The rear end is now back where it belongs! Measurements have been taken for the brake lines. Those will be available soon. The new Mina exhaust system is pretty nice! The exhaust tips are much more respectable in their new location. The 'low spot' of the exhaust system is in line with the rear wheels, so it won't contribute to on-street issues like going over speed bumps.

 

Looking very good, Jeff.

Tony (XKRacer) at Paragon Design UK has often recommended a slash-oval type exhaust tip, which follows the existing curve of the lower bumper much better. You might find this to be a cleaner look than the tips you've currently got.

Have a look at post #5 of THIS THREAD and you'll see what he's talking about.



.

 

Jeff, I would recommend a couple of inch section of heater hose be slid over each cross brace where it contacts the Mina exhaust pipe to prevent vibration from transmitting to the body and prevent wear.

 

What diameter pipe is used in the Mina exhaust? Is it the same 2" as in the stock system?

 

I think they are 2 1/4"

 

What were the other mods you had?

 

Transmission and toque converter were reinforced by adding extra plates to gears 1-4 and to the tc. I do not know exact English name for a part which was removed/changed. The guy who made the job is a MB transmission specialist and made same things for some very fast MBs. He said that added a few his own "tricks" also. But anyway works fine and should not give up at any realistic torque levels and drag radials.

 

Jeff, I'm feeling your pain!! I know it is very agonizing to still be waiting for your Baby to come home,
it will be home soon and the next day you won't even realize it was gone.

Maybe a little more difficult to let it go again, though.

Hopefully you take some time before your next mods, so you can just enjoy your Dream.

Soon to be
Happy Motoring...

 

Thank you, sir!

The great tech that does much of the work has had some family emergencies during the latest work. I can't fault him for that and appreciate the quality work that he and other techs have been doing. It *might* be this Friday that I get it back. If so, that will make for a FUN weekend!

 

Today I post pics of the Blue-Top solenoids (for quicker shifting), transmission wiring socket (new with new o-rings; it still had the original and they tend to leak if not replaced with new), new custom stainless braided brake lines (improves brake 'feel' and response), and new rear brake rotors. The front rotors are brand new Jag units. The rears are aftermarket. We had to bring in 4 sets of rotors just to find 2 that were in spec. Next time, we'll use Jag brand in the rear, too!

I thank Falconworks Jaguar technicians and owner, Alan, for allowing me to frequently stop by to take photos of the process. These guys are always pleasant!

 

What brand are the rear rotors? Looking good!

 

The rears are Eurospare. After finally getting 2 that are in spec., technician, Bill, is quite happy with the result.

 

Hi Jeff,
I think you might get banned for posting so much "****". Your thread is making my need for a new XKR even more drastic. Keep up the great work.

 

I needed a truck for my business that is bigger than my previous small Toyota truck. There are a lot of these box trucks for sale at great prices right now (bad economy). Instead of driving a rental the entire time during the Jaguar's upgrades, I decided to get this one. I've been driving the danged thing everyday for about 2 weeks now. Nobody has dared to pull out in front of me in traffic or cut me off. Haah!

I figured out how to take a corner faster with it. Come into the corner braking hard, then, in rapid succession, grip and thrust the steering wheel on one side only, over and over again, until the beast has turned, then let go of the wheel as it straightens out exiting the curve. As the hands perform that particular maneuver upon the steering wheel, it looks like there is a lunatic driver inside the cab, trying to imitate the motions of a mouse on a running wheel. Of course, near the apex, I'm off the massive brakes and onto the throttle giving the little turbocharged 4 cylinder diesel everything it's got. All 135 horsepower (280 ft. lb. torque) come to life, going clickety-clickety-click, as it SCREAMS up to 40 mph in about 12 seconds. Aw, YEAH, baby!

Can you not tell that I'm missing driving the XKR?!

Anyway, this box truck has a 16' box and sold to me for $8200. They would have let me make payments of $175 per month, if I had wanted to. If any of you folks in the states have ever had a need for one of these things or can use one to start a business, like landscaping or delivery, NOW is the time to buy one. You can get them a little bit cheaper, but they tend to be quite rough and rusty in the $6500 range. This one has a hide-away lifting gate at the rear, great air conditioning, is rust free, and everything works great. It's a 1994 Mitsubishi Fuso FE with 270,000 miles, rated to carry 12,000 pounds. No commercial driver's license needed. It should be good for another 2-300,000 miles. Since I'll probably only put about 1000 miles on it per year, I'd say that it will last for my needs.

Edit: ...and it's getting about 18 mpg in city driving.

 

Proof you can have fun driving just about anything.

Some of the most fun I ever had in car was during a summer I spent working for the government while I was I college. Plain white Chevy van, no windows, with one of those black and white US Government plates.

You could do absolutely ANYTHING and no one would even come near you. Guys in their BMWs and Porsches would come tearing up from behind, get close enough to see the license plate and then slam on the breaks and get WAY back.

It almost didn't matter how slow you went, no one would pass that van.

 

Jeff,

Can't wait to see the pictures as you improve the Mitsu truck. Auto hydraulic rear left, air horns, CB radio, exhaust stacks up the side of the cab, the possibilities are endless and I know you are up to the task.

 

See of you can find a train horn. That would be the ultimate truck mod.

 

As a side note... The Japanese ricer community highly values the charge air coolers (intercoolers) from those trucks!

Ask me how I know.

 

Haaaaaah! The 'train horn' idea has crossed my mind...

 

Jeff

I think you should consider a big old V12 mid-engine mod similar to the one Top Gear showed when competing against the Ausies! Top Gear, you will recall, had a Jaguar 5.3litre V12 mid-mounted in a Ford Transit van.

N