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The Car Wizard tells us what he had to do to diagnose and fix a non-running 1982 V12 coupe, and why getting the engine running is the merely the end of the beginning. This may be of interest. He does start off being fairly rude about the engine, but he does seem to appreciate it.
The V12 is not difficult it only takes 25,000 dollars, 5 years, spending every night on this forum. Drinking as much as Grant commands, buying every over priced manual and breaking your hands on every over-engineered oddly placed part, going back to the forums to re-read 1500 pages of Lore while commiting the Kirby bible to memory ...and pouring stress blood joy tears and sublime triumph into every day of it.
The V12 is not difficult it only takes 25,000 dollars, 5 years, spending every night on this forum. Drinking as much as Grant commands, buying every over priced manual and breaking your hands on every over-engineered oddly placed part, going back to the forums to re-read 1500 pages of Lore while commiting the Kirby bible to memory ...and pouring stress blood joy tears and sublime triumph into every day of it.
I though the Lucas refrigerator "joke" repeated ad nausium in the comments section was infantile, when it was a Chevy part failing that caused the engine to quit running
I though the Lucas refrigerator "joke" repeated ad nausium in the comments section was infantile, when it was a Chevy part failing that caused the engine to quit running
YouTube comments being infantile and annoying? You don't say! They are a haven of positively Wildean wit!
Maaaaan,,, I would do anything for a lift... Lol, really!
This dude is great. I wish he wouldn't keep saying that you need to be an "expert" to revive one of these amazing machines,,, but - I guess some folks grasp at things so they can feel good about themselves, lol... Jeeesh... He figured things out, tho. Some of the mains. Proves he's an "expert" I guess.
Damn, I need a lift. More videos like this wouldn't be a bad thing at all. Nutts and bolts, not over produced, clear talk, and stuff...
YouTube comments being infantile and annoying? You don't say! They are a haven of positively Wildean wit!
I know, I know. It just gets to me when you have all the "experts" in the comments saying that for reliable ignition you should replace the system with a Chevy HEI module, when that's exactly what failed.
i have a GM HEI module in my Crane 700 ignition control,, been 25yrs , still starts and runs great!
Jaguar /Lucas may have rengineered there system differently than GM!
ron
There was one comment by some nutcase to the effect that the British just can't make good cars. That's the sort of sweeping nonsense that tends to infest YouTube. The WWW is bringing us closer--and reminding us how much we can't stand each other, it seems.
i have a GM HEI module in my Crane 700 ignition control,, been 25yrs , still starts and runs great!
Consider yourself lucky Hope you didn't jinx yourself !
A million years ago when I was a parts counterperson at a GM dealership we sold so many of those modules we'd keep a stash right at the counter so we didn't have to walk back to the bins so often! I still remember the old, original part number: 1875990
according to a Crane electronic engineer when some would use a hi output coil, it could over load the module!
something to do with the change in resistance!
it was all about incompatible compnenets , later on GM and Crane changed design and not so much come backs!
ron
i happen to use many Chevy /Ford engine management parts on my V12 , mainly because i never could get my head around what early Lucas was trying to do!
like i use a mid 80s Ford Starter motor(forget the model) went into my local rebuilder with the HEAVY lucas , showed the guy it came back one said try this ,all he did was change the drive gear , and it still on the V12. and it is around 50% lighter weight! (pic)!
i think i'll make a list with some pix of GM parts , i even use a CHEVY CORVETTE 4 speed automatic!
some day,, many of the early Brit cars were not very reliable, much of the worlds car guys know it also!
true there are some nasty remarks about Lucas, the PRINCE.
but thats all old stories , like the Beatles said LET IT BE!
ron
one of my claim to fame cars ,20 yrs , i have a 2001 Mitsu. Mirage 1.8L, getting close to 200K miles, most think they are a POS!
never had any thing serious wrong with it, normal maintenance , two sets front pads, original rotors, one set rear pads! flushed the brake fluid once.
only one set plugs and wires, K&N filter, one cooling fan, 3 batteries , all else original. including the transmission(local trans guy said 10 yrs ago dont change the fluid till a problem occurs)! still OK.
it is a daily driver ,always outside, her name is RUBY, NO paint left, BUT not a single bit of RUST NONE!
it has been all over the USA , admittidly she is looking rough, but me and wifey has our DNA in it!
YES i plan on a new on a car, chances i.ll keep her they wont give me **** for it anyway!
NOW do i think Japanese cars are better than UK cars, no question ,absolutly!
about the car Wizard , he approached the V12 as an Engine, all engines are the same , got pistons ,rods ,crankshaft ETC!
ALL work on the same princples, yes in 10 thousands different shapes!
like he says some worked on the XJS and already were skeptical of THE V12,., Wizard with an OPEN mind set, using HIS own way of doing things!
slowly did one thing at a time till he made it run! altho the labor rate can be outrageous , from that perspective!
when English cars come into USA , Damn Yankee mechanics come from a different mind set, like European German, French ,Italian, techs seem to do things differently also!
for me i like Japan technical mind set , some how seems more logical. WHY i have NO idea!
ron
some day,, many of the early Brit cars were not very reliable, much of the worlds car guys know it also!
Let's not forget, too, that early Japanese efforts at making cars were... not always entirely successful. The British, however, had their reputation pretty-well shafted by the appalling quality control circa the 1970s. Somewhat unfairly, that reputation has stuck. Like the British reputations for bad teeth and bad cooking.
someday,, well said and true!
i have talked with a few British mechanics 40/50 yrs old,, they say it was BLM takeover that killed the industry!
i have asked why do the car rust so quickly, because BL adopted a better steel, called tempered, it was lighter in weight but quite strong/stiffer!
what BL did not want to say was it also had less basic elements for rust resistance, needed for the military machines!
I have no idea if its all true , they now live in USA and reasonably happy!
ron
i have asked why do the car rust so quickly, because BL adopted a better steel, called tempered, it was lighter in weight but quite strong/stiffer!
what BL did not want to say was it also had less basic elements for rust resistance, needed for the military machines!
I have no idea if its all true , they now live in USA and reasonably happy!
ron
I dunno know if it's true or not, either. Perhaps it may have been important to know decades ago. Nowadays, not so much. Anyone looking for a classic car/hobby car from the 60s-70s-80s-90s is faced with the same problem...RUST....no matter from what shores the car originated. They're all subject to rust sooner or later....and most of them do !
The Car Wizard Heals a Broken XJ-S
Hope you didn't jinx yourself !
