MF, the beauty of fitting the Chev in the Jag was the cost saving, half the cost of rebuilding your own motor and about 10 times more reliable no constant tweeking to keep the motor running properly
Yes MF it's the BW65. I've just put in a new kick down cable & I've set it to up shift from 2nd to 3rd at 60kph rather than 80kph. Probably the only reason I was wanting to convert is being able to have the enjoyment of changing the gears myself and having an overdrive to drop the revs down but the auto is perfect for the odd trip to Melbourne etc. I've also been thinking about finding an Aisin Warner 4 speed overdrive auto out of a Volvo etc but the issue would be the extra length of the box requiring a custom propshaft & matching the torque converter to the engine.
I had an earlier 2500 before this one but rather than spending money repairing the rust in the sills I bought this 1977 model from a deceased estate in Sunshine for around $1,500. A manual version would be worth at least $5,000 in the same condition. Unfortunately I have since found out that it's been in some sort of accident as there's a lot of filler behind the rear bumper and the door shut lines aren't the best. It is one of the last Triumphs built by AMI & is painted in Toyota Guinea Gold.
I have to draw exception to the remarks re the Jag/Chev small block V8 conversion. Yes, very popular. But I would think the owner would be aware something had been done... Why is the car more powerful? How come it uses less fuel? Why are there no more stains on my driveway? How come it handles better?
As some may know XJ6's are worth more for parts than a whole car. They are in much demand by the Hot Rod fraternity. Many useful parts, and if one can score a Chev V 8 conversion, so much the better!
Sorry about that! Imagination can run wild I'm afraid!
I'd love some XJ6 seats to put in my Triumph. The problem is finding a good set locally.
I know someone who has a nice XJ12 Sovereign as his weekend car and he recently had the spoiler area repaired after hitting a possum. Unfortunately they didn't disconnect the battery so something melted causing it to go flat overnight. The wiring loom in the V12 is overwhelming! The owner put in a new exhaust but muffled it even more than standard. I don't know why you'd pay to run a V12 yet not want to hear the sound!
Thread dig Got a message to come take any mowers off this block of land. That I did. And found this at the bottom of a pile of rubbish Have been told its been there for years in the bottom of the pile. Put some fresh fuel in and 3 pulls and nearly had her. Gave it some heavy primes good 4 or 5 heavy pumps and she fired away slowly but surely puffing out smoke then once the barrels were lubed she cleared up and idled like an absolute gem...... Now to find strip it down and give it a full resto. Engine has good comp I won't be touching that.
We could make a good mower TJ91. Mine has a good base and catcher but engine trouble with stripped threads for attaching the cowl. Yours has a base that's been through the wringer but well behaving engine. No mean feat with a twin.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Great find there TJ, and a runner to boot, people pay good money for these but they usually have engine issues. Hard to imagine why anybody would put one under a pile of rubbish when it was still in a running condition
Thanks boys. I also got a spare base in really good condition off NY father in law today with a workshop manual to suit. It's a genuine victa twin spare. He made me crawl u the house. Plucked out a twin base. Sane Colour just in good nic.. He had found a twin years back that needed tlc. Ended up shoving it under the house and never got around to it. Still need to find the spare engine he says he may have...
Twin 500 project under way... Il post pics up of the outcome. Il be repainting the Base in orginal colour. And shining up every nut and bolt. I'm fussy I will not dissapoint you all I promise
They are an interesting mower but really not practIcal. In amazed Victa made them so long. They really were a show pony for Victa during the peak in popularity on the Australian market. I wish I could adapt a Powertorque or full crank to fit as the bases give a wide cut and are solid.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
