Hi Debbie,
I've been following your restoration closely as you've done a ton of work in a short period of time, but I've noted that you haven't been posting recent updates (your photos and text should be compiled into a "How to" guide.) I hope things are progressing and I am looking forward to see the completed project.

Steve

 

I took a break for a while
I guess Christmas was a good time to back to the XJ12. Emma is excited to drive it. So, It's time to make it happen.
We had to storage the car for a few months. During that time Emma got few more stuff for the car: carpet (British wool) , the interior (all leather, no vinyl), more chromes, steering wheel, stainless steel bumpers...

 

It's good to see your post this morning, Debbie, I had wondered how your car was coming along.

Sometimes one simply has to take a break.
(';')

 

Yeah, Debbie, I missed the reports of the work you and Emma have done. Outstanding
at all levels. Personal and mechanical.


That car sure got lucky....


And, yeah, as Elinor says, a break is good. Renewed energy amongst the reasons.
Not to neglect other daily life issues !!! They do exist, ha, ha!!


Keep it up.


Carl

 

Wow im pretty new around here but this is the first time seeing this thread. Very impressive and what a car!

 

Wow you are really doing that car some justice and thanks for that.

That level of work will raise the bar and increase awareness and interest in a very unloved segment of the classic automobile landscape.

 

Great to hear from you again......love this thread.

 

Hi Guys, thanks for all your words, it really helps a lot. We started this project long time ago with a very limited budged and we have been changing the direction since the very beginning. The first intention was a car for Emma so she can drive around. We ended buying a ton of parts but we saved because we basically did everything home after work.
Sometimes I wish to spend more time on some parts and make it better, but I guess I can't 'over restore it' and also I don't have the time and I want to stick with the initial budged and make a car that Emma can actually drive around.
You guys are helping a lot. I didn't know too much about these cars. Although there is a ton of info on internet, it's not always very accurate and not very clear about the '76, series II.
Today I took apart the switches from the dash, very dirty, contacts with huge resistance,...

 

Great work Debbie & Emma, nice to see an update. Keep up the good work.

 

Hello again.


The switches are always a bit of time consuming. Some of the clear plastics on the front of the switches were very bad and some superficially cracked... It took me a while to fix and clean them. Clean the contacts electrolysis, plate the springs that keep them on place, redo the labels, paint the frames around the clear plastics. Two of the internal springs were very bad, very corroded, I made them new with music spring wire. Also I used a bolt rather than a rivet to keep them close, it's much easy for future cleaning.

 

Finally I cleaned and detailed the air vents.

 

This is great stuff - I'm going to need to restore most of my switches too. When the time comes I'll lean on you for tips..

 

That is really neat ! How did you manage to fix the cracked plastic? or is it a new piece ?

 

As I mentioned the cracks were superficial, not going all the way. with sand paper I cut the surface till the cracks disappear. then polish them again. It's only about patience.

 

Precise detailed work. Beautiful.


When redoing the power plant in my car, I needed a "check engine" light to make the SMOG referee happy. The dash had an O2 sensor light. Odd critter, it responded to a counter??? Time to swap sensors???


Unneeded in my car's reincarnation. Bob Loftus, created a new lens for that quaint little light. There is a thin transparent sheet that some if not all inkjet printers can print on. He put a few "CHECK ENGINE" words in few fonts for me. I chose the one that best fit and snipped it out and fitted it. The SMOG guy was impressed.


Relevance: A source of fresh new clear plastic. Printer fodder...


Carl

 

Hi Carl,


Yes, soon it's going to be time for smog for our car too. We brought the car to the very original and we completetly rebuild the smog items because I already know that is going to be tough (at least not easy)


I don't know your car since it has an American engine,...


About the printer, I know a place that they print with laser (check the videos) Gallery ? Sticky RX Refinishing Solutions

 

That Sticky TX site is more than impressive. I expect it takes more than a few $'s to get there work in one's car... Ferrari is synonomus with green paper, lots of it.


Actually, here in CA, a car with an engine transplant must be examined by a Special referee. More $'s of course, and usually more skilled. My car is powered by an LT1 and 4L60e combination from a 94 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. Last of the GM "tanks". So, all the Smog stuff from the Cadillac had to be present and operational.
And, the standards for the Caddy were required to be met.


The PCM is quite sophisticated.


Once done, the average Smog tech, but a Star Certified shop can do the job. Just tests to 94 Caddy standards...


You may be in great luck. CA just moved the threshold up to 1981 and older. Gee, I missed it by 2 years. But, it may not be applicable just yet.


I can just imagine the average Smog tech when faced with a fully EFI'd V12. Where do I start????


I refer to my car as "English Elegance, with an Italian flair and dependable American
power.


Carl

 

Hi Guys!


For the last days... basically I have been cleaning the dash and climate control wiring. One of the electrovalves wasn't closing very well so I've ordered a new one and now I move on to the stereo...
Today I took the front speakers apart to prepare/clean/repair the plastic boxes and I'm preparing the new replacement ones.


Oh...! and Happy new year 2017!


Debbie

 

Debbie:


You sure challenge us by setting such a high bar!! Neat, clean orderly, wow.


1. My Jeep has an ancient and needlessly "complex" radio cassette player. A series of toggles to set lows and highs in various ranges. I've messed with them and always end up at mid point. But, my ears are just barely "adequate". One works with amplification, the other zip!!! With disuse, the speakers get to sound lousy. After some use, they improve immensely. The "use it or lose it" axiom applies there as well.


2. When I visited son and his SO, on Christmas, he demo'd one of his toy/tool creations. A router highly modified to "miniature" CNC status. He wrote a program to guide the cutting head in X,Y and Z axis. With a piece of plastic fastened on the work table, automation cut out a product that he sells. In this case an adapter for a two barrel carburetor to a TPI manifold. Hot rodders and racers buy them. A 3d printer of a sort. Amazing....


3. The struts for the hatch on my Jeep have gone limp. Installing new ones seemed simple. Naah. Restricted access to two TORX screws have turned a task into a project... My son says I excel at that. He may be right. My response is his incomplete projects...


Always like to read your posts.


Carl

 

This has been an amazing thread to read. i grew up in a shop in phoenix where my dad and uncle rebuilt barracudas and 30's cadilacs. they would be impressed with your work ethic and attention to detail. Awesome job on this great car.