Looks like the XJ81 has it, the 1995 XJS does too, but the X305 does not. Is this change is attributable to more sophisticated EFI being fitted to the X305?

I'm referring to the black tube between the rear ends of the plenums as seen on this 94 XJ81 pictured on Wikipedia.

 

G'day John,

My X305 certainly does not have a balance pipe. See pic.

These cars essentially have a separate system for each bank, One manifold pressure sensor and one ignition module and one ignition coil per bank and a dual channel ECM. Like two six cylinder engines grafted together.

Cheers,
Jeff.

 

Speaking of X305s and crossover tubes, my car arrived today and in cursorily looking it over I noticed an ominously unmoored hard line above the radiator. I take it this is a coolant bleed pipe?


Anyway, it is resting on the top edge of the radiator, as well as harshing my mellow. How is this supposed to be anchored?
(Yes, I know my rad bushings are gonzo)

 

G'day John,

It's been a while since I had my top radiator support beam off, to replace the perished mounts, but I recall the bleed pipe is clipped to the underside of the radiator support beam. May be total BS of course, as I said it's been a long while.

Cheers,
Jeff.
P.S. I've only just noticed that your fan shroud is secured with what looks like self tapping bolts, there should be a spring clip there on each side.
P.P.S. The bleed pipe clips onto the part the self tapper screws into. P/N CCC2236

 

Interesting. I am looking forward to putting things right on this car. The body and paint being so nice is a big motivator.

Such an arcane thing to have a shadetree fix, but it seems like the screws are doing a good enough job holding the shroud, so those are well down the list. Protecting that pipe is what I'll do or have done posthaste.

 

I never had any clips on that pipe so I customized some rubber tubing to keep that bleed pipe from rattling. Never knew how it was supposed to be held in place.

MORE PHOTOS of the Ice Blue XJ12 please, 944. Or add them in an album. I don't recall seeing an XJ12 in Ice Blue in modern times.

And congratulations of course!

 

There are a few more pics in my intro post. The car is at the shop awaiting its professional post-purchase inspection. For sure it needs exhaust work, rad mounts, throttle spindle bushes, and more electrons, but who knows what else. And insurance/reg/smog/tags.

All the wood has cracks in the finish.

This is representative of how nice the body and paint are.

Underhood is a mixed bag. It's mostly clean, but some basic stuff is deficient.

 

G'day John,

Like you I like to have everything as it should be and I've found this site really handy for tracking down bits and pieces and part numbers for them.

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.com/

The P/N for the spring clip is CBC1707 and the piece that the bleed pipe clips into is P/N CCC2236

Have a look at this link,

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.../brand/jaguar/

Parts labeled 3 & 4. If you can enlarge the image of part number 3 you will see where the bleed pipe clips into.

Cheers,
Jeff.

 

Ah, I see, there's a clip/hook at the back, by which I mean front. It'll be a few days until I can check if they're still intact.

Thank you!

 

Dang I've missed so much! I didn't see the auction (the car was local), I didn't see your intro post 944 (missed out on that thrill), and the car lived in my city for the last few years... and I missed it! We may have passed within feet of one another at some point. But that I would have noticed!

Now our cars have to be virtual friends instead of in-person buddies. Its the way of the Covid I suppose.

However, I did learn where to clip that pesky rattler up front, thanks guys. I'll check that out tomorrow.

I'll also check for a crossover pipe, just to be double sure I didn't miss it before.

That Ice Blue with Oatmeal is a great combo for an XJ12! Well done John. Maybe its lucky for you that I DIDN'T see that auction happening!

 

I had the car transported to Oregon. I was not eager to drive an unknown 25-year-old import supersedan 1300 miles home, let alone board a plane. Normal times, yes, I would embark on a thrilling adventure to fly out and drive back, but I don't have health insurance.

My convoluted pathway to X305 ownership is documented on miata.net, although I don't think I ever told them that I went and inspected the 968 and thought it not deserving anywhere close to its asking price.

(Long story short on that path, I was considering X300 and Lexus GS300, my budget crept up, a sexy 968 showed up on the (VERY) local market, I got briefly distracted by a 456, and an XJ12 went from fixed price eBay listing to auction without my noticing until the last minute.)

 

The Jag Shop called with the inspection report. The exhaust leak is about what it sounded like; needs a new clamp and some welding but no big. The CEL is not illuminated but there are latent MAP, O2, and ABS codes. Minor fluid leaks are oil and PS; dye will be administered and observed. The tires appear flat-spotted. It would be a shame to scrap those otherwise nice Goodyears with lots of tread, so really hoping they round back out.

There's some more fiddly faults like the tweeters being out, a rear seatbelt that doesn't latch, and a cooked wiper blade that I can get to on my own. I'm having them do the exhaust, radiator bushes, oil change, and then hunt down the cause(s) of the codes.

 

The previous owner's service records arrived. What I had hoped are near-new Bilsteins appear to be reflected in the receipts, hooray. It also has recent brake consumables, belts, two PS hoses, and plugs and wires within the past year and a half or so. It was once towed in for a faulty CKP sensor; on another visit it had to have rodent damage patched up in the headlight and injector wiring. The PO's shop repeatedly advised of leaks from the trans pan gasket, timing cover, valve cover, and valley plate.

Once my shop finishes with their assigned maintenance, I still have to wait for temp tags, then get a VIN inspection, then a smog check, after which I get to wait for another two USPS transits and however long the DMV feels like taking before I get real plates on it. Those are some of the reasons why I have kept the same car for 14 years.... >grumble<

 

I got the XJ12 home on temp tags. So far I've freed up the rear vent damper, which was frozen in congealed frappuccino, and improved the underhood tool bin/fuse map with a good cleaning and one of Carnival Kid's toolsets:



The front lid hinge pin was broken off, so I semi-repaired that too. Waiting on new weatherstrip.

The car badly needs a brake fluid flush and the throttle bushings to be put in. I'll work on those tonight.

 

It took a lot of mangling of the cheap hard plastic new parts, but I got the throttle bushes in, lubed the linkage, and moved the heater pump wiring out of the way. The throttle cable clip that attaches to the engine cover is broken so I ziptied the cable to it for now. I got the coolant bleed pipe clipped into the shroud locator blocks. Dropped in HIR headlight bulbs. Opened the air cleaners and found missing are a lever spring clip, a mounting grommet, and the integrity of the right instrumount.

I've only driven the car home from the shop but already I'm not very happy with the brake feel. My 944 had by far the best brakes of the (not many) cars I've driven, and it even only had single piston calipers -- the Miata is not nearly as precise despite having a similar configuration. Hopefully I can make some improvement by chucking out any pad shims and cleaning and lubing the caliper sliders, but it kinda feels like the booster might have a restriction on the atmo source - it makes a gasping sound under fast pedal movement. Maybe tomorrow is brakes day.

I did stop for fuel on the one trip I took it on and the gas station attendant complimented the car.

 

This finisher was too sticky outey:


Adjusted it to match the other side.


Also lubed door, hood, and trunk latches and hinges. Tightened the T30 door checkarm bracket bolts; ALL 8 of them were loose. Need to pick up some double stick foam tape to reattach the covers now. Sucked out maybe 6 ounces of brake fluid from the reservoir and added back fresh. I'll get a quart of fluid and flush properly real soon now.

 

The XJ12 got nearly a full day of attention. The seating got a saddle soap and Lexol regimen. Rear brake pads and slider pins got lubricated -- the pins and pad cavities were absent any lube. While the rear wheels were off I attempted to clean the barrels, but the caked dust was too tenacious to get much better than this with plain carwash soap:


Then I bled out about a pint of diner coffee looking fluid. A few bubbles were evident coming from the left; hope that helps with the pedal feel.


Those caliper spring clips are criminally hard to refit. Front brakes tomorrow, if today's efforts don't make me too achey.

 

Good work, man. She's really coming into fine shape! And thanks for the reminder of some of the things I need to do.

Especially the brake bleeding. I have good function but the pedal travel is a bit much. There was a booster changeover sometime during 95MY I believe. Don't recall why.

New Jaguar V12 labels, or will you just give them a touch-up with a sharpie, like I did? (don't tell anyone)

 

The B bank one is completely devoid of the black field, and I think it looks nice all shiny. I want to get the A bank badge to look the same. Brake cleaner picks up dark smudges but is slow going. I'll try Goo Gone next.

I might have a needy harmonic balancer: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rvaue1TbFhQfZhfk7 I stopped the recording out of embarrassment, but it continued screaming for five or so seconds and through a couple revups. That was the only time it's done that in my presence. Crossing fingers it's just common belt slippage.

EDIT: Here's a better video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NhvGUcmoKDytaMo1A

Drove the Miata around just to maintain the charge. WOW, is it a stark contrast, all harsh and immediate, to the Jag's sybaritic yet ponderous conveyance. Wish I could keep both cars, but the MX5 is at least going to stay in the family with my niece.

 

Front brakes lubed and bled, shims peeled from pads. In my experience, shims just come loose and dig grooves into your rotors. Brakes stay quiet as long as they are cleaned and lubed once in a while.


Front caliper springs are just as sadistic.


Tonight's project doesn't requre lifting a 2-ton car with a 1.5 ton jack.