Delightfully Shambolic Jaguar XJ40 - Back to Magnificent

[phil_lihp]

I know he does good work and doesn't charge a lot but its the outlay itself I have a problem with, I've already spent hundreds on it and don't use it enough. It'll need more money spending to sort bodywork issues and I have to draw the line somewhere. It's good value, sure, but I don't have £500 to throw at it right now.

[phil_lihp]

What a difference a day makes.  After a good night's sleep and some thinking time whilst walking into town to see a client, I decided to look at it from another angle - the money spent getting it through the MOT would be more recoverable if it was sold with a full ticket than the money spent so far would be if it was sold without.  Basically, my thinking was, for a bit of financial pain now, it would possibly work out better in a month or two and wouldn't mean everything done to it so far was wasted.

 

With that in mind, I went down to see Bob and we had a long chat about the Jag's future prospects while he showed me the issues.  We've come to the mutual conclusion that it is better to patch up the bulkhead and clean up/paint the fuel lines as they are, therefore halving the labour and making the job considerably less expensive.  The car will be safe and he was of the opinion that, apart from a couple of visible repairs on the sills, it's in very good nick underneath and generally very solid.  The rear calipers should clean up to get the handbrake working properly on both sides and I have a new washer jet to stop it spraying water through the sunroof.  Two new brake pipes and a ball joint on the NSF corner and she'll have a shiny new ticket.  I can then do the other little bits (service, bleed the brakes, fix the washer tank bodging) and then move it on at my leisure, probably in a couple of months which was always my intention anyway.

 

Therefore I will have to decline the Prelude - lovely as it is - and the Freelander - which I'm sure had its own good points - as there is wafting yet to do.

[dome]

I can't say I blame you, I'd be doing the same in your position. The Freelander will be a good(ish) one by the time I'm finished with it, however it's still a Freelander and not fit to be in the same car park as your lovely XJ40. 

[Jim Bell]

Good sense prevails.

[egg]

I think one wise shitter wrote the cheapest car to own is the one you already have. I think there is something in that!

 

I'm glad!

[Bren]

Just fix it and enjoy it - fuck selling it. There will be a stampede of mouthbreathers if you punt it - unless someone on here takes it off your hands.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I am glad you are repairing it.

 

Having delved into the innards of the XJ40, I am not completely convinced the outer/upper panel of the bulkhead is structural. It is made of metal the thickness of which would embarrass any self respecting biscuit tin. The inner/lower panel is made of much thicker and more substantial steel.

 

Jaguar recognised there was a design problem with the late XJ40/X300 bulkhead and made a repair panel. It was fitted free to cars with bulkhead rust back in the 1990s. The official technique was to drill out all the spot welds across the affected section of bulkhead - then glue the new panel in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From this thread:

 

https://www.xj40.com/viewtopic.php?t=5223&start=50

[phil_lihp]

Thanks again, one thing I've found with these is the sheet amount of knowledge and information available about them is staggering and you seem to hold a fair amount of it in your head!

 

I do recall seeing images from a bulkhead repair which definitely did not look strong enough to be structural once the rusty layers were fully visible, as you say it looks more akin to a simple skin over the actual bulkhead frame but I'm no expert.  Very interesting that there was a recall on it...I wonder if I should pop in to my nearest Jaguar dealer and find out if mine's still eligible

 

Anyway, I paid a visit to the patient tonight when I dropped the spare washer jet over ready for repairs to commence next week..she might be down right now but still looks quite shambolically magnificent parked up in the sun.

 

[Royale80]

_{Best course of action Phil!}

 

_Steve

 

_{P.S. When you do come to sell it I may be interested.}

 

 

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Thanks again, one thing I've found with these is the sheet amount of knowledge and information available about them is staggering

 

 

It is true - there seems to be more very good quality information about them on the internet than almost any other car. They seem to be owned by a disproportionate number of engineers and scientists for some reason, so maybe this is why. There are some very clever people with XJ40s on the xj40.com website - with incredible knowledge of the electrics in particular. I find some of it quite boggling!

[Jim Bell]

Thanks again, one thing I've found with these is the sheet amount of knowledge and information available about them is staggering.

 

20160624_182311.jpg

[phil_lihp]

Oops, looks like a few recent posts have gone AWOL, nothing much lost though.

 

The Jag's been fixed of course and has been providing high-quality transport ever since.  I've clocked up more miles in it than usual for the last month as a cycling mishap involving a high-speed meeting with the ground last month means I am stuck driving automatics for a while - hopefully that will change in the next week or so but in the mean time I've not been slumming it (unless you count the works' Jeep Grand Cherokee which I've had to swap with a colleague for the Skoda as it's an automatic, but we won't because it's not a car, it's a boat.  Handles like a boat, sounds like a boat, rolls and pitches like a boat).

 

The washer jet was replaced but I do still need to replace the original windscreen washer pump so I can get rid of the silly little BMW tank that's hanging off an engine mount, plus it still needs an oil change and a brake-bleeding session once I am able to do it.  

 

The ABS light has gone from occasional to permanent in the last couple of days but I suspect a good jiggle and clean of relays should sort that as it has in the past.  The paintwork on the bonnet and roof is getting worse and worse, it's shedding lacquer with increasing enthusiasm but short of a respray (which I am never going to be able to afford or justify!) there isn't a lot I can do about that.  I'll find some light green colour polish (if there is such a thing) to try and hide it a bit, all the little chunks and chips of missing lacquer are outlined in white polish which is not helping.

 

Cosmetics aside though, still marvellous and still puts a grin on my face every time I give it the beans on an empty stretch of road.

[Partridge]

So you're keeping it? Good man.

[Shep Shepherd]

Great thread. Makes me want to get an XJ40 of my own while they are still available for well under £1000

[dollywobbler]

I'm adding myself to the list of interested parties if this thing comes up for sale.

[phil_lihp]

And...it's broken again.  Possibly quite terminally this time.

 

The steering abruptly started getting heavier as I was driving into work a couple of days ago, it's now noticeably less assisted than before, lightens up at speed but is a bit of a pig to handle below 30MPH with one and a half arms.  With the engine ticking over there is a faint hint of metallic whining which to me suggests a knackered power steering pump but I might be imagining it or it might just be one of those sounds that old Jaguars like to make.

 

It's currently sat in disgrace at my colleague's house as I'm now able to drive a manual again so have been assigned the company's 15-plate Berlingo van, I'll pick up the Jag next week and see what's what.  Unfortunately, we checked the power steering fluid which is both topped up and a nice cherry red so it's not leaking fluid and doesn't need topping up or changing.

 

The steering does make a loud groaning noise when reversing around a left hand corner for some reason, accompanied by a vibration through the steering wheel but I never paid much attention.  Perhaps I should have.  I suspect either the rack or pump, neither of which is going to be particularly cheap.  I'll try and investigate further when I pick it up next week and decide what to do.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

....

[uk_senator]

And...it's broken again.  Possibly quite terminally this time.

 

The steering abruptly started getting heavier as I was driving into work a couple of days ago, it's now noticeably less assisted than before, lightens up at speed but is a bit of a pig to handle below 30MPH with one and a half arms.  With the engine ticking over there is a faint hint of metallic whining which to me suggests a knackered power steering pump but I might be imagining it or it might just be one of those sounds that old Jaguars like to make.

 

It's currently sat in disgrace at my colleague's house as I'm now able to drive a manual again so have been assigned the company's 15-plate Berlingo van, I'll pick up the Jag next week and see what's what.  Unfortunately, we checked the power steering fluid which is both topped up and a nice cherry red so it's not leaking fluid and doesn't need topping up or changing.

 

The steering does make a loud groaning noise when reversing around a left hand corner for some reason, accompanied by a vibration through the steering wheel but I never paid much attention.  Perhaps I should have.  I suspect either the rack or pump, neither of which is going to be particularly cheap.  I'll try and investigate further when I pick it up next week and decide what to do.

Might just be low fluid, usually pissed out from the pipe by the exhaust manifold, although thats usually accompanied by lots of white smoke from the aforementioned exhaust manifold... Alternatively it often leaks from the high pressure switches by the green pressure sphere.

[uk_senator]

Might just be low fluid, usually pissed out from the pipe by the exhaust manifold, although thats usually accompanied by lots of white smoke from the aforementioned exhaust manifold... Alternatively it often leaks from the high pressure switches by the green pressure sphere.

Oh, & sometimes it leaks from the rack as well.. So that pretty much covers everything.

 

If my spares XJ40 wasnt piled 8` high with boxes of assorted autoshite parts, I`d offer to send you a pump for the price of P&P.

[phil_lihp]

Fluid is fully topped up and clean and there's no white smoke, it feels like there's only about 50% assistance so not sure but I'm guessing the pump is knackered. However, I know very little about PAS systems so I could well be wrong!

[dollywobbler]

You know, a cheap XJ40 was very nearly considered the ideal steed for the trip to France. For once, I'm glad Mrs DW overruled me. Assuming the Rover actually makes it with no probs of course...

[uk_senator]

Theres not much to it really, if theres no leaks its likely pump or rack, although theres a possibility there could be a blockage in the pipes/cooler, maybe an internally collapsed pipe.

[phil_lihp]

Good shout, when I go and get it I'll have a good poke about and see what can be done.

[Skizzer]

There's a chap on eBay does various warrantied recon steering racks and boxes on an exchange basis for relatively sensible money - I've just bought a Jeep one. (Mopar wanted £850 - yeah, right.)

 

Hope you can get it sorted, this car is just so damn handsome.

[barefoot]

& there must be* Jag breakers who will have good used examples.

 

 

 

 

 

* I fucking hope so, I'm relying on finding one when mine goes tits up.

[Royale80]

Saw this on ebay

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-DAIMLER-XJ40-X300-XJ6-ZF-POWER-STEERING-PUMP-COUPLER-MNA8110AA-EBC10505-/161118124273?hash=item25836378f1:g:Q6oAAOSwMmBViCzZ

 

 

Don't know if any good!

 

Steve

[phil_lihp]

Could be, thanks!  Will need to get the car back and diagnose the issue properly first but that is certainly less painful than a new/recon item

[oldcars]

You can get green polish, turtlewax do one here is a link.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/351463677443?lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=1007377&poi=&campaignid=628859225&device=c&adgroupid=28306099746&rlsatarget=pla-184492190706&adtype=pla&crdt=0

[billyboy406v6]

Hope you manage to get this beauty fixed !

[dome]

It seems XJ40s are the choice of those of us who have inadvertently dismounted from their bicycles whilst not stationary...

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/16730-new-invalid-carriage-purchased-sold/

 

I hope this gets fixed, it's too nice to let it die.