[R-390] R-390 and Jagrolets

[email protected] [email protected]
Wed, 14 Aug 2002 20:09:27 EDT


Todd,

I think you and I have just about beaten this poor horse to death. We are 
just going to have to agree to disagree on the Jagrolet. The conversion is so 
popular that there are at least 2 companies offering a " bolt in kit" to do 
it. ( John's Cars in Dallas and Sun Coast Conversions in Florida ) I did mine 
the old fashioned way, ie I made my own motor mounts that bolted to the 
original Jag mounts. No holes in the XJ6, no sheetmetal removed. Completely 
reversible if anyone wanted to do so. The question to me is why would anyone 
want to go back to the Jag enjine ? Yes, the Jag motor is a beauty to look at 
what with the polished cam covers with the chrome nuts on top. Trouble is the 
damn things leak oil, run hot, leak coolant, and often will not start due to 
Lucas electrics. They also were notorious for the carbs catching on fire. We 
are talking 60's & 70's ( pre Ford ) XJ6's here. They have MUCH improved 
since Ford bought the company. They are now as reliable as any Ford. I still 
say the conversion is equivalent to putting diodes in the holes in your 
R-390A where the 26Z5's came out. Nothing more.

I too, at one time entertained the idea of converting a R-390A to solid 
state. The whole idea was to have a radio that would run when the electric 
grid failed. But after much thought I gave it up and bought a few sand state 
radios. I acquired a Racal RA6790/GM, with it's built in microprosser that 
checks out the radio upon demand. And I must confess, when just scanning the 
bands, it is MUCH easier to use than the R-390A's. Keyboard frequency entry 
beats hell outa twisting the Megacycle knob. But the Racal will not dig those 
East African stations out of the noise like the R-390A's. And I got a TenTec 
1254 kit radio. It isn't anything to write home about but it is excellent for 
going to the beach and I no longer worry about the salt air eating my radio 
because it only cost $200 brand new in the box and it works on a 12 volt 
battery.

In closing, the Jagrolet is not a Chevy in Jag clothing. It corners like a 
Jag, handles & steers like a Jag. Unfortunately it also brakes like a Jag. 
Because it IS a Jag.
Some of just like to "improve" stuff. My wife bought a 4.3 liter V6 S10 Chevy 
Blazer from my brother last week. I drove it across town to the homebrew 
supply store & back and decided it needed more horsepower. A Chevy 350 V8 is 
only 4.4 inches longer than a Chevy 4.3 liter V6. I got the tape measure out 
and figured out I can move the engine, driveshafr & rear axel back  1 1/2 
inches and the radiator foreward 3 1/2 inches. That is 0.6 inches more than I 
need. Room to spare for a 350 in the hole !!!!!
Now what would you call a Chevy Blazer with a 350 in the hole where a 4.3 
liter usta live ? How about Chevzilla ? I think I could light up the 
Michelins for at least half a block. And if I decide to do this conversion I 
am not gonna be particularly concerned with it being reversible because there 
are millions of S10 Blazers out there. You will notice I said " If I decide 
to do it". I must be getting old. Twenty years ago I woulda had it half done 
already. Is it old age or wisdom slowing me down ? These things always cost 3 
times as much as you think in time and 4 times as much in money.

Kindest regards,
Dave
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In a message dated 8/12/02 12:53:01 PM Central Daylight Time, 
[email protected] writes:

<< Regardless, I think we've flogged this enough and wandered too far from the
 original intent of the post, that being to heavily modify a unit or not. My
 thought is that if you want a solid state radio, you buy or build a solid 
state
 radio, and if you want a chevy V8, it's easier and better(to me) to buy a 
chevy
 V8 and not try to make something into a chevy that's not. They tore down the
 old Penn Station in NYC to make a newer, more modern one too, but it's
 difficult to find anything appealing about it. At the time, it seemed like a
 cool idea though, I'm sure. It's still called Penn Station and trains still 
use
 it.
 
 Thank you for the thoughts, Dave -
 
 73 de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ
  >>