Classic Suffix A and CSK Restoration

There's an upside to going to the ME for two years.. the pressure will be off me to sell the the 1990 Vogue SE.

mwhahahaha !!
I'll have 5 range rovers lined up in the unit.

When's the start date??

I have to advise them of that.. need to get Security Clearances approved and visas. that takes about 8 weeks.. so about the start of december.. the wife will have a conniption fit if i'm not around for christmas..

Easiest thing for me to help out in the 8 weeks would be to take the engines away and take 'em to work where I can work on them in the evenings after work, else it will be confined to the odd weekend when she lets me out to play!

That's if you are happy to do that!

Saint.V8 said:

Easiest thing for me to help out in the 8 weeks would be to take the engines away and take 'em to work where I can work on them in the evenings after work, else it will be confined to the odd weekend when she lets me out to play!

That's if you are happy to do that!

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Yes fella of course. The main one is the Suffix A lump.. the CSK runs very well (but doesnt stop so good) if i can get the A engine done then i can drop the body back on with the engine bay painted.. then it's just electrical and fannying about.

Saint.V8 said:

Easiest thing for me to help out in the 8 weeks would be to take the engines away and take 'em to work where I can work on them in the evenings after work, else it will be confined to the odd weekend when she lets me out to play!

That's if you are happy to do that!

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Couple more How Tos on the way?!

Grrrrrr said:

Couple more How Tos on the way?!

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Defo....also photos would be taken as a matter-of-course anyway to keep in Adams 'Vehicle Resto File' that he compiles for the vehicles.

CSK rear crossmember cut out, rot removed, new crossmember welded in, new weather strip, new body mounts in today..



After the cross member.. started on the driver side sill, the worst one.. the A pillar there is like a piece of string

Saint.V8 said:

Defo....also photos would be taken as a matter-of-course anyway to keep in Adams 'Vehicle Resto File' that he compiles for the vehicles.

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Oh for sure.. I like to do a photojournal of the work done, when it's done and documented for the file on each car, along with the reciepts for the work. As well as having the before and after pictures, i think its important to not just have receipts for what's been done, but also the photos of it in progress. it all makes up the cars rich history.

It think it will be good to see Ant's work, if it helps at least one other Classic owner, then it's been worthwhile.

how much yu charge for a rear X-member replace on a disco1?

ukadamwest said:

CSK rear crossmember cut out, rot removed, new crossmember welded in, new weather strip, new body mounts in today..



After the cross member.. started on the driver side sill, the worst one.. the A pillar there is like a piece of string

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How long is it?

The Mad Hat Man said:

how much yu charge for a rear X-member replace on a disco1?

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2 bi-curious ladies (attractive) and a can of squirty cream

wattfield said:

How long is it?

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a few inches shorter than it should be....

ukadamwest said:

2 bi-curious ladies (attractive) and a can of squirty cream

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bugger that - I aint paying for cream .

Suffix A shell now ounted onto the donor chassis that has legs welded onto it to use as a jig for lining up the front wings, steam cleaned out the rear window slider tracks the windows slide now ! the Vogue SE got a clean. cut some more rot out of the drivers side sill on the CSK. Using the LSE as an office in the unit.. its big enough ! Attempted to order the front wings and additional body panels today too

By the way. here's the LSE.. i'll start a thread on this one when it gets underway..

Had a visit from the Saint of V8 today.. who spent pretty much all day with me removing the engine from the Suffix A.. Much Respect to SaintV8 !

here's where we started..


Inlent manifold off, exhaust manifolds undone, rocker covers off.. , heads off to have a look..

Then... Engine out..



When the rocker covers came off, it all looked rather suprisingly good in respects of wear, the rockers looked pretty new and nothing in the way of tar build up in the rockers. it looks like it's done very low mileage in its life. the shaft on the gearbox shows very little wear.. the grease is even retaining it's grease colour. the wear on the top of the valve train is very light, along with the lobes on the camshaft some damp has got in and left some surface corrosion on the bollt heads for the rockers.

We took the heads off to see what delights were lying in store in the bores.. not so good.. the crank is pretty solid.. the car had been stored for some 10 years and it looks like that large portion of that has been without spark plugs in. so plenyt of dust and moisture in the cylinders. one of the sparkplugs seized in and broke off (my side!!) and the cylinders.. not so good. two valve in the head stuck open..

Right Bank


Left Bank


The intention is to try and save the orgional block and retain orignality with the original engine number. The Saint of V8 has taken away the block to get his fingers on.. and starting a thread on Saving a 3.5 engine... Over to you Saint....

Is that a hoist you're using or is that just Saint's other arm? "Oh, and this is my weak arm."

So Saint`s been in heaven all day, up to his armpits in classic v8s and enjoying ever second
what a way to spend a nice sunday.

Grrrrrr said:

Is that a hoist you're using or is that just Saint's other arm? "Oh, and this is my weak arm."

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You've seen Saint then.