Another addition to the fleet

[joefrazer]

This followed me home yesterday. Apologies for the poor picture...I was quickly losing daylight. It's all there and will run.

Now the real work begins!

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

Wonderful !!!

[mbflemingkf]

Congrats Jim...more pics please!!   

Mike

[r1lark]

Wow, neat!    Looks like a good cleaning and buffing and you will have a presentable car. What are your plans for it?

Also, what is the history of it -- who had it, how long, how did you find it, etc?

[pjkaiser]

Nice, ok now, what number is it?

[joefrazer]

Here's another picture of the car. It is complete except for the driver side park light assembly and the rear view mirror. I have another visit with the seller to schedule and I hope to track them down in the garage.

[pnw_oldmags]

Looks like you are developing a 54 fetish!.  NICE!!

[joefrazer]

Another thread is talking tires and that jogged my memory. I know 5.90x15 is the standard size tire for a Darrin but has anyone fitted 6.40x15 tires? I ask because a new set was included and I'm thinking of using them while I run the car as a driver.

I know on the HJ a 6.40 tire will interfere with the clutch so I'm guessing the same holds true here. Anything else to be concerned about?

I gave the car a bath today, it does look a bit better.

[Fid]

Jim, I've got 6.40s on my '53 J and they do not interfere with the clutch. This is a problem though if the tires are too big. I did have a set of 1970s steel belted tires on my '53  for years. I don't recall what size they were but they did indeed interfere with clutch pedal, especially when backing out of my driveway when I had to cramp the wheels.  I installed 6.40s in the early '90s and the first thing I noticed was that did not happen any more.  Based on my experience, you should be fine with 6.40s on a J. I can't speak for the Darrin.

[joefrazer]

I have 6.40s on my 54 HJ and with the clutch pedal depressed there is interference with the tire on a hard turn. Since a set of new 6.40s came with my Darrin I'm going to install them and see what happens. I know they didn't fit on my other Darrin (car #30) but there was a running design change in the footwell that allowed for a bit more room in the wheel well on the later cars, which mine is.

[joefrazer]

Does anyone have a current part number for the oil pressure hose that connects the line from the engine to the dash gauge? I'm just about ready to try to start the engine and would prefer a new hose...who knows how old the current one is.

[joefrazer]

Pulled the car out today to clean it up a bit more...what a difference some soap and water makes! The top material isn't attached...it's just laying on the top bows.

On the downside, I ran a compression test today and found a couple of low cylinders. The car was last driven about 30 years ago so my guess is that a couple of valves are stuck open. I'm going to try to start the car and if I can get it to run on four or five cylinders that should get the others to cooperate. If not, I'll pull the head and deal with whatever I find. I know the head gasket is good and the block's not cracked as the oil is clean and the coolant stays full...until it leaks out of the dried up water pump packing...

[Aeroman]

Hard to believe that's the same car that was on the trailer!

[joefrazer]

Update...it runs! A fresh set of points, a condenser and a new coil was the answer. Next up, clean the fuel delivery system so it can run off the tank.

[r1lark]

That's great Joe! Also, the car looks great after a cleaning.