Arm rest.

This weeks project of adding a center console, arm rest, ammo can.

 Used most of the rest of the sheet of aluminum that I used for the drive shaft tunnel, hinges and lock from Ace Hardware and a ton of pop rivets.

A chunk of foam rubber covered with duct tape to make it comfortable. When I get the cockpit upholstered it will look a lot better.

Took it for a test ride, and found it quite comfortable.
Added another key to the key ring. Ignition, gas cover, boot lid, lock box behind drivers seat and now console. All different!
Have not tried to see how much ammo it will hold, but probably over 1000 rounds of 9mm and a couple of guns.

JCOF Concours d'Elegance

Participated in the Jaguar Club of Florida 25th annual JCOF Concours d'Elegance. 

Storms predicted but did not occur, giving a nice overcast with no shadows.

Drive shaft tunnel

This weeks project replacing the drive shaft tunnel. The old tunnel was not quite wide enough and the front U-joint would rub on hard right hand turns. Obtained some sheet aluminum at home depot and started the process of cutting, bending, tin knocking, drilling and forming.

Screwed down to floorboards and pop-riveted to rear bulkhead and transmission cover.

It really did not need painting as it is going to be covered with carpet.

Also re-routing the radio to headrest speaker wires along the chassis instead of along the floor and the drive shaft tunnel.

On to designing a center console and mocking up in cardboard. I should have enough aluminum sheet left over.

No more hop

Finished the left side, installed and did a test drive. No more hopping on hard acceleration. The engineering change works.

These are only 15 inches long and weigh about 8 pounds each.

Did a follow up call about making a tonneau cover. The supplier of the material has gone out of business and need to find an alternate source or material. The ideal is called fabric is called "Cambria" and searches find all kinds of things like tote bags, shower curtains, artwork, stonework and several places on the map.

Next project to replace the drive shaft tunnel and fabricate a center console.

Torque levers

The Ford-Cosworth engine has too much torque for the weight of the Jaguar. The project this week was to design and fabricate a couple of torque levers to mount under the front of the springs to limit wheel hop. I found some nice U-channel steel at Skycraft surplus for my undertaking.

 One finished (above) and all the pieces ready to weld and assemble (below).

Mounted on right hand side. The bumper is a hard rubber stopper I found at Lowes. I needed a drill to make a hole for the carriage bolt, so Gizmo and I went to our favorite Harbor Freight outlet about 1/2 mile away. I go the drill and fell for a 4 drawer rolling tool cart that was on special for $139.999598 regularly $229.99. I spent most of the afternoon putting it together and filling it up with my tools from various shelves, floor, tables and pretty much filled it up.

I took the Jaguar out for a test ride and still have a little bit of hop. It needs the left side completed and installed.

Easter Sunday Jag

Beautiful Easter Sunday. I took my daughter, Evelyn, for a Jag ride around Lake Apopka. We ended up, like most Jaguar joy rides, in Mount Dora at Jeramiah's for lunch. We joined  one of Evelyn's teacher friends from grade school, that just happened to be there, for lunch.

As we were leaving, some bikers who were also enjoying the wonderful afternoon, were also getting ready to leave.

One of them yelled, "What year is it?"
I replied, "2012".
Then he asked, "Is that a Porche?"
So I backed up a bit so he could see the front of the car, and said, "No, it is a 1952 Jaguar XK120!"

Front plate and slalom helmet.

During the previous week, Gizmo and I went to a bunch of auto stores looking for a front licence mounting bracket. They were all out except the last place we visited. They had one, but it was plastic, five dollars and would not serve my purpose.
We ended up at Lowes and found some heavy duty straps for rafters that were just the thing to weld together and drill some holes for mounting the Jaguar plate. People will no longer have to stalk me to find out what marque the car is. But, I am afraid they still will to get a close up look and more details.

Car show swag

Although not getting any of the peoples choice awards, I did manage to capture the "Longevity" award. The car owned by the same family or owner for the longest time.

Picture by Tom Curren

Nobody present could beat 1964. The next closest was 1970. I think some of the Jaguar Club of Florida members could have beat me, but they were not there or with their oldest car, so they lost out on this much coveted award.

Something else to add to the vanity wall is the windshield placard.

A couple of vendors were there, and of course I had to pick up some Jaguar stuff.

Jaguar patch I don't know where it will go, yet.

Nice cap for driving.

Front plate I need to mount on the car so people can identify it without asking.

I had done an early registration for the event, so I also got a T-shirt.

The logo/theme artwork is by Gary Thomas, a JCOF member and renowned artist.
2011 was the year of the Jaguar E-type, and 2012 is the year of the MG (Morris Garages).