When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Took the car for a good drive this afternoon. It was wonderful to see all the gauges pointing in the correct direction. Marvellous how these cars drive at speeds 70 - 80mph and so stable.
latest addition is my attempt at an plenum drain tube, or as some know it "elephant's trunk" This is the tube that drains the air intake at the centre of the cowl. Mine is made from a Chev 350 radiator hose+ a piece of old top radiator hose from the Jag. All cut to suit. It fits the car well and does do the job, but is a bit larger than the original. This part has not been available for more than 40 years. I would love to get a NOS one.
And thanks Clarke, as you can see the thread title has been updated by GGG
Latest work has been to replace the 47 year old radiator that was starting to weep at the seams. The inspector had noticed it when I presented the car for its on road, saying it would let me down on a hot day. $750 later I have a triple row 108 tube radiator with twice the cooling of the original 58 tube.
Fitting the fan was a pain - very hard to get to the 4 screws securing the coupling to the water pump pulley.
Of course now this is fixed another problem has arisen. The drain plug in the bottom cross tube/transmission cooler is leaking. And it is not just a matter of some sealant. The brazing has cracked around the thread housing. So off this comes next.
Latest work has been to replace the 47 year old radiator that was starting to weep at the seams. The inspector had noticed it when I presented the car for its on road, saying it would let me down on a hot day. $750 later I have a triple row 108 tube radiator with twice the cooling of the original 58 tube.
Woo woo ! Sounds....ahem....pretty cool
Fitting the fan was a pain - very hard to get to the 4 screws securing the coupling to the water pump pulley.
I was working on my car recently and it oddly dawned on me, since owning so many old Jags, how adept I've become at balancing a nut on my fingertip so as to get it started on a bolt or stud that can be seen or be felt....but never both at once
Of course now this is fixed another problem has arisen. The drain plug in the bottom cross tube/transmission cooler is leaking. And it is not just a matter of some sealant. The brazing has cracked around the thread housing. So off this comes next.
Life with old cars, eh?
Eventually, though, the new-problem-cropping-up syndrome becomes a less and less frequent occurrence.
...Eventually, though, the new-problem-cropping-up syndrome becomes a less and less frequent occurrence.
Cheers
DD
Yup! That situation took a little over 2 years to reach with Nix, and just as I was beginning to relax, and in fact had BRAGGED how she was the most reliable thing on the place (besides my work truck), I was returning from a Gas-Up-Everything-For-The-Next-Power-Outage run, when BOTH fans refused to shut off no matter where the temp selection was set, and continued to fill the cabin with ambient outside air (65F at that time but the calendar does say NOVEMBER!) until we got back to the barn.
Boy Howdy did I ever jinx that one!
Tests have confirmed a faulty servo, a newly Series 2 refurbed one on the way from Gary at Jag-Aire.
*NOTE* Series 2 servos are NOT the same as Series 3 in all cases. "Early" Series 2 servos have an extra micro switch that cycles the compressor, which micro switch was deleted from Series 3 which is why the compressor runs constantly unless the system is turned OFF.
It's been 5 years since I had the car so torn up. In that time I had forgotten how complex, layered and hard to reach Everything is, and how much effort and contortion is needed to get access these uniquely Jaguar components after the car has been operational for a few years.
At least this sort of thing keeps Jaguar ownership from getting boring.
(';')
Took the car down to the "Terribly British Day" in Queenbeyan, the down to Cooma over the weekend. Total round trip was 362 miles. Car was running great with no problems - until I stopped for a quick break and a nature call. On return checked under the car and coolant flowing everywhere. I thought this cannot be happening, having renewed almost every component of the cooling system. A quick check revealed that the coolant was coming out of the expansion tank cap! Not the overflow hose, but the cap. I had bought a replacement stainless tank as the original had a rusted out bottom. It did not come with a cap, so I had put my original cap on it. Seems that the cap does not reach fully into the neck, so not compressing the pressure spring properly. Additionally I had probably overfilled the system. No further problems, but I have repaired the original tank and may fit that.
After showing the car at the "British Day" (see regional thread), I drove out of the grounds and immediately detected something wrong - the car would not shift properly, in fact it was ranging between 2nd and top gear quickly and erratically - would only hold top once up above 60mph. As I drove along - thinking the worst (new transmission?) I realised it must be either the vacuum control or the kick- down switch. Stopped the car and examined underneath, the vacuum connection looked OK. Disconnected the kick-down switch and drove on. Smooth shifting and no ranging. I have never heard of this happening to any other XJ before, but can see how the switch making and breaking could lead to this condition.
The good news was that for the 362 miles I averaged 24.5mpg, (proper gallons for our American friends). And I was not hanging about, cruising at 70 mph with a few bursts up to 85mph on some of the hills so as to give the engine a bit of work to do.
Last edited by The Mekon; Dec 2, 2019 at 08:24 PM.
This in my thread so forgive me if I resurrect it now and then. Between the last post and this I have replaced the viscous coupled fan with a proper working unit, replaced the exhaust manifolds (originals had corroded on face and had slight leak), and fitted new tyres. Just completed a trip down to Cooma almost 200 miles south of where I live. Filled up the left hand tank to fractionally below the fuel flap. Ran the car down to Cooma and then returned 2 days later. Tank ran dry at 250 miles exactly. Filled with 47 litres to same spot (98 UK type octane) Mpg works out at 24.2. I had hoped for better, but I was doing 70 mph most of the time.
Mpg works out at 24.2. I had hoped for better, but I was doing 70 mph most of the time.
I would be happy with that John. 9.7 L/ 100 km. My 2011 Jeep only just made 9.9 L/100km (23.7 mpg) on a 3000 km round trip from Brisbane to Sydney last year.
My XJ6 is doing about 11 L/100 km (21.3 mpg) highway driving. A fair bit higher around town.
As for the XJS it’s doing about 13 L/100km (18 mpg), but that is purely highway driving, I have had it as high as 22.2 L/100km (10.6 mpg) in the city if I can believe it’s 35 year old computer thing. ( I haven’t had a chance to do measure of fuel usage against odometer yet).
@ Clarke and John;
We don't drive Jaguars for their fuel economy, we could drive a used KIA for that, we drive them because they're JAGUARS!
(';')
Elinor, I was like that when younger. Had a red E type roadster fitted with 3 x DCOE Webers and full extractors. Used to drive it like it was the Mille Miglia each day. Consumed about 12-15mpg and I used to joke that the car just leapt from one petrol station to the next.
When I got the XJ6 I was surprised how good the fuel consumption could be if tuned well. I run the twin HS8's a bit lean, the idle is a bit rough as a result, but I don't burn valves and the car revs all the way out when needed. I like the fact that with the two 11 gallon tanks, I can now go a long way between petrol stations.
John, I agree, one must not waste one's resources.
As the Third Rule of Acquisition plainly states; "Never pay more than you have to."
Therefore one's power plant must be Tuned for maximum Performance first, and then efficiency. Where those 2 lines cross should be the Golden Zone, perhaps a leaning just a hair toward Performance.
@ Clarke and John;
We don't drive Jaguars for their fuel economy, we could drive a used KIA for that, we drive them because they're JAGUARS!
(';')
The question appears across all our model forums. Always makes me think the posters should be looking at a different marque.
I record fuel purchased and miles travelled but couldn't care less about MPG. The only time it really concerned me was in 1972 with a Series One XJ12 that returned 9 MPG as a daily driver so I went back to an XJ6 at 15 MPG to be able to feed the family.
The fuel economy does not bother me at all, just commenting on what my usage is.
If I was concerned we would have a jap 4 banger in the mix, not a V6, I6 and a V12.
Plenum drain tube
