Jaguars.....

[RRoller123]

No "Leaper" for us! I found out that they are not factory original, they were added by US dealers only, and are generally frowned upon by the community. There are 2 sizes, the smaller one might be ok, but I like the lines of the car better without it.

The Spider is in heated Winter storage, so my attention is turned to this massive beast. Weighs nearly 5000 pounds. I have about a foot of working room on the driver's side, maybe less on the passenger's side, and one end of it hangs outside the garage while the other end gets worked on. LOL this thing is huge. BUT I must say that it is nice to be able to go out with 4 adults to dinner, whatever, in quiet, smooth, completely luxurious comfort. Take the long way there and back. Makes a nice contrast to the Spider in the warm months.

So far:

Diff oil changed
Transmission flushed, new filter.
Oil changed twice, with sludge cleaner (MMO)
P/S fluid flushed
Coolant flushed
Brake fluid flushed
(4) Belts changed
Front wheel bearings serviced
Interior cleaned and leather treated
Engine degreased
Body polished and waxed
Trunk area refurbished
Rust stabilizer on half of front suspension, painting next.

And I haven't even put a small dent in the list I am afraid.....

Pete

[Nanonevol]

It's a terrible disease isn't it?

[RRoller123]

Yes..... yes it is.

[AriK]

Just saw this Pete! Very classy. The color (or i should write colour) suits very well.
Congratulations on your new acquisition.
Cheers!

[RRoller123]

Thanks, keeps me out of trouble! Sort of.

[davery]

I owned an 85 XJS for three years a couple of decades ago. I drove a 911 and the XJS and ended up with the Jag. What a mistake. I was living in the middle of nowhere and a tune up cost me $1000 (in 1990) and the car only ran half the time. Loved the car when it ran, though - but what a pain.

[RRoller123]

Truth, you need a second Mortgage if you don't spin the spanners yourself. I figure $2,000 at least for what I have done so far on the car myself. Well over half the purchase price already that would be. The car, running very well, with minimal rust, perfect interior, glass, rubber, great mechanicals, cost me $3500, way less than a good runner Fiat Spider would, actually. I don't even know where the closest Jaguar dealer is located in MA.

But in fairness, I think the same could be said for most of the upscale European brands; if you take you car to a BMW, AUDI, Porsche, Volvo, Saab dealer, etc. Well God bless the massive hole that will result in your wallet.

So find a good relatively rust free one (any upscale brand) that is in good mechanical condition, (this one only has 66K original miles on it) spin your own spanners and enjoy the Hell out of it at the car shows. It attracts a LOT of attention! Have had great fun with it so far.

Now also to be fair, check back with me in the Spring when I get the AC fixed. I have no knowledge of how to do that, so it will go to a specialist. I figure probably $1500, bringing my total in to $5K, but still very good compared to most hobby cars out there, of any brand, including our Spiders.

[Nanonevol]

How's the gas mileage? And what's up with the two gas filling caps?

[RRoller123]

I haven't measured the mileage, but I think it is about 15 overall. Most of my driving is around town.

It has two separate gas tanks, on on each side of the rear of the car, controlled by a switch on the dash. You push the button in to draw from the Left tank, out to draw from the Right tank. solenoids control which one the fuel flows from. The gas gauge shows the amount on the selected tank. It is so typically British that it is hysterical. About 12 gallons in each side tank, ~24 total. This fuel tank system works fine on my car, but I am told that this is unusual that it do so on these old XJ6's, and that they are frequently just plumbed together when it fails, so that it draws from both simultaneously. More quaint but needless British complexity. It is absolutely hysterical!

[Nanonevol]

I also caught the Jaguar fever! Meet the new project: This one's an '85, 98K mi, a bit rusty and has a random stalling out issue, maybe fuel related. Nardi wheel a nice touch!



Note the Pininfarini styling. The "boot" side has the same little "wings" or shoulders as our Spiders!

[RRoller123]

Nice! We will have to get them together at a cruise night. Join the Jaguar Forum, so we don't fill up conversation here that belongs elsewhere?

[Nanonevol]

Right. I joined this one:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj6- ... ii-iii-16/
looks like it's been going for some time.

[SeattleSpider]

I believe this forum is "Off Topic and Social" so it seems this conversation does belong here. Besides, I don't see that there is all that much conversation going on throughout this site (at least not at this time of year) so to me, the more the merrier.

[RRoller123]

OK, no problem as long as no one objects. Spider is in storage for 4 more months, so playing with the cat in the garage. This car has had NO basic maintenance for 32 years, unless something broke. Only 66K miles, fortunately.

Breather system and throttle body absolutely filthy, been cleaning the system and all the supply hoses. Was very worried that the engine was all sludged up, but the valve area looked pretty normal. The throttle body and breather system was frightening.





Cleaned up pretty well.



Used 2 cans of cleaner and brushed it and this is as good as I am going to get it. Good enough. Will paint the 2 valve covers with new in same pattern.





Oil was running down the front of the engine, and coated it in a thick coat of muck, maybe a 1/4" thick.

The separator screen was installed wrong! Leaking out the bottom 2 mounting studs. Hopefully that is the cause and solution.



Proper assy orientation.



Slowly coming along, in a tight condo garage, no workbench, no heat, but wth, it is all good. Throttle cable held up by a bungee, and adding 3-in-1 oil to it every day for about a week and working it through. Nice and smooth now. The throttle used to stick, probably from both the throttle body being unbelievably filthy and the dry cable.

[njspider]

I logged a lot of miles in XJ6s in the late 80's. My boss would get a new Jag every 2 or 3 years. I would travel with him one day a week and he always had me drive. (I never complained). Driving those cars was the best combination of ride comfort and handling I ever experienced. He didn't have much mechanical trouble with them but again he turned them in before they had a lot of mileage. Just regular service at the dealer was very expensive. Man, I loved driving those cars but I was glad I didn't own them.