Classic Jalopy Blog

Jaguar E-Type Fuel Hoses 2

Jaguar E-Type Fuel Hoses

While I was replacing the fuel pump on my E-Type I noticed some hairline cracks in the fuel hoses.   This was obviously a problem waiting to happen so I ordered a new set to replace them.   It is probably cheaper to buy the raw hose and adapt the original fittings, but SNG Barratt sell a kit with new hoses complete with fittings that is...

W126 Monovalve eliminator – part 3 3

W126 Monovalve eliminator – part 3

I have been working on a project to eliminate the monovalve from the climate control system in my 560SEC.   In the last part I had almost completed the cooling hoses required for the job.   I had mostly worked out hose routing I was looking for – which was combining the dual outputs from the heater core into a single hose where I could place...

September 2020 night drive 3

September 2020 night drive

A few friends in the Mercedes Club and I have been trying to get a monthly night drive going.    Last night was the third one and yet again we had a great drive.   This time we met up in Kirrawee and the drive was through the national park to Bulli. We started out with 5 cars and based on the cars that participated,...

MBCNSW Mid-Week drive up the Putty road 1

MBCNSW Mid-Week drive up the Putty road

The Mercedes Club hold a mid-week drive pretty much every month.   I’ve been a member for more than 10 years but never managed to attend one.   I had a free day today and the drive looked really good.   This months MBCNSW mid-week drive was up to the Hunter valley.   The route was via the Putty road, which I’ve done a few times before.   Mid-week...

W126 low pressure hydraulic hoses 2

W126 low pressure hydraulic hoses

My 560SEC has been leaking from the power steering and self leveling suspension.    In both cases, it is obvious that (at least some) of the leakage is coming from the low pressure hydraulic hoses.    It is possible there are additional leaks in the steering, but fixing this obvious one is a good place to start. I had looked at doing this job...

W126 radiator removal 3

W126 radiator removal

As part of the work I have been doing to the 560SEC, I have removed the radiator.   The radiator was leaking from the top tank and appeared to be original.   It was an IMI unit which was one of the OE suppliers and had a 1987 date code on it.    W126 radiator removal is fairly straightforward. Fist step is obviously draining the coolant,...

W126 Monovalve eliminator – part 2 6

W126 Monovalve eliminator – part 2

My 560SEC had been leaking coolant and giving me heat when I didn’t want it.   Last week I started the repairs for these problems.   As the Bosch and Mercedes W126 Monovalve repair kit was no longer available, I have been installing the Klima Design Works monovalve elimination kit. In the first part I removed the W126 monovalve, auxiliary water pump and other hoses.   This...

W126 Monovalve eliminator – part 1 6

W126 Monovalve eliminator – part 1

My 560SEC has been having a couple of problems with its cooling system.  Coolant has been weeping out of the top tank of the radiator.  In addition, the monovalve has failed, causing unwanted heating at idle.  The radiator looks either original or replaced very early in the cars life.   As these radiators have plastic tanks, I have purchased a new one to replace it....

July and August Night Drives 6

July and August Night Drives

I’m a member of a few different car clubs (Mercedes, Jaguar, Citroen), but am rarely able to make events.   With a young family the times rarely work for me.   A lot of the time I spend either working on or driving my cars is late at night.   I figured I am not the only one in this situation, so after a poll of a...

New Jaguar E-Type fuel pump 3

New Jaguar E-Type fuel pump

A couple of months back, I noticed a bad fuel smell from my E-Type.   I was able to trace the problem to a leaking E-Type fuel pump.   The car still had the original points type SU pump, which are rebuildable.   After speaking to a few people, and doing some research, I decided to purchase a new pump.   The new SU pumps are a solid...

R/C107 Differential Ratios 11

R/C107 Differential Ratios

The R/C107 models had an extremely long production run – 18 years.   There were a variety of different models and specification changes.   This included the differential ratios that can have a big impact on the performance and economy of the vehicle. In compiling the table below, I have tried to research the various country specific variants.   It is possible I have missed a few. ...

Mercedes-Benz Australia price list – April 1982 0

Mercedes-Benz Australia price list – April 1982

In April 1982 Mercedes-Benz was pretty much king of the hill when it came to mainstream luxury cars.   Rolls Royce was in a league of its own, and Jaguar was at its quality nadir.   BMW were just releasing the E30 which would propel them to a leadership position in the small, luxury market.  They still could not touch Mercedes-Benz in the mid or upper...

Yorkstar Motors – December 1969 Price List 0

Yorkstar Motors – December 1969 Price List

I recently came across a price list from Yorkstar Motors, dated December 1969.   Yorkstar motors were at that time the main dealer in Sydney and I think they had something to do with the overall importation of the cars.  This era Australian delivery cars have a Yorkstar motors tag on them regardless of where they were sold. Unlike in later years, nearly the whole...

MBCNSW Drive to Bilpin 2

MBCNSW Drive to Bilpin

Today I joined an event with the MBCNSW for a drive to Bilpin.   Bilpin is to the West of Sydney and is half way up the Blue Mountains.   It is know for its Apples.   The purpose of the drive was to raise money for one of our club members, Sam.  Sam is the proprietor of the Bilpin Apple Pie Cottage, our destination.   He suffered...

Replacing CIS injectors on my 450SLC 2

Replacing CIS injectors on my 450SLC

This week I replaced the CIS injectors and the spark plugs in my 450SLC and the car is running much better for it. I’ve been thinking about swapping the fuel injectors in the SLC for a while now.   When cold, the car wouldn’t run that well at first and you would need to blip the throttle a few times to get the idle to...

Mercedes Club drive to Peats Ridge 0

Mercedes Club drive to Peats Ridge

The Mercedes Club organized a joint drive with the Rolls Royce Owners club to the Corrugated Cafe in Peats Ridge.   Peats Ridge is about 90km north of Sydney.   This was one of the first drives after the COVOID19 restrictions were eased.   A couple of the members of the club were trying to organize a line up of W126s at the event.   The event seemed...

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