Oily Rag Classics

After a full nut & bolt restoration which we completed in 2018 this SP has been with us for a full health check and service following a change of owner.
A few cosmetic changes were carried out whilst here to make it as it left the factory. Gone are the Black wheels which have now been diamond cut, the lower sill has been Blacked out along with the aluminum radiator and fan shround which have been powdercoated Satin Black.

She still drives beautifully with no rattles or squeaks and the engine pulling strong just as a well tuned SP should.

We have just had a small batch of Tee Shirts screen printed and are available in S/M/L/XL and XXL for £18:99 inc UK postage or can be hand delivered if you are attending the JOC International in the Black Forrest for £15.
Photo and size chart below.

Please email [email protected] to check we have your size available.

Its been nearly a year since the last workshop update on youtube and with 3 cars leaving soon I thought it was time for another.
Heres the link

Workshop Update March 2024 Oily Rag Classics workshop update March 2024

Another Interceptor back on the road. Took it for a test drive today after a long time in the workshop. I have been waiting for a dry day for a long time now to test drive it.

It arrived as a non runner and has had some extensive work carried out to return some modifications back to original spec.
It arrived with custom inner wings with flushed in fusebox and the expansion tank part of the inner wing. A custom made wiring loom that was horrific, a rebuilt engine that had not had the cam bedded in along with some custom bodywork around the front.
There are still many small modifications but we heve been managing the project to a budget so these remain.

It is however now a lovely rust free car with new front end including inner wings and lots of work to put the bulkhead back to standard, a rebuilt engine, full new wiring loom, new Fenair A/C system, full LED kit, new carpets and sound deadening along with a huge list of smaller jobs.

Its currently running on trade plates as the car is not registered in Spain where it will be going soon and has no registration.

Workshop update
The White SP has been returned to its owner with a full new six pack fitted, exhaust manifolds skimmed and refitted along with a big list of smaller jobs.
The Red LHD car now has the engine in and running so its now getting to finish lots of smaller jobs before its ready to test drive.
And lastly a couple of new arrivals with a Blue G series car which has come in for a concours engine bay restoration, a full new a/c system and Mitsubishi alternator upgrade amongst the larger jobs.
A Silver Interceptor arrived last week to have a restoration finished that has been 20 years long so far!
Looks like plenty to keep me busy over the winter months.

If theres any spare time I will also start test fitting the trim on FF182 which is back from the paintshop in primer and safely stored in a carcoon with a dehumidifier.

Dropped the engine in the LHD car we have in at the moment. It all went to plan and from the first photo to the last took 18 minutes with the engine safely sat on its mounts and a couple of bolts holding it to the gearbox.
Always makes me laugh when I see it needs 5 or 6 people to do this on the TV and I do it on my own.

Its been a busy few months progressing well with the Red LHD Interceptor, the engine bay is now ready to drop the engine in as soon as its finished and tested and most of the interior has been refitted along with a full new wiring loom and a new set of carpets. The Brown SP has been in for a big recommission after being laid up for a number of years and apart from getting it running again it has had a number of upgrades to the cooling system, a Mitsubishi alternator and a new Fenair a/c kit was fitted....

Workshop Update October 2023 - Oily Rag Classics Its been a busy few months progressing well with the Red LHD Interceptor, the engine bay is now ready to drop the engine in as soon as its finished and tested and most of the interior has been refitted along with a full new wiring loom and a new set of carpets. The Brown SP […]

Workshop Update
Its been a busy few months progressing with the Red LHD Interceptor, the engine bay is now ready to drop the engine in as soon as its finished and tested and most of the interior is now back in complete with a full new wiring loom and new carpets.

The Brown SP has been in for a big recommission after being laid up for a number of years and apart from getting it running again it had a number of upgrades to the cooling system, a Mitsubishi alternator and a new Fenair a/c kit was fitted. Since being collected the owner has driven it home to Spain the scenic route covering 1400 miles on its first trip in many years where it ran faultlessly apart from a new starter solenoid failing within 200 miles.

As soon as the Brown SP left it was replaced by a returning customer in a White SP here for a second round of works to include fitting a new set of six pack carbs along with a large list of other works.

Now its time to make progress on these projects before another 2 interesting jobs arrive in November that will keep me busy through till Easter.

We are pleased to launch our Bespoke Jensen FF Build.
Full details and pricing on our website, link below.

Bespoke Build MK1 Jensen FF - Oily Rag Classics For sale bespoke build MK1 Jensen FF

After an engine bay tidy up and some recommissioning work this Interceptor is ready to be enjoyed again. Having been sat neglected since 2015 the car has been checked over and given a comprehensive mechanical and electrical overhaul.

The car is now running cool with uprated fans and a soft start controller whilst the fitment of a full Fenair a/c system with a Sanden compressor will keep the cabin cool too, the addition of a Mitsubishi alternator will provide ample power for these upgrades.

The car has been test driven and minor adjustments made and is now ready to be collected.

Really pleased with the amazing bodywork to FF182 currently at Trailer Queens the paintwork is only going as far as primer for now because the car is available to buy from us as a bespoke build.
If you are intrested in a 100% fully restored car better than it left the factory with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty finished to your specification then contact us.

Workshop update and tour video on youtube, link below.

Workshop Tour April 23 SD 480p A tour of the Oily Rag Workshop

A busy start to the year with 2 engine bays, 1 interior and 1 engine stripped ready for work to begin on these cars.
The engine has no miles on it but had cam and followers wiped out probably due to not being run in properly. Also had bent pushrods and expected damage to bearings from metal in the oil off the damaged cam.
The car is also having previous mods reversed back to standard including a full new wiring loom, new inner wings. Then both cars will have new Fenair A/C kits fitted.

Sometimes parts are no longer available like this FF gearbox mount for a car we are restoring so we have to learn new skills to replicate them.
We only had the large bracket so had to make the 2 smaller brackets from 3mm steel and weld the studs in, then a jig was made to hold the 3 brackets in the correct position whilst a casting rubber to Shore A70 was poured and set.
I was very happy when the part came out of the moulding jig to have now got another obsolete part for this car.

After a new A/C system, repairs to the heater system, uprated rear springs and much more means this Interceptor now drives as it should and everything works.
Also much work was done to the cooling system so overheating is a thing of the past and the owner will now be able to take it on some great road trips starting with a drive through Cornwall today in the sun and returning home to Jersey soon.

Another Fenair air conditioning kit fitted along with a fan speed controller and repairs to the heater vacuum system means this car will now keep the engine and passengers at the perfect temperature whatever the weather.

Helping out on the JOC stand for 3 days come and say hello and ask any technical questions you have.

Out for a test run after a mammoth recommissioning job on a CV-8 that we suspect has not been on the road for 24 years.
A top end engine rebuild, a gearbox rebuild by Duncan Watts, new S/S fuel tank and carb rebuild, brakes all siezed and rebuit, many electrical faults and other small jobs attended to but now running and driving as it should.

A busy week with an International feel as a car arrived from Spain then another from Jersey making it 4 Interceptors and a CV-8 in the workshop and with 2 FF’s and an SP out for bodywork and paint.

A late Interceptor 3 series 5 with many S4 upgrades has now joined the other cars in the workshop.
This car is amazingly rust free with just a small patch of corrosion in the drivers floorpan. It will be with us for some time and the first job will be to get the engine and gearbox removed.
The gearbox will need a rebuild and the engine will be checked before deciding whether it needs a full rebuild or just cleaning up and some improvements.
When the car has been partially dismantled a plan will be made with the owner on how far we go with this car, but it came packed full of lots of nice new parts to fit including an Edelbrock inlet manifold and carb, a fast wind starter, Mitsubishi alternator and a full Fenair a/c kit to install.

North Coast 500
At Oily Rag Classics we don’t just restore Jensens but drive them too. Having just completed 1976 miles in our Interceptor starting from Cornwall and driving to Scotland to complete the NC500 driving on some amazing roads with stunning scenery this is a road trip everyone should put on their bucket list.

All went well with the car until leaving John O Groats when a rear brake calliper handbrake assembly broke, a quick temporary repair was made at the side of the road before being driven to a local garage where they let me have full use of their workshop to remove the calliper and carry out a proper repair that would allow us to complete the trip.

SP recommissioned
After spending the last 6 months with us a Jensen SP was today returned to its owner. The car bought at an auction last year has been with us for checking over and some mechanical repairs alongside some major electrical repairs and an interior refresh.

It was also treated to a pair of bumpers, new mirrors and the removal of some non standard modifications and a full new airconditioning system.

As is often the case the list of jobs kept growing but the car should now be reliable and safe for its new owner to enjoy. This has now freed up some workshop space which will allow us to get on with the MK1 Interceptor which should be reunited with its rebuilt engine very soon and carry on with a large recommission of a CV-8 which has been stood for the last 20 years and is need of much work to the engine, brakes and fuel system.

Once we get through some of this work then the next 2 cars in the queue will arrive one for a full restoration and the other for a full mechanical restoration.

Brown Interceptor Collected
One lucky owner got to drive home in a brand new Interceptor today after a full restoration was completed @ Oily Rag Classics
Heres a link to youtube to see more
https://youtu.be/aSJ38eDNCFg

After months of waiting we finally got a windscreen to finish the Brown MK3 we have been restoring.
The car is now complete and went for its MoT and first shake down run today.
40 miles on the beautiful Atlantic Highway and the only problem was a speedo which recorded speed but not distance.

FF182 has only just had welding work completed a couple of weeks ago but was delivered to the paintshop today and work has started immediately.

The front wing has been stripped back and looks absolutely beautiful in its raw state.

This car will be for sale as a bespoke build and its future owner will be able to choose the finished specification to include body and trim colours and any upgrades.

There has not been much posted lately although lots has been done nothing is finished. A constant struggle for parts has meant that the Brown MK3 has sat in a Carcoon for the last 3 months whilst waiting for a windscreen that was ordered in June with a quoted delivery of a few weeks. We have now got the glass which is being fitted soon, so then the last few jobs can be finished and the car road tested....

Workshop Update - Oily Rag Classics There has not been much posted lately although lots has been done nothing is finished. A constant struggle for parts has meant that the Brown MK3 has sat in a Carcoon for the last 3 months whilst waiting for a windscreen that was ordered in June with a quoted delivery of a few weeks. We […]

Checkout our lastest video on youtube showing how to remove those awkward rear hubs on you Interceptor.

Jensen Interceptor Hub Removal. Oily Rag Classics demonstrate how to remove the rear hub on a Jensen Interceptor.

Checkout our latest video on youtube with time lapse footage from the rebuilding of the Brown MK3 Interceptor.

Unfortunatly we are still waiting for a windscreen so that the car can be completed.

Jensen Interceptor Restoration by Oily Rag Classics MK3 Jensen Interceptor restoration.Full nut and bolt rebuild, time lapse video by Oily Rag Classics.

Following on from yesterdays engine removal and looking at the top end a full stripdown and examination was completed today.

Bearing in mind this engine was proffesionally rebuilt elsewhere and has no road miles on it, there is a lot of work to do.
The photos show the bearing clearances measured with plastigauge and all big ends were approx 2 thou and mains between 1 ½ - 2 ½ thou. The engine had been fitted with a new set of std bearing shells but the crank has a very rough surface and has worn these new bearing shells very quickly.

So a crank grind and polish along with some undersize bearings will sort out the bottom end. The block has been bored/honed and a new set of +30 pistons fitted which are good to go back in. A new sump will be fitted as the original has some very bad dents in it.

The timing gear had all been replaced and is good along with the cam and followers. It does seem that something was originally out with either the timing set wrong or a bad lifter as a valve has hit the number 2 piston and bent the valve so bad it has split the casting. It looks like this was then covered up as the valve did have some movement and strangely just one of the pushrods is newer than the rest.

Lots of sealant was used on the rebuid and it can be seen partially blocking the oil pump port.

The coreplugs will be removed so that the waterways can be steam cleaned out and then the block will be prepped and repainted as it is already quite rusty.