I have had Jags just about as long as I could drive. Well, maybe that's a stretch, but I always wanted an E-Type ever since they came out. My first one was after College and soon after getting into the Air Force in 1966. It was a bank repo '61 E-Type FHC. It ran wonderfully (or so It seemed) and the romance was on. Turns out after I ran a compression test, I had to do a head job on it since it was only hitting on five cylinders, but to my newby experience it ran like a scalded dog. That went very well using the manual and I've been doing all my own work ever since. I've owned all types of Jags and LBCs over the years and regretted selling all of them.
Currently I have a '66 E-Type FHC, an '03 X308, an '04 X350, and a '54 XK120 FHC basket case my Dad left me. So, you see, I'm really busy, especially with concern over the curve ***** thrown by Jag on the newer ones like sealed-for-life trannys and other assorted hiccups in the manufacturing/marketing amalgam.
But, so far so good. I only really had to (elected to before I had to) change out the upper timing chain tensioners on a '98 I owned before a lady decided she wanted some of my door paint on her front end. Can you say T-bone?
So, I am pretty familiar with all kinds of mechanical procedures and have a pretty complete tool hoard.
We've lived in N. Hurst, outside of Fort Worth, TX for 13 years now and we like it. There's not much room for all the cars, etc., but then again, I never really ever did have enough. Of course, I wish I had more neat and/or exotic stuff (lift, lathe, etc.), but there's no place to put it and SWMBO is already at the far point of tolerance for my feline addiction. Still, she's the best and I couldn't ask for any better life mate.
That's a bit about me. I look forward to being a member here, but I'm kind of a dinosaur and a bit of all-thumbs when it comes to email, etc. and I don't go for pictures and all that since my cars look like all the other cars of their ilk. Nothing special, just Jaguars.
Best regards, Brian

 

Welcome to the forum Brian,

An excellent informative intro, it sounds like the Jag bug has his teeth firmly into you!
I'm certain your experience will make you a valuable member even without those pesky pictures.

 

Hello Brian and welcome to jaguarforums.com. I know that you are anxious to get started and we are anxious to meet you and talk about your car. We have a baseline / criteria that must be met before full access can be granted. Please enjoy the forum and be patient once the baseline has been satisfied full access will be granted. Please continue to post and accept my welcome to the forum.

Oh one other thing you need to put your car details in your signature. I am speaking of the Year, Make & Model. Without it you may not get the input you are looking for.

Please take a moment and read the information provided to you explaining the rules.

Be patient and enjoy the site.

 

Thanks for the welcomes. I tried to edit my profile, but couldn't find out how to do it. I wanted to add this:
I guess I should mention that I am very parsimonious, most would say cheap or stingy. I am always looking for "another way to skin the cat" so to speak. One of my favorite sayings (if I am not stepping on any toes anywhere) is "Q. Why did God invent WASPS? A. Somebody had to pay retail." of course, I do pay retail when I have to, but wince every time.
BTW, I do like pictures of procedures and have, in the past, even done one. I always considered the Wilwood, et al. kits to be way too expensive while not being strictly necessary unless one is racing. The original calipers with the seal acting on the bore wall were simply too expensive to buy or sleeve in order to get good brakes. When I heard of using Volvo calipers instead (they seal against the piston), I tried to find someone, anyone, who had done it. I did find someone in Sweden (I think), but the process wasn't fully fleshed out. It was enough to start, so I decide to try it myself and do a how-to. There are two write-up on this site and I prepared both of them, the second using another fellow's pictures I was in contact with at the time. I didn't post them to the JCNA site, they just appeared there and that's great. Since I don't have the fancy lathes, etc. I had to figure out another way "to skin the cat" and this was what I came up with. It cost next to nothing and works fine. Beats the hell out of a Wilwood or Coopercraft kit or similar except for the "eye candy" effect.

http://www.jcna.com/library/tech/tech0031.html

Thanks again for the welcome. If I could have figured out how to get in touch with any of you I would have sent this privately. I don't know if that's just one of the things I can't access yet or what. I do not know what "PM" is (I saw it referenced) or how to do it. I'm a MAC guy so most of the PC stuff is foreign to me. I've had to get a PC to run my CarCode OBDII software and anything else car related, so I'm catching up, but very slowly.

 

Hey Brian welcome to the site, good to have you here with us and thanks for a really great intro full of info about you, your cars and history....nice one.....only missing a few pics

Its a pretty easy going n friendly place to be especially if you're a Jag owner / lover but all car enthusiasts are welcome.

Some top guys here with plenty of good info and excellent techs.......
I've manually upgraded you to full forum access.....jump in and enjoy

If you need ANY help with the forum most of the guys will be glad to either point you in the right direction or help out......The best bunch of forumers I've come across, although I am of course slightly biased