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Besides the rain in the intake problem, I would be willing to bet that the previous owner did those modifications because he was having overheating issues. Instead of fixing the overheating properly, he thought it was faster/cheaper to cut some holes in the hood.
I would recommend checking out the sticky at the top of forum on "V12 cooling system maintaining" asap. Do it once, do it right, and don't bother doing anything else to car until you know the cooling system is sorted. The V12 is bulletproof as long as the cooling system is properly maintained.
Looking at the pictures of the engine bay, I can pretty much guarantee he DID NOT properly maintain the cooling system.
Besides the rain in the intake problem, I would be willing to bet that the previous owner did those modifications because he was having overheating issues. Instead of fixing the overheating properly, he thought it was faster/cheaper to cut some holes in the hood.
Looking at the pictures of the engine bay, I can pretty much guarantee he DID NOT properly maintain the cooling system.
Thats the conclusion i came to. I noticed the engine temp didn't get much higher that COLD driving it home at 95F outside.
I Suspect there in no thermostat in the system anymore.
I have run into numerous "Bubba" fixes over the years, this car has a collection of those.
I told the guy i bought it from, after test drive: "This car is a real POS, even though it looks pretty good and seems real solid." And he said, yeah, "I paid too much for it, i just want to get rid of it." So, i got a deal (?) and a project car with several minor fixes required to make it right
You can sort of see the glove box door removal in the top pic, but that wasn't the focus of the picture.
Yellow engine fan is sure to be cracked; if so it is a hand grenade with the pin missing. You can’t run the V12 without thermostats because a percentage of coolant flow will be bypassing the radiator.
If it were mine, I would pull the radiator; there is bound to be leaves and debris packed between it and the oil cooler and condenser. Flow check it and blow out the fins. Buy a complete set of hoses, 2 correct thermostats, a black fan (EBC4553?) and fan drive. Also it is easier to change the 4 drive belts with the radiator out. Probably should test the condenser fan while you have it out, it’s probably toast also. You will probably spend $500 , but at least you will have a starting point for the cooling system.
Also download and read Kirby Palm’s book “Experience in a Book” to learn all about these wonderful cars.
Last edited by RGK20m3; 09-05-2023 at 07:59 AM.
Reason: More info
+1 for that dangerous fan. It's already chipped and some of the edges look like they've touched the inner edge of the shroud (often a sign of worn gearbox mount) Change it quick before ablade lets go and creates carnage under the bonnet and also punches another hole through that horrible bonnet.
I'd junk all the non-original stuff, steering wheel, awful badge on the front bumper, air intake and cooling bodges under the bonnet, the horrible vented bonnet, side rubbing strip, non-standard fog lights etc etc. A nice car just waiting to be found under all that.
I fully agree to 100% of that, I had to wear a bag on my head riving it home so no one would recognize me. You forget the exhaust tips.
Doug
Originally Posted by ptjs1
I'd junk all the non-original stuff, steering wheel, awful badge on the front bumper, air intake and cooling bodges under the bonnet, the horrible vented bonnet, side rubbing strip, non-standard fog lights etc etc. A nice car just waiting to be found under all that.
The one thing i would be most concerned about is engine aluminum corrosion from the antifreeze never being changed (don't know if it was or not, or how often).
Attached is pic of completely plugged aluminum cooling passage on a 308. It was fixed, but at the expense of welding in new head material, machining flat and of course the labor to get the motor in and out of the car. See that whitish orangish round plug between the center two intake ports? That should be an open hole.
After all the work to remove the motor, I put a crankshaft from a 360 Modena in the car and larger piston bore liners and pistons ( and a complete, motor rebuild), so my 308 is now a 368.
It runs cool again, also. In addition to having a lot more power
I am going to assume the Jag V12 can be subject to the same engine corrosion.
Doug
Originally Posted by Mac Allan
Besides the rain in the intake problem, I would be willing to bet that the previous owner did those modifications because he was having overheating issues. Instead of fixing the overheating properly, he thought it was faster/cheaper to cut some holes in the hood.
I would recommend checking out the sticky at the top of forum on "V12 cooling system maintaining" asap. Do it once, do it right, and don't bother doing anything else to car until you know the cooling system is sorted. The V12 is bulletproof as long as the cooling system is properly maintained.
09-04-2023 | 06:28 PM
