1964 3.8 MOD sees light of day after 16 years

[jaglover842]

Next week, the Mk2 comes out of the garage after cryogenic freezing to be assessed at a local garage. Hopefully I can get it back on the road for spring and hopefully XK70.
This is the start of the journey (and its second life).
I'll keep you posted with updates.............

Photo from 2002.

[J44EAG]

Any recent pics?

Looks a nice car. Tell us a bit more.

Mike K

[jaglover842]

Hi Mike,

Car belonged to my late father in-law, who bought it in 1988. He hardly used it and after a fuel pump failure (on my wedding day) it was put in his garage and hasn't really moved since. I'm now trying to get it back on the road, hence next week's exploratory trip to the local garage.

Things that I know that need looking at are:
The old points fuel pump
Leaking carb (possibly fuel jet is stuck)
Previously jammed clutch pedal now freed with brute force
Loose ignition switch in dashboard
He took the old air filter off and built his own one (photo is of old one)
Plus all the other things that could go wrong after 16 years of not moving/engine running.

What can club members suggest may also need attention after this time?

Externally, the engine bay looks pretty good and the inside looks like new.

Enjoy the pics (I only seem to be able to upload three).

[PPV]

Hi, looks in very good general condition from the pictures. However after 16 years of non use then anything rubber (including tyres and bushes) need a good dose of looking at and change if in doubt (tyres especially should be considered for change after this time period, as you can live with a hose going if you are keeping your eye out but a tyre blowing out is a different matter.
Then all structural steel, brakes (driving and trying for effect, this will test servo and sticking/pulling etc) including operation of handbrake.
I found with mine when it was resurrected that most things seemed Ok and looked good from outside (hoses, window rubbers etc) but then found they had perished inside by there being no water in cooling system for instance and leaks when it rained around front window seal. Luckily water pump seal worked fine.
Oil needs changing as should brake/clutch fluid. You may be lucky with no sediment in fuel tank or lines but I put an extra fuel filter in the engine bay before the proper one and it had to be changed a couple of times!.
It does depend on whether it has been used at all really or just sat there dead. If not used then regreasing all joints with grease nipples would do no harm.
It sounds a lot but an experienced person should be able to do most of these things quite quickly if familiar with this type of car.
Other more minor things like screen washer pump can seize if not used. Just keep your eye on gauges and general noises for a while when used, hopefully it will be a pleasure to use.
Best of luck with its re-awakening. Let us know how you are getting on.
Regards,

[jaglover842]

Thanks for the pointers PPV. The garage have done their assessment and said it was a surprisingly tidy car after 16 years of not moving. In addition to the things I already knew about, the garage have commented:

Water pump is leaking – needs replacing.
Slight blow on exhaust (fitting problem not corrosion).
Tappets may need adjusting (slightly noisy at present).
Front and rear brake calipers need servicing (working but only barely!).
Overdrive: solenoid not operating, so likely an electrical fault rather than an OD problem per se.
Boot catch u/s.
Wiper motor needs cleaning/greasing.
Service items: HT leads, flexi brake hoses, caliper brake pipe(s), fuel drain and clean filter, adjust washers, indicator tell-tales (NS is missing).
Rear OS sub-frame mount is corroded, requires a repair.

So overall, not too bad. I'm just waiting for the quote

Photo of the modified (DIY) air intake:

Photo of the low loader:

[jaglover842]

Hooray, the car passed its MOT at the garage today, with no advisories. There are one or two non-MOT issues to sort out, then I'll be driving it home. The garage have done a great job in getting all the problems sorted out.

It will be the first time I have ever driven a Mk2.

One major niggle is that the garage can't get the Overdrive to work. "the issue is that there is power part-way through the circuit, which **** understands well, but no power reaching the solenoid from the switch (in cockpit). To investigate and rectify that will need either the gearbox dropping out or the interior trim partially removing so that the gearbox/OD wiring can be accessed."

The above sounds like a major job. I'm obviously not going to thrash the car, so I'm wondering how much I will miss Overdrive. Any thoughts anyone or ideas about what could be wrong?

Hopefully I will have this car at the XK70 Festival at Shelsley Walsh in June, lined up with all my other Jaguar cars.

Once I collect the car, I will then post a full list of all the jobs done at the garage.

[piman]

Hello Jaglover,

I would certainly say there is a benefit in having the overdrive working as it makes cruising much less fussy.

The first check is to see if there is voltage at the control switch, this will prove whethr the problem is in the inhibitor switch area on the gearbox. Does the reversing light work, if so that also proves part of the circuit which is:- from the ignition fed fuse to the reversing light switch, this feed then continues to the top gear inhibitor switch, with top gear engaged this supply then continues to the control switch then onward to the solenoid.
If you do get the circuit working, it's worth doing a current check as the solenoid has two internal circuits, a pull in and a hold circuit. There is an internal switch and if the solenoid is not adjusted correctly the pull in circuit will stay on and can burn out the solenoid, as they are expensive it's worth doing this check. From memory the hold circuit pulls about an amp or less and together with the pull in circuit it is about ten amps.

Alec

[jaglover842]

Alec,

Thanks for the great tips and detailed information. I don't claim to understand it all, but I will pass it on to the garage mechanic to see what he thinks. These forums are great for communicating with people with a wealth of practical info.
I guess the reversing lights are working since it's passed its MOT.

I agree that having functionality that does not work is annoying.

Fist driving lesson soon - snow permitting.

[jaglover842]

So I drove the car home from the garage today solo, about 10 miles.
My first ever drive in a Mk2!

Lots of things to get used to very quickly:
Wing mirrors a long way away!
My legs don't fit underneath the HUGE steering wheel.
Non inertia reel seat belts.
Lack of overdrive (ongoing).
Watching all the dashboard gauges all the time!
Standing on the brake pedal to stop.

But hey, I had a big grin on my face, I was driving a 1964 Mk2 3.8! So much torque!

However.......

I noticed the ammeter was in the Discharge zone for a lot of the time. On getting home and trying to restart the car, it would hardly turn over, but it just started. I then noticed the brake lights were on, with me outside the car and the light switch Off. With the light switch in S position, the reversing light comes on!!
The Map switch is broken and the Panel light does not work, neither does the original radio.
Car is now in garage and will not turn over at all.
Gloss now taken off what should have been a tremendous experience in getting this car back on the road after 16 years.

Work done by garage using 71.5 hours labour includes:

plus new electronic fuel pump