My Bristol

KJ4YXY · #1 (**permalink**) 17-08-11, 11:14 PM

Hi everybody
i have a bristol and i am starting to restore it. It was originaly my fathers. he got sick died so it is mine. What he was doing was that he was going to rebuild it. He worked a bit on the engine and was probably finishing up the interior and getting dents out of the aluminum. It has set for about 20 years. I sort of know what i am doing and My friend will sort of help.
I know a few specs about the car, it has a 318 and it most likely a 409.
I post pics later.

geo · #2 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJ4YXY

Hi everybody
i have a bristol and i am starting to restore it. ...
it has a 318 and it most likely a 409.
I post pics later.

Have a look at the maker's plate under the bonnet, that will tell you which model (and number in the production run) it is. Also, it is unlikely to have the 318 CID engine.

George

Ronald G. Stephenson · #3 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 06:42 PM

You have a nice and rare car there, and I hope you are able to get it back to being roadworthy. You mentioned the engine, and a couple things happened back then, as most all original engines were supplied by Chrysler Canada. Many small blocks were 313 inches instead of the American 318, but very little difference here, so sourcing engine parts should be no problem. Same goes for the Torqueflite transmission. Both are generic items. Good luck on your project. Sorry to hear about your father.

KJ4YXY · #4 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald G. Stephenson

You have a nice and rare car there, and I hope you are able to get it back to being roadworthy. You mentioned the engine, and a couple things happened back then, as most all original engines were supplied by Chrysler Canada. Many small blocks were 313 inches instead of the American 318, but very little difference here, so sourcing engine parts should be no problem. Same goes for the Torqueflite transmission. Both are generic items. Good luck on your project. Sorry to hear about your father.

thanks

well i will try to post some pics.
one thing is that it has a steering wheal on the side like in Brittan

KJ4YXY · #5 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 07:05 PM

hi i dont have a clue about how to use this forum so just send me a email (kj4yxy@gmail.com) so i can send you pics.
i know it is a mopar engine and my friend who talked with my dad when he was working on this knows it is a 318.
i know engine parts will be simple to find but it is more of finding interior parts.
also to reply to GEO where?

KJ4YXY · #6 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald G. Stephenson

You have a nice and rare car there, and I hope you are able to get it back to being roadworthy. You mentioned the engine, and a couple things happened back then, as most all original engines were supplied by Chrysler Canada. Many small blocks were 313 inches instead of the American 318, but very little difference here, so sourcing engine parts should be no problem. Same goes for the Torqueflite transmission. Both are generic items. Good luck on your project. Sorry to hear about your father.

thanks
i know it is a 409 because my nieghbor was watching him work on it and he said it was a 318. it has a the stearing wheel on the side like brittan.
i will email pics, just email me at kj4yxy@gmail.com

KJ4YXY · #7 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo

Have a look at the maker's plate under the bonnet, that will tell you which model (and number in the production run) it is. Also, it is unlikely to have the 318 CID engine.

George

How and where?

Kevin H · #8 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo

Also, it is unlikely to have the 318 CID engine.

George

Surely it *should* have a 318 engine if it is a 409?

Kevin

KJ4YXY · #9 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin H

Surely it *should* have a 318 engine if it is a 409?

Kevin

that is what everybody says

Kevin H · #10 (**permalink**) 18-08-11, 10:11 PM

Here are some photos that were sent to me ....

GREG · #11 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 08:24 AM

It's a 408 Mk 1 so will have a 313 engine if original

Only the 407 and 408 have round Auto gear change buttons.

Hope this helps

GREG · #12 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 08:42 AM

408's have my favourite body style of all the V8's. It's very sad to see one as far gone as this is.

I hope that it will be restored but if it is , it certainly wont be for profit. ! The 313 engine is quite rare now and the gearbox can be around £4k to rebuild properly.

I guess the underneath will finaly dictate if it's worth or possible to restore. If the chassis has rotted and broken it's back, I guess it would be only good for Brian May's parts car collection.

I hope my fears are wrong and it works out to be a worthwhile restoration project.

Good luck

GREG · #13 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 02:40 PM

At first glance , it looks like the engine has been replaced with a 318 - not sure.

The chassis plate in front of the missing radiator will have the original engine number on it.

The carb is certainly wrong.

geo · #14 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREG

At first glance , it looks like the engine has been replaced with a 318 - not sure.

It is difficult to tell, but from the layout of the dynamo, belts etc., my first punt would be for the 313CID

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREG

The carb is certainly wrong.

It most definitely is as is Greg's identification of it being a 408 — not sure whether Mk.I or II though.

George

KJ4YXY · #15 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 07:14 PM

well it still has the radi but it isnt photoed.
i put it in but it wasnt wide enough

GREG · #16 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo

It is difficult to tell, but from the layout of the dynamo, belts etc., my first punt would be for the 313CID

It most definitely is as is Greg's identification of it being a 408 — not sure whether Mk.I or II though.

George

Seperate oil filler on a 313 that's not present on this engine ! Could be wrong - don't like the red paint either.

I thought the 408 MK 2 had rectangular auto buttons like the 409 ?

It is very knackered

GREG · #17 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 08:24 PM

According to this forums data KJ4YXY is only 14 and has lost his father !

This information makes me want to help you in anyway possible to rebuild this car.

Please let the forum members know more about your locality and what restoration problems you face.

I am sure that a few of us may be able to help.

Tell me more ?

Kevin H · #18 (**permalink**) 19-08-11, 11:10 PM

I thought the 313 and 318 "A" series "Poly" engines were pretty much identical other than the fact that the 318 had a 30 thou wider cylinder bore. The 313 being a Canadian engine while the 318 was built in the UA.

Are there other subtle differences?

The engine number would tell us immediately.

First impressions from the photos suggest that a restoration of this car could cost much more than it would to buy one in good condition. I know you expect that with many restorations but this looks to be in a particularly bad way.

KJ4YXY · #19 (**permalink**) 20-08-11, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREG

According to this forums data KJ4YXY is only 14 and has lost his father !

This information makes me want to help you in anyway possible to rebuild this car.

Please let the forum members know more about your locality and what restoration problems you face.

I am sure that a few of us may be able to help.

Tell me more ?

it is fine i have a step father but yes i am 14.
well i am located in the USA
one issue is that it is not in a garage

so my mom is worried about someone stealing it.
also in the city i live there a alot of ordinances that make it hard for me to work on (drive it around and try to move it).

KJ4YXY · #20 (**permalink**) 20-08-11, 12:26 AM

click on the pic to enlarge