XK 140 Restoration – The End of a 25 Year Saga
by Don Westcott
Don’t make the mistake, as I did, of assuming that the construction of my car was original – as it left the factory - just because numbers (chassis, engine, etc) all matched. I found various anomalies in the routing of pipes, wires etc. and various parts fitted. I eventually realised that this was probably due to the correct spares not being so easily available in the 1970s, when I bought it, as they are now - thanks to the excellent service provided by the various specialist suppliers that meet our every need today.
Lastly, study the exploded views in a parts manual. You may be surprised what parts are missing that you didn’t even know existed. One example, in my case, was the tapered fibre wedges that fit between the rear springs and the axle mounting.
So that’s it. After almost thirty years and some 2000 hours of my labour, TGH 143 is, at last, finished and on-the-road and I can begin to enjoy our special style of motoring.
You may leave a comment or question about this article:
2006-08-27 01:34:22 | Don Westcott writes:
If my experiences can be of help to anyone restoring an XK, you are welcome to contact me by clicking my name, above.
2013-08-22 13:48:46 | Robert Stokes writes:
Fascinating article. Just imported a XK140 fhc (LHD automatic) from America and starting to take the body off. Like yours the car will need a complete rebuild but these days there are parts a plenty - you just need a strong bank account!
I will download your article and study it very carefully. Thank you for making it available.
Regards Robert
2019-05-30 12:56:34 | Jim Hewitt writes:
Hello, I'm currently restoring a 1954 XK 120 and am currently refurbishing the rear springs. Do you know the factory arch height. Thanks in advance Jim Hewitt