Having been in the "trade", ethically, I do not recommend where I think you
should go, Charlie.
I have seen the work from all those mentioned and think all are capable;
Otherwise they would not be in business. And everyone likes the familiarity of
a known shop.
For your particular problem: overheating, any trained mechanic should be able
to repair this regardless whether he or she works on domestic, asian european
or whatever.
A couple of alternative suggestions are: John Sparks at PJ's Automotive. They
specialize in Volvo and Suburu, but John was a founding partner of British
European and has helped some of my former customers after I retired.
In addition, there is a German car mechanic across the street from John who
may be interested in a Jag challenge. An excellent mechanic and in the County
for decades.
There is also a Brit Car guy in Corte Madera, on Paradise Drive, who I got to
know slightly. I visited his shop and was impressed - but expect to pay more.
Just a few more two cents worth while I am on light duty due to hand surgery!
Cheers, Robin
----- Original Message -----
From: Charlie Saul<mailto:csaul@noleak.com>
To: North Bay British Car Club<mailto:nobbc@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Xk 120 over heating
Deano:
OMG!
Charlie
-----Original Message-----
From: nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net>
[mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Paige, Dean
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:44 PM
To: North Bay British Car Club
Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Xk 120 over heating
Comparable to any other charges for auto repairs in reputable shops in
this area. Highly qualified mechanics. Owner Mark Singleton a Brit
trained in the UK. Knows Brit cars inside out. A large portion of his
business is in restorations, and I have to say BEM restorations are
incredible. I've known Mark since 1988, while I gasped over price
sometimes I was always pleased by the quality of work. He kept an 85
XJ-6 of mine running and beautiful for 225 K miles until it's untimely
demise in a crash that ended with me and the car under a center divide
guardrail caused by a Ford 250 that rear ended me & hit the gas instead
of brakes and literally drove me under the rail. Only alive because I
saw it coming and laid down over the consule. Roof came down to the dash
board. Seat head rest was sticking up through the smashed left rear
window. I digress.
BEM has been taking care of my 98 VDP since and also built an engine for
my TR-6 after the original went irreparably at 320 K.
You get what you pay for.
Deano
-----Original Message-----
From: nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net>
[mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of wendell bain
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:58 AM
To: North Bay British Car Club
Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Xk 120 over heating
Hi Charlie,
I had the shop in Rohnert Park, British European, make up a brake line
for me when I didn't have the flaring tool for the Morgan. He did a good
job and it wasn't very expensive. It was also more than ten years ago.
I understand from others that the shop is quite expensive to have them
do repairs. Other than that I have no experience with them. There are
frequently very interesting cars in their parking lot.
Good luck,
Wendell
On Jul 28, 2008, at 8:55 PM, Charlie Saul wrote:
> Robin,
>
> Thanks so much for your very constructive suggestions.
>
> If being a mechanic was a prerequisite for buying and appreciating a
> classic, I would be banned. I know just enough to be dangerous.
> Therefore, I shall take up all of your suggestions with a mechanic; in
> fact I'll print out this stream and we'll go over each any every point
> to be sure.
>
> I used to bring my car to a chap in the San Rafael canal area. I know
> there is a rather expensive shop in Greenbrae. Does anyone know about
> the shop along the highway in Rohnert Park?
>
> Thanks a bunch,
>
> Charlie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net>
[mailto:nobbc-
> bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:bounces@autox.team.net>] On Behalf Of Robin
Jackson
> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 5:03 PM
> To: North Bay British Car Club
> Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Xk 120 over heating
>
> Hello Charlie - My gosh! before you add fans, an oil cooler, or have
> an overhaul, consider this: Your Jag was not designed to overheat;
> altho it was for a cooler climate and shorter runs than we do in CA.
> All mechanics in the car being good, it should not overheat and
> coolers and fans will not fix the real problem, whatever it is.
>
> I don't know what you mean by overheat. Does it reach 220, 240?
> Does it
> "boil over", hence the overflow tank? Does it blow steam like the
> Edinbrough Express?
>
> First things to check are: coolent level, slipping fanbelt, defective
> water pump, sticking/closed thermosat, rust and scale clogging the
> system, airflow through rad, external leaks.
>
> If these elements are right, then start thinking about hot gases
> getting into the coolent through an internal leak.
>
> Thermstat check is easy: let it idle and watch the temp gauge. it
> should rise to as much as 200 and then drop back to 160 or 180
> (whatever your thermstat is). You can put your hand on the top hose
> and feel the warm coolent flow when it opens.
>
> When was the last time you flushed and changed coolent in the rad?
> (Always run 50/50 coolent and distilled h2o). Just a few tubes
> obstructed can cause a loss of cooling.
>
> Do a pressure check on the system. Pump it up to 15psi and see if it
> leaks down.(Napa has this tool.) Yes? look for external leaks - hoses.
> No? Maybe an internal leak, but let a pro test for it,(you could scald
> yourself.)
>
> Any water bubbles on the dip stick?
>
> Have you had to fill the system lately? When filling a cooling system,
> it is usually necessary to "burp" the system as air pockets can cause
> problems.
> Again, this can burn you if you don't know what you are doing.
>
> Too much retard and lean carbs, as someone else said, can contribute
> to heating, but I think you would have been concerned about poor
> running.
> It is always good to frequently check timing, dwell and carb mixture.
> (part of the fun of our old girls is fussing with them.)
>
> I am not an automotive engineer, but these comments come from 55 years
> of working on Brit cars and 15 for a livelyhood.
>
> Although I don't think I have suggested anything whereby you can hurt
> yourself, I just need to remind you that hot cooling systems under
> pressure are very dangerous and can cause you severe injury. Be
> careful.
> I don't know what your experience is.
>
>
> BTW, overflow bottles are a good addition and will help to preserve
> the environment, drip by drip.
>
>
> Robin
>
>
> From: Charlie Saul<mailto:csaul@noleak.com<mailto:csaul@noleak.com>>
> To: North Bay British Car
Club<mailto:nobbc@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc@autox.team.net>>
> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 9:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Xk 120 over heating
>
>
> Thanks so much Dick,
>
> I'll be sure to have the advance checked.
>
> Hope to be cool running soon!
>
> Charlie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
>
nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc
-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net>>
> [mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of Richard Anderon
> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 7:34 AM
> To: North Bay British Car Club
> Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Xk 120 over heating
>
> Hi Charlie, I have a '67 XKE and agree with Dawson on both.
> Hopefully the raised bottle will help. If needed, fan kits with
> shroud
> are available from most Jag parts houses. Mine runs cool and have
> found
> that the tune of the engine helps that. Don't be to lean and check
> the
> advance.
>
> Dick
> On Jul 27, 2008, at 5:28 PM, Charlie Saul wrote:
>
>> Hi Dawson,
>>
>> You got it; the bottle is mounted too low. Great suggestions; will
>> check it out!
>>
>> Thanks a bunch,
>>
>> Charlie
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:
>
nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc
-bounces@autox.team.net<mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net>>
>> [mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net
>> ]
>> On Behalf Of Dawson Church
>> Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 9:47 PM
>> To: North Bay British Car Club
>> Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Xk 120 over heating
>>
>> Are you sure your radiator overflow bottle is ABOVE the level of the
>> radiator. I had a mechanic "helpfully" install one in my Lotus, it
> was
>
>> BELOW, and drained water from the radiator when hot!
>>
>> I solved the overheating problem in my 2 Lotuses by installing
>> electric fans that come on a low temperature. Torqueflow brand,
>> installs in about an hour, sold at Autozone, turned on by a sensor
>> that goes through the radiator fins. You MUST get a sensor that
>> triggers at low temperature, the regular ones trigger too high, the
>> engine is already cooking before they signal the fans to turn on.
>>
>> Dawson
>>
>>
>> On Jul 26, 2008, at 7:06 PM, Charlie Saul wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All:
>>>
>>> Trying to get my xk 120 back on the road:
>>> I installed a radiator overflow bottle and it overflows a lot when
> I
>>> drive for 15 minutes and turn the car off.
>>> One mechanic says car is overheating due to rings, valves, head
>>> gasket
>>
>>> etc.; car engine needs to be overhauled.
>>> Another mechanic says that since I likely will drive the car less
>>> than
>>
>>> 1000 miles a year, I should just have an oil cooler installed.
>>> Will this bring the temp down significantly?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Charlie
>>> _______________________________________________
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