TireSmoke.org

I am not done yet. Yesterday’s work started well, but before getting to work I was buying more tools. As I contemplated the tasks ahead of me, I realized that tightening the radius arm rear bolt was going to require a tool I did not have, an 11/16 box end wrench. I took it apart with an open-end ...

The car is sitting on its own wheels right now, although the wheels will be coming off for the final steps. Everything went really well this afternoon. I fabricated the last brake line and then stood there wondering what else needed to be done. I greased a couple of fittings, but then decided it was ...

Yesterday and the day before were my two most intense workdays on this car so far. I worked 6 hours yesterday and 8 on Monday. I wasn’t expecting so many challenges in assembling things.

My first struggle was with the lower control arms. The bearings on the pivots want to fall apart. There is an ...

It was just a couple hour session this morning, but it was productive. I assembled the last two springs and struts. The first one of any task is always experimental, but once I figured out the process, it was just a little bit of physical exercise with a ratchet wrench. I had tried using an impact ...

Yesterday and today were relatively light days. Mostly I unpacked boxes of parts that came in. I now have a huge pile of boxes and packing materials to dispose of. I think I am expecting another shipment tomorrow and then just a couple of minor pieces arriving Monday (brake pads) and Tuesday (the ...

I had a day where I just need to laugh at myself a little. It was a very good day. I painted the parts I had primed yesterday and they really do look nice. I also cleaned up the cage and the differential. I decided that the rusty iron of the differential would be easy to cover up with a little paint ...

I've always loved these cars, but man, that looks like a big deterrant to actually wanting to own one..


The IRS was designed for the E type which came to the market in 1961. That IRS never really changed much prior to it being used in my car. It was 30-year-old technology when my car was new ...

https://take4digital.com/jag29.jpg

The disassembly phase is complete. I got one of the four nuts to release, and I cut the other three. The driver’s lower control arm pivot axle was a bear to extract, but I won the battle in the end. I also removed the outer pivot on both control arms which ...

My first attempt with the impact this morning was a surprise success, but then nothing else after that wanted to move so I began the cutting process. I was able to cut two nuts without damaging the studs and then the rotor on the passenger side was free. Well, it was free except that the lower ...

I should buy some new wrenches. I had been looking at the GearWrench style. I love having a minimalist toolbox because everything is easy to find, but I am probably operating a bit too minimalist.

It is now 97 degrees outside so I am hiding from the heat. I got an early start this morning and ...

Today I began disassembly of the IRS. The first problem was finding out that most of the bolts that I needed to undo were 11/16” which is the only socket I don’t have in ½” drive. I also only owned metric impact sockets which made sense when all I owned was a Nissan and a VW, but not when I have a ...

https://take4digital.com/jag28.jpg

The beast is out. I was able to slide a couple of 2X4s into the IRS from the rear that gave me some leverage to control the roll of the assembly. It mostly sat nicely on the jack through the process. It had to come out sideways but I had enough forward and aft ...

It was another successful day, although I put in more hours than I expected today.

My first effort was at getting those radius arms disconnected. I really don’t know how we worked on cars before the internet. Between seeing actual pictures of the bushing and reading one Jag enthusiast’s ...

I had another good session with the car today. I got all eight main bolts undone. It is a frustrating nut and bolt arrangement with the nuts tucked up behind a frame rail. Luckily none of them were too difficult, but the wrench on the nut was difficult to manage while using a big breaker bar or ...

After a couple of nights of sleeping on it and a brief additional effort at trying to get that stuck brake pad to slide out, I decided that I bought the car as much for having something to work on as having something to drive. I have been spoiled by the driving. It is time to do some work. I have no ...