WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE 40

[xj12-rob]

Insignia fired up first time, clouds of smoke as it burnt off past the valve stems, bit of oil on the exhaust burnt off as well, cleared off the detritus of long term storage, leaves, bird pooh and a lump of moss!!, input radio code and drove it home 10 minutes ago, tyres checked all good, prsuures too, all fluids where they should be, two jobs that need doing, fit a cd back into it, and have a look at a nasty stain on the bootlid paint work, looks like something has come through the lock up roof and landed on the bootlid, it will NOT shift

some of the alloys castings under the bonnet had grown white mould, as had the underbonnet liner, so a warning here not to put cars away wet and salty for any length of time, bear in mind this car was last used this time last year, and only came out in Ocober 2012 for its mot

[xj12-rob]

Naki, re the Mondeo alternator, 57 plate car, so 5/6 years old, 130K miles, hard work for all of those miles as well, the main ball ache though is what has to come off to get to it, it drives off a shaft and sits at the centre front of the engine, when I looked this morning, Scott had removed, inner wheel arch, aircon compressor, all the belts, alternator drive shaft and was struggling to get the top bolt, add to that the soonest we can source a new unit is tomorrow afternoon, who says Jags are expensive

same job on a 40., car in air, two bolts, drop it out, used one at 25 quid in, bolt up, adjust belt, car onto the ground, start and test drive, an hour max, happy days

[old del boy]

Naki, re the Mondeo alternator, 57 plate car, so 5/6 years old, 130K miles, hard work for all of those miles as well, the main ball ache though is what has to come off to get to it, it drives off a shaft and sits at the centre front of the engine, when I looked this morning, Scott had removed, inner wheel arch, aircon compressor, all the belts, alternator drive shaft and was struggling to get the top bolt, add to that the soonest we can source a new unit is tomorrow afternoon, who says Jags are expensive

same job on a 40., car in air, two bolts, drop it out, used one at 25 quid in, bolt up, adjust belt, car onto the ground, start and test drive, an hour max, happy days

You are so right mate , the working space around an xj40 is a Godsend , same with my Rover SD1 , there's so much room to work i think i've been spoilt over the years , i don't think i could cope with the new front wheel drive engines there's just so much crammed in compared to the old BMC FWD cars ,

Derek..

[naki_k]

oh yes, doesn't sound a fun job there on the mondeo. pros and cons with modern cars, thats for sure

i have done the 40 alternator so many times now. can do it in around 35 mins, from above without jacking the car up, a few scraped wrists in the process though.

dont forget to check non of the brakes are binding. i have had this quite a few times on my lot when they haven't moved for a while. in fact two of them are still like that now, and need freeing up. last thing you need is a wheel getting hot on a 1000 mile journey

[Rory]

I agree...
How rare is the 40 now? There must be less now than there are e types... But that does not mean, as you say, that they are worth more!

The V12 is a beautiful engine... Octane had an article on a series 1 v12 and a Mercedes... Very interesting...
Even the v12 may be slightly less scarey than those early v8s?

Rory

[MagicDoormouse]

You've been away too long Richard! All that pent up energy is coming out in essays!!! How's that XJS coming on?

[katar83]

I'm interested to see what you will find under these xjs wings As for fiber glass, there was a fiber bonnet and fiber wings for xjs recently on eBay. Not to expensive either and did not sell I think.
Its a difficult season for any car repairs so far. I did some work in February last year and it looks like I wont be able to do much until May now as its still wet and cold

[MagicDoormouse]

It's on hold while I do the basic and cosmetic work on the XJR but I have acquired both wings, front lower wing finishers, rear 3/4 lower finishers in fibre glass and very good they are too (as well as saving 120kg in weight), and i'm pondering a glass fibre bonnet (well, its a glass fibre skin on a good steel frame) otherwise, its finish off the little jobs and put it all back together for a repsray and retrim.
It doesnt look like it will roll in 2013 which was the plan (mind you the plan was to have it rolling in 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 as well) it's just that whenever I think I have done a job, something else comes along, like now I'm pondering an electric water pump and a smaller air con pump for it (as well as being lighter).
I have managed to source all the bumper assemblies N.O.S. but am debating a TWR kit for it as it's lighter, but to me, makes the XJS look more "Chav" and I would be duty bound to have a burberry interior fitted if i bought that
One thing I did drop on was a vented rear disk conversion for it which came in at a very reasonable £550 which considering that comes with disks AND calipers, is a bit of a no brainer.

And now, I gather there is a tasty Daimler double six up in auction so I may be going to see and if i'm happy, bid on that and of course, that means I am surplus one XJR

Mmmm itchy beard!!

[Rory]

Mmmm itchy beard!!

I did say if I could find a good 4 sov, double six or xj12, i would honour my side of our post Coventry chat

Sounds interesting?
Do tell...

Rory

[MagicDoormouse]

You have a PM Rory!