V12 conversion project continued
#41
11-03-2017, 07:15 PM
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Doug (11-03-2017)
#42
11-04-2017, 06:57 AM
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My plan was to remove the trans myself and have it rebuilt. As it turns out none of the guys I know that used to do this are still doing it. I guess they've reached a point where they no longer need to moonlight! It would've saved me a chunk of cash.
Oh well, I thought, I'll remove the trans and just take it to a trans shop for rebuilding. Not as inexpensive as having a moonlighting pal do it but still cheaper than paying the labor for remove-reinstall.
No luck. I called five trans shops and none would do a "bench overhaul".
DD
Oh well, I thought, I'll remove the trans and just take it to a trans shop for rebuilding. Not as inexpensive as having a moonlighting pal do it but still cheaper than paying the labor for remove-reinstall.
No luck. I called five trans shops and none would do a "bench overhaul".
DD
When my BW65 went out last year, I removed it and was very lucky to be referred by David Boger to a gent only 50 miles from me who rebuilt it on his bench. He used to do the rebuilds for Coventry West and had rebuilt over 200 BW65 and 66s.
#43
11-04-2017, 08:48 AM
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It is straightforward, yes, but I actually understand their refusal. There are ways to bollix things up on reinstalling a transmission and the shops are not interested in inviting arguments over who's to blame when a trans doesn't work right....or outright fails.
Cheers
DD
#44
11-04-2017, 10:51 AM
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#45
11-04-2017, 01:27 PM
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Yeah, they're expressing the same reluctance and/or refusal as I often did when I was in the game. I can't be mad at them.
So, now you are stuck "in the middle".
Indeed.
Since I've been out of the [retail auto repair] game for 8-9 years, and additionally have moved to a different state, my contacts and connections have dried up. Nowadays I'm just a consumer.
I'm sure you are "thinking it out" and will finds a solution that you can at least, "live with".
Yup.
Coughing up $2200 for a trans overhaul!
I'm not totally unfamiliar with this, though. When my daughter was at college 200 miles away she was using my 2005 Honda. It wasn't practical for me to do repairs when needed....so I was a retail consumer. Fortunately there was a Honda specialist who was good....and being in a college town, fully accustomed to dealing with college students and their fathers
.Cheers
DD
#46
11-28-2017, 08:30 AM
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Got the car back from the transmission shop last week; all's well.
Nothing remarkable transpired. Rather mundane transmission overhaul. The root cause of the problem was a failure of the plastic accumulator piston. No 'hard parts' required replacement.
A shift kit was installed and the trans guy was worried that the shifting would be too harsh and not "Jaguar-ish". It isn't. Crisp, well defined shifts but nothing remotely objectionable.
I was going to request a higher stall speed torque converter, as I had used on my XJS V12, but decided against it. The 3.31 axle ratio seems to get the engine into the sweet spot well enough.
Installing the 'kick-down mod' is on my list now that the transmission is working properly again.
It's good having the Jaguar back.
Cheers
DD
Nothing remarkable transpired. Rather mundane transmission overhaul. The root cause of the problem was a failure of the plastic accumulator piston. No 'hard parts' required replacement.
A shift kit was installed and the trans guy was worried that the shifting would be too harsh and not "Jaguar-ish". It isn't. Crisp, well defined shifts but nothing remotely objectionable.
I was going to request a higher stall speed torque converter, as I had used on my XJS V12, but decided against it. The 3.31 axle ratio seems to get the engine into the sweet spot well enough.
Installing the 'kick-down mod' is on my list now that the transmission is working properly again.
It's good having the Jaguar back
.Cheers
DD
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Daf11e (11-28-2017)
#47
11-28-2017, 10:00 AM
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Congratulations, Doug!
I had a shift kit in my old Chrysler, I liked it Very much! I like to *Know* when a shift happens, by something other than watching the tach.
I'm thinking of putting one in Nix's trans. Even though I have no experience with GM transmissions, it's just a matter of messing with the valve body, how hard can it be?
(';')
I had a shift kit in my old Chrysler, I liked it Very much! I like to *Know* when a shift happens, by something other than watching the tach.
I'm thinking of putting one in Nix's trans. Even though I have no experience with GM transmissions, it's just a matter of messing with the valve body, how hard can it be?
(';')
#48
03-05-2018, 10:22 PM
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Fuel economy with 3.31 differential
Car has been running well. I keep adding things to my to-do list but they're all non-essential these days; mostly cosmetic and minor upgrades.
Anyhow....a little tidbit; nothing important:
Decided to check the 'highway' fuel economy and was pleased to get 17.2 mpg with the 3.31 differential. I was expecting worse, especially since a few traffic tie-ups were encountered.
I never checked fuel economy with the 2.88 gears as I swapped them for the 3:31 very early on. My only comparison is to my old 1988 XJS with the V12 and 2.88 gears. It typically got 19-20 mpg under similar driving conditions. So, I reckon the gearing change reduces fuel economy about 2-3 mpg.
I'm speaking USA gallons, of course.
Cheers
DD
Anyhow....a little tidbit; nothing important:
Decided to check the 'highway' fuel economy and was pleased to get 17.2 mpg with the 3.31 differential. I was expecting worse, especially since a few traffic tie-ups were encountered.
I never checked fuel economy with the 2.88 gears as I swapped them for the 3:31 very early on. My only comparison is to my old 1988 XJS with the V12 and 2.88 gears. It typically got 19-20 mpg under similar driving conditions. So, I reckon the gearing change reduces fuel economy about 2-3 mpg.
I'm speaking USA gallons, of course.
Cheers
DD
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#49
03-05-2018, 11:50 PM
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Brilliant work Doug, and a gleaming result that will probably outlast all of us!
Also, I wanted to compliment you on how informative and well structured your thread describes your conversion . . . required ancillary upgrades vs keeping a lid on distractions "while under there". Good pics where required . . . a fine example being the layout of the rear bar, links & brackets. Your tech savvy credentials are well known, but here you have excelled in a thread that is both meaty yet entertaining.
Hats off, mate!
Ken
Also, I wanted to compliment you on how informative and well structured your thread describes your conversion . . . required ancillary upgrades vs keeping a lid on distractions "while under there". Good pics where required . . . a fine example being the layout of the rear bar, links & brackets. Your tech savvy credentials are well known, but here you have excelled in a thread that is both meaty yet entertaining.
Hats off, mate!
Ken
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#50
03-06-2018, 12:01 AM
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#52
03-06-2018, 04:20 AM
#53
03-06-2018, 03:21 PM
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#54
03-06-2018, 06:40 PM
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Yep, a Jaguar V12 belongs at the head of the back and should never be putt-putting along behind the crowd, choking on the fumes of others.
One nice thing about these 3:31 gears is that at 60-70 mph the engine is just at that sweet spot....just beginning 'to boil' a bit. The response is very enjoyable. Even without 'kicking down' you can accelerate quite briskly and zip around the slower traffic. Much different than the 2.88 ratio....which was more of a waiting game.
I won't be challenging anyone but I won't be accused of holding up traffic, either
. It almost has the feel of a performance car.Cheers
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ronbros (03-06-2018)
#55
03-06-2018, 07:56 PM
Not a V12 but the old 4.2, Auckland - Tauranga - Auckland via the Old Tauranga Road.
Got held up on the OTR by a Audi Q7 until we hit a straight piece of road then was able to pass, generally cruising at 105-115 when possible, just checked and the old girl returned just under 22MPG (imp)
Very pleased with that as I wasn’t holding back at times
Got held up on the OTR by a Audi Q7 until we hit a straight piece of road then was able to pass, generally cruising at 105-115 when possible, just checked and the old girl returned just under 22MPG (imp)
Very pleased with that as I wasn’t holding back at times
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Doug (03-06-2018)
#56
10-05-2018, 11:19 PM
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Cutting to the chase I finally settled on a Blaupunkt Liverpool. Not too flashy, looks good, minimal gizmos, and simple operation....at least compared to many others. $105 on Ebay! For that money I figure I couldn't go too far wrong....and I was right.
https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws....s/1249310.jpeg
This is not "high-end audio", obviously, but there's nothing wrong or bad about it, either. I am satisfied with the sound. It passed both my "1812 Overture" and "Frank Sinatra" tests. Not with flying colors, but it passed. I'm thinking some modern speakers to replace the 32 year old originals might be a good idea.
One downside to inexpensive radios is there is no capability to tie the display and backlighting into the car's panel light circuit for dimming. I haven't driven at night, yet, but I think the lighting will be too bright...and thus annoying.
The ultra bright (non-adjustable) back-lighting was simply too annoying and distracting.
Don't laugh but for the time being I bought a "Bravo" CD player from Walmart.....nice, subtle lighting and surprisingly good sound, as cheapie radios go. And a not-too-flashy appearance. It'll have to do for now; the radios I really like are too expensive for me.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bravo-Vie...UX-IN/47930238
Cheers
DD
#57
10-06-2018, 10:09 AM
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I like the music choices. 1812, and I'd guess "my Way" !!!! I'd add "flight of the bumblebee". Actually a classic overture, name once knpwn, now forgotten, along with a lot of things.
331 not that far off 2.88. But, enough to feel, apparently.
The ratio on my GM donor car was 3.09. So, the Jag's weight and the donor cars weight are probably similar. So, the package works just about right. As my speedo is nuts I've not measured fuel consumption. Not to be changed mechanicaly. If I want to save, just "keep my boot light". The cat can loaf in OD at 80.
I'll never realize it's true top end!!!!
Carl
331 not that far off 2.88. But, enough to feel, apparently.
The ratio on my GM donor car was 3.09. So, the Jag's weight and the donor cars weight are probably similar. So, the package works just about right. As my speedo is nuts I've not measured fuel consumption. Not to be changed mechanicaly. If I want to save, just "keep my boot light". The cat can loaf in OD at 80.
I'll never realize it's true top end!!!!
Carl
#58
10-06-2018, 05:08 PM
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#59
10-06-2018, 08:36 PM
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#60
10-07-2018, 09:48 AM
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