Is it one of those years?
Discussion
This season has started like no other. Three weeks back the E-type developed hiccoughs, which turned out to be the distributor cap contacts having dissolved into dust after a number of years. Change the cap and then it needed new leads. So the D-type developed problems with the front offside wheel locking up under hard braking. Take the brakes apart and head scratching started. What the hell are the brakes on the car? After some research turns out to be series 2 E-type calipers modified to take series 1 uprights and bored out to take XJ6 series one pistons. Simple ain't it! So, seals ordered and fitted off we go and then - oh dear - a very long pedal. One glance at the balance bar between front and rear confirmed the problem - the front master cylinder was buggered. Never mind, the C-type will run won't it? Not on your life. Electrical gremlins abounded but sorted out in time for this weekend to go and do the Sports and Promotion event south of Poitiers at the Val de Vienne circuit. This I'd recommend to everyone as a superb event and which raises an enormous amount of money for cancer research. So, off we set yesterday and all went swimmingly - until we got there. A horrible high pitched intermittent noise from in front. Turned out to be the bloody dynamo pulley was ruined - the nut possibly too tightened and the pulley now wobbling all over the place - and probably would last about 10 miles since it is an alloy casting. The noise was it touching the dynamo. So, trailered home in a Renault this afternoon without seeing the circuit and trying to calm down - until I saw in the post that they had tried to deliver the damned master brake cylinder today. So that's it for now - except I've just found out the C-type fan is also on the blink. Why oh why do we like classic cars? To cap it all I thought of trailering it there until I found out the wooden base of the race trailer was cracking and that the car would have probably fallen through en route.
Come on - please tell me you've had worse to make me feel better - pretty please.
Come on - please tell me you've had worse to make me feel better - pretty please.
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 5th June 08:18
In the hope of making you feel a little better.
Bought a mint 1970 1/2 2nd generation Z28 Camaro with a big block 427 motor from the states. Fuel line ran up against the headers and the rubber was bleeding through the braided hose. Knackered steering box. Three badly buckled wheels. Ran so low it kept scraping the headers. Idiot had fitted the four link arms incorrectly and had crushed the rear chassis members. Plus other headaches. Including the one from the missus saying I told you so.
My 911 turbo munching its turbo near claremont ferrand on its first major trip in seven years. Journey continued in Citroen C5 diesel. Turbo recovered home. Missed the bridge in the sky and route napoleon
The morning that I was leaving to drive down to the le mans classic 06 I loaded the boot of my Brabus S Class 7.3S. The first decent trip in that car since I drove it back from Germany three years earlier. Reverse out of garage onto drive. Brake pedal on floor, brake master cylinder gone. Took the F150 Lightning pick up truck instead.
My newly built race prepped 911 3.2 Carrera Super Sport. May bank holiday a good mate very experienced with 911's jumped at the chance of running its new motor in. After 320 miles he loses it on a left turn and sticks a metal post bearing the sign beware of the bend right in the middle of the front of the car. In his quest to ensure light weight it ran a glass fibre front bumper that disintegrated. My new glass fibre reinforced carbon kevlar bonnet fooked. Damaged scuttle, front panel. Has had to be re jigged to be sure and it had moved the front slightly.
Took said mate for a chinese meal that evening and he was in bits about damaging the car. He had put an awful lot of time and effort into the build. He burst into tears in the restaurant. I am holding his hand telling him not to worry, it's nothing and it does not matter. Other customers must have been thinking that we where two p**fs and I had just dumped my boyfriend.
I can't think of anymore bit I am sure there are many others. I hope this makes you smile and please don't tell anybody else.
Bought a mint 1970 1/2 2nd generation Z28 Camaro with a big block 427 motor from the states. Fuel line ran up against the headers and the rubber was bleeding through the braided hose. Knackered steering box. Three badly buckled wheels. Ran so low it kept scraping the headers. Idiot had fitted the four link arms incorrectly and had crushed the rear chassis members. Plus other headaches. Including the one from the missus saying I told you so.
My 911 turbo munching its turbo near claremont ferrand on its first major trip in seven years. Journey continued in Citroen C5 diesel. Turbo recovered home. Missed the bridge in the sky and route napoleon
The morning that I was leaving to drive down to the le mans classic 06 I loaded the boot of my Brabus S Class 7.3S. The first decent trip in that car since I drove it back from Germany three years earlier. Reverse out of garage onto drive. Brake pedal on floor, brake master cylinder gone. Took the F150 Lightning pick up truck instead.
My newly built race prepped 911 3.2 Carrera Super Sport. May bank holiday a good mate very experienced with 911's jumped at the chance of running its new motor in. After 320 miles he loses it on a left turn and sticks a metal post bearing the sign beware of the bend right in the middle of the front of the car. In his quest to ensure light weight it ran a glass fibre front bumper that disintegrated. My new glass fibre reinforced carbon kevlar bonnet fooked. Damaged scuttle, front panel. Has had to be re jigged to be sure and it had moved the front slightly.
Took said mate for a chinese meal that evening and he was in bits about damaging the car. He had put an awful lot of time and effort into the build. He burst into tears in the restaurant. I am holding his hand telling him not to worry, it's nothing and it does not matter. Other customers must have been thinking that we where two p**fs and I had just dumped my boyfriend.
I can't think of anymore bit I am sure there are many others. I hope this makes you smile and please don't tell anybody else.
The joy of classic motoring 
I'm just crossing fingers for a successful trip to Classic Le Mans this year! After the car came back on a truck from a previous event 'le carbureettooooors eh flambe!'
It's typical, the cars can run for thousands of miles in the UK, you take them abroad and all hell breaks loose!
I'm just crossing fingers for a successful trip to Classic Le Mans this year! After the car came back on a truck from a previous event 'le carbureettooooors eh flambe!'
It's typical, the cars can run for thousands of miles in the UK, you take them abroad and all hell breaks loose!
put lowering kit on front suspension, then realized it had no effect, undid it all , used longer bolts and bigger spacers, car now rides 1 1/2 inches lower, but at some cost to my patience
I then decided to fit a new thermostat, as the car ran quite hot, turned out the previous thermostat was fitted upside down, that could be why the car runs hot!! Once fitted, car ran cooler, am surprised that I haven't killed it yet
Now getting into my stride, I dropped the fuel tank to try and solve the strong odour of petrol/ leak from above the tank, my suspicions were confirmed by a puddle of petrol in the well where the sender unit sits, turns out the cork gasket was next to useless, so I remade one out of rubber....
Jobs a good'un , till I realize I have put the electrical connection back on and bolted up the tank before I remembered that I should have checked the gauge was functioning (it wasn't...) so, the tank probably has to come off again.....
I think the clutch needs adjusting, as its getting a bit notchy and near the top of the travel, oh, and also a real wheel brake cylinder appears to be sticking as well.
I also ordered new front springs , as I think this will solve the front ride height issues once and for all, just waiting on them to arrive....
Still, its all worth it...
Mine ( and some foreign muck) at the wings and wheels festival at Downsview airport, Toronto
I then decided to fit a new thermostat, as the car ran quite hot, turned out the previous thermostat was fitted upside down, that could be why the car runs hot!! Once fitted, car ran cooler, am surprised that I haven't killed it yet
Now getting into my stride, I dropped the fuel tank to try and solve the strong odour of petrol/ leak from above the tank, my suspicions were confirmed by a puddle of petrol in the well where the sender unit sits, turns out the cork gasket was next to useless, so I remade one out of rubber....
Jobs a good'un , till I realize I have put the electrical connection back on and bolted up the tank before I remembered that I should have checked the gauge was functioning (it wasn't...) so, the tank probably has to come off again.....
I think the clutch needs adjusting, as its getting a bit notchy and near the top of the travel, oh, and also a real wheel brake cylinder appears to be sticking as well.
I also ordered new front springs , as I think this will solve the front ride height issues once and for all, just waiting on them to arrive....
Still, its all worth it...
Mine ( and some foreign muck) at the wings and wheels festival at Downsview airport, Toronto
Edited by wibble cb on Tuesday 8th June 02:55
My last year wasn't too grand.
Engine expensively unwell on the XK.
Foolishly try to save money buy buying a different engine, spend the whole year trying to get that working right (OK, waiting and paying for, rather than doing myself). Morel of the story don't try and cut corners, just brings big bills.
Then I go and ding the XJ after hitting a patch of derv in a torrential down pour.
At least when the MB main dealer presented me with a quote of £4K of stuff I managed to get that sorted for less than ton.
Engine expensively unwell on the XK.
Foolishly try to save money buy buying a different engine, spend the whole year trying to get that working right (OK, waiting and paying for, rather than doing myself). Morel of the story don't try and cut corners, just brings big bills.
Then I go and ding the XJ after hitting a patch of derv in a torrential down pour.
At least when the MB main dealer presented me with a quote of £4K of stuff I managed to get that sorted for less than ton.
wibble cb said:
Mine ( and some foreign muck) at the wings and wheels festival at Downsview airport, Toronto
OP, it's a known scientifical fact that bits fall off any car as soon as you go near a race track. I run a Toyota 4AGE powered Birkin S3, a SAfrican Lotus 7 clone as a road legal race car. It used to spew coolant within a lap and a half on the trac, but would run happily all day on the road. Traced that to a dodgy coolant circuit design and then went onto the next thing.
Most recently it ate its spark plugs. En route to the circuit, gave the car a buzz to the rev limiter to check all was well, and it was. Warmup lap for the first race, and sparks were falling out.
More here
James
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