What not to do over Christmas
#1
What not to do over Christmas
I have owned this jag for about 15 years fire in the engine bay may see her not coming home.
Short story
I replaced the fuel pumps and when I began cranking the engine the fuel vapour in the engine bay was ignited and some things burned.
Long story
About a month before Christmas the Oil Beast was due for rego, so began the pre-rego check and maintenance. This included starting the car, taking it around the block to check brakes, steering, noises, exhaust etc. BUT it didnt start.
So began the process;
1. Check for spark remove and clean all plugs crank no ignition lead off cranking spark spotted hmmm
2. Check for fuel yep can see it in the fuel filter filter looks clean crank while watching fuel filter no movement hang on a minute fuel pump ticking noise NOT present change to other tank still no fuel pump ticking noise surely both cant be gone?? YEP they can remove one pump and bench test yep buggered order 2 x fuel pumps.
3. Wait a month until the Friday before Christmas fuel pumps arrive why so long? - $125 each cheapest in Oz - $100 for the pair delivered from O/S I had time, the car wasnt going anywhere.
4. Saturday before Christmas bench test new pumps You ripper - both tick tick ticking along - put connectors on new pumps replace old pumps clean up fuel spill from the boot.
5. Turn ignition onto accessories can hear a tick tick as the new pump primes the fuel lines flick the switch check the right hand pump yep beautiful ticking stand on the outside of the drivers door check that no fuel splashing about in engine bay from the new pumps doing a better job than the old pumps ever did all clear crank the engine while standing on the outside blue flash and then a WHOOOOOOOOOMP that is not a good sound.
6. Fire extinguisher in the car best call for the replacement LEASA!!! GET THE OTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER or words to that effect - fire extinguisher emptied flames still present hose duly arrives to allow the mopping up operation thick black smoke to about a foot off the deck me lying on the floor - fire out forensic examination begins.
Investigation
If you go back to point 1 you will see that I removed a spark plug lead might have noticed that I didnt put it back on.
That, coupled with petrol fumes in the engine bay created the initial WHOOOOOOOOOMP this in turn ignited up to 45years worth of a vehicles bodily fluid build-up in an engine bay (no matter how many times you pressure wash a jag you will never get it all).
This build-up and 45 year old electrical wiring (nice and crispy and ignitable) was then the secondary burn. But that was not all .
Imagine if you will the Jag was in the house garage temporarily and not the usual shed down the back (simply for ease of access for rego test run and check that was meant to be done in November) and rather than bring up the metal drip trays from the shed you use a handy cardboard box suitably flattened. WELL there is a tertiary burn as well
From the WHOOOOOOOOOMP to me lying on the floor seems a long time maybe it was 90 seconds any longer I think the house might have been the next long story.
Were there any injuries? A lack of leg hairs and a sunburn sensation below my calves was pretty much it (I was wearing my safety thongs and shorts) oh and does pride count?
Short story
I replaced the fuel pumps and when I began cranking the engine the fuel vapour in the engine bay was ignited and some things burned.
Long story
About a month before Christmas the Oil Beast was due for rego, so began the pre-rego check and maintenance. This included starting the car, taking it around the block to check brakes, steering, noises, exhaust etc. BUT it didnt start.
So began the process;
1. Check for spark remove and clean all plugs crank no ignition lead off cranking spark spotted hmmm
2. Check for fuel yep can see it in the fuel filter filter looks clean crank while watching fuel filter no movement hang on a minute fuel pump ticking noise NOT present change to other tank still no fuel pump ticking noise surely both cant be gone?? YEP they can remove one pump and bench test yep buggered order 2 x fuel pumps.
3. Wait a month until the Friday before Christmas fuel pumps arrive why so long? - $125 each cheapest in Oz - $100 for the pair delivered from O/S I had time, the car wasnt going anywhere.
4. Saturday before Christmas bench test new pumps You ripper - both tick tick ticking along - put connectors on new pumps replace old pumps clean up fuel spill from the boot.
5. Turn ignition onto accessories can hear a tick tick as the new pump primes the fuel lines flick the switch check the right hand pump yep beautiful ticking stand on the outside of the drivers door check that no fuel splashing about in engine bay from the new pumps doing a better job than the old pumps ever did all clear crank the engine while standing on the outside blue flash and then a WHOOOOOOOOOMP that is not a good sound.
6. Fire extinguisher in the car best call for the replacement LEASA!!! GET THE OTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER or words to that effect - fire extinguisher emptied flames still present hose duly arrives to allow the mopping up operation thick black smoke to about a foot off the deck me lying on the floor - fire out forensic examination begins.
Investigation
If you go back to point 1 you will see that I removed a spark plug lead might have noticed that I didnt put it back on.
That, coupled with petrol fumes in the engine bay created the initial WHOOOOOOOOOMP this in turn ignited up to 45years worth of a vehicles bodily fluid build-up in an engine bay (no matter how many times you pressure wash a jag you will never get it all).
This build-up and 45 year old electrical wiring (nice and crispy and ignitable) was then the secondary burn. But that was not all .
Imagine if you will the Jag was in the house garage temporarily and not the usual shed down the back (simply for ease of access for rego test run and check that was meant to be done in November) and rather than bring up the metal drip trays from the shed you use a handy cardboard box suitably flattened. WELL there is a tertiary burn as well
From the WHOOOOOOOOOMP to me lying on the floor seems a long time maybe it was 90 seconds any longer I think the house might have been the next long story.
Were there any injuries? A lack of leg hairs and a sunburn sensation below my calves was pretty much it (I was wearing my safety thongs and shorts) oh and does pride count?
#2
Damn Man that sucks! This can be fixed, but now the decision. How much in "Love" with it were you??? Cause I have a 89 XJS, that had a similar problem, I checked into repairing and realized very quickly, that the price of even used parts was staggering, for a guy that works for a living, as I do. So I decided to negate repairing the V12, and all it's wiring, and do a swap to a 460 Ford I'll have less in my whole build then the parts to repair it would have cost. I'm sure in Oz there aren't very many wrecking yards with Jags in them? There are several companies in the "US" that specialize in Jags but no wrecking yards. If you Love her you'll fix her!
Jack
Jack
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philg64 (01-08-2018)
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philg64 (01-08-2018)
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philg64 (01-08-2018)
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philg64 (01-08-2018)
#6
Hi Clarke
Yes, I immediately thought of "Fireball" and you when I had calmed down after the excitement.
I hope a good clean will show me the "big picture" - at present with everything covered in soot and extinguisher powder as well as a smattering of blistered paint It does feel daunting.
Back to nicknames for cars ...my wife brought a little smile to my face as she longer refers to her as "the Oil Beast" but rather "Ole Smokey".
It the grand scheme of things - it could have been much worse .
Yes, I immediately thought of "Fireball" and you when I had calmed down after the excitement.
I hope a good clean will show me the "big picture" - at present with everything covered in soot and extinguisher powder as well as a smattering of blistered paint It does feel daunting.
Back to nicknames for cars ...my wife brought a little smile to my face as she longer refers to her as "the Oil Beast" but rather "Ole Smokey".
It the grand scheme of things - it could have been much worse .
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o1xjr (01-09-2018)
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#13
Hi Jim
Yes I think so...had Mike Roddy go over it yesterday and as with any old car a few little things needed doing - an exhaust weld, a nut or bolt loos on the radiator mount at the bottom, a little tear in the drivers seat, a couple of small rust spots (non-penetrating) near the boot seal, noisy air conditioning compressor.
Hopefully it will be on a carrier in the next day or so and delivered by this time next week.
Will I do anything to it? Well I have this rear-end I was doing up and I have another 1-2-3 distributor in my shed and there are the new front shocks and springs in there as well (a glutton for punishment).
regards
Phil
Yes I think so...had Mike Roddy go over it yesterday and as with any old car a few little things needed doing - an exhaust weld, a nut or bolt loos on the radiator mount at the bottom, a little tear in the drivers seat, a couple of small rust spots (non-penetrating) near the boot seal, noisy air conditioning compressor.
Hopefully it will be on a carrier in the next day or so and delivered by this time next week.
Will I do anything to it? Well I have this rear-end I was doing up and I have another 1-2-3 distributor in my shed and there are the new front shocks and springs in there as well (a glutton for punishment).
regards
Phil
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Daf11e (06-27-2018)
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Four years ago I wanted to paint mine BRG until a saw a regency red one in the flesh.
But now the silver has grown on me, so when I get around to doing the panel work I will be using Mercedes Benz Astral Silver(1973). Which was the closest match to my car when I had the paint freshened up about 3 years ago.
But now the silver has grown on me, so when I get around to doing the panel work I will be using Mercedes Benz Astral Silver(1973). Which was the closest match to my car when I had the paint freshened up about 3 years ago.
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