Author Topic: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia  (Read 79956 times)

treedoc

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #25 on: August 01, 2011, 13:13:46 »
Good luck Garry and safe trip, a thermos of black coffee might be worth making room for and remember, no sleeping on the run.

mdsalemi

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #26 on: August 01, 2011, 14:25:09 »
Good luck and Godspeed Garry and Tom--we want a story about "Garry and Tom's most excellent adventure" regardless of chosen route.  Head West and South and you'll find L.A..
Michael Salemi
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ghenne

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #27 on: August 01, 2011, 15:06:02 »
If you want to have some fun, go to maps.google.com and ask for driving directions from Blacklick to South Melbourne.

They route you through Hawaii and Japan. Step 30 is to kayak from Seattle to Hawaii. Step 46 is a kayak to Japan, and Step 107 is a kayak ride to Australia, slipping in between Indonesia and New Guinea. Stop at Alice Springs on your final leg and send us a picture!

Should be the trip of a lifetime!

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=blacklick,OH&daddr=South+Melbourne,+Victoria,+Australia&hl=en&ll=-23.686032,134.071655&spn=1.199738,1.117859&sll=7.362467,-157.324219&sspn=117.104905,160.488281&geocode=FeNIYgIdamYQ-yl5QpTNomY4iDH-B16LkqjcEg%3BFUW5vv0dseujCClhnBsE_GfWajFQ6IwhdVYEBQ&mra=ls&t=h&z=10

Garry

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #28 on: August 01, 2011, 23:22:21 »
It's now just on 7 pm and we have stopped after covering around 560 miles. We actually don't know what the town is but it is on Route 70. We did not agree on any particular route and as I was the first driver we went on route 70. After 2 1/2 hours Tom took over and soon we were heading along Route 74. As I pointed out that that was going even further north, we returned to 70  and continued along for the rest of the day. We sat on 70  - 75 mph al day

In side the car the temperature had to be 120 or more, a lot of heat coming up from the transmission tunnel that is making it uncomfortable but with windows open it is livable. However looking forward to getting toward Denver and some height to cool it all down.

Now for how the car ran.  It went with out a hitch until about 5 pm when it just cut out and we had to pull over.  Opened the bonnet/
hood and it was very quickly obvious what the problem was.  A wire had fallen off the coil hence no electrical to the engine. Pushed it
back on the lug and we were off again for a couple more hours.

Tomorrow we probably need to buy a map as the reality is that we have no idea where we are going but probably more of highway
70 I think.

Garry
Ps.  Tom said that it was me that sent him on route 74. To me the evens go east west, what would I know.  Tom said he is going to
the pool to wash off the grease from working on the Jag :D
« Last Edit: August 01, 2011, 23:31:40 by Garry »
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
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280SE Guy

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #29 on: August 01, 2011, 23:27:42 »
You guys were right on your scheduled departure this morning. I saw you pull out of the hotel parking lot at 7:28, 2 minutes before your intended departure.

Safe driving for both of you.

Regards,

280SE Guy
1971 280SE, 6 Cyl MFI, Anthracite Grey with Grey MB Tex

Jonny B

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #30 on: August 01, 2011, 23:36:26 »
Just let us know when you get to New Orleans! Glad to hear a loose wire was all the Prince of Darkness had in store for you on Monday. May he have expended all his tricks!
Jonny B
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Tom Colitt

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #31 on: August 02, 2011, 03:38:28 »
Day One: Was confined to a small moving space inside the hot box for 11 grueling hours. The owner only let me out occasionally when he went to refuel the small moving space. He trained me to operate the small moving space so that he could crawl into the other small moving space from time to time. It was easy to operate, but the owner told me not to exceed 3500 on the hypnotizing device in front of me. I managed to do it, but I have meanwhile secretly increased the number on the hypnotizing device by 50 every hour. This long confinement could be tolerable if it wasn't for the intense heat.  We will see where the owner takes me tomorrow and hope that conditions improve. He did give me water one time today. If I can I will try to send another message tomorrow....

Richard Madison

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #32 on: August 02, 2011, 09:33:04 »
Garry:

Cross country with Tom.   Having met Tom Colitt for the first time at PUB, I recommend you restrict him to speaking a maximum of 15 minutes each hour otherwise his enthusiasm (and knowledge) will give you an earache and a headache :)

Regards and the best on the trip,

Richard M, NYC 
1969 280 SL, Tunis Beige, Euro Model (Italy).

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #33 on: August 03, 2011, 03:27:04 »
Well, we did another 800+ miles today without any problems.  We are not in Kansas any more.  passed Denver about 6pm and have stopped at some small mining town called Idaho Springs in the Colorado mountains.
Started the day with temperatures at well over 100f and ended the day at over 6000 feet and temperatures at 65f  and raining.

The co driver is having difficulty in traveling in a Jag and the tight spaces and the heat is getting to him. We still have not got a map yet and decided tonight not to bother if we keep the sun behind us in the morning and in front of us in the afternoon.. We are going to try for Los Vegas tomorrow night.

I think Tom is going to add his tweet soon.
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
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Tom Colitt

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #34 on: August 03, 2011, 04:37:05 »
Day 2: I was confined to the small moving space longer than usual today. I'm not sure why. I followed the owners instructions to follow the yellow brick road and stick to keep the hypnotizing device at 3500. Maybe my daily upkeep is becoming too costly and I suspect I was brought to an old gold mining town to pan for gold in order to pay for my passage to California. Now there is talk of making additional money in Las Vegas. We will see how that goes...We also saw several signs by the road: Hit a worker- $10,000! I'm not sure if you get $20,000 for two, but Garry said ge didnt need any money....
« Last Edit: August 04, 2011, 04:39:12 by Tom Colitt »

mdsalemi

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #35 on: August 03, 2011, 12:39:49 »
Both of you should be pleased that you are not a 6' 2", 225 pound guys--of which there are plenty.  Thank God for your small frames in your chosen carriage!
Michael Salemi
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thelews

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #36 on: August 03, 2011, 13:28:56 »
Idaho Springs is just the beginning.  You have some very nice driving ahead of you.
Enjoy some pictures at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

John - Wisconsin
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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #37 on: August 04, 2011, 04:27:32 »
Well we are in las Vegas but the prince of darkness has given us a run today.  Car started to fire on only three cylinders and we thought we had a fuel problem initially after driving to the highest point of 10600+ feet.  Later we thought it was electrical.

So for the next six hours it became a stop start.  We are still not sure what is occurring, sometimes it looses power and appears to be firing on half the cylinders and when you touch everything it starts again. We are still think it's electrical but don't know what.  Hopefully it will start tomorrow morning and get us to LA.

So over all today, passed the 2000 mile mark, saw some snow on the mountains, nice and cool in the morning and hot on the desert floor in the afternoon.  Some rain during the day both outside and in.  

At one point I thought I had lost my wallet and decided that I should cancel the credit cards. P half way thru that process, found the wallet.  Thankfully only half the credit cards cancelled!!!,

Tomorrow is a short drive and hopefully in LA by lunch time.

Garry
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
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treedoc

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #38 on: August 04, 2011, 07:27:41 »
Garry,

Maybe your engine problem is the coil, it's probably done more work in the last three days than in the last three years, we lost ours in the 280SL coming down from San Ftancisco to LA
Good Luck

Geoff

mdsalemi

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #39 on: August 04, 2011, 15:22:13 »
Jeez, Geoff--mount a coil like that with no wires and you are SURE to have a problem.

Tom and Garry--don't worry its all down hill to L.A.  ;)  As long as you roll into Tom's shop or push it in you'll be fine.  When you get within 150 miles, you can always call AAA.
Michael Salemi
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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #40 on: August 05, 2011, 03:23:13 »
We did not win at the slots nor make any money at craps or roulette  but had a well deserved nights rest after a very very long day yesterday trying to work out what was going wrong with the car.

However, we are now  finally in LA at Toms workshop.

  Started the day by working on the car in Las Vegas at the hotel. We decided it's got be fuel as the front three cylinders were getting spark but no fuel so we opened the Stromberg and found a piece of old rubber crud that appears to have come from the hose and been blocking the float. We changed the fuel hose to the carby and put it all back together and it worked fine from then on.

Got here about 3 pm and have been working on it as it has a sticking throttle and I want to use it in the next couple of day to go to Santa Barba and a Jag shop there to get some other parts for Tom.

 All in all we travelled apps 2350 miles with some minor problems with the fuel delivery but overall the car ran extremely well for the trip.  It's now going to remain here and Tom will do the conversion of left to right before it then commences on it's next part of the trip across the the wide blue sea.

We are having a celebratory BBQ tonight on getting here safe and sound and the car as well. I will post a couple of photos when I get
home next week.

Some stats for the trip.

Total miles 2350
Oil used 2 qts
Fuel consumption, 17 - 19 mpg us gallons
Average crusing speed around 75 - 80 mph
Days taken 3 1/2
Repair time spent during trip 2 hours


Garry

No doubt Tom will add his bit shortly.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2011, 03:31:35 by Garry »
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
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mdsalemi

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #41 on: August 05, 2011, 12:44:46 »
Garry--We are all so happy (well, at least I am) that all three of you arrived in LA safe and sound.  You are an old airplane guy in a manner of speaking, and 2 hours of maintenance en route sounds pretty spectacular relative to time spent driving, don't you think?

Best wishes for the rest of your journey home!
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
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49er

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #42 on: August 05, 2011, 14:20:51 »
What an amazing adventure! Glad you guys and the "cat" made it across the US in one of the hottest summers on record in good shape. I wanted an XKE in the worst way when I first lied eyes on one. The most beautiful car ever to come from the British Isles IMO. German engineering (and more comfortable seats) won out. Looking forward to hearing more of your continuing saga and photos that you took along the way.
I might add, as a former Angeleno, watch out for those crazy drivers down there:-)

John
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7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

jameshoward

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #43 on: August 05, 2011, 18:27:56 »
Please tell me you have photos?
James Howard
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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #44 on: August 06, 2011, 01:22:17 »
Thanks for the comments, and yes there are a couple of photos that will be posted on my return to Oz next week.

Have left Tom in LA and am now north of Santa Barbra.  Re fitted the exhaust today and a new set of tires as well and picked up a lot of spares for Toms conversion from a Jag Restoration shop in Santa Barbra.

Spending the week end around here on the coast before returning to LA where Tom and I are going to take out the pedal rack for me to take back to Oz for adjustment and trial fitting on a RH Jag before sending them back to Tom for fitment.

Car still performing nicely.
Garry
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

Tom Colitt

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #45 on: August 07, 2011, 09:09:36 »
This post is a little late, but I thought I owed it to the conclusion of a great road trip with Garry and my first introduction to one sweet Jaguar E-type.... (Garry has probably filled you in already, but here's the rest of my diary)....

Day 3: After being confined to the he small moving space for two straight days now, it/ she started complaining a little today....Coming off our highest point in the Rockies (above 10500 ft), Garry had to slow down and stop and go due to traffic. He said the engine was not firing on one or more cylinders and down on power.

I couldn't really feel anything from the passenger side that suggested any misfiring. The engine seemed to run roundly, but Garry pulled over to be safe and see what was the matter and for about twenty minutes, we checked things out. After I found we had a spark at all spark plugs, I figured we were dealing with a fuel issue, but the timing of the trouble led me to think that maybe the high altitude caused some sort of fuel starvation.


I couldn't find the barometric compensator box on the damn thing, so I thought maybe there might have been some sort of vapor lock or such occurring in the fuel delivery. After playing with the slightly worn and sticking throttle linkage and making sure there was fuel in the gas feed line and filter, the car suddenly started up and ran fine again for most of the day.

I didn't like the look of two short lengths of slightly mushy fuel hoses going to each carburetor (I'm not a big fan of carbs as I'm lucky to own two beautiful oldies with very different, but reliable early fuel injection systems), but it looked like the car had gotten past it's ills and was going to perform as flawlessly as it had until now. A few hours later, I was driving, when the problem reoccurred.

Since I was becoming more certain we were dealing with a problem due to some fuel restriction or maybe limited movement of the carburetor's throttle due to a sticking linkage and since the engine still ran very smoothly, coolly, with good oil pressure and no other worrisome signs, I kept "limping" along between 60 and 75 mph, passing the same trucks on the downhills that caught back up with us on the up hills.

The more I got to drive the small moving space, the more I seemed to understand her. We seemed to become friends and I felt that she was trying to tell me what was ailing her. It seemed like she would make the best effort to keep moving along, thereby giving me time to think about what she was telling me and what questions to ask her the next time she felt a little weak and needed to pause.

The next time we stopped, I decided to narrow down which of her cylinders might be affected and started pulling off spark plug wires one by one to observe the change in idle speed. It turned out that the front 3 cylinders all were not firing despite having spark and since an Otto motor (as the Germans call them) only needs compression and fuel besides spark, my search narrowed to the forward carburetor which feeds the front three cylinders.

The next time she ran out of breath, I decided to look closer at the carburetors, wiggled the suspect fuel line and some other parts a bit and all of a sudden she would run fine again. But not for long.  "Tell me more...." I needed to know. The problem seemed to happen when we were running at lower speeds and stop and go traffic rather than at high speeds when the fuel demands were the highest?.... Nevertheless, I decided to pull the plug out of the bottom of the forward carburetor's float bowl. Fuel came pouring out and then the engine started to run on only three cylinders. I used my thumb to plug the hole and she would run on all six again. Ok. That made sense, but no further clues why she stopped when the float plug was in?.... She ran, then she didn't.

I checked a few things. Pulled the float plug out again. This time: Bone dry. Turned the fuel pump on, fuel came gushing out. Plug back in. Ran a few hundred yards. Another stop. Take out the plug. No fuel. Fuel pump on. Still no fuel. Whoa! Why?.... Played around (Garry moved the ignition wires, she ran.) Hmmm. I'm not convinced, but we made it to Vegas for our final rest before heading to L.A.

Day 4. The small moving space, now considered a good friend, didn't want to leave Las Vegas. We were at the Circus Circus hotel and in the parking lot, dressed in my last clean shirt for the final leg home, I decided to get serious. If I didn't finally find out what was the matter, it looked like we would have a very long day ahead of us, even though we only had a few hundred miles left. I wanted to know what it was that allowed gas to get into the forward carburetor, but apparently, not to the cylinders?

We removed the air cleaner housing and as Garry started the engine I could watch the fuel in the rear carburetor atomize and the mist clearly rush upwards into the intake manifold. But not on the forward carb. Wow! Somewhere between the gas line, the fuel fitting on the carb and the float, the fuel was not getting by. I thought of what parts lay in it's path, not really having ever been interested to see much of the insides of any carburetors. Maybe the carburetor float was stuck?

Luckily, the access to the float bowl was quite good and I took out the six screws that held it and cautiously pried the float bowl off. I was worried about damaging the gasket which we had no replacement for and nothing to use for gasket cement other than maybe equal parts each, of the mashed potatoes and a brownie from the all-you-can-eat buffet the night before.

Luckily the small moving space had been well cared for and the gasket was another part that was in good enough condition to survive the dis-assembly. Now I grew anxious as I felt ever closer to coaxing my friend into reveal the last secret of what was ailing her. I wiggled the float a few times, expecting fuel to trickle out of the needle valve. Nothing. What?! Less than an inch apart and the fuel is disappearing? Ok, it has to be the needle valve then. A little bit of luck again. I can get to the needle valve seat with a 14mm wrench since none of the SAE sizes seemed to fit. I unscrew it by hand and I'm convinced the fuel will come running out now... And it does! We've got it!

As I'm examining the valve a small chunk of Black debris falls into my hand long enough for me to suspect that it might have come from the inside of the overly tightened weak rubber fuel hose that I had played with soon after we had our first symptoms. We're done. I told Garry, I'd be very surprised if we had anymore trouble from here on in. Within less than an hour of morning mechanicing, we were on our way, as proud of our new friend as Garry and I had been, all these past days, as she carried us quite effortlessly and in great style, through some pretty intense heat at an average cruising speed well above 70 mph. None of this was her fault. She simply choked a little on a small piece of debris and wasn't quite able to tell us about it....
« Last Edit: August 07, 2011, 09:27:44 by 280SL71 »

TR

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #46 on: August 07, 2011, 14:44:57 »
This is a very worthwhile read.  Thanks guys.

badali

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #47 on: August 07, 2011, 21:59:54 »
Great story!!  Well told.  Keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for the outcome of a suspense thriller...
Brad

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Garry

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #48 on: August 08, 2011, 02:36:09 »
But wait there is more, a steering conversion to be done and then 15,000 miles by sea followed by 80 km by road before the blue duck gets to sit beside the Pagoda in 'the shed'.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2011, 02:41:38 by Garry »
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

Tom Colitt

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Re: Driving an XK E Type from PUB 2011 to Australia
« Reply #49 on: August 08, 2011, 21:55:48 »
But wait there is more, a steering conversion to be done and then 15,000 miles by sea followed by 80 km by road before the blue duck gets to sit beside the Pagoda in 'the shed'.

Garry. The greater the bond will be with "The Thing" or as I call her, the small moving space :-)

What will really be weird after 2500 miles of driving on the left side of the car, I'll be pulling it out of my shop sitting on the right side of the car. I have a feeling I'll attempt getting in the wrong side a few times at first. I'm sure your feel the same way once she arrives at your place. I just had a chance to read the whole thread. I didn't even know how bad your back was. You sure toughed it out on our trip....
Look forward to pulling out the pedal box this evening which you're going to strap to your back to take back to Aus. :-)