Hey there.
Born in San Diego, grew up in Washington State, recently returned to San Deigo.
I'm attending school to be a Commercial Diver, paying out my buddy to repair a '90 Jaguar Sovereign, and just bought myself a '92 FJ1200 to commute to school and enjoy the evenings.
This is my little thread, feel free to ask any questions or simply say hello.
Glad to be here. I love my bike, now I'm just trying to understand her as best I can.
Interested in gaining mechanical knowledge so any tips are appreciated.
You have plenty of friends in San Diego.... Welcome dude...
Welcome the FJ school ! In learning the fist thing I would (and did) do is go back and scan all the threads, yea it takes a few nights. Then go to the files section and scan through those. The Gallery has a ton of pictures to check out. If you want to learn about the bike get a service manual. They are on e bay all the time. You will use it a lot over time. It helps ask better questions :good2:.
George
thanks, George. happy to be here, looking forward to making this a lasting forum for myself and getting to know the other persons.
Quote from: FJmonkey on April 30, 2014, 10:31:08 PM
You have plenty of friends in San Diego.... Welcome dude...
hey. do you live in SD yourself? maybe we could hook up and ride sometime, perhaps get a club started?
Quote from: theLeopard on April 30, 2014, 10:52:35 PM
thanks, George. happy to be here, looking forward to making this a lasting forum for myself and getting to know the other persons.
Quote from: FJmonkey on April 30, 2014, 10:31:08 PM
You have plenty of friends in San Diego.... Welcome dude...
hey. do you live in SD yourself? maybe we could hook up and ride sometime, perhaps get a club started?
We already have a club, the FJ club, I am in Glendale, always happy to have another FJ along for the ride.... We should hook up soon. I hope to make my next ride in SD...
looking forward to it.
will want to take a solo ride to ensure the bike will hold up for the duration, informed Palomar Mountain and Sunset Highway are notable roads.
Ridden either of those? Palomar Mountain is close, I'm in Escondido.
Yep, must do Palomar...
Yeah...a Palomar Mountain/Julian loop is definitely called for. Heck it's only 100 miles from LA...next ride for sure!
Cap'n Ron. . .
Quote from: Capn Ron on April 30, 2014, 11:43:25 PM
Heck it's only 100 miles from LA...next ride for sure!
ah, aha ha !! I like this guy. honest and still up for it, the best kind of mate to have
:hi:
Quote from: theLeopard on April 30, 2014, 10:21:34 PM
Interested in gaining mechanical knowledge so any tips are appreciated.
OK, here's the first one, dump the Jag!
Quote from: theLeopard on May 01, 2014, 01:52:25 AM
...... on a lean budget for a month.
The Jag will make this a life long condition. I can only assume this car is new to you and you have never owned one before. "Old Jaguar" is synonymous with "bottomless pit"
There was a dark period in my life when Jaguar re invented itself with the hugely popular XJ6 and I had the misfortune to still be a working mechanic. There are cars people dream about and there are cars like the Jags that give you nightmares and then there's the v..vv.....v...1...12's ( I can hardly even say it!) WW2 mechanics working on Spitfires in the jungle had it easy by comparison.
If you intend keeping it, I would make the acquaintance of your local bank manager, you will be needing his services.
Tip: a drip tray underneath it will provide enough oil for a full service on FJ every two weeks.
A couple of years back I saw one of these with interstate plates towing a huge caravan through mountainous country. My immediate thought was one of great admiration for his adventurous spirit and impossible optimism. I then realised the caravan was probably a mobile workshop carrying spares, lubricants and tools which was the only plausible explanation for getting that far from home.
Welcome Leopard,
While the above observations are a bit tongue in cheek (but absolutely true), I would suggest if the car is new to you, and you are just looking for transport, and are on a budget while studying, get rid of it, now. If however, you are somewhat of an enthusiast, you know what you are letting yourself in for and intend the finished project to be a static display (sorry) fine. '
You own the best and the worst of it. The FJ makes a far better investment with waaaay better returns.
I can fully endorse the help you will get here on the forum. Many knowledgeable guys and all only too happy to help.
Noel
:lol:
Hysterical, noel. One of my favorite posts on this forum, ever.
Jag's can and do work...with a engine transplant.
There's a company in Dallas Texas called John's Cars that specialize in Chevy 350 conversions.
http://www.johnscars.com/ (http://www.johnscars.com/)
That's what I did....I found a low mileage 1976 XJ6-L with a cooked motor (typical head gasket) and put a 350 with a T700 trans (overdrive) in it....
The Chevy v8 was lighter than the oem jag 6. The car hauled ass. Cornered like on rails.
I had to register the car in Arizona, 'cause it had no smog equipment needed here in Kalif.
It was a wonderful car, independent suspension, disk brakes (inboard rotors on the rear) Connley leather, burl wood dash, tight body and doors...the L version of the XJ6 was longer so it had plenty of room in the back seat.
I sorted out (as in removed) all the Lucas electrical fuse boxes (they tended to fill up with water) and removed the switches, except a few...
The car had twin 16 gallon fuel tanks with a wonky Lucas tank selector switch...
After a long day, driving back from San Diego (in the rain) via Hwy 78 I felt the car start to stutter....no problem, time to switch tanks...I pushed in the spring loaded selector switch and biiing...the push button of the switch came loose and flew in the back seat....I then ran out of gas....grrrrrrr.
Totally pissed, tired, I reached under the dash and managed to snare the wires and hot wired the circuit so I could get the fuel in the second tank..... Moral of the story...Always carry a flashlight.
I think a XJ6 with a modern fuel injected, aluminum block Chevy LS-3 would be the hot ticket.
The car was great...just the Jag motor/ trans/ Lucas stuff sucked.
Last time I was up at Auburn, there were three red XKEs up to cross the auction block.
The idea to snag one and build a Jagrolet did come to mind...
Ooooooh, a XKE with a aluminum block LS7..... :good2:
beautiful machines.
if anyone here wants to buy what I've got they've first dibs. I've invested $2000 into the car itself, and ~$3000more for towing and storage.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/capnfrank/Untitled_zpscd835712.png)
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/4449117087.html (http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/4449117087.html)
here's my girl. (popcorn)
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a417/sunkenstrings/mybike.jpg)
Wow, looks like you need a seat some kinda bad.. I have the stock seat in good shape and a older Corbin gun fighter and lady available if your interested...
Eric M
Quote from: Yamifj1200 on May 04, 2014, 08:42:21 PMif your interested...
Eric M
very.
once the guts are healed it's on to cosmetics, so give it a month or two and i'll gladly take those extra parts off your hands
:drinks:
Quote from: theLeopard on April 30, 2014, 10:52:35 PM
thanks, George. happy to be here, looking forward to making this a lasting forum for myself and getting to know the other persons.
Quote from: FJmonkey on April 30, 2014, 10:31:08 PM
You have plenty of friends in San Diego.... Welcome dude...
hey. do you live in SD yourself? maybe we could hook up and ride sometime, perhaps get a club started?
Hey there Leopard, I live here out in East County in Lakeside. What's up with your FJ? I saw a post on the FJ forum on facebook saying you needed some assistance. I'm here to help. If I can't help you fix it, I can point you in the right direction.
Regards,
CraigO
90FJ1200
Quote from: theLeopard on April 30, 2014, 11:14:43 PM
looking forward to it.
will want to take a solo ride to ensure the bike will hold up for the duration, informed Palomar Mountain and Sunset Highway are notable roads.
Ridden either of those? Palomar Mountain is close, I'm in Escondido.
Hey Leopard,
Palomar is more for the experienced types. At least the South Grade. However, Sunrise is great as well as the East Grade. Are you off on the weekdays? I can hook up and do a ride for sure. I've been all over these local roads like since forever. Give me a buzz.... :drinks:
CraigO
Quote from: theLeopard on May 04, 2014, 07:07:08 PM
here's my girl. (popcorn)
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a417/sunkenstrings/mybike.jpg)
I've seen this FJ. You bought it from a guy in Tierrasanta. Low miles but a bit weather worn. Maybe somewhat neglected. One great attribute about the FJ, if it's running, it's not far from running great.
CraigO
I did, indeed, purchase it from a guy in Tierrasanta :drinks:
and the bike is getting better. I was pretty floored when I got it; smoked up on the first ride then started leaking fuel out of 5 different hoses, the mechanic he referred me to said I shouldn't concern myself with leaking fuel :dash2: w/e it's running swell now.
lots of neglected maintenance but it was ridden with care so i'm not foreseeing any serious mechanical problems.
will be up for rides in a week or two, have a few loose ends I want to attend to before I take it out for an extended ride.
pm if you want to exchange contact information.