New member, new Staag. Let the restoration begin.

[beniboyz]

Hi, my name is Ben. I've recently joined the SOC as I have just brought my first Stag.

I have been restoring classic cars for a while and after selling my last project (1987 Capri 2.8 injection special - Turbo Technics), I thought I would treat myself to a Stag and give it a new lease of life!

Some of you may recognise the car as it was on eBay a couple of weeks ago. It is a K reg Mk1 in what appears to be Sienna red.

The car is fitted with the Rover V8 and auto box, it looks like the car was originally manual and the conversion done sometime in the 80's. If anyone has any info on the car prior to my ownership I would be pleased to see it!

I am unsure if I will be keeping the Rover unit as I may put the lot back to a Triumph V8 and manual box.. I have been into modifying classics but the jury is out on this one for the moment. My main priority is getting the bodywork done right.

Overall the condition of the car is very good, it has had some welding done in the past and is relatively straight. The car will be completely rebuilt after being taken back to bare metal.

I will hopefully add some more pictures as the project progresses once it is at the body shop.

No doubt I will be on this forum a bit whilst I rebuild the old gal. I always find owners clubs to be the best source of information for spares and technical information.


Many thanks!

Ben

[Jeff]

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the er mad, nut, dog house, but greeeeeeaaaaat forum.

Looking forward to your resto.

I was going to fit a super duper RV8 but had the TV8 rebuilt, good decision but still wonder what if.........

Jeff.

[beniboyz]

Thanks Jeff,

I'm in two minds about the RV8. One one hand it is already in the car but on the other hand it is an Auto box in a manual shell. My research leads me to believe that it is an early conversion kit since the manifolds come forward and round the subframe. What I need to do is check the condition of it and see if it is up to the job or not. I'll get it running this week and report back.

Ben

[jleyton]

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your resto.

I don't know if you've been viewing the forum before or not but there are a couple of guys on here who have been doing very thorough restorations (Rubce and dasadrew) - their's will make interesting reading for you perhaps !

Although I came from the Island, like yourself, that's where the similarities finish as I haven't got a clue about the bodywork side of things - give me the mechanics any day !!

Anyway, I hope you find this forum a great place to be - at least you haven't had to go through the turmoil of changing from the old system !

Cheers

[beniboyz]

Thanks!

I too prefer the mechanicals and that is certainly my strong point! The bodywork gets shipped off to the professionals as I would never do it justice. My forte is getting the oily bits rebuilt and fitting up the finished shell.

I will certainly check out the other members threads for inspiration!


Ben

[martin]

Hiya Ben, welcome to the nut house, a very good place to be ! Are you going to the Jersey Festival in June ? A small bunch of us are coming over for it, perhaps a pint would be in order ? Martin.

[beniboyz]

Hiya Ben, welcome to the nut house, a very good place to be ! Are you going to the Jersey Festival in June ? A small bunch of us are coming over for it, perhaps a pint would be in order ? Martin.

I would do Martin however I am on the Isle of Wight and not Jersey! Not too far I guess but I don't think the car would be done by then!

Ben

[martin]

OH POO ! I MUST GET THESE GLASSES CHANGED ! nitraM.

[Jeff]

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your resto.

I don't know if you've been viewing the forum before or not but there are a couple of guys on here who have been doing very thorough restorations (Rubce and dasadrew) - their's will make interesting reading for you perhaps !

Although I came from the Island, like yourself, that's where the similarities finish as I haven't got a clue about the bodywork side of things - give me the mechanics any day !!

Anyway, I hope you find this forum a great place to be - at least you haven't had to go through the turmoil of changing from the old system !

Cheers

Julian,

How our paths may have crossed over the years. I moved to the IOW about 17 years ago, St Lawrence, between Niton and Ventnor, bought a dilapidated 10 bedroom hotel with the intention of doing a B&B for when I retired from Fire Service. Only lasted a year and moved back to solid ground, made money on the sale to someone half famous.

Jeff.

[STAG1973]

OH POO ! I MUST GET THESE GLASSES CHANGED ! nitraM.

Should have gone to spec savers Martin

Welcome Ben good luck with your resto.

Adrian

[Guest]

Hello Ben and welcome to the SOC.

Nice to see someone with the same sort of set-up as me ...but you obviously have skills ..and that's where we differ

Mines a 75 car that was originally an auto and now has a RV8 and General Motors auto-box (a' la 1980's Vauxhalls). I bought it 6 months ago (time flies) when it had been off the road since 2001/02 following a pretty comprehensive resto.

I have managed about 25 miles in her....and thats it.... as there is a major starting / restarting isse.

Anyway...looking forward to seeing your story as it unfolds.

[V Mad]

Hi Ben, welcome to the club and forum. What is your aim, are you going to keep the car or sell it when finished? IMO the original engine will bring a better price on resale, but If you keep the Rover, and upgrade to a tuned 3.9 or larger, that can add significantly to the desirability/sale price. I had a v8 Vitesse engine in one of my stags, which was fast but needed revving all the time; next time I would go for a larger engine with a broader power band.

[beniboyz]

Hello Ben and welcome to the SOC.

Nice to see someone with the same sort of set-up as me ...but you obviously have skills ..and that's where we differ

Mines a 75 car that was originally an auto and now has a RV8 and General Motors auto-box (a' la 1980's Vauxhalls). I bought it 6 months ago (time flies) when it had been off the road since 2001/02 following a pretty comprehensive resto.

I have managed about 25 miles in her....and thats it.... as there is a major starting / restarting isse.

Anyway...looking forward to seeing your story as it unfolds.

Thanks! I hope you find the issue and get it sorted! I may wonder out today if the rain holds off to see if she will start. I've poured oil down the bores a couple of weeks ago and managed to turn it by had on Sunday. Once it runs I will start removing it along with everything else ready for the body shop.

Hi Ben, welcome to the club and forum. What is your aim, are you going to keep the car or sell it when finished? IMO the original engine will bring a better price on resale, but If you keep the Rover, and upgrade to a tuned 3.9 or larger, that can add significantly to the desirability/sale price. I had a v8 Vitesse engine in one of my stags, which was fast but needed revving all the time; next time I would go for a larger engine with a broader power band.

Thank you Chris,

I've always wanted a Stag since I was treated to a ride in one by one of Jaguar's publicity managers of the 60's/ 70's and 80's. He lived next door to my Grandparents when I was younger.

It was a white M reg and sounded lovely! It is this reason I wanted a Stag. I brought mine as the shell is solid, it always helps to have a solid base.

I have modified classics for a number of years, my last being the Capri turbo, standard on the outside, changed on the inside. I've also built a Supercharged Zetec'd Marina TC coupe too. The Stag could still go either way!

I could sell the RV8, auto box and ancillaries and revert everything back to standard with that lovely sounding TV8. I'm not afraid of hard work so would rebuild any TV8 or RV8 myself, fitting a manual gearbox along the way. I'm looking to keep the Stag for a while as I want to enjoy my hard work. The car will be completely rebuilt from the ground up with replacement panels as necessary. The quality of the work will be as close to A1 as possible but done as a usable classic and not one that moves around on a trailer.

How much would a used TV8 cost with g/box?

Ben

[marcusclive]

Hello Ben,
Welcome to the forum and nice to see another mad fool on the island.
You should have great fun with the stag, i must admit that for me its got to be the original engine. i just love the way it revs and sounds great. i do get moaned at though cos my wife says its a fat bald old mans car. Just as well ive got one then.
Marcus.

[ukbiggles]

How much would a used TV8 cost with g/box?

Ben

Hi Ben, welcome to the Forum. Can't say what an engine would cost but you might contact Martin Dimmick of Justriumph (details on the net), who is in the parts supply business. A lot of us will say that when you are looking for something and can't find it anywhere else, try Martin.

I am not connected to him or his business. I was there today and he has an Alladdin's cave of parts there. He might be able to give you a guideline.

Gord