richw_82I saw this routine done at Waddington one year. I didn’t realise the Cri-cri was a manned aircraft when it was in the static park, I thought it was a wind-up! Great to watch.
richw_82Sometimes despite best efforts a day can be a loss. If you keep working at it you make progress though, however small. We were impressed with how well Lindy was looked after when we came up to visit last year. You’ll get it all sorted.
As for the curse of Machine Mart striking again… get a Snap-on account! :diablo:
richw_82Mine misses free road tax by 24 days. Not that it bothers me as its a set amount rather than emissions based, so it works in my favour anyway..
The other problem with post 72 cars is the quality of build dropped off significantly, both in body panels and electrics. The dark days of BL will forever haunt us!
My biggest annoyance at the moment is that fuel consumption is starting to be a pain, so methods of putting an XJ6 on a diet are being investigated. Hence my comments about modern engines; this won’t be the first classic I’ve treated to something a bit newer.
richw_82Mine misses free road tax by 24 days. Not that it bothers me as its a set amount rather than emissions based, so it works in my favour anyway..
The other problem with post 72 cars is the quality of build dropped off significantly, both in body panels and electrics. The dark days of BL will forever haunt us!
My biggest annoyance at the moment is that fuel consumption is starting to be a pain, so methods of putting an XJ6 on a diet are being investigated. Hence my comments about modern engines; this won’t be the first classic I’ve treated to something a bit newer.
richw_82You misread my meaning.
I wasn’t advocationg snobbery, but rather honest advice and help.
If you have a modified car, there will simply be less help available because fewer people will have experience with a car with a different drivetrain or whatever.
Yes, club members will be able (and should) help with the unmodified bits of the car, but it’s the frequently changed/modified bits bits: engines, brakes, electrics…that cause a lot of the trouble.The basic shells and chassis don’t usually cause problems.I belong to two clubs (one model specific, one marque specific) for my GT car…and the members on the forum are always helpful, regardless of any mods the car may have. (The model club in particular is open to mods, the marque club somewhat less so).
But you’re correct, many clubs are VERY catholic in their tastes and hate any variation from factory standard.
That sems to be more common in clubs for high end cars…I’m sure the clubs for Minis, Capris, Hot hatches, Mustangs and the like are much less picky.
I realised what you meant.
I don’t find forums a problem, in fact forums are by and large very friendly and receptive of things that are a bit different. Unfortunately face to face meetings with clubs have resulted in my exclusion!
Once was just for fitting alloy wheels… from the same manufacturer but never seen on that particular model. (by model… read engine size. Correct shape, correct year of car.) Another guy I know has just been given the cold shoulder because he went out and bought an XK140 as his first Jaguar.
I can’t agree with your statement about it often being the modifications going wrong… if they’re done corectly to start with then they should be as reliable as they were in the donor – which is the point of using them as an upgrade. Its when you get someone go at it half arsed using scrapyard parts, crimp connectors for wiring, and all kinds of other nasties.
Regards,
Ric
richw_82You misread my meaning.
I wasn’t advocationg snobbery, but rather honest advice and help.
If you have a modified car, there will simply be less help available because fewer people will have experience with a car with a different drivetrain or whatever.
Yes, club members will be able (and should) help with the unmodified bits of the car, but it’s the frequently changed/modified bits bits: engines, brakes, electrics…that cause a lot of the trouble.The basic shells and chassis don’t usually cause problems.I belong to two clubs (one model specific, one marque specific) for my GT car…and the members on the forum are always helpful, regardless of any mods the car may have. (The model club in particular is open to mods, the marque club somewhat less so).
But you’re correct, many clubs are VERY catholic in their tastes and hate any variation from factory standard.
That sems to be more common in clubs for high end cars…I’m sure the clubs for Minis, Capris, Hot hatches, Mustangs and the like are much less picky.
I realised what you meant.
I don’t find forums a problem, in fact forums are by and large very friendly and receptive of things that are a bit different. Unfortunately face to face meetings with clubs have resulted in my exclusion!
Once was just for fitting alloy wheels… from the same manufacturer but never seen on that particular model. (by model… read engine size. Correct shape, correct year of car.) Another guy I know has just been given the cold shoulder because he went out and bought an XK140 as his first Jaguar.
I can’t agree with your statement about it often being the modifications going wrong… if they’re done corectly to start with then they should be as reliable as they were in the donor – which is the point of using them as an upgrade. Its when you get someone go at it half arsed using scrapyard parts, crimp connectors for wiring, and all kinds of other nasties.
Regards,
Ric
richw_82As far as reengining a classic with a modern motor, there are advantages and disadvantages. Greater performance and (perhaps) reliability but then again you may miss out on club support and expertise.
THAT is one of my major gripes with the classic car community in this country. It’s still the same car, just a different engine. Expertise still aplies to the rest of it.
It annoys me greatly how one modification to your car to personalise it or make it more usable and you become an outcast… it shouldn’t happen but it does.
😡
Jag Enthusiasts Club I’m looking your way in particular.
richw_82As far as reengining a classic with a modern motor, there are advantages and disadvantages. Greater performance and (perhaps) reliability but then again you may miss out on club support and expertise.
THAT is one of my major gripes with the classic car community in this country. It’s still the same car, just a different engine. Expertise still aplies to the rest of it.
It annoys me greatly how one modification to your car to personalise it or make it more usable and you become an outcast… it shouldn’t happen but it does.
😡
Jag Enthusiasts Club I’m looking your way in particular.
richw_8215th Jan
Pushing on with the engine work. We now have all the pre-oilers set up as we did with No 4, and with several of us wanting to work off the last of the Christmas weight gain, set about testing No 1 and No 3. Pulling the props through as the pumps were operated showed that all was working as it should; with all the cams getting a really good flow of oil.
No 1 has now had its cam covers refitted, but No 3 is awaiting a little bit more work, for reasons as were discussed here last week. So 1 and 4 are more or less ready to try.
We’ve had some nice little bits of airframe work progressing, with lots of the under wing access hatches getting attention. The stubborn ones being drilled and tapped, and all getting the necessary anti-seize compound on the new screws. Round at the back of the aircraft saw work on the camera bay doors, and the damaged trim tab we had has been de-riveted, repaired and refitted.
I’m really happy with the spirit of our little crew at the moment, listening to the others as they work you get interesting comments creep out. The best of which today was one of our number commenting
“We either do it right, or it doesn’t get done at all.” :D:D
Every work day puts us a little closer to running!
Regards,
Rich
ps. Once again, sorry for the lack of photos. There’s not that many visible changes, and many hands make light work, so none of us got much free time.
richw_82I run a 1973 classic every day. Maintenance isn’t a problem but its appetite is.
To have something of a reasonable family size, usually means a largish engine which tends to be inefficient – as the thinking at the time was to fit carbs and an automatic box to the bigger stuff.
My opinion now is that a pre ’73 classic with a modern engine conversion is the way to go. Classic looks with a modern appetite for fuel.
Examples include: Midgets running Rover K series engines. MGB’s with Ford Zetecs. Triumphs Spir/Herald/GT6 using Mazda MX5 donors. Mini’s with K series or Honda engines. Old XJ6’s with the AJ16 thrown in. Rover V8’s benefit greatly from the 5 speed box and fuel injection as found on the later SD1’s.
Ignore comments about rust, as unless you go looking on the banger forums, most of the good the bad and the ugly are long since gone. The ones that survive are the ones that were cared for in their early years.
Regards,
Ric
richw_82I run a 1973 classic every day. Maintenance isn’t a problem but its appetite is.
To have something of a reasonable family size, usually means a largish engine which tends to be inefficient – as the thinking at the time was to fit carbs and an automatic box to the bigger stuff.
My opinion now is that a pre ’73 classic with a modern engine conversion is the way to go. Classic looks with a modern appetite for fuel.
Examples include: Midgets running Rover K series engines. MGB’s with Ford Zetecs. Triumphs Spir/Herald/GT6 using Mazda MX5 donors. Mini’s with K series or Honda engines. Old XJ6’s with the AJ16 thrown in. Rover V8’s benefit greatly from the 5 speed box and fuel injection as found on the later SD1’s.
Ignore comments about rust, as unless you go looking on the banger forums, most of the good the bad and the ugly are long since gone. The ones that survive are the ones that were cared for in their early years.
Regards,
Ric
richw_82It’s not on a mountain, it’s on a large flat swampy area, near the Stora Lulevatten. It ended up there as the pilot mistook it for meadows when looking for a safe landing spot. It looked that suitable, he even put the gear down. The location is roughly five mile from the town of Porjus.
The pictures here show how easy a mistake it was to make:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/18186783
If the town are unwilling to see it leave, I just wish they would look after what is left a little better.
richw_82You’re mistaken Peter. Nobody takes bits off that wreck, that’s why I wasn’t allowed to recover it. :rolleyes:
Come on you Swedes! Sort your act out and get her out the swamp and into Porjus at least, before it all ends up on ebay or in the smelter. I’ll even volunteer to sort the UK side of things out for you.
richw_82mjr,
Feelings between our two groups are mutual, and thanks for the kind offer of advice. I think you guys may have the harder job with both Juliet and Kilo to look after, as well as the all the rest.
We’re planning on coming down to visit you guys at Gatwick in the near future, so we can have a good chat about all things Shackleton then maybe?
Regards,
Rich
richw_82Peter,
We have the manuals, the tools and six freshly overhauled blades. We also have a lack of experience and a healthy dose of fear…
The props are level with the cockpit on an inboard engine, and with them stationary you can lean out the side window and touch the tips. If we assembled it wrongly and it came apart – well, it’s not a nice thought.
We’re not worried about putting it together ourselves, so long as we have someone with the experience to guide us, or supervise it. The only member of our group who has done one before has been ill recently and cannot assist.
Stepwilk,
The one you are thinking of is WL790, she was flown into retirement at Pima a couple of years ago, after a good few seasons on the display circuit in the USA.
Regards,
Rich
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