Thread: Old Jaguars..
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Joeaksa Joeaksa is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,977
Quote:
Originally posted by asphaltgambler
C) A formal introduction to your local jag mechanic who (after talking to you) will call his agent because now he CAN afford that beach house he's always wanted.

E) A complete new standard / set of tool sizing..........not SAE, not Metric, but Wentworth. Yes that's right. Whatever tools you currently own or plan to purchase have no real application to that car.
Seems the English weren't happy with a "different" car they had to invent a "different" tool sizing to actually work on them.
Hate to rain on your parade/ramble, but I have a bit of experience (see the cars listed below in my signature profile) with these old gals and they are not as bad as you suggest.

They are not all Wentworth, and I use my SAE tools, nuts bolts and hardware on all of them. Yes, some of the really old ones had Wentworth but not the ones we are talking about.

The major source of problems in most older Brit cars is the alternator/generator. Replace the Lucas POS with a good American alternator and it works fine. I replaced the Lucas unit with a Chrysler unit in 1975 and it solved loads of issues.

The '69 XJ below has over 660,000 miles on it. Whats even more interesting is that this was between the time it was purchased new by my Father in 1970 and 1979 when I went overseas to play military and the car was put up on blocks. It did this kind of mileage in less than 10 years and broke down on the road one (1) time. Please compare that to any American or German car and am sure that they cannot do as well.

Now want to revise your ideas on Brit cars? Yes, they can be very interesting at times but so are our 911's and we put up with it. If you like the style of car you just adjust as we have done and make it work.

AF, if you like the car and its not rusted then take a serious look at it. The old 6 cylinder in the car is a boat anchor but runs just fine if its taken care of. It should be a 3.4 or 3.8 liter, and there are still parts for it around and for a reasonable price. Several people as well have "lumped" it with a V8 Chevy but I prefer keeping the Jag engine. If you want more info, pls pm me.

Joe A
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB

Last edited by Joeaksa; 10-15-2005 at 08:48 AM..
Old 10-15-2005, 08:45 AM
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