Picked up some more galvanized parts... They look nice and flashy... Should make the V look nice and tidy when fitted. Just need to assemble them and then the next step can come...

 

After having some very erratic and somewhat scary temperature readings, I changed both thermostats on my '87 with original Jaguar parts. The right one wasn't fully closing, and the left not fully opening, not exactly ideal. Now my temps run rock steady at the bottom of the "N". Thanks to Grant Francis for his excellent write-ups on thermostats and bleeding the cooling system.
Now I'm in the midst of changing my cracked yellow fan for a new OEM black one. What a fun job that is!

 

Today

I made another Video to try and find out just how smooth an XJS V12 Engine runs.

This was even more Challenging than the first one, as I attempted to Balance a 2p Coin on its edge on the Smooth part of the Inlet Manifold.

This was shot in real time as it happened with no cuts in just One Take.

You can see it here: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xjs-x27-32/cherry-blossom-restoration-1990-xjs-v12-122634/page41/

 

I cleaned up my front main pulley, cut the hoses off of my fuel injection piping and have prepared again many little bits and bobs for galvansiation... 'tis all going to look pwetty

 

oh yeah
I made the mistake of taking off the fan belt first and had to come up with a way to keep the fan from rotating while undoing the fan clutch....
ahhhh!

 

pulled this out of XJS
Alternator belt 86ed on me on the way home from work
bought a 2 ton trolley jack ($24.95) could not squeeze under the XJS to get the two lower fan shroud nuts loose ( of course 5 new nylock nuts to replace the removed ones)
\
bought new Alternator belt
\


correctly bled result
in fact the coolant streamed out the little what I thought was a vapor pipe when I undid the little hoses to the line...

 

Been a little "busy bee" today...

Cleaned up the entire V area with brake cleaner and a tooth brush (needed a new one anyhow ). That all looks tidier. I can't get it spotless, as the oil has really burnt in. I might get someone to give it a CO2 clean when the engine is back in again (the only part that needs this treatment).

V-plate was removed, new gasket (I didn't trust the silicone only stuff) with a dab of RTV inplace, V-plate/-cover back in place again. At the same time I refitted the dizzy and timed the engine PURRfectly

Then I reinstalled the throttle pedastal and ignition coils, to get them back in there as a nice little job

Refitted the brackets to hold the Harrison A6 compressor (after they had been sandblasted, rustproofed and painted matte black).

Just taken the valve covers off to give them some better paint job. The last paint started to "crumble" off in a few spots. I guess this is due to the lack of aluminium etch/primer. I did a good coat as I painted them the first time, but I thought I'd just put more on to make sure the aluminium is fine. Just drying now. Once dried, on they go again with new Jaguar badges, gaskets (Goretex) and halfmoons (with RTV).

New oil cap/lid is ready. High gloss red. I think the red paint just looks right, even though mine was originally black. Red just seems to be the icing on the cake

I also recut the threads on the tensioners for the belt drives. They were all rusty so now shine again. Also fitted new nuts and spring washers to make sure they stay pretty. Though I might yet have them galvanised... Seems to tempting and it looks good AND it is more durable...

 

Break Light and ABS light started to Blink on and the go out when applying breaks...
now to replace it safely...

 

Ha! I did it!

Shock, upper ball joint, bushings:



Lower ball joint:



I think I learned all the lessons you need to when working on the front suspension: how to compress the coils without the Jaguar tool, seized shock top nut, seized lower ball joint nut, the extra things that have to come off to get your pitman tools in place, and I've forgotten all the other lessons.

Whew.

Now all I gotta do is the passenger side.

See you in three weeks. Hehe. Maybe it will be easier.

Padre

 

Got the other side done. Now I can drive it!

So much easier when you've made all the mistakes and hit the obstacles once.

Padre

 

Well, front axle is in. I haven't painted the steering rack yet, as it needs to go to be welded soon, so that could cause issues with the paint...

 

My kitty wanted a playmate, so I went to the pound called Ebay and adopted this one. She's got a blown head gasket, and we'll see what else is wrong when she gets here.

 

Congrats! Looks real nice. I want to have a convertible in my zoo too :-)

 

Picked up some freshly blasted parts to work on... Next step: reassemble the upper engine

 

Recore radiator bought, and despite what all you do it yourself wizards (who I greatly admire) might suggest, no I am not fitting it myself!

 

easy peasy!

 

Jonathan, what a beautiful rad, what make is it?
Greg

 

Paws. Looks like a face lifted pre facelift....

 

Full set of new belts... alternator belt went mia so might as well do them all

 

Took mine to a local Jag club tech session to find out what I need to do to fix my emergency brake. We put it on the lift and it appears that all I will need to do is remove the front seat and make an adjustment at the brake lever. The cables looked OK. While on the lift we noticed that there was a bit of leakage in the power steering system. There are two high pressure lines that bolt into the rack and pinion unit that were not quite tight. Tightened them up. Everything else looked good. Sure was nice to go for a ride after winter storage. Now I just need good weather.