Restoration Case Study:
BJ8 engine overhaul

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One of the great things about this business is that you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. This Hungarian-based, American customer has become a good friend and we have never even met!

Imagine our surprise when the transporter arrives and a gleaming, restored BJ8 rolls out into the sunshine. We all looked at each other, trying to understand what work could be scheduled for this freshly restored car.

Our opinion soon changed when we raised the bonnet and drove the car for the first time! This was the most over complicated car we have ever seen. The engine bay was draped with hoses and cables from every direction, three ‘modern’ carbs from the 70s were rigged up, the pedals and controls simply made the car inoperable and when we did get it driving you could lock the brakes by breathing on the pedal.

All this under a beautifully painted and trimmed car!

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The way forward was to put the car back as close to original as practical and de-complicate things. We could then think about fitting some CapeSport upgrades.

Fitting 2 inch SU’s operated by our cable conversion worked perfectly and fitting original type 16 calipers with our uprated pads re-introduced a progressive feel to the controls.

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As you can see, the engine bay is now uncomplicated. LHD cars are always worse with the steering, carbs and reservoirs together so we have moved the fluids and re-routed servo hoses.

But this is not the end of this story, as the BJ8 rolled off the truck back in Hungary a BN1 was winched on for us to restore - and we still haven’t met the customer face to face!