I really don't understand what went wrong. If the seals were bad wouldn't i
of lost brake fluid? When we got the car the brakes were great reagular
feeling power brakes where you barely have to touch the pedal to get the
car to slam to a halt. After driving for about 4 hours the pedal started to
feel less stiff and it took more effort and pedal travel to stop the car. Then
all of a sudden the pedal goes all the way to the floor with no brake action...
could this of been the heating up of the fluid. When the pedal first started
to get soft I pulled over and check the resevoir and there was no loss of
fluid and no fluid leaking from anywhere that I could see so I shrugged it
off and kept driving....
Its hard to think to do the correct thing in a car that you are totally
unfamilar with. I tried putting the car into 1st but because of a linkage issue
it will only go into 2nd and that was not slowing the car enough. Then I
reached
for the parking brake but I went for where the brake is in a roadster and the
jags parking brake is under the dash like in an american car and well I am sure
I could of reacted better....
The conversion was done about ten years ago by a company called
rebello performance I believe. THe conversion appears to of been done well with
solid moter mounts and no bashed in oil pan.
I think I am going to need a new transmission...after putting it in 2nd
and having it not slow the car I paniked and put it in park...made a horrible
grinding noise but it sure slowed the car down some....
Daniel
> Dan,
>
> Glad you and Irene are OK!!!
>
> One issue with engine conversions is how close the
> exhaust manifold & pipes are to any brake lines.
> It is not uncommon to build up a lot of heat near
> brake components. Problem becomes apparent after
> a very long drive. ;-(
>
> So if everything "seems normal" today, I'd still
> flush the brake fluid with Castrol GT/LMA (fine for
> Jags) to remove any moisture. Then start looking
> for any places that brake lines run within 4" of
> the exhaust components. You can buy heat shield
> material for brake lines at the speed shops.
>
> I seem to recall some of the brake line issues
> being addressed in a conversion book titled
> "Jags that run" JTR is still around, and at:
> http://www.jagsthatrun.com/ Been ages since
> I flipped through one of their excellent manuals.
>
> Seems odd that no one never noticed a problem
> before. Still with a marginal brake system (old
> brake fluid) and the long drive heating up the
> brake fluid to the point of no response...
>
> When was the conversion done?
>
> When I have lost brakes* in the roadster,
> I have left the car in gear and TURNED OFF
> the engine to help stop it.
>
> I have been practicing my "engine off,
> leave clutch in" for the Land Cruiser. Takes
> practice, but on a steep descent it is easy
> to stall out. No engine: No power steering, nor
> power brakes. My first reaction was to slam on the
> brakes and push in the clutch. Hmm, no power
> brakes... and I started SLIDING down the loose
> dirt hill. Had to work to keep the front
> pointing straight (very heavy steering without
> the power). Too close for comfort! Since then
> I have learned to keep my foot OFF the clutch,
> and how to restart the engine while in gear
> (hard on the starter, better than rolling).
>
> Tom Walter
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