Finally Roadworthy

Its has been an insane amount of time since my last blog, but the XJS has fianlly been given it's roadworthy certificate and is destined to be registered next Wednesday!


OK so I am going to shorten an update of what has happened in the nearly 10 months since my last blog and again endeavour to update more often on future developments and other projects that I am working on.


My last blog, I had just received my goods from the UK which were all sourced from AJ6 Engineering. I cannot speak highly enough of these guys. If you are not in the UK, they are trustworthy and an excellent source of post purchase support. I purchased a kit which included performance intake manifolds, remapped computer and part of the exhaust system that they offer. My wife is understanding of my discovered Jaguar passion, but it has its limits.


So, up on stands, I set about fixing the Jag mechanically. All the usuals require replacement - front frame bushes, front trailing arm bushes, oil leak from the banjo fitting on the rear of the left hand cylinder head. etc etc. In the process I also serviced the tranmission, serviced the L.S.D, change plugs & leads and replace the vac. advance. etc etc.

The main reason for the long wait in update is that I really struggled to make progresses on getting the car started. The car has an x3000 Fireball Ignition system installed replacing the old prince of darkness amplifier. With new leads, plugs and a rebuilt distributor I reconnected everything the way it came apart. This was aided by 21st Century technology - having an iPhone handy during the removal process makes taking photos very easy. To cut a ten month story short, many timing resets etc, etc, it turns out that the tacho wire and new computer did not like one another and hence wouldn't start. I had to replace the board in the distributor to the old three wire kind before it would start. Hey presto its a runner!

With the car now registered, I still have plenty of work to do on the car. Wheel repairs, rooflining refurb, rear brake discs (boo), fix tacho and speedo, install a new radio and last but not least a new coat of paint.

Still got plenty to do.

Stu

First Inspection

So, today I finally had time to wash all the cars including the which until last month had been living at our shop. Over a beer and while listening to some football I finally had a chance to scour my new (old) jaguar and try to establish some of the heritage of the car. Ultimately I drew the conclusion that the person working on my car previously had little or no idea.

So what's next - I finally have a full day off from work for the first time in seven months (coincidentally around the time we bought the jag). Finish organising my shed, then move the Jag into its resting place for the next six months. I am hoping to have the car finished in time for the summer, but I will only know how achievable that is once I get into it.

Washing the car revealed that the paint is in slightly worse condition than I realised and that a simple sand cut and polish of the car may not be enough to rejuvenate a bright white colour. Also, it has slightly more rust than I realised and has a miss in both left and right hand sides of the motor.

The last of my parts from Roger Bywater arrived this week, so I now have the silencer substitute pipes to improve the sound of the V12. Looking forward to hearing it on the car.

No one said this would be an easy project so time to get stuck in.

Stu

It's Here!

OK, so after months of waiting the final (almost) pieces of the XJS project have arrived. I ordered the Plus Torque kit from Roger Bywater. It arrived at work yesterday and I have finally had time to open it today. I am extremely pleased with the quality of the workmanship amoung other things. Although I haven't installed the parts yet, the package arrived unscathed after a long overseas holiday (England, Germany, the Deep south, Hawaii, Sydney, Melbourne).

Just going to post some picutres of the parts I have below.

 Although not all that exciting, this small piece of equipment is my new ECU. Reprogrammed by AJ6 it will adapt my Jag to its new inlet manifolds and increased intake abilities. This is the cream on the cake!

 What AJ6 have done it to take the standard inlet manifold and cut it in half. Once open that add these trumpets into each intake runner to provide a 'ramming' effect therefore increase air intake and ultimately the torque of this motor.

 Another shot of the intake trumpets.

 Obviously this is photo of the new throttle body mounted to the new intakes. Bigger diameter, this modification completes the reengineered intake which will produce better torque and power once installed.

 New air intakes with addition inlet as you can see from the photo. Providing an increase to the total cfm of the intake, this remanufactured piece also permits a cold air intake.

This is the project. Fresh into the garage and ready to repair. While not in bad condition it needs new suspension bushing and a brake rebuild. I am purely playing with the motor because I can! I am hoping to have it on the road ready for summer 2012. I have almost finished setting up the shed (see Procrastination) and once done will move the beast in. Plenty of cold days and nights listening to the football cursing and spilling blood. What a hobby!

Stu