Tonight. A man buys another XJS.

[abowie]

Bloody hell.

I've already got too many cars.

But.

August (yes) 1975 pre production XJS. Delivered at Henly's, UK then exported to Australia.

The 4th XJS off the production line. One of a total of 352 manual XJS ever built.

Completely original.

I've known this car for over 10 years and I always said I'd buy it.

And I have.

[mgcjag]

Nice one.....how about a photo

[abowie]

Nice one.....how about a photo

Done. OMG. I need to buy a warehouse.

[malcolm]

Does it mean you'll have to change your avatar again?

[Gfhug]

Strewth! Judging by the photo that car seems to be stuck half way between the UK and downunder
Well done Andrew, need we say enjoy yourself?!

Geoff

[Series1 Stu]

Nice!

A former colleague of mine bought a black manual XJS in the early eighties. It was amazing but he only kept it for about 3 months because the fuel bills nearly bankrupted him! Took a bath on it too when he chopped it in.

Regards

[politeperson]

You are a complete idiot.

I approve totally, well done. Excellent work!

[abowie]

You are a complete idiot.

Many have said that.

[vee12eman]

Well, I really wanted your last XJS, but, being someone who probably likes standard cars even more, I think I would like this one even more! It would go very nicely with my very early Series 3. Not quite as early in the run as your XJS, at number 97 RHD, but still early. Congratulations Andrew, from someone who is just a bit jealous!

[abowie]

Well, I really wanted your last XJS

That turned out to be a win/win situation.

My friend of nearly 40 years, Glenn now has the race car and I have his Mk2. Straight swap.

This XJS is a pre-production manual car built in August 1975. While not an OBL E type, it's the same level of rarity and I couldn't let it go.

Today I successfully fitted a Bluetooth phone radio into the Mk2, and fitted splined front hubs to replace the horrible bolt on wires it came with.

Unfortunately I don't have a puller capable of removing the rear hubs. So I'm in the embarrassing position of having to actually take the old girl to a real mechanic to change the rear hubs over, and pay them.

[mgcjag]

Hi Andrew...similar problem with my xk150.....hubs wouldnt budge with my puller....and its a known problem....i ended up pulling the hub with the drive shaft out.....then put it in a press with lots of heat around the hub where the bearing race is fitted....it eventually let go....slide hammer on center drive shaft nut to pull it out....and had to drill/slot hole in disc to remove bolts from bearing retainer..Steve

[vee12eman]

Hydraulic puller. I bought one for the E and it’s been great. Still, Jag hubs are not as tough as the old Triumph Herald/Spitfire/GT6 hubs. I regularly used to pick up my heavy bench with the breaker bar/hub puller vice combination. That was using the correct tool, or at least a very good copy. I’ve still got it somewhere, useful for propping doors open!

[mgcjag]

Hi Simon....hubs on the150/mk2 are very different to an E type...the hub fits on a taper shaft with a key way and not a splined shaft.....Steve

[vee12eman]

Hi Steve,
Triumph shafts were also taper and key and were horrible, they usually let go with a loud and often quite scary Bang! One great advantage however, was that the wire wheel hubs (if so fitted), could be removed just like normal wheels and the hub puller fitted directly to them. Those look horrible to remove. The Triumph hub puller was heavy, very solid, but actually quite small.
To be honest I hadn’t registered that Andrew was removing Mk II hubs before I replied. Dangers of late night posting after a bottle of wine and in the warm glow of having successfully refitted suspension to my 1950s Austin Ute! The first time fitted in years, wheels to follow shortly then the engine and gearbox.
Good luck all and stay safe.

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Simon

I've never found the GT6 hubs a problem, at least not the rotoflex version. It's very straight forward when you have one of these to hand:-




It also comes with an adaptor for the swing spring version as well. I'm assuming this is the version you were referring to?

[vee12eman]

Hi Alan,

That’s pretty similar to mine, looks like the one TSSC sold when I lived there (they probably still do). However, the Rotoflex variety was rather easier to split than the Swing Spring type of the later Mk III and Spitfire Mk IV/1500. Early Sptfires and all Herald cars had fixed spring but also had the evil hubs to pull. My puller had Square sides and could be held easily in a vice. Just that it took an eight foot breaker bar to get sufficient torque. (From memory I had a discarded hardened steel seat rail from a Westland Wessex helicopter!). I had several Small Triumphs of all suspension configuration, including a Herald Swing Spring conversion and also used to spend my weekend and leave periods helping in a local Spitfire specialist. Long ago now, those were the days!

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Hi Simon

Yes this is the TSSC version.
Swings and roundabouts with the various suspension setups though.
The rotoflex version is easier to separate but a pig to re-assemble. Effectively a suspension that requires a lot of preload to allow things to line up. Plus none of the dreaded rear wheel tuck under.
Vice versa for the swing spring version. I did once spin off a roundabout in my Spitfire, trouser changing time

[lowact]

Yep, definitely need to update the avatar. Sorry mate, not a fan of the white lady.

Unfortunately I don't have a puller capable of removing the rear hubs. So I'm in the embarrassing position of having to actually take the old girl to a real mechanic to change the rear hubs over, and pay them.

Beware the real mechanic. I've got a JD.7A splined hub puller. Don't know if it would fit on a Mk2 ?

[abowie]

Beware the real mechanic. I've got a JD.7A splined hub puller. Don't know if it would fit on a Mk2 ?

I have a JD7a but it doesn't fit on a disc wheel hub (unless there's an adapter which I don't have.)

But this baby got both hubs off in about 15 seconds, no fuss at all.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/18376857695 ... 2749.l2648

[vee12eman]

Hi,
That’s good news, mine was a similar principle, except a screw type hydraulic jack rather than a pump. It’s this one:



Also available and looks identical but somewhat cheaper:




I bought mine (the Sealey version) years back and I haven’t had to use it often. It was expensive even then, but it’s paid for itself. There’s a much bigger range available today and many are much cheaper, including the one you bought. I also have a selection of smaller screw (non hydraulic) jacks for smaller and lighter jobs. My lovely wife always raises her eyebrows when new tools arrive at the door, but I am aiming for the nirvana of never having to take the car to a real mechanic! (I save that for the modern car as I can’t afford the computer diagnostics equipment required!) I’m pretty close to the goal now.