Getting there
 

Front subframe rebushed, not long to go now.
And I've finally done the oil change on the boat so am proceeding immediately to the pub!

It's 5 o'clock somwhere! I'm not sure what time pubs open up by you, but you have undoubtedly earned yourself a pint.

Absolutely! Changing the oil is a pain (it's a 2.5 litre BMC diesel [taxi] engine, marinised) as there is no room underneath to put anything to catch the old oil. What they have is a full length tray to catch it (and any leaks, don't want to pump oil into the river through the bilge pumps) so you drain the oil into the pan and then attempt to pump it into containers.
One hand holding the pipe in the oil pan, one hand holding the pump and the other hand pumping the handle whilst trying to hold a semi upside-down position reminiscent of an olympic gymnast.
Easy if you are a 3 handed olympic gymnast but somewhat challenging if you are 6' 1" tall, over 50 and with an arse the size of a small European state.
And of course you can only pump so much, the rest of it has to be manually removed so off to the pet shop for 2 bags of kitty litter to soak it up and then in with the scoop and the plastic bags. Might do that tomorrow, it seems like a lovely job to do with a hangover!
Anyway, went to the pub and it is shut for 3 weeks for refurbishment; Ba.....ds! In other words they are going to turn it from a perfectly acceptable town pub into some god awful place that sells cocktails and Wasabi nuts (no objection to either, just not in a beer emporium).
Luckily over here town pubs are generally open from 1100 to 2300 (and you can get licensed for 24 hour opening but haven't seen any those) so only had to totter 100 yards to the next establishment for a couple of jars of IPA (India Pale Ale).
Anyway, pleased with the boat engine, it hasn't run since October and a jump start and off she rumbled. Might be able to go out in her if it ever stops raining.

An the sort of boat and her name, Steve? decades and decades agoI used to own one that had exactly the same setup!

Greg

Always liked the Wadworth's 6X when visiting in Malmesbury. Them were the days, sound of leather on willow...

Admiral VII, 1962 Broads (that's Norfolk Broads for those not in the know; it's a fair while since I've been deep sea and gone ashore looking for 'broads'!) Cruiser, built by Broom of Brundall. Mahogany (or My Agony) on oak frames. Slowly (painfully slowly) converting it from an 8 berth into a 2 plus 2 live aboard. Or 1 (me) plus 32" 3D Smart TV setup with full size domestic fridge full of beer so that I can fester in peace and watch very loud Sci Fi movies to my hearts content without being forced to watch soaps or do the washing up if I don't feel like it.
She is also on the National Historic Ship Register which made me feel dead chuffed (hope 'chuffed' isn't something rude outside of the UK!).
Also just visible on Google Earth which is amazing.
Picture taken last year on the Thames Relay.

Lovely boat. Not my old one though. Was at school with Barney Broom.
Greg

nice boat nice car good attitude :icon_toast: :icon_starwars:

Lovely lines on the old Broad Steve!

I had one of these X-Change-R systems on my Viking SF. A real Godsend. It was hooked to both engines and the generator so you can have your beer and do your oil change at the same time ;)

!! That's a Real Boat!!
Wow, Steve, I thought you might be referring to a dingy or something.
*Very Nice!
(';')

Thanks for the compliments everyone.
The Admiral always attracts a lot of attention whenever I take her out, people seem really taken with her.

If I never see another boat, it won't be a day too soon!

I used to be as obsessed with boats, as I now am with Cars and used to have about 6 of them in various states of repair from 20ft to 30ft until I suddenly realized that this was like pouring money down a hole in the ground!

I've done a couple of trips on the 'Broads' including the 'infamous' Bridge at Potters Heigham!

So having got through that unscathed apart from a change of under pants! I thought I knew it all!

Until I tried to berth this boat right outside the Pub in between two others and made the 'Schoolboy error' of not heading into the tide as I came alongside!

I will never forget the look of 'Panic' on the face of the guy who owned the boat that I was about to Crash into, who was shaking so much he was actually spilling his tea!

Then realizing my mistake I turned the boat at the last minute to head back into the tide and guess what happened next!......

The boat spun round at a suicide speed and then went straight into the gap between these other boats as if by magic! in a gap that left no more than about 4ft at either end!

Although another change of under pants had been required, I managed to brazen it out enough, to look just like I knew what I was doing, although to be perfectly honest with you I felt I was dying inside!

So having failed to learn my lesson, I hired a 40ft Canal Boat for the first time in my life and then to my amazement, discovered that I suffered from a fear of heights as I took it along the Viaduct at Llangollan.

I have never been so scared in my whole life!

So now, not having learned your lesson that Machines don't like you, OB, you crawl under cars that rip you to shreds, dump radiator fluid in your face, and who knows what else that you haven't told us!

Hmm. I see a pattern forming here... Yes, it's all clear to me now. <snicker>
(';')

Down Look Down!
 

If anythings going to happen, it always happens to me!

The Canal Boat over the Aqueduct, was one of the Scariest things I've ever done in my whole life, because if you are new to Canal Boats, as I was back then, its like trying to drive a 40 ft Articulated Lorry in reverse.

When you are on a Canal Boat, you just stand on the little deck with the 'Tiller' (Steering Lever) on the back, where if anyone comes past you from the opposite way, the Front of your Canal Boat gets sucked in toward them.

In order to try and prevent this you sometimes need a bit of speed in order that this doesn't happen, as you need the pressure of Water against the rudder to steer, which creates a lot of problems, if you get that wrong!

So there I was standing at the back, (The Stern) on this tiny little deck and could see the Aqueduct right in front of me, which is fine until you realize the Water inside it is so high, it doesn't look like it has any sides!

And all the time it looks as if, just one false move would be all it would take to send the boat over the edge.

Just try and hold that thought in mind as we are on the 'Nursery Slopes' as to what happens next!

As when you get on to the Aqueduct there is no going back, where to either side of you, is a sheer plummeting drop and every time your boat hits the sides because you are going too slowly.

It feels as if you have hit the side of a beer mat, while you are standing on top and you start to think you are going to loose your footing! Which isn't recommended, as if you fall you would go straight over the edge!

Like walking across the Grand Canyon on a wobbly plank of Wood!

And if you find like I did, that you are Scared of heights! This is one aversion Therapy, I wouldn't recommend!

I was rigid with fear the whole way through and you can still see my fingerprints on the Tiller, as I was holding it so tight, just as if my life depended on it.

Which when you think about it, it probably did!

http://www.britainexpress.com/images...yllte-1172.jpg

I think that the front suspension rebuild may have progressed slightly further than I intended.
For sale, one slightly used kidney. As it's an auto I could also be open to offers for a left foot.
Haven't got the car back yet (Saturday hopefully!) but have new gear knob; yes, I know it isn't OEM but it is an 'R' XJS.
Note correct orientation of radius arm bushes for the 'R' spec suspension.

With only one kidney, think what you will save on substances! And therefore have more to spend on petrol. Are yuo doing the cam covers while you wait?

FWIW, be prepeared to be disappointed with the radius arm bush reorientation. I tried it on my standard car, and all it achieved was a slight but noticeable 'kangaroo effect' on the rear end on normally flat tarmec! Off they came.

Greg

Kangaroo effect?
A tendency to bask in the sun whilst exposing ones bits?
That should be an interesting side effect.

Hats off to you Steve! and I thought I had problems!

Almost done.
Shiny, shiny and new boot spoiler fitted.
She should be back early next week hopefully.

Yes! *Very* shiny!

It's a very pretty car, Steve.
(';')

It finally got there yesterday! Huzzah!
The first 2 pictures show the car arriving back, all shiny and ready to unloaded.
The 3rd pictures shows it all loaded up again, ready to go back; bummer!
Looks very nice, handles nice and tightly, will not pull the skin off a rice pudding and makes funny noises, low oil pressure, oil leak.
Considering ending it all and buying another Japanese car.
Anyway, updates are arriving quite frequently so not all doom and gloom.
Funny noises down to gearbox central mount adjustment.
Oil pressure/leak resolved with replacement sender, now showing a healthy 50 psi.
Just have to sort out lack of drive now; engine seems to be running nicely although there was a ticking noise from one bank at one stage -do they have hydraulic tappets? - but that has gone now.
Rev the engine in neutral and she sounds great, engage drive and it is as if you are trying to proceed through a large bowl of custard (or drive an 1800 Freelander), there is just sod all there.
Gearbox? torque convertor? hope to find out this evening.

Not getting there really.
It looks as if the gearbox has had it although apparently it drives really well in reverse!
So, gearbox swap to add to the list of extras, one from a TWR car going in.
Glumness setting in.

Don't lose heart, Steve. She'll be a dream when you get her right, and all the setbacks will be nothing more than fading memories.

Thanks Scott, I'll try and keep the old chin up (it makes a better target that way).
The annoying thing of course (as I am sure that we all know) is that all this extra expenditure is taking funds away from things that I actually want to do on the car as opposed to have to do. New headlining and cant rails, refurb passenger seat, upgrade instrument lights, fit huge tailpipes, sort out window switches and host of electrical gremlins, detail engine bay.
And then, after lunch..........!
Never mind, when it returns I'm going to drive the pants off it as punishment.

Hi Steve

Whatever problems you're having, you are not alone! I'm having a nightmare bleeding the Brakes on mine.

I've tried every trick in the book except of course the one that works, so now its time to swallow my pride and call in a mate of mine who is a Jag Expert.

Annoyingly he will be able to wave his magic wand and do in about 10 mins what has taken me Two days of Trying and Failing!

So let me know if you can get a deal on those Japanese Cars if we order one each!

Oh well, at least I've got something to save up for now; engine and gearbox transplant in the Autumn.
Now, if I cut out food, and shoes, and haircuts, should be able to save up quicker!

The front suspension rebuild continues to exhibit a mild strain of mission creep.

But, Steve! Even I know that's not suspension, that's an ENGINE!

(Sorry, but I just couldn't help myself.)
(';')

keep it up man. dont give up.

Yeah, but the thigh bone's connected to the hip bone, the hip bone's connected......... and all that!

Hanging in there, hanging in there.

Steve
Would it be worthwhile to try an ATF fluid change before removing the box?

Greg

It has had an oil and filter change and Dave (the guy that is doing the work) reckons that may be part of the problem; something has been kept in suspension somewhere in the old oil and the new oil has flushed it out ( had the same thing with the overdrive on my MGC) and buggered it up; bearing in mind that the box has done 115,000 miles and the car has generally been seriously negelcted it's not surprising. No disrespect to the previous owners but I really don't think that they had any idea on how to look after an XJS once they had bought it.
Remember, always pamper your kitty!
Anyroads, way off in the distance I do believe that the light at the end of the tunnel has slowly hove into view; obviously some tosser will turn it off as soon as we get there but what is life without serial disappointment?
Dave had his man do compression readings and as far as I can find out they seem acceptable (bearing in mind that the Lister that he is rebuilding is running between 135 and 150 psi):-
1A 201, 2A 199, 3A 200, 4A 202, 5A 201, 6A 204
1B 198,2B 210, 3B 202, 4B 195, 5B 205, 6B 200
Injector loom has been replaced with a good one and apparantly she is now smooth, and most importantly, 'eager'.
She (notice the subtle change from 'it' to 'she' - I'm sure that next week it will be back to 'shite') just needs her daddy now to take her out and give her a good spanking around the country roads.
Week after next maybe.

it wouldnt be the first time a fluid and filter change wrecked a transmission. on high mileage tranny's youre sort of damned if you do and damned if you dont.
pick up some seafoam trans tune and dump it in, and maybe a quart of brake fluid while your at it, and proceed to run the bat shit out of it through all the gears it will actually select. sometimes they come back to life. my last 4t65e did this.

It sounds like an idea although I haven't got the foggiest idea what 'seafoam' is other than from my career as a seafarer.
And at the end of the day the box has done 115k so is probably on its last legs anyway (the car has already had a replacement engine way before I bought it).
Going for a swap with a known good unit, £375 including fitting which isn't too bad considering the work involved.
It was selecting all the gears, just appeared to trying to drive through treacle whilst making lots of noise so I wondered if the torque converter was converting petrol into some sort of massively inefficient form of propulsion.
I mean, even more inefficient than usual.

Hi Steve
glad to hear you are making headway with the beasty ,would be interested to know if it was the torque converter have heard about them having straitened fins which pretty much means they just kind of spin the fluid around hence lots of noise and bugger all go .
Once again keep up the attitude .

Monday hopefully, finger crossed, Gods placated, virgins sacrificed etc. etc.
Forgotten what it looks like.