XJ-S V12 Autopsy

[John Napoli <jgn@li.net>]

I recently removed the top peripherals from my donor V12 engine.  (This
engine was pulled from an '88 XJ-S because it had been overheating; the PO
replaced it with a Chevy.) 

I opened up and then removed the distributor.  The cap would not come off
-- a previous mechanic had siliconed it in place!! -- but I was able to
get it loose by applying compressed air into the two vent lines.  The
centrifugal advance was seized!!  (V12 owners:  heed Kirby's advice!)  The
plastic shield was melted.

I then removed the thermostats and tested them.  One was missing the
jiggle pin.  The other was stuck closed.

It is probably not too risky to assume that the stuck centrifugal advance
caused the chronic hot running, and that the dead thermostat produced the
final, violent overheating.  So the lack of twenty bucks worth of parts
and some straightforward maintenance consigned a V12 to the deep (well,
actually into my workshop :] ), and another lump conversion.  What a shame
- the poor PO spent thousands converting the car, and plenty before that
trying to keep the V12 running.  Nice guy, too.  

These Jaguar forensics underscore the fact that design idiosyncrasies are
responsible for most (if not all) of the anecdotal wisdom that Jaguars are
not and can not be dependable.  Forewarned is forearmed; this list has
sure saved me a lot of heartache and money!

John

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