A V12 sized gamble

[LewG]

Finished at last:


After a long day it's now back underneath the car:


Just a few things to do before it can be driven out, connect up the exhausts, bleed the brakes, fit radius arms, fill it with oil and connect up the handbrake cable. Unfortunately I'm off to college for a week now so no progress until next weekend.

[LewG]

Well by Saturday afternoon I was able to drive her out!:


Feels absolutely fantastic, lovely and tight, no horrible knocks and bangs, and as you can see it's sitting much better.
The only annoying thing is that Jaguar being Jaguar they used two different sizes of sealing olive on one exhaust pipe, so silly me buys one size thinking that'd fit all. How wrong I was. Had to leave the over-axle olives out just to drive it out and prove it's okay. Some new olives of the correct size should be arriving this week, as per usual I'm staying away from home with college so unfortunately I can't get them fitted till next weekend. That to sort, a few clamps, and put the chrome exhaust tips on. I'd also like to re-bleed the brakes as they feel pretty squidgy. Will check the reservoir when I get back and around all the unions to make sure I don't have a leak.
Naturally I had to give her some boot on the test drive, still pulling as well as ever!

[rasto]

<clicks PH like button lots>

Well done Such an enjoyable thread to read too.

[LewG]

Cheers Rasto, got it about finished today and went for a blat around some country lanes, it feels great apart from one of the exhausts making a tapping noise underneath on the heat shield unfortunately.



The obligatory dash light came on soon after.....

[LewG]

Quick update all, put the XJ into the local bodyshop on Saturday morning to have a few bits done. Had to stop myself from pointing out everything otherwise I could've emptied my bank account fairly easily!
Whilst it's there I'm aiming to have the exhaust clearance issues sorted up on a ramp in the garage next door. I've tried my best with it but you know what it's like working on your back with the car on jacks, it's not easy.
Really looking forward to getting it back, it feels like I've wasted half the summer but hopefully I'll have a much better car for it. Pictures to follow when it's back.

[LouD86]

Some serious commitment you have put into this car, nice to see someone saving a piece of British Engineering.

I enjoy reading your thread. What parts are you having sorted at the bodyshop?

[Hooli]

Damn excellent work here OP

[LewG]

Thanks, obviously where I've repaired on the rear arch is being finished, and both front arches are a little scabby but not actually rotten so I'm having those tidied and painted. The N/S rear needs welding realistically but I'll do that when winter comes, no point having a nice painted repair over a rusty inner.
The last thing to be done is a small scab just below the windscreen chrome strip. It's nowhere near as bad as some I've seen so hopefully I've caught it in time. One of those obvious places that must look 'right'. To finish and paint all of that I believe we're looking at about £350, so not too bad.

[uremaw]

Beautiful car - awesome work so far.

[LewG]

At last the beast is back.
Out this evening for a quick jolly and pulled in to the garage(again), parked next to this fantastic Routemaster. It was absolutely immaculate and a real credit to the owners.



Seemed the perfect time for a photo opportunity The bodywork is looking pretty good, just needs a good wash and polish now!

[Shadow R1]

Great job.

[LewG]

Had a fantastic day smoking about in the Jag yesterday, used an awful lot of petrol taking mates out for a spin etc and overall got to know the car a bit better again. One thing I have noticed is that it does seem to run quite hot. My coolant level is right up where it should be, and I appreciate it was a hot day with a lot of engine to cool, but even in normal driving (60mph) for example, the gauge sits dead on normal and when sitting still idling for a few minutes moves pretty much to halfway between normal and hot. Any thoughts on this?

[kamilb1998]

From what I've read on the XJ40 forums regarding the V12 variant, they do tend to run rather hot. May be worth a flush and a coolant change? The cooling systems on these do need to be in top condition to adequately cool these engines.

[LewG]

My thoughts exactly Kamil, do that and change the hoses too, it can't hurt can it?

[tr7v8]

LewG said:

Had a fantastic day smoking about in the Jag yesterday, used an awful lot of petrol taking mates out for a spin etc and overall got to know the car a bit better again. One thing I have noticed is that it does seem to run quite hot. My coolant level is right up where it should be, and I appreciate it was a hot day with a lot of engine to cool, but even in normal driving (60mph) for example, the gauge sits dead on normal and when sitting still idling for a few minutes moves pretty much to halfway between normal and hot. Any thoughts on this?

Check the rad isn't partially clogged up, not unknown on Jags. Does this one have an electric fan that works when the A/C is on?

[XJ Flyer]

tr7v8 said:

LewG said:

Had a fantastic day smoking about in the Jag yesterday, used an awful lot of petrol taking mates out for a spin etc and overall got to know the car a bit better again. One thing I have noticed is that it does seem to run quite hot. My coolant level is right up where it should be, and I appreciate it was a hot day with a lot of engine to cool, but even in normal driving (60mph) for example, the gauge sits dead on normal and when sitting still idling for a few minutes moves pretty much to halfway between normal and hot. Any thoughts on this?

Check the rad isn't partially clogged up, not unknown on Jags. Does this one have an electric fan that works when the A/C is on?

The cooling system is one of the biggest compromises in the design at best in being effectively two 2.5 litre + 6 cylinder engine's worth of heat with a radiator that's not much larger than the 4.2 6 cylinder cars.So there's no margin for any issues however small they are.If it's all standard then start with the usual small items and work towards the larger ones.Check the operation of the mechanical fan coupling and the smaller electric auxiliary one.Then throw the thermostats and fit the genuine Jaguar replacement new ones as a matter of course.If they are all good and the temperature is getting too high at idle then start looking further at things like the radiator which on these needs to be looked at as a consumable over time because they irreversibly clog and lose efficiency so easily and the small gap between the air con rad and the radiator often gets clogged with debris too.It's also a good idea to start with a known new water pump.The normal range is around 90-130 degrees which on the saloons at least is marked as the green range on the gauge.If it's getting above that in whatever conditions then it's an issue.On mine it's running with a new aluminium rad and twin electric fans with a louvred bonnet and still often happily runs up to around 120 degrees + at low speeds and when idling.The main thing is to make sure that it doesn't get any hotter than than that and that it quickly returns to around 90 degrees when it's back at decent speeds and airflow.

Edited by XJ Flyer on Wednesday 16th July 14:51

[LewG]

This is the thing XJ, it always amazes me how relatively small the radiator is. Both fans seem to be working okay, like you say I will ensure the matrix is clear and do both thermostats as a matter of cause, at the same time I could also flush the block through so that could help somewhat. The temperature falls down back to normal within a minute or two once back up to speed again with plenty of airflow so it's obviously doing its job.
I'm more used to the sort of running conditions I have with my old Land Rover, everyone complains about them running hot and yet I have never seen the temperature rise above normal even when stuck in traffic in 30 degree heat. When I had the engine to pieces I made sure to blow through every coolant gallery with the pressure washer etc, and flushed the radiator through several times. New hoses and thermostat, and it's been absolutely perfect since. It just goes to show that many classics could avoid overheating problems if the original system was maintained properly. I've lost count the number of cars I've seen overheating in the queues to get into classic shows over the past few years!

[LewG]

Covered around 250 effortless but thirsty miles in the past five days or so, quite good going when you consider I've been away on holiday in the daily driver for two of those!
The grille badge has always looked quite tatty so I removed that this evening and refurbished it with model paints and some nail varnish. Looking much better for it:


In the next week or two I would like to get the air conditioning sorted out as it does nothing but blow warm air. I'm planning to go away for a short holiday in it in a couple of weeks, weather permitting, so air con is a must as it gets toasty in there to say the least!

Edited by LewG on Monday 4th August 17:12

[Hooli]

When your finished can I buy this off you for £500? it looks great already & your obviously not finished yet.

[LewG]

Of course Hooli through work I know a local air con specialist quite well so I asked him if he could update the system on it, he said it won't be a problem so there's a result. There's a few jobs that will need doing when winter arrives but for now, drive and enjoy. I should apologize to the folk in my area because I'm running the petrol stations dry by using it all the time for even the most mundane journeys!