Suffolk Jaguar SS100

[Roadstar800]

Hello everyone - I'm a new member on here and this is my very first post.

I am just embarking upon a Suffolk SS100 build and would love to hear from anyone who has already built one or is in the process of doing so.

Last week I took delivery of the first stage - the chassis, front and rear suspension/diff etc etc - what they call 'the four corners'.

I have already purchased a donor car - a 1966 3.8 Jaguar S-Type with manual transmission - and this week have removed the engine and gearbox ready to be stripped and reconditioned while I am engaged in building up the chassis.

Any comment, observation and/or help gratefully received ....

[ColinM50]

Wouldn't mind getting involved and helping depending on where in the country you are. Any clues?

[singlecoil]

I understand that the Suffolk Jaguar kits are quite expensive but they certainly seem to be worth the expense.

[anonymous-user]

Keep all the evidence about the engine and gearbox if you want an age related plate. No good trying to find it in a couple of years when you need it. Good luck I love those cars

[Roadstar800]

Hi Colin - I’m in God’s own county, West Yorkshire. I think you may be in Cambridge? A bridge too far perhaps? 😕

[Roadstar800]

Hi Singlecoil - yes and yes! They are expensive but the factory attention to detail is amazing and their quality superb. And the end result positively stunning! Their construction manual alone is worthy of a mention. I consider myself very fortunate not only to be able to afford it but that I have been able to build a workshop in which to build it. I’ve got to do something to keep myself occupied ..... 🙂

[Roadstar800]

Hi Kierik - I’m ahead of the game in that respect. I bought a complete 1966 Jaguar S-Type as a donor - and by complete I don’t just mean mechanically but complete with old style green log book and replacement modern V5. All numbers match - the VIN, the gearbox, the body number and the original registration plates. The car itself appears to have had only four owners from new and has been stored under cover for the last 25 years.

[Roadstar800]

Well, no one replied that they were building one so I haven't been able to swap and info or details of problems or anything useful! Pity really because I've had to learn as I went along, and 'went along' I have!
The chassis is now fully prepped to take the engine and transmission - both front and rear suspension and brakes are in (XJ6) and the back axle complete (E-Type with inboard discs without the 'cage'), all brake lines, clutch master cylinder etc etc. I now have a rolling chassis - just waiting for the engine to be rebuilt following a 'nut and bolt' recondition - more like being re-engineered! Both engine and gearbox are currently being rebuilt as I write and I am expecting to start the installation within a week or so. There have been hiccups on the way but nothing drastic - more like irritations - and each case speedily and efficiently resolved by Mike Tink of Suffolk Sport Cars who acts like and is as well versed in his art as a consulting surgeon! The 'irritations' met so far are minor, such as missing washers, unhanded steering arms or, the latest case, the clutch master cylinder - a Land Rover unit - having the push rod threads modded 'overnight' to metric by Land Rover without advising Suffolk with the result that the push rod was no longer compatible with the Suffolk extension link. Suffolk have always responded instantly with parts arriving 'next day' - although I stress that so far this has had to happen only two or three times over a very intensive initial build period. I have nothing but praise for the quality of the parts, indeed of the whole process from Suffolk Sports Cars, from the quality of their build manual and the labeling and cross ID'ing of the dozens of parts to the quality of Mike Tinks expertise.

I am having the engine stripped and rebuilt by another Mike, Mick Hicks of Tourist Trophy Restoration of Yeadon (near Leeds-Bradford airport) who, apart from being Jaguar trained and somewhat of an authority on Jaguar engines, is an old school engineer and incredibly meticulous to the point of being pedantic in his work. Having built, prepared and raced Jaguar engined dragsters for several years there is nothing he doesn't know about the XK series engines and transmissions. I can heartily recommend his services that extends to classic car restoration in which he has specialised in for the last twenty or thirty years. He was recommended to me by my old pal David Hallet, a classic car enthusiast who is the enviable owner of several classic car such as Healey 3000's, E-Types and series II and XJ Jaguars. I owe David for that recommendation! I'd even consider letting him have a drive of the SS when it's finished!

All in all I'm having a very enjoyable time .....

[singlecoil]

Pictures! We need pictures!

probably just make me more jealous though

[deadscoob]

I look at these every year at Silverstone classic.

One day I will build one, lovely things.

[Roadstar800]

Bare chassis as supplied by Suffolk Sportscars - decided to start at the back end first so our first operation was to press in the four metalistic bushes that locate the rear axle assembly. Note the racks of packaged parts in the background - all numbered and cross referenced in Suffolk's build manual and CD.

[Roadstar800]

Rear axle assembly complete with inboard disc brakes and I.R. suspension (E-type) installed. The whole assembly is available as component parts if required but I elected to order a complete assembled unit instead. The axle assy is a re-engineered donor unit on an exchange basis so Suffolk accepted my S-type donor axle for reconditioning and it will pop back up 'as new' on someone else's car sometime in the future.

[Roadstar800]

Brake lines installed ,,,,,,

[Roadstar800]

Petrol tank installed .....
The sheet metal discs that can be seen on the hubs are dummy brake drums that will be visible through the wheel spokes, hiding the view of the front disc brakes and the rear aluminium hub carriers. Note the dearth of parts left on the racks in the background as we get to the end of the chassis preparation - the 'four corners'

[Roadstar800]

A detail of the brake and clutch plumbing - the clutch master cylinder is a Land Rover part. Until we get the engine installed we don't know at this stage whether the run of the brake lines will be in the way of anything. I do know that the oil filter housing will be in the close vicinity of the brake servo and the banjo union and it may well be that we'll eventually have to re-run the lines in that area. A minor problem if it comes to it.

Edited by Roadstar800 on Saturday 3rd November 20:59

[Roadstar800]

How am I doin' with the pictures, Singlecoil?

[singlecoil]

Roadstar800 said:

How am I doin' with the pictures, Singlecoil?

You're doing good. Also good is the explanation accompanying each picture. I shall look forward to seeing more in due course

You might consider asking the moderators to move this thread to the Readers' Cars section where I believe more people would see it. You could do that by clicking on the 'report' button on the right of the header of each post.

Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 1st November 05:54

[Roadstar800]

Hmm ... OK, as a newcomer here I don't know about these things and I'll do as you suggest as soon as I've posted a few more pictures I have lined up. Thanks for the advice, Singlecoil, meanwhile here's another picture.




Now for the front end - starting to build up the front nearside suspension ....

Edited by Roadstar800 on Saturday 3rd November 20:47

Detail of the lockwire on the offside steering arm and calliper .....

Edited by Roadstar800 on Saturday 3rd November 20:50

[Roadstar800]

Here's a general view from the front of the chassis, now with both front suspensions built. The blue structure underneath the chassis is a pallet dolly in which there is a euro-pallet supporting the chassis. We could have built it on axle stands but the dolly, and therefore the chassis, is mobile this way - not that we've felt the need to move it as we've plenty of room all round.

Edited by Roadstar800 on Thursday 1st November 22:31

Edited by Roadstar800 on Saturday 3rd November 20:52

[Roadstar800]

A close-up of the nearside front suspension showing the dummy Andre Hartford friction damper - as antique as the originally fitted rod operated drum brakes. It's this attention to detail - and there are others that will be illustrated as we go along - that I find so appealing about the Suffolk SS100.

Edited by Roadstar800 on Wednesday 8th May 11:17