New Member

[steve455]

I have escaped from a number of years in XJ40 ownership.
My last one went to the place in the sky a couple of months ago.

Hi All

I've had mine for a couple of years, relieved from a friend who had it for his wife for about 5 years...with hardly any use as she didn't really like it.
I only bought it for my wife...who doesn't drive !!! Yeah ok hands up...

Basic service as I do with any new car, and on the road for a year to settle things down, and let the oil leaks start from dry seals etc (only some..thank you G). Planned to do various works before last summer. Work commitments and staying away from home generally for 8 months so this stopped all car fettling.
During the last monthish I have been able to start and get ready for summer. Wife want's HER car rolling...

So main jobs done.
Both radius arm's with new bushes/front anti-roll bar links/front dampers.
Clean up the coolant expansion tank area...need I say more.
Decided to replace the n/s diff output assy that had a bit of play, because I was almost there... from the pads badly worn on that side/seized half caliper with no real rubber piston boot and a damaged disk. Oh yeah I busted one of the handbrake pads during removal.

Just need to put the new caliper and pads in now once my slight cricked neck has calmed down from last week. Car still looks pretty with its rear end in the air on high axle stands. Been taking the time to sort some of the rusty edges but overall only a bit of rust, cosmetic......thats until I see the MOT man and he finds something I missed. End of the week and I shall be back down under and MOT shortly after with a bit of luck.

Consoled myself and went for breakfast at JD Classics last Sunday. Egg rolls/tea and friendly chat on a lovely sunny morning. I could stay and play in their workshops forever, well when I wasn't taking one of their cars for a "maintenance" drive.

Hope to meet-up with some of you soon with Cat. Steve

[jonc3725]

Hi Steve,

Cant believe after so many views nobody said Hi . Anyway welcome to the XJS part of the club.

[steve455]

Hi Jonc, thanks for the welcome.

After various hassles car finally MOT'ed (with no advisories) with 3 days to go for
"National Jaguar Drive day"

just in time and its going to be sunny in Essex.

steve

[J44EAG]

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the Board.

I was born in Chelmsford. Not a lotta people know that.

The last time I was there was in 1976 when we travelled to the Broads for a holiday. The only thing I remember was someone had put a bottle of Squeezy in the fountain outside the Town Hall. I seem to remember finding that funny at the time. The bubbles were over the bonnet of my Fathers Morris Oxford. He drove on through the bubbles and ran into a municiple rubbish bin affixed to a lamp post. That ruined his day and mine because I got a belt round the ear `ole for my comprehensive explanation to a Rosser who turned up to examine the damage to the kerbside furniture.

So Jaguar ownership has reached the place of my birth. That being the case and liking the Essex coast for sailing, I may well return there some day if only to see if the bent lamp post outside the Town Hall is still there.

Mike.

[steve455]

Hi Mike

A few XJ-S owners around here and an XJS sowe are flying the flag.

No fountain now....you can't even do that at Trafalgar square cos they turn the water off for the fountains. Nanny state!!!!

My first time visit to chelmsford in about 1978
I'm a Romford lad who met a girl from chelmsford and that was 30 years ago, does that qualify as an "escape to the country" ???

You would not recognize the place now and you can't drive the high street (paved) and a central ring road. Some things don't change.....Army&Navy stupid single lane bridge, but no pub.

If you do visit give me a call and I'll get you a visa.

Steve

[J44EAG]

Thanks Steve.

Kind regards,

Mike