Messages

Okay, here's one way.

Instead of one 12V battery, get two 6V batteries.

Hook them up in series. i.e. connect the negative post of battery 1 to the positive post of battery 2.  Now, from the positive post of battery 1 to the negative post of battery 2 is 12V.  The negative post of battery 2 is ground and the positive post of battery 1 is your 12V positive connection for your alternator etc.  The trick is that the positive post of battery 2 is now the 6V positive to run your gauges!

Just be careful not to let your 6V positive come into contact with your 12V positive because it will cause a dead short across battery 1.

Another way to do the same thing is to get a 12V battery with the bars on top.  The six bars are actually jumpers connecting what is in essence six 2V batteries in series to make 12V.  Drill & tap the center(middle) bar and you've created two 6V batteries like above.  The tapped connection in the middle bar is the 6V positive connection for your gauges.

Pretty slick, huh?

I have always had a soft spot for the sunbeam tiger

Yup, the Sunbeam Tiger.  Predecessor to the Cobra.

Couple of interesting Tiger facts.  Sunbeam was bought by Chrysler and of course, the Tiger had a ford engine.  Chrysler stopped production of the Tiger because it woulds not sell a car with a Ford V8 in it and Chrysler's LA engine line would not fit in the Sunbeam.  So, Carrol Shelby went looking for another home for the new Ford small block and came to an agreement with Bristol AC to use their little roadster and the rest is Cobra history.

Also, all the tigers came from the factory with a single 2 bbl carb.  The 4 bbl was a dealer (or owner) installed option.  Why?  Cause the installation started with a large hammer to beat a big recess into the firewall to fit the bigger carb.  If you ever get to see an original 4 bbl Sunbeam Tiger, check out the custom firewall clearance that was created with a 5 lb sledge hammer.

Exactly right.  I assume that you agree with keeping the EGR on engines so equipped?  They don't reduce performance but do reduce emmissions and make the engine run better.  You agree.

Duece got it right.  Tranny fluid too cool is not as bad as tranny fluid too hot, but it ain't good.  Use the air cooler to radiator cooler routing for best performance.

This is a little counter-intuitive but, here it is.........

Make your EGR operative again.  I know this sounds backward but, the EGR makes the engine run cooler.  It also actually makes the engine more efficient because it reduces pumping losses.  All modern high performance engines utilize EGR.  It is something you really want to retain.

Okay, let the blasting begin.......

The most beautiful production car ever?  Probably the Series 1 & 2 Jaguar XK-E,s.  Absolutely flawless design.  Body was drop dead gorgeous and looked perfect as either a coupe or roadster.  On permanent display at the mMuseum of Modern Art in NY.  Interior was done in real leather and had a dashboard that looked like it could have serviced a full-on race car because that was really what the original XK's were.

As far as a full sized sedan, again Sir William Lyon's philosophy ("It costs no more to make them pretty" takes center stage.  The Series 1, 2, & 3 XJ-6 and XJ-12 are often cited as the most beautiful sedans ever mass produced.  Plagued by quality control, engineering, and electrical problems, they none-the-less managed to hold out against the best the world had to offer for over 20 years based on drop-dead gorgeous looks, fabulous interior design and execution, and impeccable ride and handling.

A well maintained XJ still has the ability to seduce the driver, passengers, and onlookers today.

Am I biased?  Perhaps.  I own both an XK-E and an XJ-6 and I also have a '64 Corvette roadster.  The Vette is an original L-76 365 HP 327 with a 4-sp and 3.76 posi rear and I love it.  However, in truth, next to the Jag it is like comparing Maxwell Smart to James Bond.

The Vette is fun and just a blast to play with.  The Jag is sophisticated (for it's day), smooth, and capable of astonishing speed and handeling in a suave, smooth, beautiful package.

Okay, I've had my say.  Probably not the most popular opinion, but it's mine.