Scottie on the road

[WorldClassAccident]

Red topped engines are always more powerful

[Scottie22]

I've done something right then!

[Mick O'Malley]

That ally rocker cover is the twin of one I bought second hand on Ebay. The outside took quite a bit of work to remove paint and lacquer but I eventually got it to shine. However, when I fitted it and ran the engine I was treated to an unearthly high pitched noise. On removing it I found that the casting's so thick that it fouls the rockers!

I put the tin one back and will fetch the angle grinder to the offending area when I haven't anything more important to do.

Rubbish engineering? Yes!

I hope yours isn't the same.

p.s. Send your V5 back to have the model description amended to read XKSS Testarossa

[Scottie22]

Bloody hell Mick! I wounldn't want a Jaguar linked to a Ferrari name!
What are you thinking of? :-)

[Mister Towed]

Originally Posted by Scottie22

Bloody hell Mick! I wounldn't want a Jaguar linked to a Ferrari name!
What are you thinking of? :-)

I have a feeling it's just a reference to 'red head' (testa rossa in Italian), not a serious suggestion to alter your V5.

It seems your gasket failure may have made you a bit touchy Scottie. Best cheer yourself up while you're off the road by watching Jaguar trounce upstart offerings from Johnny Foreigner in '53 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmclYtEbKo0

[Scottie22]

Did you not see the "smile" at the end of my post Mr T?

It was humour only, I can assure you!

Thanks for the cheer-up vid, loved it! The music was so period!
Those really were the days!

[Scottie22]

Well, a couple of people have asked me how my top-end re-build is going, so upon checking, I realised that I have not posted sod-all for two whole weeks!

As I said earlier, I got the head back, and for the last couple of weeks have been idly cleaning off all the mating surfaces, which on the engine block, took two hours, as the old gasket seemed to have welded itself to the metal on the block.

I have managed to get all the nuts off the studs, most of which were seized up, and some nuts sheered off, so I had to order and wait for, new studs.
I decide to re-new all the hoses, which I should have done before, but have done so now. That was an awkward job, as all the jubilee clips had seized and needed to be cut off, and as ever, access was limited for cutting tools.

I stripped and cleaned the twin carbs, and have all new gaskets ready for them.
What with all these fiddly jobs ans real life getting in the way, two weeks seems to have flown by, but I will get the car back together eventually.

To make matters worse, I think the head gasket may have blown on my every-day car too! That went to a garage today, and hopefully will be back on the road before the XK.

I spent about two hundred quid on stretch bolts, head gasket set, water pump and cam-belt kit, before the mechanic has even started the work, and I know this repair will be expensive, but still cheaper than buying another car! Besides, I like the one I have.
So, that leaves me with only my little micro-camper to get about in.

The reception I get from just about everyone in that van has amazed me!

From little kids, right up to old grannies, they all love it.
I enjoy watching the oncoming traffic when stuck in a jam, as they all crane their necks to try and figure out what it is, and almost everyone of them has a huge grin on their face.

One bloke said, "they are really rare aren't they?"

I replied, "this one is, its a one-off I did myself"

Anyhow, if Scottie wants to be "on the road", it currently has to be in the van, which is quite a pleasant experience, so here it is once again, the only set of bloody wheels I have right now that actually work!

[IMG][/IMG]

[Scottie22]

I don't know anyone else has experienced what I am going through right now,
but I am finding it incredibly difficult to muster up enough enthusiasm to go out to my car and continue the work needed to finish it of enough to make it driveable again.

I have actually got the head back on the engine, but not torqued it down yet and cannot find a scrap of interest to make me carry on.
I did however force myself to go out and fit the two headlight cowls at last.

Anyone following my build may remember I cracked the drivers side cowl, had to get a replacement.

This time I managed to drill all the holes required without the expensive mistake occurring again, and got them on the car.

They were not the best fit in the world, but I managed to hide most of the
gaps by fitting a chrome strip all the way around.

This was achieved by a lot of fiddly work with a heat-gun and burnt fingers, but in the end, I had a curly bit of flexy chrome strip which once fitted, did not look too bad after all.

I take back my criticism of WCA when ages ago he put forward the idea to me!

It does work, but takes time effort and patience. Only time will tell with the answer to the question: "will it stay stuck on?"



Watch this space.

If anyone has any advice on where I can dredge up any enthusiasm from to put my car back together, that would be most welcome!!!

Is this the normal reaction to finishing a two year build, or has my trolley come right off the f***ing rails?

pics of today's effort:


[IMG]http://[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[/IMG]

[IMG]http://[/IMG]

[oxford1360]

The chrome trims look great. WCA and Scottie take a bow.

It sounds to us all like Scottie needs to start another build..........so when you get p*ssed off and frustrated with the new one you can turn to the XK to fettle and drive.

[Paul L]

Scottie - I think a bit of "build fatigue" is completely normal.

Especially when you have an "on the road" set back, which will always be more disappointing than a "during the build" one.

Perhaps you should have a re-read of Mister Towed's "On the road" thread, as he had a series of set backs.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=4482

Yet despite this, the joy he got from driving his car seems to make it all worth while.

So remember this feeling...



And get back out there ASAP, so we can see how the car looks with the new headlight covers fitted.

Good luck, Paul.

PS
Is there a car show coming up that you could use as a target to aim for?

[Roadster]

Completely normal

I have a beach buggy project that has stalled
I only work outside and 3 weeks on the trot when I went to work on it it poured with rain.

I found a ride in someone elses was the kick up the arse I needed.

It looks great - but when a job becomes a chore fatigue sets in.

Give it a break until its the fun hobby again

[garyh]

Come on scottie, that pics needs updating... light covers with chrome surrounds and a much bigger grin... i need you to keep going and Paul, as it keeps me thinking about my build at the very least...

[Scottie22]

Mmmmmmm, I promise I will try harder in future!!!

[Lucky@LeMans]

This is normal , you will get your enthusiasm back . Just take a break from it , don't even go in the garage !

I get this mid way through most projects but I never give up . I know that given some time away is a good thing. My Triumph Roadster project hasn't been touched in a month , but I'll be back on it over the next week or two.

Its a hobby , only do it when you feel like it !

[deggsy]

Scottie as above quite normal and there are only a few months before winter starts again then you'll be kicking yourself for not sorting it done!

[Mikewade]

Those headlight covers look great, and really finish it off! Well worth the effort.
Perhaps subconsciously you are worried that the engine won't work properly, so you're holding back. I'm sure it will be fine, you've definitely done all the difficult stuff!

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by Scottie22

I don't know anyone else has experienced what I am going through right now, but I am finding it incredibly difficult to muster up enough enthusiasm to go out to my car and continue the work needed to finish it off.

If anyone has any advice on where I can dredge up any enthusiasm from to put my car back together, that would be most welcome!!!

Is this the normal reaction to finishing a two year build, or has my trolley come right off the f***ing rails?

Hi Scottie

I have exactly the same problem.

About six weeks ago I took the beast to the MOT station full of hope. As my friendly ex-REME tester waved me in over the small hump outside his workshop the tails of the exhaust clamps on the centre joint, which I had neglected to cut off, caught in the locating track of his door, ripping the system from the manifold and the boot floor from the vertical panel beneath the tank.

We managed to free it and, despite it now not being testable, we pushed it onto the pillar lift and removed the system. He had a good look at the frame while it was in the air and pronounced it rust free, which was the only crumb of comfort.

After the humiliating tow home I ordered new mounting rubbers and a couple of days later all was well. However, like you, I then couldn't stand the sight of it and retreated to internet world for solace, buying a new project to take my mind off it.

I'm going to take the 'D' for its test again next week, not because I'm fired up again, but because I'm off on my motorcycle expedition to S.America for 10 months on Sept. 14th, and I feel the need to know what wants doing.

Bottom line - completion deferred to summer 2016!

New project below.

[Scottie22]

Bloody hell Mick! That's pretty extreme stuff going on there!
Good luck with it all. :-)

At least I've not had the urge to jet off to the other side of the world to escape my car! YET!!

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by Scottie22

Bloody hell Mick! That's pretty extreme stuff going on there!
Good luck with it all. :-)

At least I've not had the urge to jet off to the other side of the world to escape my car! YET!!

Jet?

I'm going on a cargo boat, again, fifth time

Details by some moto chums who are out there at the moment.

[Scottie22]

Bloody hell AGAIN!!

Well, I'm not THAT peed of with my car yet..................