Pipe dream

[Dave2000]

I too had the 'carbed' version, many years before I got the XJ12 C injected version.

IIRC the carbs got around 8 - 10 MPG? Stock injected near 20, my modified version built and set for strip...........4!

And smooth, oh yes. When set up correctly they were like sewing machines, sadly many mechanics did not put in the extra work to change all the plugs for example, I had seen many V12's with just 6 or 8 plugs changed, releasing the AC compressor for example to get to the front 4 was often left for someone else to pick up.

regards

Dave

 

[Towpack]

Commuting to work everyday, 8 mile round trip gave single figure fuel consumption, on a decent run with a light right foot (yeah right!) would give mid teens. It was as quite and unstressed at 120mph as it was at 70. Only problem I ever had with it was a misfire due to tracking in the distributor cap, cured with a new one and a fuel leak at the back caused by corroded fuel pipes which ran behind the rear valance. Never really understood why they went for the complexity of 2 separate tanks, fuel pumps and a changeover switch on the dash. What a beautiful and timeless shape the XJ body shell has turned out to be, instantly identifiable unlike many of todays offerings.
The XJ12 wasn't really that well known. Everyone knew what a XJ6 was and they'd say "well what's the difference then", so you'd just lift the bonett and the response was something like, "f****n 'ell!"

 

[Dave2000]

My 'Purdy' on show at Coal House Fort in Essex

Take no notice of the body colour, it is actually a very bright red, camera sort of changed it.

You could throw a handful of peanuts at the engine, none would make it to the ground below!

Those in the know will recognize the HE V12 and not the pre HE which is similar, this is bored and stroked to 6.0 litres, machined throttle bodies (I could get my arm down them), manual 5 speed Getrag gearbox, alloy flywheel, sintered clutch, low ratio Pow-R-Lok axle, TWR quick rack, roll control, blah blah, run 13's at North Weald.

regards

Dave

 

[Shayne]

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-and-figures/essays/best-of-british-gardner-6lx-diesel-engine/

Built 1968 she still runs the same Gardner bus engine and the owner aged 45 has no plans for an engine swap because he says it will outlast him .

 

[Towpack]

My 'Purdy' on show at Coal House Fort in Essex

Take no notice of the body colour, it is actually a very bright red, camera sort of changed it.

View attachment 123594

You could throw a handful of peanuts at the engine, none would make it to the ground below!

Those in the know will recognize the HE V12 and not the pre HE which is similar, this is bored and stroked to 6.0 litres, machined throttle bodies (I could get my arm down them), manual 5 speed Getrag gearbox, alloy flywheel, sintered clutch, low ratio Pow-R-Lok axle, TWR quick rack, roll control, blah blah, run 13's at North Weald.

regards

Dave

That's pure engine bay porn

 

[Towpack]

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-and-figures/essays/best-of-british-gardner-6lx-diesel-engine/

View attachment 123595

Built 1968 she still runs the same Gardner bus engine and the owner aged 45 has no plans for an engine swap because he says it will outlast him .

Oh yes, Gardner, another famous and legendary brand from the past. Back in the 70's and 80's most of the buses in S. Yorks had a Gardner badge on the back. A neighbour of our's in the early 70's was a mechanic at the city's bus garage and he said 1 million miles without major overhaul was common for those engines. The dad of an old school friend of mine was a long distance HGV driver and regularly came home in the tractor unit which my friend took great delight in telling me was a Guy Big J4T with a Gardner 180 engine.

 

[Dave2000]

Not quite a race boat Shayne, but good ol luggers should plod on for years.

regards

Dave

 

[Shayne]

Surely not Dave i think that one puts out only about 120 horses but it was your comment marine v road engines that prompted my post . The Gardner is obsolete but i think as a general rule marine engines have a huge output to ensure the engine is never worked hard promoting reliability so i reckon a 500hp Yanmar would last forever in a car .

 

[Dave2000]

I get you Shayne. I look after a speed boat that has a Chevy V8 in it, for speed it does not have to rev high, for reliability the compression is lowered, and if IIRC the rev limit is around 3,700 but is on the plane a little lower?

Horsepower and torque characteristics are different for marine versus car, the lower revolutions promote reliability brought about by less stress so the torque should be lower down in the rev range.

I think your right, build a Yanmar spec engine (with road cam) and have it for life.

regards

Dave