Sunday, December 18, 2011

Day tripping AKA Jagging

Weather has been beautiful so I have been out exploring almost every day this last week.
Abandoned old cottage between Mt. Dora and Jem Lake.

Abandoned old cottage between Mt. Dora and Jem Lake.

Abandoned old cottage between Mt. Dora and Jem Lake.

Orange grove west side of Lake Apopka

Orange grove west side of Lake Apopka

Orange grove west side of Lake Apopka

Orange grove west side of Lake Apopka

Orange grove west side of Lake Apopka
Put on about 320 miles this week close to 25MPG.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Sunday Dec 11 country ride.

My daughter, Evelyn, and I went for a nice little country ride this afternoon and ended up for lunch in Mount Dora at Jeramiah's. After lunch we went looking for the old steam engine and found it in Tavares, but no good photo angles or places to park. So we continued on and found this in a vacant lot.

The world famous pallet fort in Tavares, Florida

Kid built tough.

Some future architects.

Continuing on along Lake Dora, we stopped at the old hotel for a photo.


In front of the old lake side hotel in Mt. Dora.

At the park and boat ramp in Mt. Dora.

Some of the majestic beauty that can be found in Florida in December. 

I let Evelyn drive home from here.


Sunday, December 4, 2011

Sunday drive

Today, I took my daughter, Evelyn, for a country ride via back roads to Mount Dora for lunch at Jeramiah's. Nice warm day for riding in the XK120 open two seater.


Lake Dora mural...






Friday, November 18, 2011

More Roar 'n Soar

Waiting for start flag

Not a knocked over cone, but the outer limit of the course

Clearing the far end gate

Winding out a bit.
Took the wirewheels in to be re-balanced. They were over 6 years old and starting to show 'green' deterioration. I ended up buying a set of Michelin 205-60x15 tires. Smaller than the old Dunlop 215-70x15 tires they replaced.

Gearbox:-  Jaguar/Cosworth T9 transmission

Tire:-  BFGoodrich 205/40ZR17
    1866.90 mm - 73.5 in circumference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Gear gives 22.383 MPH/1000 RPM and a top speed of 139.893 MPH at 6250 RPM

Engine speeds in top gear:-
30 MPH = 1340 RPM   40 MPH = 1787 RPM   50 MPH = 2234 RPM  
60 MPH = 2681 RPM   70 MPH = 3127 RPM   80 MPH = 3574 RPM
90 MPH = 4021 RPM  100 MPH = 4468 RPM

Top Speed in 1 gear = 34.349 MPH
    And changes into 2 gear at 3367 RPM dropping 2883 RPM
Top Speed in 2 gear = 63.763 MPH
    And changes into 3 gear at 4351 RPM dropping 1899 RPM
Top Speed in 3 gear = 91.597 MPH
    And changes into 4 gear at 4960 RPM dropping 1290 RPM
Top Speed in 4 gear = 115.412 MPH
    And changes into 5 gear at 5156 RPM dropping 1094 RPM
Top Speed in 5 gear = 139.893 MPH


Tire:-  Michelin all patterns 205/60 x 15
    1920.14 mm 75.6 in circumference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Gear gives 23.021 MPH/1000 RPM and a top speed of 143.883 MPH at 6250 RPM

Engine speeds in top gear:-
30 MPH = 1303 RPM   40 MPH = 1738 RPM   50 MPH = 2172 RPM
60 MPH = 2606 RPM   70 MPH = 3041 RPM   80 MPH = 3475 RPM
90 MPH = 3909 RPM  100 MPH = 4344 RPM

Top Speed in 1 gear = 35.328 MPH
    And changes into 2 gear at 3367 RPM dropping 2883 RPM
Top Speed in 2 gear = 65.582 MPH
    And changes into 3 gear at 4351 RPM dropping 1899 RPM
Top Speed in 3 gear = 94.209 MPH
    And changes into 4 gear at 4960 RPM dropping 1290 RPM
Top Speed in 4 gear = 118.703 MPH
    And changes into 5 gear at 5156 RPM dropping 1094 RPM
Top Speed in 5 gear = 143.883 MPH

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Fantasy of fright... oops, Flight!

Two day event at Fantasy of Flight with the Jaguar Club of Florida. Great time, and ran my car in the JCNA slalom today, Sunday. I could not make the Saturday events.

Found some problems when hard cornering that just cruising around will not bring out and need further investigation. Nothing serious, I hope.

Tom Curren took my XK120 around the course while I got a video. There was a P51 in the background warming up, so all the noise is not from my car.


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Some Jaguar pron

Changed over to the wire wheels and took a few pictures today.









Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Evening drive.

Old train station in Apopka.

Old train station in Apopka. 

Old train station in Apopka. 

Lake Apopka, Magnolia park.

 This is my trip around the block.

Just before sunset.

Very nice evening for a drive. Cooling down.




Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Jaguar benchmark

Ran a benchmark. The first time was faster according to the speedometer, but the ground speed was less. So this run, I backed off a bit on the rightmost pedal so the air speed would match the ground speed.



Took a couple of pictures at Magnolia park. Note the camera tripod loosely mounted between the seats. I need a volunteer to work the camera.





Monday, October 3, 2011

Clutch and Brake pedal modification

Sunday the weather was perfect for a joy ride. Went a little over 200 miles of back country roads in central Florida.
Today, filled up with gas to check the mileage. 22.7 MPG! Short trips around town and using a fairly heavy foot, I got 16.8 MPG.

Also visited Tom Curren at  his shop, Coventry Classics. Forced him into doing a test drive to let me know what needed to be done that I was missing. He noted that the clutch and brake pedals were difficult to operate quickly due to being out to far and suggested a fix.

Clutch pedal and rod. I filed a new notch 2 inches up the rod.

Clutch pedal installed 2 inches closer to the fire wall. Brake pedal to be done.

 Both pedals modified and installed. Clutch still disengages fully but with a lot shorter throw. The brake pedal goes nowhere near the floor. I am happy with the modification...
THANKS TOM!






Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Test drive

Took the Jaguar out for a little test drive today.

2nd gear start. 0 to 60 MPH then hit the brakes to check them for stopping power. To the right of the rear view mirror is the SunPass/e-pass sticker, then to the right of that is the GPS. The red blinking lights is the digital volt meter. From 2500 RPM to 6250 RPM it really pushes you back in the seat.


Monday, September 26, 2011

On the road again!

Got it all back together Sunday. Put the road wheels and tires on and calibrated the speedometer. Then it started to rain, back into the garage.

Today (Monday) I went for a test drive over to Advanced driveline to pay my bill.

Then off to Costco to fill it up. All kinds of looks, thumbs up and questions on the way. Checked the mileage and it turned out to be 15.441 MPG. Guess I have to back off on the throttle a bit or use bigger tires.



I put Gizmo's car seat in and put him in it. Then when I started it up, he did not want to have anything to do with it. Just a bit too loud for him.

On the way back home from Costco, I took the tollway and went through the toll booth instead of the high speed through lane to check out the e-pass sticker. It worked.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Jaguar rear axle done!

Went to Advanced Driveline today to check on the progress of the rear axle. It was not on the bench it had been on for the past few months, but outside on the forklift.

On the forklift ready to be taken home.

Everything back together.

Everything where it should be.

Got it home and unloaded from the van.

So happy to have it back.

Now just a simple matter of putting it back in the Jaguar.

Nice and warm today so I did as much as my sweat glands would allow then took a siesta to recharge myself. When I got up, it had rained, which cooled things off a lot so I got some more done. I should have it all tightened down tomorrow. Then just a matter of bleeding the brakes, and I am back on the road again.