Started work on the Cabriolet today in preparation for a trip to Classic Le Mans later in the year.

First job was to sort the ride height out at the front, what a faff just to get 2 3mm spacers in under the springs, still several hours later and it is all done. Next job was to pull the exhaust manifolds due to a blow (noticeable when cold not when hot), unfortunately the top rear stud appeared to be missing...Oh no there it is snapped off in the head a couple of mm below the face. Why did it have to be that one as it is so hard to get to...so in the end I left it for now while I ponder my options.

While under the car I was able to reattach the AJ6 Plus Torque Kit air feed to the anti roll bar as it had come detached and was just flapping about (a bit like me really)

Tomorrow afternoon another session to change the oil, adjust front wheel bearings, fit rear brace (the one that goes under the diff) and at last fit a new boot lock following my adventures in the summer when the lock jammed locked with stuff needed for a trip to Spa in the boot. Eventually sorted by drilling out the lock and we managed to catch a later ferry but it has been on my to do list for too long 

Cheers
Mark

Hi Roy,

Straightforward job, no special tools needed  Just dont tighten them up too much or will end in disaster.

Many years ago I adjusted some wheel bearings on an Alfa Sprint, only lasted another 50 odd miles before the bearings collapsed, it was my first time and I nipped them up too much

Cheers
Mark

Hi Roly,

No will not attempt that, if the stud which is quite thick has broken I am not sure anything other than drilling it out will work, however clearance is so tight with engine in car that I am favouring leaving it well alone. I might try to pull the manifold again today and apply a thin smear of something on the gasket in the area where there is no stud then put it all back and forget about it.

If all goes to plan at some point I will have a spare engine so could swap head or even engine!

I really wish I had not bothered attempting to do anything with it at all now 

From underneath I found a bit of rust on the passenger footwell by the transmission tunnel, need to apply something like Jenolite and waxoyl to stop it getting worse over the summer prior to a proper repair over the winter months, so off to local motor factor before I go to the garage today.

Still onwards and upwards.

Cheers
Mark

Hi Roly,

Having read your saga I sure am glad we have an electric oven or I might be tempted 

Cheers
Mark

Hi Mark, Regards broken stud, do you think its accesable to TIG, would there be enough room for torch,filler rod and head shield to be in a position to see what you would be welding ? Perhaps you could post a photo or drop me a PM and I'll pop out and have a look, if I remember right you are only a few miles up the road, if I can get at it, I can weld it.

All the best Brian

Wo says tomorrow never comes 

Close up of missing stud.

Cheers
Mark

where was brian when I needed him??

Well Mark, as one carrot cruncher to another.... looking at the photo, I don't think a welder will help, even with the manifold off! if the stud is broken a few mil into the head there is no way to get a decent weld between a washer or nut and the stud, the last one I did I bought a 90 degree angle chuck for my drill and managed to drill down the centre of broken stud and tap a new thread, this was not as easy as it sounds and took several shortened drill bits, loads of swearing and not a small amount of skin, but it did work in the end.Have acess to 4 poster and workshop if you need help .
  All the best Brian

Brian wrote on 13.04.2012 at 18:23:45:

Well at least you will be able to get a good kip mark.!

So today, following the work on the front suspension I decided to get the alignment checked......no problem with adjusting it  BUT a cursory glance at the nearside radius arm mount was a bit worrying.
Some movement in what looks like pretty dodgy previous repair  the metal seems sound around some dodgy welding so hopefully not to big a repair job just a tidy up and reweld.

Two steps forward one step back.

Cheers
Mark

Thanks Brian, that is just like the ones I have seen, I will add it to my ever growing list of jobs 

Cheers
Mark

I am happy to report that the car has just got me back from Silverstone having covered some 750 miles since Saturday (Donington Saturday, Brands Hatch Sunday and Silverstone today) and not missed a beat 

Shame about the weather although did get the hood down all the way to Donington via Northampton....but it was very cold and not a great drive as it was Motorway all the way from Northampton.

Car attracted some attention in the car park at McDonalds this afternoon with somebody getting out of his car to get a closer look....in the rain!!

Cheers
Mark

Hi,

The latest mod is to fabricate and fit a cross brace to  the front of the car, I looked at the Jag one for a convertible and felt it looked very flimsy so had one made based on the type used on the Aston DB7. With his done my "Cabriolet" now has bracing in the boot, under the diff (Jaguar standard braces, the diff one being the ladder type) and now under the engine. I sure hope I can feel the difference when I drive the car 

I have also put the Cabriolet back onto 15" lattice alloys running 225/60 15 tyres as the 16" ones were always meant for my coupe.

Cheers
Mark

Hi Brian,

I hope so it feels so much more solid than the tubular version you can get from Jaguar.

The photo was of the trial fit, the braces (front and back) are now in the workshop looking all shiny in black ready to be bolted up tomorrow once the car comes out of the spray booth (just some minor cosmetics to make it look nicer). Needless to say I did none of this and entrusted it all to my local man.

Cheers
Mark

Rear brace - the bolts have been shortened since the photo was taken.

Cheers
Mark

Looks Good!!
Brian

Today's work was to fit a later style set of seats (Recaro style as fitted from 1987 on) to the car. Took all day and was a bit of a faff but seats are in and just a few bits of tidying up left to do.

Cheers
Mark