable state (though some say it needs a respray; I don't know's telling porkies or who's being honest). Body looks good though there is some bubbling on the rear, and I suppose to some the odd microblistering present means a complete respray, but that's something out of the question for me. It's likely it's seized through sitting, but I could be wrong.
Where abouts are you based ?
Lot of garages dont like working on kits, go in with a mondeo say an you want new engine/clutch what ever they have a fairly good idea on times
Kits are a shot in the dark an a potential mine field
For the sake of 15 mins put some diesel down the bores
Dependant on where you are got a bore scope you could borrow
Cheapest way (if you did have to change the engine) is always going to be like for like
Pretty sure you can free it off fairly simply thou
Lot of garages dont like working on kits, go in with a mondeo say an you want new engine/clutch what ever they have a fairly good idea on times
Kits are a shot in the dark an a potential mine field
For the sake of 15 mins put some diesel down the bores
Dependant on where you are got a bore scope you could borrow
Cheapest way (if you did have to change the engine) is always going to be like for like
Pretty sure you can free it off fairly simply thou
Spunagain said:
Any photo's? They are fairly rare cars so would be interesting to see what it looks like!
Same here, even as kitcars go, its not a common one from what (little) I know about them.The Essex v6 is a reasonable engine, if heavy compared to the Rover v8 and often reasonably low in power in most stock forms. There is one on ebay for £270 25bids at the moment, and crate unused 3l for £2500.
I dont know who has told you its only worth £1000 in its current connection, but I suspect assuming the condition is reasonable considering the time it has been standing, ie no damage etc, then it will be worth more than that. I also expect that anything beyond getting it rolling (free the brakes and a set of part worn tyres) is unlikely to return on your investment.
If it was a banger you where wanting a hoon out of I would suggest diesel in the bores and then drag it down the phone rocking it from 4th to reverse and back again till it goes over tdc, but the essex is getting rare enough I might be tempted to do something a little more caring.
Found a few similar cars listed for sale, for what interest that might be.
http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=48957
http://www.classiccarshq.co.uk/ads/sale-1981-jpr-w...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-cars/jaguar-e-type...
Daniel
I'm in Wigan.
I'm not confident that putting diesel down the bores will be a good idea, and I know others have suggested this idea on here before and people I know have told me that's not a wise thing to do.
I've spoke n to someone on here a few weeks back who has one of these kits himself, and he is in the process of having his decorated and engine sorted. He mentioned a garage that could the engine out, but I'm unsure what to do as it's a little far, and people have stressed that its not worth spending all the money when I should sell it as it is.
To me the exterior condition of the car is OK, ie the fibreglass body (minus some microblisters on the rear end and the very tatty interior), but others have told me it's akin to a resto project. When I advertised it last year some chap came to view it (admittedly I did list it for a quite unreasonable price) and he wasn't impressed stating it was nothing like it was in the photos online, that there was all kinds wrong with it, which was untrue. He seemed really desperate for the car thinking he'd bag a bargain for a grand, and when I said no thanks he upped the offer, but I couldn't be bothered. He said he already owned one, so I don't know why he wanted another one, unless he had a resto project and wanted another one to salvage all the good bits.
I'm not confident that putting diesel down the bores will be a good idea, and I know others have suggested this idea on here before and people I know have told me that's not a wise thing to do.
I've spoke n to someone on here a few weeks back who has one of these kits himself, and he is in the process of having his decorated and engine sorted. He mentioned a garage that could the engine out, but I'm unsure what to do as it's a little far, and people have stressed that its not worth spending all the money when I should sell it as it is.
To me the exterior condition of the car is OK, ie the fibreglass body (minus some microblisters on the rear end and the very tatty interior), but others have told me it's akin to a resto project. When I advertised it last year some chap came to view it (admittedly I did list it for a quite unreasonable price) and he wasn't impressed stating it was nothing like it was in the photos online, that there was all kinds wrong with it, which was untrue. He seemed really desperate for the car thinking he'd bag a bargain for a grand, and when I said no thanks he upped the offer, but I couldn't be bothered. He said he already owned one, so I don't know why he wanted another one, unless he had a resto project and wanted another one to salvage all the good bits.
Very hard to know what to do for best. As said, some photos on here wouldn't go a miss, and might even find you a buyer. My car never made it to a classified add, chaning hands because a member on here tipped me off a friend of his was thinking of selling.
In terms of diesel in bores, I cant see it doing any real harm. You will get some in the sump, but you will be changing the oil anyway in due course. Even if you where rebuilding it you would have to get the pistons out.
But again, unless you want to restore it yourself, which is something you really have to want to do, I would sell it out it is or at most airing up the tyres and freeing of the brakes.
Daniel
In terms of diesel in bores, I cant see it doing any real harm. You will get some in the sump, but you will be changing the oil anyway in due course. Even if you where rebuilding it you would have to get the pistons out.
But again, unless you want to restore it yourself, which is something you really have to want to do, I would sell it out it is or at most airing up the tyres and freeing of the brakes.
Daniel
It sounds like you will be paying for any work to be done.
So if I were you I would drag it out give a real good clean and eBay it with an honest description.
Someone will pay good money for an e-type rep - have you seen HOW MUCH a real one is these days?
They will likely want to stick a Jag engine in anyway.
Not worth the time, money paying someone to swap the engine and sort the many many minor niggles you will also have to get an MOT.
Try some diesel in the bores first - it might just work - and you will get a few quid more if it runs.
So if I were you I would drag it out give a real good clean and eBay it with an honest description.
Someone will pay good money for an e-type rep - have you seen HOW MUCH a real one is these days?
They will likely want to stick a Jag engine in anyway.
Not worth the time, money paying someone to swap the engine and sort the many many minor niggles you will also have to get an MOT.
Try some diesel in the bores first - it might just work - and you will get a few quid more if it runs.
I keep getting told by others that noone will pay much for it as it is, even someone who really wants an E type replica. And yes real e types are going through the roof.
I had someone last year that rang me offering about 8 grand, though he said he would be taking a chance due to him living on the south coast. For some reason I turned his offer down as I felt it was worth more lol, but looking back I'm kicking myself I didn't accept, but then again maybe it was the right decision as I don't think he knew about the condition of the engine. The link showing the tatty red one is (or was) for sale at a dealers in Rochdale or Blackburn, and I did ring the dealer up last year and enquired how much he would give me for the one I have, but I think the highest he could offer was around 5 grand. The Wildcat I have is in much better condition than that one.
I had someone last year that rang me offering about 8 grand, though he said he would be taking a chance due to him living on the south coast. For some reason I turned his offer down as I felt it was worth more lol, but looking back I'm kicking myself I didn't accept, but then again maybe it was the right decision as I don't think he knew about the condition of the engine. The link showing the tatty red one is (or was) for sale at a dealers in Rochdale or Blackburn, and I did ring the dealer up last year and enquired how much he would give me for the one I have, but I think the highest he could offer was around 5 grand. The Wildcat I have is in much better condition than that one.
Edited by Jukebag on Monday 1st April 21:14
Who are these 'others' and what do they know about it's value?
You're obviously not going to get £100k for it, but while I don't know it's value you should get an ok price and I don't think you will get more by spending money trying the get it running cheaply.
Why not get some photos up on here and other kitcar forums and see where that leads.
Daniel
You're obviously not going to get £100k for it, but while I don't know it's value you should get an ok price and I don't think you will get more by spending money trying the get it running cheaply.
Why not get some photos up on here and other kitcar forums and see where that leads.
Daniel
The chap that view the car last year seemed to think it was a resto project he said it was in an awful state, the engine was seized, etc, and certainly not what was described in the ad, though I didn't state it was in prestine order. So he probably thought he would try his chance at offering a grand for it. The only people who would determine the likely value of the car in its current state will be someone who knows these kit cars inside and outside and owns one themselves, ie someone who was involved in the Wildcat Owners Club (which btw doesn't exist anymore).
I don't have any current photos on me at the mo as they're all on my external HDD which I don't have with me at the mo, but there's a few pics I took years ago when the car was first put on the road after some work carried out to the ride height, adding bumpers, wire wheels, etc. The bumpers on the pics in the link below where at the time the Wildcat fibreglass versions which were chromed by a company (which later started to peel off).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66525434@N07/sets/72...
I don't have any current photos on me at the mo as they're all on my external HDD which I don't have with me at the mo, but there's a few pics I took years ago when the car was first put on the road after some work carried out to the ride height, adding bumpers, wire wheels, etc. The bumpers on the pics in the link below where at the time the Wildcat fibreglass versions which were chromed by a company (which later started to peel off).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66525434@N07/sets/72...
Obviously a nice car, although if the engine has seized with a few years standing (outside?) presumably an amount of toll has been taken on the interior and you mention the body has blistering.
The cars are rare from what I can tell even for a kitcar, and will ultimately only be worth what someone wants to pay for it. But I would get some detailed, honest, current, photos posted up on here and on some other kitcar forums to put out feelers for its value/buyers and take it from there. You don't appear to be in a rush, which is a good start, so you can wait a while for the right buyer.
It might get a mild refeb. and used largely as it is as a cost effective fun to drive car, or it might get a blank cheque book full restoration and rebuild with a XK6 engine as a full spec e-type replica.
My gut feeling it £8k was probably a good offer, but I could be as much as 50% out in either direction.
Daniel
The cars are rare from what I can tell even for a kitcar, and will ultimately only be worth what someone wants to pay for it. But I would get some detailed, honest, current, photos posted up on here and on some other kitcar forums to put out feelers for its value/buyers and take it from there. You don't appear to be in a rush, which is a good start, so you can wait a while for the right buyer.
It might get a mild refeb. and used largely as it is as a cost effective fun to drive car, or it might get a blank cheque book full restoration and rebuild with a XK6 engine as a full spec e-type replica.
My gut feeling it £8k was probably a good offer, but I could be as much as 50% out in either direction.
Daniel
Well the car has been stood in a garage, albeit dilapidated with the wooden side of the roof allowing the elements to partially get onto the body, and the garage doors can't be closed as the cars too long and due to a heap of tools and large lathe taking up room so the rears poking out. Last year I decided to buy a cheap cover to keep it dry, though thats about as useless as a chocolate fireguard as droplets just get through the fabric, even though it said it was rain resistant.
Edited by Jukebag on Tuesday 2nd April 13:56
Its a tough call, you could pour some more money into it and it not be worth any more. As other have said, I'd try the diesel down the bores and rock it in gear so see if the pistons free. If they do then a running car is always worth more than a non running car.
The sad bit is that the risk factor (of the potential work needed to get it back on the road) will put may people off. Its also true that leaving it in the current storage condition is only going to deteriorate it further. You may have to bite the bullet and let it go for whatever it makes. I've always found that ebay auctions are, by definition, a good marker for market value.
Sorry my opinion isn't better news...
The sad bit is that the risk factor (of the potential work needed to get it back on the road) will put may people off. Its also true that leaving it in the current storage condition is only going to deteriorate it further. You may have to bite the bullet and let it go for whatever it makes. I've always found that ebay auctions are, by definition, a good marker for market value.
Sorry my opinion isn't better news...
Just taken a few pics of the car in the garage; there's some dust and other bits on the body which can be wiped clean, though I would've though it having a car cover over the entire car would've stopped any bits getting onto it, but it seems it hasn't, though it was only a cheap £25 cover:
No point in trying to show the blistering as I don't think the camera will pick it up. I've taken the chrome headlight bezel surround off as I had cleaned the inside, but I haven't got back round to screwing it back on. For some reason there is no rubber seal underneath them between the headlight scoop on the bezels in order to keep water out, and I don't think there was ever any on the car in the first place when it was bought. I suppose noone put any on because it was never gonna be used in the rain. I would love to replace the surrounds with new ones, but the shocking prices for a pair puts me right off.
No point in trying to show the blistering as I don't think the camera will pick it up. I've taken the chrome headlight bezel surround off as I had cleaned the inside, but I haven't got back round to screwing it back on. For some reason there is no rubber seal underneath them between the headlight scoop on the bezels in order to keep water out, and I don't think there was ever any on the car in the first place when it was bought. I suppose noone put any on because it was never gonna be used in the rain. I would love to replace the surrounds with new ones, but the shocking prices for a pair puts me right off.
Edited by Jukebag on Wednesday 3rd April 10:57
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