Jeffrey the Jag
Discussion
Blast from the past....
Jeffrey has been sitting in my garage unused for a few years, as life and long, boring commutes have got in the way a bit. I've always kept him MOT'ed as the testing station is, conveniently, only a few hundred metres away, but otherwise the car has just sat there.
I decided to get him out of the garage, washed and polished and then put up for sale. However, having driven around a bit, I decided not to sell, but spend a bit of money and get it properly up to snuff, instead.
Somehow, the car seemed less than the some of its parts - it was quite quick but handling was terrifying, so I booked it in with a specialist for some fettling and a modern air conditioning system. I was preparing myself for a sizeable bill, but predictably, the specialist have found all sort of other bits that needed fixing after a very thorough inspection, so it has snowballed a little:
New Radtec aluminium radiator and Fenair condensor:
They've fitted a complete set of new coolant hoses at the same time.
New compressor and polished-up intakes:
Fuel rail being rebuilt:
A slice of donor car to replace rust inner wing, I think:
New front discs and calipers
New front springs from Eibach waiting to go on. The Aston DB7 springs made the car sit too high at the front:
Front ride-height with new springs and alignment being done:
Jeffrey has been sitting in my garage unused for a few years, as life and long, boring commutes have got in the way a bit. I've always kept him MOT'ed as the testing station is, conveniently, only a few hundred metres away, but otherwise the car has just sat there.
I decided to get him out of the garage, washed and polished and then put up for sale. However, having driven around a bit, I decided not to sell, but spend a bit of money and get it properly up to snuff, instead.
Somehow, the car seemed less than the some of its parts - it was quite quick but handling was terrifying, so I booked it in with a specialist for some fettling and a modern air conditioning system. I was preparing myself for a sizeable bill, but predictably, the specialist have found all sort of other bits that needed fixing after a very thorough inspection, so it has snowballed a little:
New Radtec aluminium radiator and Fenair condensor:
They've fitted a complete set of new coolant hoses at the same time.
New compressor and polished-up intakes:
Fuel rail being rebuilt:
A slice of donor car to replace rust inner wing, I think:
New front discs and calipers
New front springs from Eibach waiting to go on. The Aston DB7 springs made the car sit too high at the front:
Front ride-height with new springs and alignment being done:
Great car.
I've recently got my V12 back on the road too after similar work to yourself - hoses, radiator, injectors & all fuel hoses, inner wing rust, front suspension rebuild etc.
I fitted new front springs that were apparently correct for the V12 bit it now sits too high like yours presumably was.
The Eibach's look bang on - would you mind letting me know the part number or where you sourced them?
I've recently got my V12 back on the road too after similar work to yourself - hoses, radiator, injectors & all fuel hoses, inner wing rust, front suspension rebuild etc.
I fitted new front springs that were apparently correct for the V12 bit it now sits too high like yours presumably was.
The Eibach's look bang on - would you mind letting me know the part number or where you sourced them?
Thanks.
Yep, a v12 and a manual is a great combination, but usually only found on Aston's and Ferarri's, so this is a bit more accessible, money-wise! Still lust after a Db9 manual, though....
Must be fun to race one; annoyingly, I don't fit with a crash helmet on, even for just a track day.
Will find out about the front springs from the chaps who did all the work. I think they're made by Eibach and I had the choice of a 30mm or 50mm drop, so went for 50mm. The DB7 vantage springs I had on there were really stiff, so whilst they physically fit, I don't think they were a good match.
Yep, a v12 and a manual is a great combination, but usually only found on Aston's and Ferarri's, so this is a bit more accessible, money-wise! Still lust after a Db9 manual, though....
Must be fun to race one; annoyingly, I don't fit with a crash helmet on, even for just a track day.
Will find out about the front springs from the chaps who did all the work. I think they're made by Eibach and I had the choice of a 30mm or 50mm drop, so went for 50mm. The DB7 vantage springs I had on there were really stiff, so whilst they physically fit, I don't think they were a good match.
Wonderful! I hope that you enjoy the car, OP. My dad briefly had a manual XJ-S in the 90s, but it was dog rough. It had been brush painted red and white. The green six cylinder auto XJS that I had circa 2015 ish looked OK at a distance, but was super crusty. I hope that it has by now been done up by its new owner.
For only the second time in ten years ownership, Jeffrey failed to proceed the other day. Was driving fine, but wouldn't restart when warm after sitting an hour or so. Was right as rain the following morning, though. He's now lowering the tone at a local classic car specialist who think the issue is the crank sensors, but we can't find anywhere who have the parts in stock - DB12507 and DB12508.
They can do an Emerald K6 distributorless system, but don't have the appitite for that after last year's expenditure. Would be awesome though....
They can do an Emerald K6 distributorless system, but don't have the appitite for that after last year's expenditure. Would be awesome though....
Passed the MOT last week with just an advisory for worn rear anti-roll bar bushes. Noticed we've only been doing 600 miles between Mot's - just as well when I'm averaging 12mpg!
I think the front jacking points will need some attention in the future, so going to get that booked in this week. Not bad enough for an advisory on MOT though, so that's good.
My local classic car place are doing a free health check, so will get him booked in for that and see if anything else needs doing.
Have a new carpet set to fit, in dark green, and then need to get the front driver's seat leather repaired.
I think the front jacking points will need some attention in the future, so going to get that booked in this week. Not bad enough for an advisory on MOT though, so that's good.
My local classic car place are doing a free health check, so will get him booked in for that and see if anything else needs doing.
Have a new carpet set to fit, in dark green, and then need to get the front driver's seat leather repaired.
HeWhoDaresRoy said:
Have a new carpet set to fit, in dark green, and then need to get the front driver's seat leather repaired.
On the subject of carpets - not sure if you know about these folks:www.easirider.com
They do wonderful lambswool rugs for classic cars (and modern ones too!), all hand made in the UK. You need a set of those in your life
(No connection other than as a very satisfied customer)
Those sheep skin rugs look wonderful! I may have order some.....
Have been quoted £200 to fix the driver's seat bolster which seemed reasonable until the upholsterer said he could reupholstered the entire seat for £450, so both front seats are getting done for £900. Slight mission creep, but should really lift the interior.
The car was fitted with Aj6 Engineering uprated air intakes by the previous owner, which basically run cold air intake tubing from the bottom of the engine bay up to a supplementary opening in the air filter housing. Anyway, these seem to have gone missing, so the engine has been pulling nice hot air from just above the exhaust manifold, so I've ordered some new air intake hose to replace. Not sure if I'll feel any difference, but it'll be nice to know it's been done.
Have been quoted £200 to fix the driver's seat bolster which seemed reasonable until the upholsterer said he could reupholstered the entire seat for £450, so both front seats are getting done for £900. Slight mission creep, but should really lift the interior.
The car was fitted with Aj6 Engineering uprated air intakes by the previous owner, which basically run cold air intake tubing from the bottom of the engine bay up to a supplementary opening in the air filter housing. Anyway, these seem to have gone missing, so the engine has been pulling nice hot air from just above the exhaust manifold, so I've ordered some new air intake hose to replace. Not sure if I'll feel any difference, but it'll be nice to know it's been done.
Edited by HeWhoDaresRoy on Tuesday 22 March 10:01
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