[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
******************************************************************************
******
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
>>