Dear Jag enthusiast

a group of us are embarking on a rally to Morocco in 5 Jag xjs. 2 are 3.6s one of which I'm driving down. Ours is most unusual being finished in a DIY matt black! Mechanically she seems pretty good and we've done plenty of road trials. However I am no fool and know that a British built car of this age is likely to have issues over this distance and time. What spares (besides engine and gearbox!) would you consider an absolute must to pack before setting off? Any help gratefully received.

The Moroccan Roll

thanks

Max

 

1. Crankshaft Sensor on the front of the engine
2. Front brake pads, fluid, brake flexible hoses
3. Fuel filter
4. Plugs
5. HT leads
6. Radiator hoses
7. Fan/alternator belts
8. Alternator
9. Socket set and spanners, etc
10. Wire and spade terminals, and multimeter
11. Rotor arm and distributor cap
12. PVC tape, gaffer/duct tape
13. Fuel hose and jubilee clips to jury rig any leaks
14. Bulbs
15. Oil 5 litres
16. Empty 5 litre container for getting water from somewhere

None of these things apart from the oil are very bulky.



Note, on a 3.6 there is a hose about 8 inches long and 1.5 inches wide under the inlet manifold that comes directly off the back of the water pump and takes the flow to the engine. YOU MUST CHANGE THIS BEFORE YOU GO. It is nearly invisible, most people do not know it is there, and they never get changed. As soon as the car does some serious work, believe me it will blow.


Good luck, great cause, I will make a donation!


Greg

 

Hi - thanks very very much for taking the time to help with your reply.
best regards
Max

 

Water
fire extenguisher
Radiator Hoses
Fire extenguisher
plugs just in case
fire extenguisher
transmission fluid
fire extenguisher
oil
fire extenguisher
fuel hose
fire extenguisher
Jerry can w/ some gas just in case
fire extenguisher

that should cover it.

 

5000 mile road trip. First of all, that is kickass!

You should already have vetted everything in Greg's and M90's lists before such a trip. That being the case, I would bring my clothes, a hot female, AAA card, and my AMEX. **** the rest

Also...

 

I am getting the message re fire extinguisher! got one!

 

Max,

I did Durham to Gibraltar in two days a few weeks ago. A great drive and no issues but in a younger car.

Take careful note of Greg's warning about hoses. You'll be traveling in considerably higher temperatures than your XJS is ever likely to have seen and the cooling system will be working hard.

Good luck and enjoy the trip.

Graham

 

I've no XJS advice but pack a large box of good humour and several bottles of Scotch. Oh! and a fire extinguisher!
Looks like a good cause and a great adventure, maybe you can post up some pics and reports as you go?

 

Hi Max

Have a great trip and post some pics when you get back, take Gregs advice and make sure everything is up to it before you go and you should have no issues.

I drove across Austraila in my 89 V12 2 years ago and apart from a split radiator hose (and yes it was new, it was a fitting issue with a screwdriver by I suspect a young mechanic) we had a great trip. Covered about 6000km's in 2 weeks. It was winter so crossing the desert the temp never got above 35°C.

Just take a few tools I would pack DUCT tape, a couple of screwdrivers a set of spanners, a fire extinguisher, water and a COFFEE machine.

 

More Scotch than oil makes more sense to me. There is always somewhere to get oil.

Sense of humour, MUST HAVE.

New batteries for the hearing aids, haha, BUT, keep a keen ear on the noises the car/s make, and if that noise changes, STOP, and sort it before the "brown stuff" hits the fan, if you savvy what I am saying.

The V12's will be fine, the 3.6's worry me a tad, but then I am a V12 guy from waaaaay back.

Check the trans cooler hoses BEFORE setting out, they are so often forgotten until they fail, and so simple to do in the shop.

I always suggest fitting NEW belts before going, coz if the size is wrong (and it often is) it is so much easier now, and put the old ones in the trunk, you know those will fit coz you just them off mmmm.

 

Morocco has a lot of paved roads and a lot of unpaved roads, keep in mind that depending on the tire size, it might not be available easily. Also, filters filters filters, as they will get full of dust and dirt.