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I rebuilt the carbs earlier this summer, but I found the issue today. The hose from the strainer for the left tank (which is the only one with fuel in it right now) to the fuel pump had a slight kink in it. I bet you a bottle of cheap whiskey that was causing the problem. I'm going to test it out on the highway this afternoon.
I started her up so I could back her into the garage to make the trouble-shooting easier. After I had backed her into the garage I looked out the windshield and found two trails of engine oil that traced the path I had just taken. I couldn't tell if it was the oil filter housing that was leaking or the hoses to the filter that were leaking so I took it all apart, cleaned everything, and re-sealed it. Started it up and not a single leak. She's a stubborn old girl.
The better strippers used to contain methylene chloride, which was very effective, but some states have outlawed it due to its neurotoxicity and possible carcenogenic effects, and the new "safer" formulations do not work nearly as well. If he can find a product that contains methylene chloride, it will work better, but he should wear chemical-resistant gloves and a respirator.
Here are the products he used and the final result.
I had a great 25 mile drive today. Went and got a hair cut, filled up the right tank, took it on the highway (no starvation issues!), stopped by the tire shop to schedule an alignment. All was well with the world.
Then I was looking at the engine and noticed it seemed crooked. Then I looked at the air filters and saw they were both crushed.
I knew what was wrong without having to look. My new motor mounts lasted all of 30 miles before they sheared in half.
Here's a view looking towards the front of the car.
I'll call Moss on Monday but I'm not putting another set of their mounts back in. I think I'll spend some time in the Summit Catalog tonight and see if I can find a universal mount that might last longer.
The throttle coupling def happened first. I know exactly when the mount failed - I had floored it getting onto the highway and held WOT for an extended period of time. It was just too much for the cheap rubber to hold. When I got to the exit ramp I went to shift the transmission to neutral and couldn't because the mount had collapsed.
I spent some time last night looking at motor mounts on RockAuto and came up with a few possibilities. I also ordered two different universal mounts.
Great resilience,Thorsen. I would ask Moss to pay for the air filters too. That failure is dangerous in the extreme.
There is a general problem with aftermarket Jaguar rubber parts across all models. On my car, I have all genuine rubber parts and good second hand ones in stock; but failures within weeks of mounting non-metalastik parts are extremely common. I had a very bad experience with rubber parts from what are meant to be good aftermarket suppliers, before i knew better.
Universal motor mounts were not my first choice but they look to be more durable than the stock option. I was worried they would transmit more vibration to the car but I couldn't tell a difference.
I just got back from a 40 mile trip on the tollway and spent considerable time at 70+mph. The car is very comfortable at speed and it loves to be right around 75mph. Revs are right around 2500(ish) at speed which is right about where I wanted to be.
The electric water pump is incredible and I think it's going to be my go-to on projects going forward. It's 90 degrees here today and even getting stuck in construction on the tollway the temp never went more than 5 degrees above the set point. And the after-run is nice to help prevent the engine from heat soaking.
There are still a few things that need attention. The right tank & pump can keep up with the engine but the left tank & pump seem to run out of steam at around 5-10 seconds of heavy throttle. It's fine around town but not good enough for high speeds so I am going to start with replumbing the entire left side then taking a hard look at the pump itself.
Finally, I was not prepared for the attention this car gets. Thumbs up, waves, horn honks, people videoing as you go down the street - everyone seems to love this car. Yesterday a lady passed me, pulled over so I could get in front of her, then she followed me to the next stop sign where she could ask about the car. I've had some cool cars but nothing has every gotten people's attentions like this.
Finally, I was not prepared for the attention this car gets. Thumbs up, waves, horn honks, people videoing as you go down the street - everyone seems to love this car. Yesterday a lady passed me, pulled over so I could get in front of her, then she followed me to the next stop sign where she could ask about the car. I've had some cool cars but nothing has every gotten people's attentions like this.
That is truly awesome. It's great to hear that average citizens can still appreciate the beauty and class of a classic Jaguar!
Then I was looking at the engine and noticed it seemed crooked. Then I looked at the air filters and saw they were both crushed.
I knew what was wrong without having to look. My new motor mounts lasted all of 30 miles before they sheared in half.
I'll call Moss on Monday but I'm not putting another set of their mounts back in. I think I'll spend some time in the Summit Catalog tonight and see if I can find a universal mount that might last longer.
Hi Thomas,
I'm glad your OK, it could have been a whole lot worst if the throttle and/or trans linkage would have jammed. E-types with the 3 SU and 4.2L engine, the carb linkage can jam against the frame rail if the motor mounts are old and compressed. There is only a couple of millimeters between the linkage and the frame rail.
You mentioned in an earlier post that you have long term plans for the MK VII. Do you mind devulging what they are?
You mentioned in an earlier post that you have long term plans for the MK VII. Do you mind devulging what they are?
The desert life did a great job of preserving the body but every single piece of rubber around the windshield, the doors, the window channels - every bit is compromised in some fashion. So as long as I have all the glass out, it's not really a whole lot more work to strip the lights and chrome and do a full re-paint. The paint is tired and sun-baked and honestly the car deserves it.
Dad is super eager to get his hands on the rest of the wood pieces and will restore those over the winter.
The seats have been re-done at some point but are vinyl and the driver's seat has a tear. I really hate vinyl seats and am looking at redoing them in leather. The carpet is tired too and needs to be replaced.
The desert life did a great job of preserving the body but every single piece of rubber around the windshield, the doors, the window channels - every bit is compromised in some fashion. So as long as I have all the glass out, it's not really a whole lot more work to strip the lights and chrome and do a full re-paint. The paint is tired and sun-baked and honestly the car deserves it.
Dad is super eager to get his hands on the rest of the wood pieces and will restore those over the winter.
The seats have been re-done at some point but are vinyl and the driver's seat has a tear. I really hate vinyl seats and am looking at redoing them in leather. The carpet is tired too and needs to be replaced.
Wow! that s going to be a beautiful car when you are done.. I was hoping for a big adventure. Since you're in the Chicago area maybe doing Route 66 in the MK IX and documenting your travels. Start in Downtown Chicago where Route 66 starts and driving to California and back. I guess my imagination got away from me. :-)
Oh, the big adventure is next month. Chicago all the way to the Gulf Coast for the South Alabama British Car Festival. It's almost 2,000 miles round trip that includes drives along the Mississippi River in western Illinois, some hilly farm country in Kentucky and Tennessee, cotton fields in North Mississippi, pine forests in south Mississippi and western Alabama, and finally coastal breezes. In 2022 I did it in my Jaguar 420, in 2023 I did it in my MGB, last year was my XJ6 and my MGB, this year will be in my Land Rover and the Mark VII.
Here are the Moss motor mounts I pulled out yesterday. The left side mount may have failed as a result of the right mount failing but I'm not sure.
The price of K&N filters went up $20 each since this summer and they are a week out. I had visions of driving the car to Coffee and Classics this morning so I picked up this filter from the local auto parts store. It's not attractive but it fits on the factory manifold and will let me keep driving until the K&N's arrive so we'll keep it for now.
I took this picture yesterday afternoon; I was out in the garage at midnight wrapping the wire harness.
I did make it to Coffee and Classics this morning and got parked next to an XK120.
I finished the weekend with 165 miles on the odometer and had a lot of fun driving her. Next up is tweaking the muffler alignment and re-plumbing the left side fuel tank.
Oh, the big adventure is next month. Chicago all the way to the Gulf Coast for the South Alabama British Car Festival. It's almost 2,000 miles round trip that includes drives along the Mississippi River in western Illinois, some hilly farm country in Kentucky and Tennessee, cotton fields in North Mississippi, pine forests in south Mississippi and western Alabama, and finally coastal breezes. In 2022 I did it in my Jaguar 420, in 2023 I did it in my MGB, last year was my XJ6 and my MGB, this year will be in my Land Rover and the Mark VII.
To say I am envious is the understatement of the age!
I put my spare fuel pump in the left side system and took the car on the tollway tonight. I think it's working properly but honestly traffic was on the heavy side so I couldn't test it the way I wanted to. Hopefully tomorrow night I can get her on the open road.
I had a lunch meeting today and took the Jaguar. I thought she looked stately parked on the street. She looks much better with the front hub caps on but I'll wait until I get the front end aligned Friday before I put them back on.
You can see the results of the spray wax I wiper her down with Saturday night.
It's been warm in Chicagoland recently and while the "AC" system does a good job of moving air through the cabin, the vinyl seats are not very forgiving. As I think ahead to my 2,000 mile road trip later this month, I know I don't want to sit on these seats for a week. A set of sheepskin seat covers seemed like a great short-term solution to my problem, but I could not find anyone that was making them for the Mark VII. The universal ones were $300-$500 and looked like the fit would be iffy. So I took it upon myself to make my own.
Amazon sells sheepskins; I've had one on my desk chair in my office for the last 3 years and I spent 10 hours a day sitting on it. It's comfortable and durable so I decided to try it out. I started by sewing straps to the back edge.
The bottom section strapped in place - it's not moving anywhere.
The seat back followed the same process as the seat bottom. Straps to hold it in place and cinch it down.
I'm not a fan of the way this looks, but it's going to be more comfortable than sitting on old vinyl.
I
It's been warm in Chicagoland recently and while the "AC" system does a good job of moving air through the cabin, the vinyl seats are not very forgiving. As I think ahead to my 2,000 mile road trip later this month, I know I don't want to sit on these seats for a week. A set of sheepskin seat covers seemed like a great short-term solution to my problem, but I could not find anyone that was making them for the Mark VII. The universal ones were $300-$500 and looked like the fit would be iffy. So I took it upon myself to make my own.
Amazon sells sheepskins; I've had one on my desk chair in my office for the last 3 years and I spent 10 hours a day sitting on it. It's comfortable and durable so I decided to try it out. I started by sewing straps to the back edge.[size=13px]
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Boy Thomas, you'er taking me back to my childhood in the 60's. Getting in a hot car that's been sitting in the sun all day. Wearing shorts could be painful. Do you remember the seat cushion (maybe the wrong name) that you would place on the seats that gave you an air gap between you and the hot vinyl. Those helped a lot.
