Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/21/2002 - 02:44

This is one o' those stories ya just gotta share ... but with whom? Other Jag owners, of course! :-)
The 75 XJ6C got weird last night on my way home from work ... very scary metal-thunking noise coming (it seemed to me) from the left rear wheel area. The sound was awful enough that I didn't feel it would be prudent to drive all the way to the mechanic or home. So ... stopped in a well-lighted parking area ... used the cell phone for roadside assistance and they gave an ETA of 45-60 minutes. (By the way, it was Cingular's service, and when I told them the year/model, in prep for requesting a flatbed towtruck, they offered the flatbed even before I asked; I was surprised and pleased.) So ... after slightly more than a 1-hour wait, this nice young man arrives and sets about his work. I can tell he's eyeing the car closely. After a few minutes of work, he apologizes that it took a whole hour to get there ... says he's the owner of the company and one of his drivers could have made it a little sooner ... but ... "I decided to take the call myself because I REALLY WANTED TO SEE THIS CAR!" :-) So, hey! If ya gotta see your beloved Jag loaded onto a towtruck, at least it's good to know the guy doing the work admires her, right?

Lisa Fox
JAGSL

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Sun, 12/01/2002 - 18:13

thks Mike, yes makes more sense... good to know for whenever I need to replace mine. although I wond't mind the car beeing stiff even on the street... I just realized this afternoon that I had forgotten to lower the tire pressure after the slalom last week end...I was runing 45 up front and 38 in the back :-)

Pascal Gademer
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKRCoupe
99 XJR

Submitted by mfrank@westnet.com on Sun, 12/01/2002 - 15:31

Here's a shot of my HAL shocks...very similar in design to your Aldan's. Note that the adjusters are at the bottom. Makes it easy to turn them up a couple of clicks for slalom or race, soften them for the street.

Mike Frank

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Wed, 11/27/2002 - 16:44

Steve,

Classic Jaguar's shocks... like nearly everyting on my car !

the adjusting valves are at the top, not very easy to adjust but terrific handling and more or less the cost of Spax and Konis. and they look very good up front on a silver car car with red polysbushings..

Pascal Gademer
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKRCoupe
99 XJR

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Wed, 11/27/2002 - 15:46

Pascal,

Great shot of the rear suspension. Love the shock/spring setup. What kind of shocks are those?

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'72 E-type 2+2
'89 XJS Coupe

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Wed, 11/27/2002 - 14:57

Great ! what do I win ? :-)

heatshield ? do you mean one of the shield along the exaust ? not sure what the set up is on the saloons.

The shield I mentioned was that darker round part with the hole seen behind the hub carrier. it's secured by a clamp on the half shaft and once got loose on my car. I believe the rear suspension is nearly identical on the early XJ... do they have that ? when loose, it will rub and make all sorts of noises...

Pascal Gademer
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKRCoupe
99 XJR

Submitted by jrwalker@ev1.net on Fri, 11/22/2002 - 12:46

Funny thing about those smells. When I drive the E-type I immediately notice any "foreign" smell, however slight. If I park and smell hot antifreeze (an unmistakable smell, as is the smell of frying wire insulation) when I get out of the car I have been known to bend over and and sniff the hot air rising from the louvers to see if it is my car or someone else's. It is a little like riding a familiar horse; you soon almost become one with the animal.

I am sure Pascal has noted the same feeling while piloting an airplane.

Regards, John

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Fri, 11/22/2002 - 12:12

yeah, typical tourist... I washed the car the night before... ice in the door locks the next morning... no ice scrapper for the windshield... had to use a credit card... and the car has no heater... :-)

A little more experience and you'll become an expert at describing noises... little metal, scraping, heavy metal, knocking, etc... same with smells... for the driver of a 30 year old Jaguar, beeing able to isolate the smell of exhaust, fuel, oil, burning oil, electric wires is a matter of surviving... and keeping you sanity !!!!

I know a member.... whow will recognize herself... who admitted resting her head on the bonnet of her E-type just to enjoy the various smells coming out of the engine compartment thru the louvers ! :-)

Pascal Gademer
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKRCoupe
99 XJR

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Thu, 11/21/2002 - 13:36

good to know some people appreciate our cars...

did you find out what's wrong with the car ? if it's a wheel bearing making that much noise the play should be obvious. I think the rear suspension on your car is nearly identical to the E-type, there is also a metal cover over the U joint behind the wheel that can make some awful noise if it gets loose...

I've had to get towed twice with the e-type... the first time was on top of Pike's Peak of all places, afer having gone back up a second time after the JCNA organized climb 3 years ago... late afternoon and stupid me found a way to trigger the kill switch without realizing it... on the plus side, for $ 120 I got to drive down Pikes Peak at night ( by the time a flat bed got up there...) it was worth it... the road is closed at night and they always sure everybody is back down before sunset... it was a treat !

second timne was last year on the way to the Orlando concours, rear wheel bearing went big time at abount 90mph... felt like a flat tire. had to get towed, there must have been 3" of play... the flat bed driver was nice but had no clue how to secure an E-type on his truck.

Pascal Gademer
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKRCoupe
99 XJR