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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

1539.0. "The cat's Alive! (A Jaguar)" by DENVER::DAVISGB (The Cat's purrin' !!) Fri Sep 06 1991 23:29

    How's this to brighten your day?
    
    Some of you may have read about a 1959 Jaguar XK150 fixed-head coupe I
    bought in 1985.  This car was in boxes.  Some missing parts..etc...
    
    I've been messing with it ever since, chasing parts, nuts, bolts,
    everything, to get it back on the road.  The engine, I vowed, would be
    last.
    
    Last night, we turned it over, and the engine came to life and purred
    like the Cat that it is!  It's in GREAT shape...and the last time this
    engine ran was at least 7 years ago.
    
    British engineering....a marvel.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Gil
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1539.1AEOEN1::MATTHEWSIn a negative brownie-point situation ...Mon Sep 09 1991 09:357
re: British Engineering ...

I can't help feeling that 1959 was probably British Engineering at it's
best :-) :-)

Only joking. Jag was (and probably still is) quality. It is SO nice to
work on something which has been well engineered ...
1539.2I *love* Quality EngineeringUNTADA::LEWISFinestKind Data Warehouse and EDI Tea SupplierMon Sep 09 1991 11:227
> Only joking. Jag was (and probably still is) quality. It is SO nice to
> work on something which has been well engineered ...
    
    I heartily agree with that. That is why I get so much pleasure from
    working on my Honda. :-)
    
    Amad�n
1539.3Hacker Auto repair...DENVER::DAVISGBThe Cat's purrin' !!Mon Sep 09 1991 22:2914
    
    
    Was interesting working more on it this weekend.  I found the nice
    9/16's head fine thread bolts that hold the starter on had been
    replaced with some larger head coarse bolts that jammed up against the
    starter case...someone was too lazy to put a wrench on both sides of
    the bolt/nut.  Some lazy American slob mechanic...bodgering up another
    piece of fine autowork...iccccch!
    
    Also found the four bolts holding the front of the driveshaft had been
    replaced with something that was neither locknuts or wireable.....el
    cheapo repair shop at it again....
1539.4XJ6 - bahBASCAS::BOARDMAN_KI drink no more than a spongeTue Nov 26 1991 12:164
    Well, my cat is more dead than alive.  My XJ6 is far and away the worst
    car I have ever had.  So much for Brit engineering.
    
    			Keith
1539.5So long Jaguar?NEWOA::SAXBYIs Bart Simpson the anti-Christ?Tue Nov 26 1991 12:506
    
    I've just heard that Jaguar are to be run from Detroit in future
    (rather than Ford UK), so in future a Jaguar will be 'So much for
    US engineering'.
    
    Mark
1539.6DENVER::DAVISGBJag MechanicWed Dec 04 1991 21:3722
    I was over at the local dealer talking with my Jaguar *Master
    Technician* buddy today, and he related a funny story that occurred on
    his recent visit to the UK. 
    
    Apparently, he and about 12 others from the US were being honored as
    the US top techs with a visit to the factory, tour, discussions with
    senior management etc.  At one point, they were walking through some
    assemble area, and as they passed through, the workers in the plant
    were yelling something at them.  There was a lot of noise, so they
    didn't quite hear what was being said (or yelled).  Later, the same
    thing happened, and one of them craned their ear to hear what was being
    yelled as they passed through.  Well, upon asking, they found out that
    it was a bit of British slang that roughly meant putting things where
    the sun doesn't shine.  Later, my tech friend walked over to talk with
    a gentleman doing engine finish work.  They guy looked up and growled
    "Are you from FORD?".  My Buddy said "no", told him he was a Jaguar
    technician from the US, and the Brit opened up like a book!  Started
    being really friendly all of a sudden.  Later that day, they were
    touring ANOTHER part of the factory and were getting the same scowls
    and growls as they walked by.  This time they yelled "We're not from
    FORD! " and waved.  Suddenly everyone was very friendly and willing to
    talk at length.