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Ramblings and XKE questions

To: british-cars@autox.team.net
Subject: Ramblings and XKE questions
From: kmwheeler@ualr.edu
Date: Sun, 02 May 1993 22:05:22 EDT
It's been a little while since I even had a chance to read the list.
It's been an awful semester.  At least the 'B is running good...

I had to replace the cracked cylinder head on my '76 MGB.  The new head,
along with a change of idle jets, has the car running great, but it still
idles like it has a big cam (oh yeah, it does have a big cam).  I bought a
parts car from my uncle that cam with and extra engine, tranny, and all sorts.
I got lucky and the head off the extra engine was in good shape (no cracks).
I also got the parts I needed to convert my '68 B (autocross/vintage race 
hopeful) from wire wheels.  I still need a couple of rostyles to get it
going, but it's better than the dead wires it was on.

My last posting (some months ago) mentioned the possiblity of my purchase of
a 1970 GT-6+.  Nothing yet, but it may still be there.  I do, however, have
the opportunity of purchasing a fairly rough 1962 XKE.  It'll take a whole
summer's co-op earnings to get it.  I do have a MIG welder and time, so
I don't mind taking on rust.  I just don't know how ambitious I should get.
This could be my only chance to purchase an E-type.  It's even in a barn.
I've always dreamed of finding an old E in a barn and fixing it up.
What should I look for, problem wise?  What can't reasonably be fixed?
How rusty is too rusty?

Is it possible for an engineering student to make a living working with 
these old cars?  Sometimes I feel tired of equations and circuit boards,
and dread what kind of chains await me in employment.  I may be too
sentimental about these cars (like our '79 Midget obtained from a seedy
used car lot-"We just have to save it," she said).   Oh well, my last final
is in two days and I have far too many lab reports due and I spend too much
time daydreaming about that XKE waiting for me is some far-off barn.

I plan on looking at it on the 8th.

"and the droning engine throbs in time with your beating heart...
  sing blue silver..."    Duran Duran

Keith Wheeler
kmwheeler@ualr.edu
senior, computer engineering technology



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