Lagonda Rapiers

4 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

Hello Jp
Thank you for your concern. I will be getting a signed statment from the specialist firm in the UK that are relining the gearbox bands and top-gear cone, stating that they are Asbestos Free and a similar one from the Brake firm.( Your friends at Eltham) who will be relining the brake shoesThe car does not have a clutch! There is just one gasket in the exhaust system and I will replace that also with a certified Asbestos free gasket that I can cut myself. I am already talking with our shipping man, Greg Gibson who has vast experience in shipping our cars into  and out of Melbourne. We packed the Fiat 501 to go to England yesterday. I have shipped our present Lagonda to and from England before (seven times) and I do not know how many other cars either coming or going over the past 50 (approx) years. If you are sufficiently interested you are welcome to come and look at the wonders of a Preselect gearbox before I put it together and back into the car. Just let me know before you come. I will make and fit a new exhaust flange gasket before the car departs and retain an off cut of the material used, if anyone needs to either look at it or test it to destruction.I carry a spare NEW head gasket in the  tool locker in the rear of the car so it will be easy to show anyone who is likely to need to see it. The gaskets under the carbs and between the inlet manifolds are made of a heavy paper that I also cut myself. I am sure I can find a sample of the material or even a spare gasket if needed.
I believe that I am reasonably experienced in both working on the Lagonda engine, etc and shipping the car back and forth, to and from, England.
I do not live all that far from you and there is a standing invitation for you to come and see me. I can promise you that regardless of age, I am not in the final stages of Dementia!
I am reasonably sure that there will be no over looked Asbestos fibres left anywhere in or around the gearbox.
Again, all I ask is that you please let me know before you come.

10-27-2018

Right now all this may be just another waste of money, I am having a serious re-think about going to the UK & Europe. The though of driving on the crowded roads in the UK is especially something I am not keen to do again.
Suppose its is not a bad thing to have another set of relined gearbox bands on the shelf. If we do not go I doubt the I will ever need to use them. I can always put the "Wide Ratio" box back together with the re-lined bands I already have  "in stock".

10-30-2018

Just to be 100% certain I have just last week posted the set of bands and top-gear cone to England to be relined in the current Asbestos Free, Friction linings. Hopefully I will have these back in time for me to finish rebuilding the (spare) gearbox before the car has to take its usual sea voyage back to its home-land. Some four weeks later we will fly to England, & collect it for the start of our 'holiday". When we return home I can start the process all over again with the "CloseRatio" box that I have put on the shelf to await its rebuild.