Restoration technician Jon has been carrying on with the gearbox conversion, as well as a few other jobs, on the 1959 Jaguar MKIX here at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop.
‘Sort ignition timing and get running. Check spark. Adjust dizzy and set. Starts fine on cold start. Refit radiator and slam panel. Refit grill and brace bar. Refill cooling system manually. Check all hose clips and tighten where required. Check for leaks. Adjust throttle link to stop hitting clutch cable at bulkhead. Finish throttle adjustment and check. Go inside and connect reverse light switch and check wiring from loom for overdrive or inhibitor switch.’
‘Fill gearbox with new oil. Get new overdrive loom and parts supplied with the car out and check what we have. Remove overdrive switch from inside car. Check online for wiring diagram to assist.’
‘Remove sunroof and remove trim. Cut open sunroof frame to gain access to mechanism. Reconnect linkage inside and get working. Get rob to reweld roof frame. Paint black. Tap out holes for guides and cut down 5mm bolts to fit. Tape edges of roof to protect when fitting. Reinstall roof. Fit and secure guides and grease up. Mak small bracket for rear guide and fit. Remove sunroof as unable to fit trim in situ. Fit off car and reinstall roof. Adjust guides and test. Works OK but don’t secure yet incase we have to have it out and paint it.’
‘Wire in overdrive. Cut open new loom and select wires I need, as part of loom already on car. Wire in switch, to and from nearside and wire in earth for switch. Mount switch in dash. Make wires from gearbox switch to earth. Connect to relay and to solenoid. Secure wiring. Find permanent 12v feed from fuse box and feed wires through into car. Crimp on terminals where required and connect to relay. Find ignition live at fuse box and repeat. Once all connected turn isolator on and ignition and test solenoid. Working fine. Refit trim andtunnel but noticed gear lever mount not fully secure on gearbox so remove tunnel again.‘
‘Remove gearlever mount. Swap over to old one. Clean and lube. Secure mount and lever in bracket. Secure and fit split pins. Mount to gearbox and test. Raise car and start up. Run through all gears and reverse ok. Lower and refit tunnel with new bolts and refit carpet. Refit bonnet and test.’
