Cluffy's Fleet - Some bits fixed, some not so much ...

[Matty]

46 minutes ago, Cluffy said:

Picked this up from Nico today ( @Schaefft)

Weather was diabolical aaaallllllll day so no real chance to do pictures   I hope to get some tomorrow. And such a long day, I barely had chance to think, let alone do a collection thread. 

I champion the sausage, omelette and cheese bagel I had at Tibshelf, though....

This makes me smile...:

Sitrep is it needs the throttle spring reseating as it's running as if it has permanent cruise control fitted (which ironically it doesn't have) and the rear suspension bushes need sorting rather quickly. 

It also needs the O2 sensor changing as you can watch the fuel gauge move in it's current state. 

Plus brakes. They're gonna need to be better...

And we'll have to look at bodywork at some point 😅

Oh you little legend! What a thing that is! Well bloody played.

On the subject of the modern XJ. Im currently conquering my fear of complicated cars with auto boxes with a late Freelander ive got for her. If i dont loose my shirt im seeing it as opening up the world for me to buy a car like yours. Your feedback is giving me confidence 👍

[320touring]

Hope it treats you well, loved my time with it 

 

I love a ropey Jaaaaaaaag

[horriblemercedes]

I'm glad this went to someone who will use it! I did offer to buy it, but it would have been as a spares car for mine, which I ideally didn't want, and nor did @Schaefft

I offered it as a last resort. This is a better outcome 

[Matty]

21 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

I'm glad this went to someone who will use it! I did offer to buy it, but it would have been as a spares car for mine, which I ideally didn't want, and nor did @Schaefft

I offered it as a last resort. This is a better outcome 

I remember now. Youre the luckiest man in the world who owns a manual XJR arent you?

[horriblemercedes]

1 minute ago, Matty said:

I remember now. Youre the luckiest man in the world who owns a manual XJR arent you?

I do have a manual one. Bought it from @straightSix

[Cluffy]

1 hour ago, Matty said:

Oh you little legend! What a thing that is! Well bloody played.

On the subject of the modern XJ. Im currently conquering my fear of complicated cars with auto boxes with a late Freelander ive got for her. If i dont loose my shirt im seeing it as opening up the world for me to buy a car like yours. Your feedback is giving me confidence 👍

My X351?

Absolutely love that thing. I was giggling to myself driving back with the XJR. One because the XJR is a car I've always wanted and I will hopefully enjoy the challenge of, but also because I was following my mate in the X351 and just thinking what a splendid thing it is... You can pick them up for a few grand now. Insane. If mine goes pop I'm going right out and getting another (unless the lure / intrigue of an L322 doesn't get me)

[Matty]

2 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

I do have a manual one. Bought it from @straightSix

And do you find women randomly shedding clothing whilst you put peteol in it? 😁

Joking aside, given my complete aversion to autos, that must be quite some thing.

[horriblemercedes]

3 minutes ago, Matty said:

And do you find women randomly shedding clothing whilst you put peteol in it? 😁

Joking aside, given my complete aversion to autos, that must be quite some thing.

A student girl a while ago thought it was mega cool and I even gave her a lift, but no clothes were lost! 

 

At the moment I need to replace the supercharger belt tensioner and the belt. I've got them, but just not got round to it. The tensioner was surprisingly cheap direct from Jaguar! 

 

You're welcome to have a go in my XJR if you fancy, but at the moment it's SORN for winter 

[Matty]

4 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

A student girl a while ago thought it was mega cool and I even gave her a lift, but no clothes were lost! 

 

At the moment I need to replace the supercharger belt tensioner and the belt. I've got them, but just not got round to it. The tensioner was surprisingly cheap direct from Jaguar! 

 

You're welcome to have a go in my XJR if you fancy, but at the moment it's SORN for winter 

Youve offered before with the Austin 7 but unfortunately youre about eleventy million miles away from me. It was appreciated though. You really need to post more about the Austin mind 👍

[horriblemercedes]

4 minutes ago, Matty said:

Youve offered before with the Austin 7 but unfortunately youre about eleventy million miles away from me. It was appreciated though. You really need to post more about the Austin mind 👍

I'll stop with this post as I don't want to go off topic on this thread too much, but I haven't done anything with it since August. I'm going to do some fixes on it in spring and I'll post again about it then. It's just a bit cold and dark to do much on it! My time to work on cars is in the evening. I don't really have time at weekends for it 

[Matty]

29 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

I'll stop with this post as I don't want to go off topic on this thread too much, but I haven't done anything with it since August. I'm going to do some fixes on it in spring and I'll post again about it then. It's just a bit cold and dark to do much on it! My time to work on cars is in the evening. I don't really have time at weekends for it 

Anytime youre ready. Sorry @Cluffy for the drift

[dome]

Just catching up on this thread. Love your fleet, especially both Jags. Be good to see the XJR getting some loving 🙂

[Marina door handles]

12 hours ago, Cluffy said:

Picked this up from Nico today ( @Schaefft)

Weather was diabolical aaaallllllll day so no real chance to do pictures   I hope to get some tomorrow. And such a long day, I barely had chance to think, let alone do a collection thread. 

I champion the sausage, omelette and cheese bagel I had at Tibshelf, though....

This makes me smile...:

Sitrep is it needs the throttle spring reseating as it's running as if it has permanent cruise control fitted (which ironically it doesn't have) and the rear suspension bushes need sorting rather quickly. 

It also needs the O2 sensor changing as you can watch the fuel gauge move in it's current state. 

Plus brakes. They're gonna need to be better...

And we'll have to look at bodywork at some point 😅

So glad somebody on here bought this, I did notice the add and felt the need for a supercharged inline straight six.  But I already have one ropey Jag and a lack of space, I really didn't need two......

[Cluffy]

1 hour ago, Marina door handles said:

So glad somebody on here bought this, I did notice the add and felt the need for a supercharged inline straight six.  But I already have one ropey Jag and a lack of space, I really didn't need two......

Neither do I. But want and need are different things 😁

[Cluffy]

@Schaefft, @320touring,

Am I just being really thick, or is there no way to manually switch LPG in/out on this XJR???

[Schaefft]

1 hour ago, Cluffy said:

@Schaefft, @320touring,

Am I just being really thick, or is there no way to manually switch LPG in/out on this XJR???

The button is hidden in the cubby on the lower right of the steering wheel, attached to the ceiling of the hole.

[Cluffy]

Been a minute since an update... I've been busy getting the Boxster bits done (nearly there) so it can spend some time out of doors to allow the XJR into the garage to allow works to begin on its undercrackers...

I'd finished on the underside a while back after the Mini alarm was sounded and it may have needed to be pressed in to service. Since then it's been minor things like fitting missing trim (sports Seats leather strap bits) and cleaning and treating the roof:

XJR has been sitting patiently and I can't wait to get started on it really...

The X351 had been ploughing on doing good service. It's booked in for first weekend on Feb for MOT, hopefully get the rear demist fixed and to have the suspension codes read

However, yesterday driving out for a family walk (featuring cake 💪) lead to an intermittent ticking noise on acceleration/load.. Then on the way back, the same but also the car stinking of fuel. 

A lot of reading/YouTube last night suggested a few possibilities, but this morning on startup it was making a right racket and I could instantly see that the center injector on the driver's side as leaking/suffering blow-by. 

So, dilemma is, do I press Boxster into service and risk many skids in Sub-Zero temps and try and bring the works forward with the garage I use..? I could use the car until Feb... The noise I can live with, but I would prefer not to drive around with the cabin full of exhaust fumes (unhealthy!?!!!) and possibly making it worse..? 

 

 

[Cluffy]

Morning All,

A while since an update...

So where are we in the fleet of many Jalopies. 

Mini first:

Running well (touch wood) since I ripped the gear selector apart. But still waiting on rear shocks, I shit you not. HOW can there be none in the country. This has been going on since JULY and I've phoned probably a dozen suppliers, including bilstein direct, but no one has any. Apparently they are doing a run of 6000 shocks in Germany but it's still not been shipped. Oh, and dealers get first dibs so my favourite mechanic is just having to wait. 

I also want to have a decent service including gearbox this year for it. Don't feel like buying another car for Mrs C any time soon, so look after this a bit and hopefully it'll keep going ok/better the devil you know...

Second up, Porsche:

It stood in for a couple of weeks in Jan while the XJ had a hissy fit. I cleaned and protected the roof as it's having fun outside for a bit while the XJR consumes the garage. Great thing, MOT in a couple of weeks, with a new engine mount and exhaust clamps to go in. I'll likely get it taxed in March and see if it's going to stay. It's a great drive, but I look out of the window and get more of a fizz from the Big Jags...

Silver XJ:

Got through the MOT pretty well a week ago. My mechanic replaced the injector seal that was leaking in Jan for all of thirty quid and advisories on MOT are for a bit of surface corrosion on rear subframe etc. I've now got a bit of a list for early summer: clean up underneath, sort a rattling brake shield, I bought a new suspension pump at great expense and I also have some snazzy new bulbs for the front that should improve the substandard bulbs that are currently fitted

Finally, the Torrey Canyon, Jag XJR:

I began a while back getting this thing lifted up in prep to replace the rear subframe main bushes. Coming up against some tricky bolts etc, but made progress with both rear calipers off and a few other bolts coming loose, including the big ones that hold the whole thing to the car. Trouble is...

(sorry for the Australian-spec photo)

Prop bolts and particularly the handbrake clamp bolt are being absolute bastards. I have a mate coming to help in a few weeks I hope. Four hands will be better than two (plus he has considerably more brain cells than me...). 

In addition, this brace bolt has rounded to buggery. Said mate has an extraction kit so holding out all hope for that:

But in good news, front lambda sensor came out without too much effort. Just patience turning the crows foot about 1/3 of a turn at a time as it would foul on the exhaust. A bit of Plus Gas and it came out pretty well. Hopefully get time tomorrow pm to try to put the replacement in and clean up all the connections etc

That's about it for now!

 

[Cluffy]

Bit of progress at Clough Towers the last week. Trying to make steady steps despite rocks being thrown at us (Mrs C's car looking like it's had its plates cloned and some home maintenance costs far exceeding my cost expectations 🙄)

First on the XJ - Code reader was purchased a couple of weeks back and had some time to play... Cleared the service message and when the suspension message came up yesterday I managed to grab the code:

Does it as a confirmation for me - pump is weak... On the plus side I bought a new one recently for a reasonable £220 so hoping my local guy can depressurize the system and swap it out (he says he can). 

Onto the XJR, positive progress with a but...

Lambda sensor swapped out after @Schaefftprovided one with the car. Some cabling tidied up and the supercharger coolant pump fitted more solidly. I've also managed to remove half of the prop bolts so I'm inching towards rear suspension removal for the big subframe bolts...

BUT - the car now won't start.. not even crank... I have Check engine, Anti Lock and Trans fail:

Does anyone know a lot about these x300s / xj40s? It was on the button when I parked it. All that's currently unplugged are the rear ABS sensors as I'm looking to remove the rear suspension. I've had the MAF unplugged as I needed to get in to refit the idle spring on the throttle body but it's all plugged in now along with the new lambda...

All thoughts are very welcome!!

Note that the car was on the CTek overnight so was at full beans... Well I hope it is...

[Cluffy]

Edit - battery voltage sat at 12.70 volts so should have enough to start the car

[Cluffy]

Edit 2 - got it into Neutral and it fired right up. Might my playing / rotating of the prop mucked about with things when the car was sat in Park???

[Schaefft]

Sounds like the neutral safety switch didn't believe it was in park?

[Cluffy]

2 hours ago, Schaefft said:

Sounds like the neutral safety switch didn't believe it was in park?

Yeah, @grogeesuggested something similar. Glad it's running. Seems happy enough with the new lambda. Proof will be in whether the mpg gets any better but that will have to wait as still loads to do on the back end!

[Cluffy]

Updates to come for all the fleet.

It's been a busy old time, but as Spring is (?) here, the Boxster needs to come to the front line... Got it through the MOT after an unexpected need for a rear coffin arm. Bejesus Porsche Tax... but on the way back from the tester it decided to crap it's Heater Matrix. Hopefully £200 more next week and it's done and ready for another year... And maybe a new owner... I might put it up for sale and see if anyone wants it for a reasonable sum... I enjoy it, but I find I enjoy the Jags more...

The Mini? Finally getting somewhere. I have bought a good used shock absorber and that's going on the car as God knows when the Bilstein factory will actually ship the brand new ones... There are loads of people on the Facebook groups for F56s with the same issue and a number have bought temporary cars as their minis failed the MOT... The secondhand shock will go on and we're going to give it a massive service in a couple of weeks. All the fluids and filters... It might be pricey but it's a whole lot less than buying another car... And the cloned number plate thing rumbles on...

The XJ is just a fabulous car. I love it. But it needs some money and time spending on it. Suspension pump, rust prevention, brake guards, new bulbs... It just needs to wait it's turn as the two above come first and need funding. 

The XJR - Fair progress on dropping the rear axle. I have all of the prop bolts out now and while I made a Horlicks of the upper bolt for one suspension brace:

...the other end came out ok. Last thing now is the handbrake cable. I think that will need fire!! Thankfully @Firestarter (who's new to this parish) will be round soon to help me with the final bits and I'm hoping I can drop it out and get the knackered main bushes replaced...

Four cars is just too many for Cluffy!

[Cluffy]

Morning All,

A few things have been progressing at Clough Towers... 

First up the Mini. I got my local chap to do a full full service on it and it's now running, well, the same but have the confidence with a full set of fresh fluids and filters. Also, swapped out the knackered rear shock with a good used one. It's ridiculous but still no news on new ones being available from Bilstein or BMW. Last MOT was NINE MONTHS ago...

Boxster. Now up for sale on Car and Classic and I've had a few inquiries and some viewings in the next week or so. I like it a lot. I love the Jags more... And it's another insurance, tax, tyres blah blah blah... It doesn't need to go, but it would free some funds and more importantly time for the barges...

Jag XJ. Just rolled through 129k miles. Still love it but it's the next one needing attention. The list has been growing since the MOT and me buying bits but having little time / means to fit them. I need to ring the aforementioned local mechanic to book it in to just go through everything on the list while I focus my free time on...

Jag XJR. After weeks of faffing, the rear axle is finally out!

Had a couple of hours with a friend on Saturday getting the final things unbolted. I didn't realize the exhaust mounted to it too. What a faff. Will need some new bolts... I've been accumulating/ordering new bits. New diff support arms, the new big bushes are coming and I just need to source a few new jiggly bolts. 

It is / was filthy, though... I think the diff has been leaking oil meaning rust and road grime has been sticking to it... Anyone know how to check for leaks? Or should I just find what sealing plates there are and remove for new gaskets/sealant?

This was the final result which I'll get the mechanic to press the new bushes into:

Not before cleaning off though.  Man that's a lot of crud:

Can't promise a quick update, but will do so once the shiny bushes are in. Hopeful now for early summer use, and if the boxster goes, I'll have some money for the welding it needs and a few other things to get it through another MOT (he hopes) at the end of the year