First Drive impressions 1974 3.0CS

[JFENG]

This summer I bought Paul Briggs' 1974 coupe.
Mario was the first to drive (up to his shop for a bumper conversion).
I just got it back and put my first miles on it. It's pretty much stock in the powertrain department, but Paul upgraded the suspension.

My first impression is how gutless the stock 3.0CS is in comparison to my old E3's (I had a bunch). But they all had hot motors, sidedrafts, etc. Also, Paul's rear end feels pretty tall (maybe a 3.45?). My 1964 Jaguar is faster and my old E-type would leave a coupe for dead from a stoplight.

The brakes were great, handling was surprisingly good (Paul's got a nice set of shocks/springs), and overall it is a great cruiser. The shift linkage for the 265 5spd OD was pretty rubbery coming from a ZF 5spd dogleg box. I much prefer the mechanical, precision feel of that linkage.

It's also amazing how solid these cars are for a 1970's design sans B-pillar.

This winter is for fixing all the missing/broken stuff in the interior, and laying the groundwork for a powertrain upgrade.

I'm still looking for a LSD with 3.07 gearset for my CR box.

Finally, while the E9 sets records for slow windows, it must also be a record holder in how fast the sunroof opens and closes. This thing goes full open in about 2 seconds flat! It's so fast it needs a child proof switch.

Thanks to everyone for making this forum one of the very best I've experienced.

John

P.S. I got a set of Pete's stainless bumpers. I'll post a detailed review of them soon.

 

[HB Chris]

All US coupes by 74 had the 3.64 rear end, 3.45 on early 2800CS. 3.07 would be really tall but maybe nice with a dogleg box. You can tighten up the shifter with a short shift kit.

 

[JFENG]

Getting an old car

All US coupes by 74 had the 3.64 rear end, 3.45 on early 2800CS. 3.07 would be really tall but maybe nice with a dogleg box. You can tighten up the shifter with a short shift kit.

Previous owner lavished lots of love on the car. A very good "PO" in my opinion.
But, I think I'll need to go through EVERYTHING on this one. Hopefully it'll outlying be little fixes.

3.07 - with the dogleg it will give somewhat similar revs to the OD 5spd with a 3.64 rear. I don't need a short first gear for stop light grandprixs.

Anyone else experience the face of the glove box door peeling away from the under structure?

John

 

[Peter Coomaraswamy]

bfeng, this won't really help you now but I have the same basic experience with my coupe, drives nice, my 5-speed is OK, but I will be putting in the short shift for sure, but it is really not a fast car, I too owned a couple of Bavaria's back in the day that were much faster-unmodified, so I'm searching for a power upgrade without going overboard. I have dual Webers and Pertronix, but that's it. I will be going through everything in the next month or so including a new exhaust and a more precise carb tune in the hope to find the big button that says low-power/normal power. I was particularly discouraged by being out-accellerated by a FIAT, (sorry for using curse words).

 

[decoupe]

Cam - best bang for the buck

Peter, cam that motor - should perk it up. I have a re-grind to a shrick 282 pattern. Not the real thing but does just fine. IE sells a version of the 284 and others will have others for about $200. Or phone Paul Burke.

 

[Nicad]

Don't understand how Bavarias can be so much faster. My first Bavaria cost me $200, smoked profusely on deceleration but was a rocket ship.

 

[Stevehose]

Yes quite common, put some glue in there and get all your clamps or vice grips lined up to hold it closed until it sets.

Anyone else experience the face of the glove box door peeling away from the under structure?

John

 

[Stevehose]

Triple Webers will put some torque into the equation. Also a 284 cam but that requires some bucks to remove/replace. IMHO on my cars and others I have driven, dual Webers provide less performance than well-tuned Zeniths, and defintiely less than triples.

bfeng, this won't really help you now but I have the same basic experience with my coupe, drives nice, my 5-speed is OK, but I will be putting in the short shift for sure, but it is really not a fast car, I too owned a couple of Bavaria's back in the day that were much faster-unmodified, so I'm searching for a power upgrade without going overboard. I have dual Webers and Pertronix, but that's it. I will be going through everything in the next month or so including a new exhaust and a more precise carb tune in the hope to find the big button that says low-power/normal power. I was particularly discouraged by being out-accellerated by a FIAT, (sorry for using curse words).

 

[JFENG]

Mistake about speed

I was particularly discouraged by being out-accellerated by a FIAT, (sorry for using curse words).

Pete,

That wasn't a Fiat Dino that dusted you was it?

FWIW, I meant to say my 1954 Jaguar is faster. In fact, all of my old cars from the 50's and 60's are quicker than this stock E9, but none of them handle better.

I'll to install a M30B35, change to triple Webers to replace the DVGA's on there now (which run really horribly), plus a Stahl header from the group buy. I considered the Euro 3.5 for sale on the CCA parts forum, but passed as I could not get any sort of confirmation that it's a Euro motor or just a stock USA B35.

My E3's were faster because they were all modified (big displacement, cams, headers, head work, etc.). I don't think the E9 is slower than a stock E3 of the same year unless the E9 is carb'd and the E3 has L-jet.

 

[John Buchtenkirch]

Don't understand how Bavarias can be so much faster. My first Bavaria cost me $200, smoked profusely on deceleration but was a rocket ship.

Exact same deal with me, both the smoke and a rocket ship, well when compared to my coupe at least. The PO installed the dual Weber conversion on my coupe which runs way too rich which is most of the problem IMO. Back in the day someone told me the coupes are 200 pounds heavier than a Bavaria which could also be part of it if true.


Every once in a while someone questions why coupes aren’t worth more in the collector car world…… well here’s you answer in a nutshell, a non-exotic performing same-as the sedan engine in an exotic looking body that has a well-deserved reputation for being a rust bucket. There are certainly pluses too but that’s how I think most serious collectors look at our coupes. ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[DerSchwede]

I think this cooks down to a few essential points:

Many coupes were delivered fully equipped whereas the sedans more often lacked quite a bit of this (heavy) eqipment like a/c etc. The "performance" upgrade of twin Weber DGV/DCD/DGAS will not give any more ponies vs the stock Zenith counterpart. In many cases the latter being old and have air-leaks will of course perform worse than new(ish) Webers. What I mean is: you got to compare apples with apples. Well tuned Zeniths on a 9:1 Euro 3.0 will easily give 200 hp DIN with a 282 Schrick - and still make a mileage of 24 possible. That will be hard with any other carb setup... That means Well below 8 seconds to 60 in an E9

I had a twin Weber 36/36 setup with a Luminition ignition on my 3.0S which worked very well but even if it was very strong at mid-revs due to the jetting, it didn't give more peak power than a stock engine in good shape. The induction sound was terrific though...

 

[JFENG]

But if she goes to the gym

JB,
I totally agree and yet .... we all own E9's

All she needs is a trip to the gym and a course of anabolic steriods to add some muscle to the beauty and poise.

For me, part of the attraction is that it holds a set of parents and a set of somewhat uncomfortable teens. Part of my promise to my SO that we'll always have one family oriented classic.


John

 

[JFENG]

Mileage

I got a pretty amazing 20+ mpg on the first drive. On the older but faster machines, I have to stop every 100miles for gas and to stretch (poor driving position, very noisy, no power anything, ineffectual heater/brakes, air-con means putting the top down, etc.).

NOISE: I think these coupes are too quiet. Makes it harder to learn heel-toe because you can't hear the engine rev very well. Anyone want to have a best exhaust note contest (as heard from inside the car)?

BTW, I don't know what Paul did to this coupe yet, but the brakes are great for street driving. I'm sure they'd be quicky overwhelmed by the weight of the car on a track day, but on the street they are very firm, lots of friction, progressive, really great for 1970.

Plus, I'm still blown away how fast the electric sunroof is. I'm sure this coupe was faster new and the poorly setup webers are part of the problem.