Doctor Blade
Well-Known Member
1965 Pontiac Catalina - http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1372941200.html
I'd be on this quick, door ding and all. Sadly, I'm broke.
1965 Pontiac Catalina - http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1372941200.html
Sweet! A numbers matching 307/powerglide car! For only 5 grand!1968 Chevrolet Chevelle - http://worcester.craigslist.org/cto/1372228503.html
1989 V12 XJS Jaguar 5.3L Running and Drives - $2500
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/1348595131.html
I have always liked this body style.
There are so many first cars I'd love to onw amongst the ones above, but you can't find these cars at those prices here. 2500 Euros for a 1989 190E 1.8 is what we get here. At least are 190Es reliable?
The transmission in the 89 is going to be a GM TH400 3 speed automatic with a 2.88 rear differential.
Look out for rust, especially the body hardpoint where the rear radius arms attach to the body. Anything more than surface rust there and you might as well junk the car.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the XJS, including buyers' guide, etc: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/XJS_help.pdf And no, I didn't write it.
Many XJ-S owners may consider this book reference material, and don?t bother to look at it until they need to work on
something or spend some money on the car. Unfortunately, sometimes the money spent could have been saved if they
had read about how to avoid problems in the first place! And, yes, sometimes the money saved can amount to
thousands of dollars; both the Lucas and later Marelli ignition systems have faults that can cost you an engine or even
the entire car in very short order.
Hey, it?s up to you; it?s your car, your time, and your money. However, I highly recommend you read this book!
Jaguars are not drive-it-and-forget-it cars; they demand a certain amount of awareness on the part of the owner, and
reading this book cover-to-cover will go a long way toward making the owner aware of his car -- and possibly save him
loads of $$$ in the future, as well as making Jaguar ownership a more pleasant experience.
If you cannot be convinced, at a minimum please read about the following topics:
? Ordering manuals and catalogs starting on page 16.
? Hot shutdowns on page 34.
? Centrifugal advance mechanism seizure (pre-Marelli ignition) beginning on page 137.
? Reread the discussion of centrifugal advance mechanism seizure beginning on page 137.
? If you still haven?t overhauled the distributor by this point, reread the discussion of centrifugal advance mechanism
seizure again. In fact, keep rereading it until that distributor has been overhauled. Am I getting through yet?
? Relocation of ignition amp (pre-1983 models), page 148.
? Catalytic convertor meltdowns on page 161 (Marelli ignition cars; if you have a car with Marelli ignition, do not fail
to read this section!).
? Shortcomings of the cooling system, recommendations, and ?How hot is too hot??, starting on page 173.
? Advice on using cooling system sealers on page 189.
? Fan cracking on page 214.
? Engine fires on page 232.
? Fuel sump pickup problems on page 251.
? Fuel pump power supply concerns on page 255.
? Soft shifts on page 337.
? Replacing the steering rack bushings on page 375.
? ABS brake testing (on cars so equipped) on page 454.
? Radius arm mount rust problems on page 464.
? Brake fluid level switch problems on page 596.
? Saving the stereo from water damage on page 665.
Welllll, let us take a look at what I was moooaning about.
This is all from page "v" of the reference material you posted above.
Umm, he is pleading with readers to read this stuff.
Uh, I get it dude there is a somewhat major problem with the ignition advance mechanisim.
Engine fires and catalytic covertors melting down! What a show! And as a bonus, the fan may come apart.
You mentioned this, and I live in a state where salt is used frequently, and more so where it is located. So this is good advice and a major concern.
How in the hell do you get water on the stereo? Is it in the engine bay?
And again, all of these problems the author who likes these cars says you need(he nearly begs you to) to read about immediately, if not sooner. And you even have a fire suppression system built into your cars which are newer, more reliable and lees problematic. So is it moaning? I just want to avoid this:
So please, excuse my moaning.
'I did say if you wanted a daily driver, get a post-95 car.
SpectresSignature said:1987 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Vanden Plas (modified)